DVD Collectors Online

Superman, a review by DJ Doena

January, 15th


Director: Richard Donner

Marlon Brando   ...    Jor-El
Gene Hackman   ...    Lex Luthor
Christopher Reeve   ...    Superman / Clark Kent
Ned Beatty   ...    Otis
Jackie Cooper   ...    Perry White
Glenn Ford   ...    Jonathan Kent
Margot Kidder   ...    Lois Lane
Valerie Perrine   ...    Eve Teschmacher
Terence Stamp   ...    General Zod
Phyllis Thaxter   ...    Martha Kent
Susannah York   ...    Lara
Jeff East   ...    Young Clark Kent
Marc McClure   ...    Jimmy Olsen
Sarah Douglas   ...    Ursa

Synopsis: Shortly before the destruction of the planet Krypton Jor-El and his wife Lara send their infant son, Kal-El, to Earth. There he grows up as Clark Kent. He looks like one of them but he isn't one of them. Earth's yellow sun and his dense molecular structure give him powers no Human possesses. As a Human he's Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter; as a Kryptonian he's Superman, saviour of the Human race.

My Opinion: I am a bit torn about this movie. I really like the entire beginning with Jor-El and when his father dies and when he learns in the Fortress.
But when he's the reporter Clark Kent I don't really like his persona. I know that it's THE myth and that he has been portrayed this way in the comics but I've gotten too used to a much more "normal" Clark like he was portrayed by Dean Cain in Lois & Clark or Tom Welling in Smallville.
I'm also not too comfortable with the scenes Lex is in because then the movie drifts too much into a comic style. I know I shouldn't hold that against it - it's derived from a comic after all - but I've got other expectations from comic movies after watching the new X-Men and Spider-Man and especially Batman movies.
But it is still a good movie one can enjoy if one accepts its origins.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010 on January 25th, 2010)

Joe Kidd, a review by Rich

Joe Kidd



Clint Eastwood stars as the title character in this low-key, moderately politicised variation of his spaghetti westerns. In New Mexico in the late 1890s, the fiery Louis Chama (John Saxon) leads a group of Mexican-American peasants in a fight for their land after the evidence of their ownership has been destroyed in a questionable courthouse fire. The wealthy Frank Harlan (Robert Duvall), who also lays claim to the disputed land, has decided to bypass the legal system and hires a group of killers to take care of Chama. Kidd, who initially rejects Harlan's offer to join his hunting party, changes his mind when he finds that Chama has stolen some of his horses and brutalized one of his ranch hands. However, after seeing Harlan randomly pick off some Mexicans and becoming interested in Helen Sanchez (Stella Garcia), Kidd begins to think twice about his current employer.

Mis-firing Western with little to excite or interest.
The storyline is fairly woeful, plodding along at a snails pace, and given the names involved both in front of and behind the camera it's a waste.
Unless you are completing an Eastwood collection or have an hour and a half to waste, I'd pass this one by.
 

(From Riches Random Reviews on March 18th, 2009)

"Due South" Marathon, a review by Tom

Due South (TV movie) (1994-04-26)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Writer)
Director: Fred Gerber
Cast: Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser), David Marciano (Detective Ray Vecchio), Wendel Meldrum (Leann Brighton), Charles Shamata (Capt. Walsh), Joseph Ziegler (Insp. Moffatt), Page Fletcher (Frank Drake), Ken Pogue (Gerard), Kaye Ballard (Mrs. Vecchio), Gordon Pinsent (Fraser Sr.), Jim Millington (Underhill), Victor Ertmanis (Supt. Meers), Michael J. Reynolds (Senior Official), Eric Schweig (Inuit Hunter), Kimberly Ange (RCMP Officer 1), Jennifer Parsons (RCMP Officer 2), Johnathon Wittaker (RCMP SGT.), Steve Morel (RCMP Officer 3), Scot Dentor (RCMP Officer 4), Nigel Hamer (RCMP Officer 5), Barry Kennedy (Bert Jenkins), Philip Williams (Herb Lantrell), Keith Dinicol (Coroner), Jack Nicholsen (Airport Hustler), Gene Mack (Chicago Desk Sgt.), Simon Lugassy (Prisoner), Dan Lett (Dr. Weingarten), Paulina Gillis (Maria), Ramona Milano (Francesca), Vito Rezza (Tony), Elizabeth Berman (Mrs. Drake), Sandi Stahlbrand (TV Reporter), Farzad Sadrian (Cabby)

It was really fun to revisit this TV movie again. Great introduction to the two main characters. None of cast which became the regular cast of the series are in this movie though. We have another captain (the one of the series is better). The only two other characters who are well known in the series to appear in this TV movie is Robert Fraser, Benton's father. And Francesca, the beautiful sister of Ray who develops a crush on Benton.
The humor the series is known for is already present in this movie.
The pilot made appetite for the series again.

Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on May 27th, 2009)