DVD Collectors Online

Before Sunset, a review by Antares

Before Sunset (2004) 60/100 - I'm putting on as much body armor as I can, as I await the slings and arrows from those who've proclaimed this a truly great film. For years, I've heard nothing but glowing praise for this sequel, some going as far as to say that it is better than the first film. But everything that was magical, absorbing and beautiful in Before Sunrise, is completely absent in Before Sunset. The first film spoke to me with an accurate portrayal of that special moment we probably all have had at least once, when we meet someone who clicks with us. OK, at times, it could be a bit long winded, but I can remember moments I had like this in my past, and the encounter just seems so right, that you try a bit too hard to impress. But that's OK, because if the other person is responsive, then they too, are laying it on a bit thick. Couple this with the unique spots in Vienna that they pass through and you have a wondrous film that breezes by. But now on the other hand, you move the setting to Paris and instead of having the two sharing moments in other unique spots in the city of romance, you have them in a car, on a boat and finally in her apartment. And what do they do? They whine... and they whine... and they whine some more about how their lives really never became full because they never met six months later, oh so many years ago. And the device used to explain why it never happened was convenient, but really paints Celine as not too quick on her feet. I mean, she was willing to toil around Vienna with a perfect stranger all those years ago, but six months later, because of a death in her family, the intelligent young lass can't be a little creative in getting a message to Jesse at the train station? I know that if it were me and I promised to meet someone at a later date, and the misfortune of losing a loved one occurs the very week of the planned meeting, I would have been a bit more resourceful. She couldn't find a friend and offered to pay for their plane fare, hotel room and a couple of day's worth of meals in Vienna and have that person hold a small sign with Jesse's name on it, and if he showed up, give him a letter explaining what happened? If she really thought he was going to be her true soul mate, I think she just would have found a way to contact him there.

Finally, I'd like to comment on the ending, which, once again, has been purported by many as being great. I know I'm looking at the most extreme examples, but what made the first film so great was how realistic it was in a positive sense, and this second film tries to be real too, but it doesn't care about potential side effects and that's tragic.

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 March 19th, 2013)

Management, a review by dfmorgan

Management

Year: 2009
Director: Stephen Belber
Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson
OverviewWatched: 23rd Jul 2010
My Thoughts: A rom-com that doesn't really surprise in any shape or form. The protaganists meet and part and meet and part and finally meet again. During the final time apart they come to realise aspects about themselves that they change ready for the finale.

My Rating: I wanted to like this but only a 2

Dave

(From Dave's DVD/Blu-ray Reviews on July 23rd, 2010)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Angel tries to find out how a youth shelter is connected to Wolfram & Hart. As it turns out, W&H is hosting a charity party for the shelter, but they intend to keep a great deal of the collected money for themselves.

My Opinion: Nice trap that Lindsey walked into. And I, too, think the question is important: How ethical is it to take money from dubious sources and use it for god purposes. At least in this case the money is "clean" because W&H couldn't take any of it.

Synopsis: A young physicist works on a formula that can "freeze time". But he has - without his knowledge - help from demons who have other plans with that invention.

My Opinion: What bugged me in this episode - or rather in Angel in general - is the mingling of demon world and human world. The demons are so obvious that nobody should be surprised anymore that they exist. Sunnydale was directly over a hellmouth but even there the humans had their bar and the demons had another. There hasn't been a demon that walks into a human bar and the barkeep says that he usually serves only vampires disguised as humans.

Synopsis: Angel and the other work separately on the same case: A group of cops is out there who arrest and beat up youths with no obvious reason. And they even keep talking after they got beheaded.

My Opinion: There's nothing better than a nice group of zombies. But it is obvious again that good intentions don't necessarily result in good deeds.

Synopsis: Angel learns that one of the senior partners of W&H plans to visit the firm. But this "senior partner" is a demon from a hell dimension. Angel plans to kill him and the other partners.

My Opinion: This episode was really depressing, especially the end and the lift to the "home office".

(From Angel Marathon on February 17th, 2008)