DVD Collectors Online

The Eagle, a review by VirtualScot

There few periods of history that really intrigue me in film, WWI and the Roman Empire are two them. Mainly because story's don't relove around these two periods of history very often, so it's very rare to see them be realised on film. This is what initially attracted to go see The Eagle in cinema, and boy was i impressed with how well realised it was.

Staring Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell. Marcus (Tatum) is posted to Britain in the hope of regaining his family's honour, after the ninth legion disappeared in North Britain twenty years under the command of his father. Losing the Eagle standard, Rome's most sacred symbol of honour and five thousand men. Shamed by the defeat Hadrian's wall is build, marking the line of the end of the known world.

After saving the life of a young Briton slave called Esca (Bell), who in thanks swears a bond to Marcus. Marcus sets off with Esca beyond the wall to find the Eagle standard and restore his family's honour.

From the opening where Marcus arrives at his first post to the ending. Every detail of Roman Britain is brilliantly brought to life, and all this on a budget twenty five million dollars.

There's no gas can powered chariots in this film (wink wink).

The only issue i had with the historical aspect, was the highlands not being as leafy as it was back then. The highlands only lost it's forests in the 18th century thanks to the Royal Navy. But that's forgiveable and only another couple of issues pop up here and there.

The action scenes do suffer from the fast is apparently more realistic idea. And the plot does get a little slow at certain point. Overall though Tatum and Bell both put in strong performances. Bell coming off better as it's safe to say he is the better actor (no offence to Mr Tatum).

Mixing full on violence with a more profound story of honour and courage. A masterpiece it is not but a solid film none the less, and the sleeper hit of this year i think.







(From The Eagle on March 30th, 2011)

Rock & Roll Frankenstein, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Rock & Roll Frankenstein Year: 1998 Director: Brian O'Hara Rating: R Length: 84 Min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: N/A

Stars:
Graig Guggenheim
Jayson Spence
Barry Feterman
Hiram Jacob Segarra
Andrew Hurley
Ted Travelstead

Plot:
A greedy music agent in desperate need of a chart-topping act turns to his nephew Frankie for help. Frankie Stein is a brilliant scientist with a macbre attraction to all things deceased, and he has created a serum that can reanimate dead tissue. With the help of a grave-robbing roadie, Frankie builds a ghoulish superstar from the body parts of legendary rockers including Hendrix, Holly, Vicious, and Morrison. But a certain appendage ends up in the re-assembled mix of organs and limbs, and it leads to a schizophrenic meltdown of the rock'n'roll monster that is utterly hilarious and down-right horrifying. And sure enough, people must die...Long Dead Rock & Roll!

Extras:
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers

My Thoughts:
When this movie was first offered to be given to me I thought this is one that there is no way I would enjoy... and wasn't going to take it. But there was just something about it... I kept going back to it in the offered list of movies. Kinda like riding past an accident... you can't help but to look... I just knew I had to see this one for myself for some strange reason.

I can't believe it... but I sat through this entire movie. The acting was terrible. The effects laughable. The writing atrocious... not to mention right boring. This one ranks down there with some of the worst movies I ever seen. Despite that there was a couple things here I couldn't help but to chuckle at... and I guess that is worth a little something.




Count:
Movie Count: 44
TV Ep. Count: 17
Other Count: 2

(From Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon: 2010 on October 12th, 2010)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: A convicted murderer is sentenced to a "wipe of personality" and afterwards serving to the community until his natural death. The death sentence whill only be applied in cases of high treason. Meanwhile a doctor heals persons in "Down Below" with an alien device.

My opinion: A quiet episode before the great season finale. But nonetheless an important one because it introduces the concept of "mind wipe" and the alien healing device. And we see Lennier fighting like we've never seen a Minbari fighting before (not even Neroon a few episodes earlier).


Synopsis: The Babylon 5 crew discovers a plot to kill the Earth Alliance president Santiago but has no chance to prevent it. Meanwhile Narn and Centauri argue about the rulership of quadrant 37 and Mr. Morden offers his help to Londo.

My opinion: Great finale! First great battle of the show while it lastened not long. And Garibaldi should have listened to Walker Smith in "TKO" as he said "Watch your back!" And Delenn puts herself into a cocoon. While I don't like the concept of cliffhangers - if I tune in again or not wouldn't depend on one single episode - it's a good one and it leaves many questions. Did someone recognize the similarity between the inauguration between Clark and US president Johnson in 1963?


Season analysis: Great introduction to a great show. It hasn't the quality  of the following 3 seasons but it stands out in comparison to other first seasons, e.g. Star Trek TNG. I think Babylon 5 was one of the first shows using the concept of a continued storyline instead of seperate episodes with only a small background story. Nowadays we are used to it (Lost, Heroes, 24) and I personally require it from a TV show.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on August 5th, 2007)