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The Banquet, a review by dfmorgan

The Banquet

Year: 2006
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Ge You, Daniel Wu
Overview: A spectacular, dazzling and bloody re-imagining of Shakespeare's legendary Hamlet, 'The Baquet' is an epic tale of revenge, violence and betrayal.

Locked in a loveless marriage Empress Wan (International superstar Zhang Ziyi) is desperate to keep her forbidden love for Prince Wu Luan (Daniel Wu), from a family divided by cruelty and oppression. When the Emperor suddenly dies, his conniving younger brother Li takes up the throne forcing Wan to marry him. Convinced that this is the only way to protect all she loves from being destroyed by this new power hungry tyrant, Wan agrees.

But Wu Luan refuses to see his love snatched away through such evil, greed and deception. After repeated attempts on his life amid furious confrontations with the new Emperor's imperial assassins, Wu Luan resolves to return to the palace and take revenge for himself, his beloved and a nation in the grip of a murderous madman.

Featuring astonishing, career-topping action from the infamous Yuen Wo Ping ('Kill Bill', 'The Matrix' and 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon') and a cast featuring some of Asia's most acclaimed cinema icons, 'The Banquet' is like no other epic you have ever witnessed.

Watched: 30th. Jul 2010
My Thoughts: As a martial arts film this was wordy, probably due to it being based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, rather than loads of action but I thought it was quite well done though. The action choreography seemed to be more balletic (is that a word) with many spins, pirouettes, leaps and bounds as well as the obligatory cut and thrust. I don't know if there is a longer director's cut, I couldn't find any reference to one, but this film ends with an unresolved murder.

My Rating: I did enjoy it so a 3

Dave

ETA missing word than after rather and before loads - which now kinda changes the meaning of what I wrote 

(From Dave's DVD/Blu-ray Reviews on July 30th, 2010)

Paranormal Entity, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Paranormal Entity
Year: 2009
Director: Shane Van Dyke
Rating: NR
Length: 88 Min.
Video: Widescreen :1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles:

Stars:
Erin Marie Hogan
Fia Perera
Shane Van Dyke

Plot:
Twenty-three-year old Thomas Finley was arrested for the murders of his nineteen-year-old sister, Samantha, and fifty-two-year-old Edgar Lauren, professor and paranormal investigator. Police were called to the scene by Thomas Finley himself. He was found with his sister's body cradled in his arms.

Despite evidence against him, Thomas claimed that the victims were attacked by a demonic entity of unknown origin. Days later, he committed suicide.

At the request of those close to the Finley family, this video, found at the scene, is being released to the public for the first time as a testament to what really happened inside the Finley home. Decide the truth for yourself.

Extras:
Scene Access
Digital Copy

My Thoughts:
My brother gave me this DVD a couple weeks back. This is one of those movies that try to make it seem "real" by trying to play it off as real types found from someone's camcorder. Much like Blair Witch Project or St. Francisville Experiment. This one obviously a rip off of Paranormal Activity... so I went into it not expecting a whole lot. I must say though... I really enjoyed this one quite a bit. But I found where many people do not... I like this style of movie. The whole illusion of making you think you are watching some real lost tapes of unexplainable happenings... I just find it fun for some reason. I don't really feel right about comparing this one to Paranormal Activity... only because it has been a while since I watched it so I don't think I could do it fairly. As it has been almost a year since I watched it. But I do like where this one went... the urn of their father's ashes... the sister in the attic... footprints on the ceiling,, they had some decent ideas for the atmosphere of the movie. It is worth checking out if you like this style of movie.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Unwatched DVDs on January 28th, 2011)

Birthday Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

I Love Lucy: Season 2
Lucy's Last Birthday
A forlorn Lucy thinks everyone has forgotten her birthday. In Central Park, she meets "The Friends of the Friendless," then marches into the club with her new buddies.

My Thoughts:
This is a fun episode. Though I do like the Little Ricky's Birthday with Superman episode better. This episode shows what kind of fun you can have with a surprise birthday party.  Just the thought of someone making a fool out of their self on their birthday is a fun idea. Though I didn't care much for the "Friends of the Friendless" idea. This is also the episode that Ricky puts lyrics to the "I Love Lucy" theme song.



(From Birthday Marathon on May 29th, 2009)