DVD Collectors Online

Topaz, a review by Jon

Topaz (1969)
3 out of 5



A French intelligence agent becomes embroiled in the Cold War politics first with uncovering the events leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missle Crisis, and then back to France to break up an international Russian spy ring.Foreign CorrespondentSaboteurThe Man Who Knew Too MuchForeign CorrespondentThe Trouble With HarryTorn CurtainMarnie through Topaz is out-of-date considering this is the era of the independent director approaching. This was a brave new world and the Western, period and urban, was making a revisionist comeback. There was no place in American film for Hitchcock any more. Maybe it was time to go back to his roots?

(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on May 3rd, 2010)

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!, a review by Antares

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!





Year: 1968
Film Studio: Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Genre: Comedy
Length: 94 Min.

Director
Hy Averback (1920)

Writing
Paul Mazursky (1930)...Written By
Larry Tucker (1934)...Written By

Producer
Charles H. Maguire (1927)
Paul Mazursky (1930)
Larry Tucker (1934)

Cinematographer
Philip H. Lathrop (1912)

Music
Elmer Bernstein (1922)...Composer

Stars
Peter Sellers (1925) as Harold
Jo Van Fleet (1914) as Mother
Leigh Taylor-Young (1945) as Nancy
Joyce Van Patten (1934) as Joyce
David Arkin (1941) as Herbie
Herb Edelman (1933) as Murray
Salem Ludwig (1915) as Father
Louis Gottlieb (1923) as Guru

ReviewLolita, The Pink Panther and Dr. Strangelove would cast him as an international star and paved the way for what should have been his most creative years. Unfortunately, his roles in the second half of the decade proved that while he was a talented comedian, his choice of scripts left little to be desired. His first missteps occurred in the films, in 1965, followed by Casino RoyaleThe Party, but would fall back into mediocrity with the commonplace little comedy, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!Review Criterion

(From I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968) on May 24th, 2010)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: A film crew has the assignment and the approval of the president to make a documentation about the SGC. This is for the case the Stargate program becomes public knowledge. No one in the SGC is overly enthusiastic about this idea.

My Opinion: This episode's only purpose seemed to be the introduction of the characters. Then they don't have to do this in the second part. Since it didn't happen much in it, let me make a statement regarding the second episode: At some point the journalist gets angry and shouts at the soldiers that he - as well as they - also serves the people. I don't know how you feel about this but I registered a remarkable drop in the quality of journalism over the last years/decade. Many reports are mere pimped Reuters reports and most newspapers are only dictated by cost effectiveness. There is very few investigative, but instead "embedded" journalism. This "to serve the people" is a noble claim but it's not a reality.
I can only speak for Germany, of course.

Synopsis: SG-13 is trapped and is rescued by several SG teams (SG-1 amongst them). During the fire fight Colonel O'Neill receives a frontal hit by a staff weapon. Other people get also wounded and killed.

My Opinion: I honestly don't remember what I thought when I watched this for the first time. When I watched it this time, I already knew that not Jack but Dr. Frasier had been killed. But I still waited for the moment this is revealed. It was a very emotional (and therefore good) episode. But it was a bit sad that Teryl Rothery didn't get more screen time, considering that this was her last episode.

Synopsis: When the NID and SG-1 blow a rouge NID operation they find a young woman. She is an engineered Human-Goa'uld-hybrid whose growth rate has been accelerated with the help of nanites. She has been created to access the knowledge of the Goa'uld, but one half of her isn't as innocuous as it seems.

My Opinion: This episode was written by Michael Shanks, directed by Amanda Tapping and Richard Dean Anderson was once again absent. I didn't care much for it.

Synopsis: Henry Hayes is the new president of the United States and Kinsey is his vice president. After being briefed on all Top Secret projects there is yet another briefing where he learns about the Stargate project. Kinsey tries to convince him to replace most of the SGC's staff.

My Opinion: The fourth clip show of the series and another episode where no member of SG-1 had a live appearance. But I like William Devane as president although he seemed to be a bit "simple" in the beginning. But, coming to think about the actual president Bush jr., ... Anyway, I liked the fact that Woolsey (Robert Picardo, The Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager) was uncongenial yet he has integrity.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on April 19th, 2008)