DVD Collectors Online

My Neighbours The Yamadas, a review by dfmorgan

Title: My Neighbours The Yamadas
Original Title: Houhokekyo tonari no Yamada-kun
Year: 1999
Director: Isao Takahata
Rating: PG
Length: 104 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Yukiji Asaoka
Toru Masuoka
Masako Araki
Hayato Isohata
Naomi Uno

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Storyboard Comparisons
Closed Captioned



A very weird film. Based on a popular manga this is a series of vignettes very much in the comic-strip style of Andy Capp, The Perishers, FoxTrot, Blondie and many, many others. The style takes some getting used to, apparently this was the first film from Studio Ghibli to be produced entirely on computer as Isao Takahata did not want the traditional look and feel of cel animation. As to be expected with a film of this concept some of the vignettes work better than others, one of my favourites is when Mr. Yamada is 'watching the baseball' and Mrs. Yamada wants to watch a movie. The ballet between them as Mrs. Yamada tries to use the zapper to chanage the channel and Mr. Yamada blocks with his newspaper is well executed and nicely choreographed.

I did enjoy this to a degree, some bits worked some didn't so a 3

(From dfmorgan's Studio Ghibli Marathon on August 1st, 2010)

Deliverance, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Deliverance
Year: 1972
Director: John Boorman
Rating: R
Length: 109 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Jon Voight
Burt Reynolds
Ned Beatty
Ronny Cox
Ed Ramey

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers
Featurettes
Production Notes
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
This is a movie that was recommended to me by several people over the years... but I never got the chance to pick it up. Then one day I got a package from a friend (Thanks Achim!) and there it was! And then it still took me quite a while to watch it.    While I have heard a lot of great things about this movie I tried not to go into it with high expectations... as that has ruined more then one movie on me in the past.

Watching this movie one word kept popping up in my mind... it says it all... that one word is WOW! This is really a powerful movie. A movie made in 1972... but you don't feel that age when watching it.  The only way I could really guess the age of this movie is by how young the main actors are. If these people were little known actors I wouldn't have guessed that this movie is a good 38 year old movie. So do not let the age of this movie stop you from checking it out! This movie has both man vs. nature as well as man vs man with the backwoods hillbillies that they have to face. I tell you... I am surprised at how much I enjoyed Deliverance. I mean I could almost watch this one again already! If that don't call for a full 5-star rating I don't know what does! Thanks again Achim!  And thank everyone (on all the sites I post this to) for the recommendation! 



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Anything Goes on January 3rd, 2010)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

Title: Life Begins: The Complete Series 1


Certificate:15
Year:2004


Plot:From the creator of Cold Feet comes Life Begins the award-winning drama starring Caroline Quentin.

Maggie thought her 2.4 family life was fairly perfect until her husband runs off with a younger model and all of a sudden she's got to start all over again.  But she soon discovers that what in sales may not be able the worst thing that's ever happened to her.

Episode 1 - Maggie and Phil
Maggie is soon discovering that your life takes a rather sudden tumble when your husband drops the bombshell that it's time to split up.

My Review:

Not a lot of comedy in this pilot episode, which deals with the painful break-up of the couples marriage, it's effect on their children, and the hopelessness felt by the spurned wife as she is left to deal with everything after her husband leaves.
Caroline Quentin is a convincing lead, one who I can imagine will provoke great sympathy in future episodes. The support cast works well, with Alexander Armstrong especially noteworthy as the husband. The writing is superb, as the scenarios, subject matters raised and problems faced are wholly realistic.
This is definately a keeper, and one which I am sure will develop into an interesting drama/comedy.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on September 29th, 2009)