DVD Collectors Online

What a Wonderful World, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Morocco
wikipedia



What a Wonderful World
Year of Release: 2006
Starring: Nezha Rahile, Faouzi Bensaidi, El Mehdi Elaaroubi, Fatima Attif
Directed By: Faouzi Bensaidi
Genre: Thriller, Romance

Overview:My Thoughts:
What a beautiful film!  Bensaidi's set pieces, choreography and cinematography create a beautiful, stylish art film.  This truly is film as art.  The scenes with Kenza on the roundabout, with the cars moving around her, are really spectacular pieces of art.  It's a very modern piece, with a mashup of genres and influences from both east and west.  With all that's good about it, the film is very disconnected from the viewer.  Perhaps this is because it is film as art rather than film as story.  The plot definitely takes a backseat to the cinematography.  You are always aware you are watching a movie.  There is never a time in which you are immersed in the film.  The characters, stylish and beautiful as they are, are also very superficial.  There is no connection between them and the viewer.  You don't really care about them.  But it's still a worthwhile film to see, for it's beautiful artistry.  It's easy on the eyes.  Just don't expect depth.

Recommended for art film lovers only.  I was reminded, in some ways, of Breathless, so if you like Godard, you should give this film a look.

Bechdel Test: Pass, but barely

Overall: 3/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on March 31st, 2013)

Final Fantasy : The Spirits Within, a review by KinkyCyborg

Final Fantasy : The Spirits Within



Title:Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Year: 2001
Director: Hironobu Sakaguchi, Moto Sakakibara
Rating: PG-13
Length: 106 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, French, Commentary

Stars:
Ming-Na
Alec Baldwin
Ving Rhames
Steve Buscemi
Peri Gilpin

Plot:
The year is 2065 AD. The Earth is infested with alien spirits, and mankind faces total extinction. Led by a strange dream and guided by her mentor, Dr. Sid, scientist Aki Ross struggles to collect the eight spirits in the hope of creating a force powerful enough to destroy the alien presence and pure enough to protect the planet. With the aid of the Deep Eyes Squadron, Aki must save the Earth from its darkest hate and unleash the spirits within. FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN is the groundbreaking new CGI film from the creators of the Final Fantasy Video Game Franchise.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Gallery
Production Notes
Multi-angle
Music Videos
Storyboard Comparisons
DVD-ROM Content
Closed Captioned
Scene Editing Workshop


Film adaptation of the immensely popular gaming series, I did not see much of a resemblance between the two either in characters or story. It is however cutting edge CGI animation and it is stunning to behold.

I've never been a fan of the anime genre. Actually I shouldn't say that... I've never really given it a chance. If all anime were like this, life like in appearance with characters that look like real people I would likely watch more of it. I have no interest in watching the anime where all the 'toons' have big saucer moon eyes and triangular heads.    Just not my thing.

I found the story of this confusing, even when it was being explained to me near the end I still wasn't entirely sure what was happening. Something to do with indigenous earth Spirits clashing with alien 'phantom' Spirits with the solution being to collect 8 roaming spirits and channel them through the lead female in order to dissolve the alien 'ghosts'. Again very confusing but the spectacular imagery more than makes up for it.

I always have fun trying to identify the voice talent in animated movies. I was able to pick out Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, Donald Sutherland, James Woods and Keith David. It was bugging me who was doing the voice of Aki Ross and was surprised that it was Ming-Na and not a more recognizable actress.

Had they stuck with a less complicated plot I think they could have hit a home run with this but if you leave the viewer puzzled it can detract from planned sequels (Advent Children).

I still haven't watched Titan A.E. and I'm curious to see how it stacks up to this.

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on December 10th, 2010)

Tom's Random TV Episodes Reviews, a review by Tom

Columbo
No Time to Die
Writer: Ed McBain (Story By), Richard Levinson (Created By), William Link (Created By), Robert Van Scoyk (Screenwriter)
Director: Alan J. Levi
Cast: Peter Falk (Columbo), Joanna Going (Melissa Alexandra Hayes), Thomas Calabro (Detective Andy Parma), Dan Butler (Sergeant Goodman), Doug Savant (Detective Dennis Mulrooney), Daniel McDonald (Strassa), Daniel Davis (Alex Varrick), Lance LeGault (Police Captain), Juliet Mills (Eileen Hacker), David Byrd (Bailey), Don Swayze), Donald Moffat (Sheldon Hays), Patricia Huston (Louise Hays), Cliff Emmich (Tubby Comfort), Beth Chamberlin (Cindy), Siobhan McCafferty (Samantha), Stack Pierce (President Loren Jefferson), Yvonne Farrow (Janet), Richard Assad (Abdul), Tom Marvich (Technician #1), Gary Hollis (Technician #2), Jose Rey (Bartender), Darnell Harrison (Technician #3), Mark Alan Kaufman (Sandy)

Different to the usual Columbo episode. In this one no murder takes place but a kidnapping. And Columbo and the other cops are trying to find out who the kidnapper is througout the episode. There is no scene where Columbo is talking to the criminal trying to get him to slip up.
It answers a question: Is the behaviour of Columbo towards a criminal a complete act or is he like that by nature. This episode shows him as a very competent and highly regarded police officer throughout. There is no scene with the typical Columbo mannerisms at all.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random TV Episodes Reviews on March 1st, 2011)