DVD Collectors Online

Vanishing Point, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Vanishing Point
Year: 1996
Director: Charles Robert Carner
Rating: NR
Length: 96 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles:

Stars:
Viggo Mortensen
Christine Elise
Steve Railsback
Rodney A. Grant
Peter Murnik

Plot:
Viggo Mortensen stars as Jimmy Kowalski, s Dersert Storm veteran with racing in his blood, dark secrets in his past, a pregnant wife at home, and a vintage 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger to deliver. But when his wife is suddenly hospitalized, a desperate Kowalski speeds cross-country with police from four states, a vengeful trooper [Steve Railsback of HELTER SKELTER and ED GEIN], and the FBI in hot pursuit. Now with the help of an outspoken radio DJ [Jason Priestley], the man a nation hails "as the last American hero" and the Feds label a "possible terrorist" rockets toward a final roadblock where the speed limit is the floorband, and life, death and freedom all come together at the VANISHING POINT.

Christine Elise [ER], Keith David [ARMAGEDDON] and Peta Wilson [LA FEMME NIKITA] co-star in this explosive Fox-TV remake of the legendary cult classic that fabs call "the ultimate car chase movie"!

Extras:
Feature Trailers


Made for TV remake of the 71' classic with Barry Newman. This time around Viggo Mortensen takes the wheel as Kowalski.

I thought this was very good for a TV movie, despite Jason Priestley's presence.  Certainly they provided the high octane excitement expected from a car chase movie and likely spent as much on budget as could be expected for a movie of this ilk. Viggo's performance was so good you almost felt as you were watching a Hollywood production meant for a theatrical release.

A must see for fans of muscle cars (my cousin Tony restores them... has a Dodge Super B right now!). It's been quite a few years since I watched the original... it's time for another viewing if not just for comparison purposes. 

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on September 17th, 2010)

Maleficent, a review by Dragonfire

Maleficent

I actually saw this one twice in the theater and almost went a third time.  I will definitely be getting it once it is out on Blu-ray.

The movie starts showing Maleficent as a young fairy and she becomes friends with a young boy named Stefan.  When she is older, is a protector to The Moors, the magical land where she lives.  The King of the human land next to The Moors feels threatened by Maleficent.  Stefan betrays Maleficent so he can become the next king.  Maleficent changes because of the betrayal which also causes changes to The Moors.  When she hears that Stefan and his wife have a daughter, Maleficent turns up and curses the baby Aurora.

I really liked this movie.  I know that some people have complained about it changing Maleficent too much from the animated movie version of the character.  I did see that some claimed this movie made the character weak.  I don't feel that way at all.  This version of the character is different which will disappoint or bother some people.  I choose to look at it as an alternate version of the story that doesn't ...ummm...diminish or negate the animated version of the story.  Other characters are a bit different as well.  I think the differences are interesting and make for an entertaining movie.  There are dark moments in it that may upset or scare younger children. 

I saw both the 3D and the 2D version of the movie.  The 3D added depth to scenes, especially those in The Moors.  I did notice things, but there really weren't any images coming out of the screen.

I loved Angelina Jolie as Maleficent.  She was perfect in the part.  There are times when she looks like the animated character come to life.  She is deliciously wicked in some scenes.  It is a very powerful performance, especially when Maleficent realizes how Stefan has betrayed her.  None of the other characters receive as much attention as Maleficent.  The other characters are interesting and all the cast does a good job.  Imelda Stanton plays one of the pixies that looks over Aurora.  I didn't fully recognize her at first since some kind of special effect was done to make her look smaller.  She, and the other pixies, get bigger for part of the movie.  Once I realized who she was, I did think Umbridge is a pixie. 

Maleficent is a wonderful entertaining movie with a magnificent performance from Angelina Jolie.  It is one of the best movies I've seen this year.  It is definitely worth checking out.

5 out of 5 stars

I did post a longer review to my movie blog.

Maleficent
   

(From Maleficent on August 3rd, 2014)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Cordelia was sucked into the home dimension of Lorne's, to Pylea. Humans are being held as slaves there and are the lowest of all creatures. Cordelia also finds herself in the position of being sold as a slave. But Angel and the gang find a way to Pylea but they can't be of any real help to her.

My Opinion: Interesting change. Nature and daylight. Definitively different than the usual metropolis and night. And Cordelia as a princess, that has to get funny.

Synopsis: The group gets more or less voluntarily separated, after the princess has annulled the death sentences. Lorne and Angel are going to Lorne's village and Gunn and Wesley can escape though a tunnel. Only Cordelia has to stay behind to fulfill her role as princess.

My Opinion: There was no doubt that the young girl would be Winifred "Fred", but Angel as a full-grown demon was really cool. IMHO, to kill Lorne was a bad idea.

Synopsis: Lorne isn't as dead as it looked like. However the entire gang is in mortal danger because killers were sent after them and Cordelia will also die if the high priest wishes it.

My Opinion: That's the main advantage of watching-TV-shows-on-DVD, you don't have to wait another week to see how it continues. I really liked this three-parter because it really was a change, in matters of story as well as location. But the moment Angel walked happily into the hotel I knew they would bring the end of the fifth season of "Buffy" into it.

The Season - My Opinion: I liked this season way better than the first one. It wasn't what I expected but maybe that's the reason. Maybe I was to hard in my evaluation of the first because I compared it to much to a "Buffy" season.

(From Angel Marathon on February 17th, 2008)