DVD Collectors Online

Fantasia, a review by Danae Cassandra

Fantasia
Year of Release: 1940
Directed By: Samuel Armstrong, James Algar, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Hamilton Luske, Jim Handley, Ford Beebe, T. Hee, Norm Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson
Starring: Leopold Stokowski, The Philadelphia Orchestra
Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Musical

Overview:FantasiaFantasia 2000DestinoFantasia over and over again.

My Thoughts:
Fabulous music, groundbreaking animation, and one of Disney's bravest and riskiest films.  If all the sequences aren't evenly fabulous, there are ones that stand up as absolute classics 77 years after this first came out.  My personal favorite is "Night on Bald Mountain," but there is something to be said for all of them.  I just wish the introductions weren't there, or just announced the piece of music.  They're completely unnecessary.

Boy is that overview misleading though!  If by "the way Walt envisioned" you mean sanitized for your enjoyment, then yes, yes it is.  Sunflower & Otika are still missing, and they were in the original Walt made.  Gad I really hate censorship.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 18th, 2016)

Solomon Kane, a review by dfmorgan

Solomon Kane

Year: 2009
Director: Michael J. Bassett
Cast: James Purefoy, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Pete Postlethwaite
Overview: Solomon Kane is a brutally efficient 16th Century killing machine. Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier he and his men unleash bloodlust as they fight for England in war after war across all continents. Things change when Kane is visited by the Devil's reaper, dispatched from the depths of hell to lay claim on his corrupt soul. Solomon has to redeem himself by renouncing violence and devoting himself to a life of peace. As Kane embarks on his newfound spirituality he has to face the ultimate test when he begins his journey across an England ravaged by diabolical human Raiders. Will he jeopardise his own soul by re-embracing his murderous talents for a higher cause?

Watched: 22nd. Aug 2010
My Thoughts: Based on the Solomon Kane stories by Robert E. Howard. We meet Kane (James Purefoy) as an adventurer fighting for queen and country. However the Grim Reaper is waiting for him to reclaim his soul for the Devil. Kane escapes from the Reaper and returns to England where he takes sanctuary in a monastery and renounces his killing ways. The abbot has a vision and expells Kane and tells him to return to his ancestral home. On his journey there Kane befriends a puritan family on their way to the new world. This family is attacked and the daughter (Rachel Hurd-Wood) is taken prisoner. Kane is assured by the father's dying breath that he will be redeemed if he frees the girl even though he has taken up arms again. Kane now pursues the attackers.

My Rating: I found this to be enjoyable action for the most part so a 4

Dave

(From Dave's DVD/Blu-ray Reviews on August 22nd, 2010)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

The Incredible Hulk: How the Legend Began (1977/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 193 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Plot:
The Incredible Hulk: Pilot Episode
Discover the origin of "The Incredible Hulk" with the TV series pilot that helped to inspire the "Hulk" phenomenon. While conducting a research project about superhuman strength, Dr. David Banner bombards his own system with gamma radiation, unexpectedly transforming himself into the powerful beast, "The Incredible Hulk."


The Incredible Hulk
1.01 Pilot (1977-11-04)
Writer: Kenneth Johnson (Writer)
Director: Kenneth Johnson
Cast: Bill Bixby (David Banner), Susan Sullivan (Elaina Marks), Jack Colvin (Jack McGee), Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk), Susan Batson (Mrs. Maier), Mario Gallo (Mr. Bram), Eric Server (Policeman), Charles Siebert (Ben), Terrence Locke (Young Man), June Whitley Taylor (Woman), George Brenlin (Man at Lake), Jake Mitchell (Jerry), William Larson (Minister), Olivia Barash (Girl at Lake), Eric Deon (B.J.)

This pilot TV movie is a good, but maybe sometimes overly drawn-out introduction to the series. Bill Bixby is a great Bruce Banner (here called David). And with Lou Ferrigno they found just the right person for Hulk. I had read that Arnold Schwarzenegger had auditioned for this role, but he was rejected because of his smaller height. Another one who got the role and filmed some scenes, but was replaced early on in the production was Richard Kiel (Jaws from the Bond movies).

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 3rd, 2012)