DVD Collectors Online

Die Wannseekonferenz, a review by Antares

Die Wannseekonferenz (1984) 84/100 - A few years back I caught the BBC film Conspiracy on HBO. It detailed the infamous Wannsee Conference held in Berlin in 1942 where Reinhard Heydrich, Adolf Eichmann and thirteen other top members of the Nazi party discussed the implication of the Final Solution to the "Jewish problem" in Europe. Taken from a copy of the documented minutes found in Martin Luther's personal effects, the film played out in real time and chronicled the heinous barbarity of the proceedings. But what always bothered me about this film, was that the Nazis were played by mostly British actors, and their accents tended to weaken the brusque nature of the dialog and it also seemed like some of the discussion was a bit enhanced, you could say, to make it more interesting. In a review I wrote a few years ago, I mentioned how I would like to have seen this story done with German actors. Matthias told me about this version, but I couldn't find it anywhere on DVD. But a few weeks ago I found it over at YouTube, in its entirety and with the essential subtitles. And just as I thought, the German dialects made the nonchalant delivery of these ghastly lines all the more powerful and striking. Unfortunately, this version followed the minutes almost verbatim, and it kind of lacked the intensity of the BBC version. Basically it's just a quick bureaucratic meeting that you are given a ringside seat to.

What the color coding means...

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on July 20th, 2012)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, a review by Tom

Title: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Year: 1982
Director: Nicholas Meyer
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 112 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Commentary, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Swedish, Turkish

Stars:
William Shatner
Leonard Nimoy
DeForest Kelley
James Doohan
Walter Koenig


Extras:
Commentary
Featurettes
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers

A great Star Trek movie. A great advisary in form of Khan. An interesting story with a great ending. And good production values for its small budget.

I like that they are addressing the age of the characters. I like the scenes, where Kirk has to put on glasses to read something.

Kirstie Alley's Saavik is a bit strange though. It seemed like the actress didn't know what a Vulcan should be like. She showed too much emotions. She even cried at Spock's funeral. Also it seems like Kirstie Alley refused to let her eyebrows shaved off to have the make-up department attach the distinctive Vulcan eyebrows.

I think Scottie took a wrong turn somewhere. Why would he take his injured nephew to the bridge first instead of taking him to the sickbay first?

Rating:

(From Tom's Star Trek Movies Marathon on January 31st, 2009)

Charmed Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

21. Death Becomes Them
A menacing confrontation with the undead Innocents that The Charmed Ones were unable to save allows Zankou (Oded Fener) to take control of the Book of Shadows.

My Thoughts:
This is actually part one of a two part season finale. A really good start... I do like this Zankou character. He makes for a good demon to fight the sisters.

22. Something Wicca This Way Goes
Zankou (Oded Feher) steals Phoebe's premonition power and thwarts The Charmed Ones' attempts to reclaim the Book of Shadows. The sisters realize that the only way to stop Zankou may be to sacrifice themselves.

My Thoughts:
This is a good finale. I would say the best of the series... or not even great... but enjoyable. It almost was our series finale. And it would have made for a decent series finale... but I am glad it wasn't as I definitely prefer the series finale we ended up with.



(From Charmed Marathon on July 14th, 2008)