DVD Collectors Online

Travellers and Magicians, a review by Danae Cassandra

Travellers and Magicians
Year of Release: 2003
Directed By: Khyentse Norbu
Starring: Tshewang Dendup, Sonam Kinga, Lhakpa Dorji, Gomchen Penjor, Deki Yangzom
Genre: Drama, Adventure

Overview:
Mystical journeys of spiritual discovery are set against the spectacular, evocative landscape of the remote kingdom of Bhutan in Travellers & Magicians. Young government official Dondup (Tshewang Dendup) dreams of escaping to America while stuck in a ravishingly beautiful but isolated village. But when he misses his bus to the city (and an awaiting visa), Dondup is forced to hitchhike with an elderly apple seller, a sage young monk, and old man, and his beautiful daughter (Sonam Lhamo). Along the way, the mischievous monk tells Dondup a story of another young man who sought a land far away: a tale of lust, jealousy, and murder that holds up a mirror to the restless Dondup and his blossoming attraction to the innocent young woman.

Directed by Khyentse Norbu (AKA Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, one of Himalayan Buddism's most revered lamas), this critical and box-office  hit magnificently interwines twin love stories for an enchanting unforgettable film that is filled with heart, hope and humor.

My Thoughts:
A young man's dreams of an exciting life with more money lead him on a journey toward the US, but along the way he keeps company with a monk whose stories may help him realize that the grass isn't always greener. If that sounds a bit cliche, it is. The ending isn't as clear cut, leaving us to wonder if he will leave or stay. Bhutan is gorgeous though, and the film is almost a meditative fable. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but it's for slow film lovers.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

(From March Around the World 2016 on April 7th, 2016)

The Queen, a review by Critter

The Queen (2006)



Director: Stephen Frears

Plot: After the death of Princess Diana, HM Queen Elizabeth II struggles with her reaction to a sequence of events nobody could have predicted.

Cast: Helen Mirren, James Cromwell, Alex Jennings, Roger Allam, Sylvia Syms, Tim McMullan, Douglas Reith.

My Thoughts:Rating:  


(From Critter's Alphabet Marathon Reviews on July 12th, 2010)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

The Hunger
Terence Stamp hosts the first season of this spine-tingling horror anthology series from Executive Producers Tony and Ridley Scott, which features a phenomenal cast of familiar faces as you've never seen them before. Inspired by leading genre writers, each episode will draw you into a mesmerizing world of terrifying characters and erotic encounters, where demons feed on the weaknesses of men and temptation consumes reason.

The Swords
When James Chandler arrives in London, a visit to a fetish club leads to a relationship with Musidora, a woman who can survive being pierced with swords.

My Thoughts:
This show was strange... but entertaining. The first thing I noticed on this was the opening credits which was weird on it's own. The next thing I noticed was that it is hosted by Terrance Stamp. This I am not sure how I feel about yet. I will need to see him host more episodes before I decide. The episode itself was more of the same... strange but entertaining. I know this series is a horror anthology series... but I didn't find this episode to contain the elements that I normally associate with horror. This episode I will say is good... but has plenty of room for improvement. As for the series on a whole... I will have to see more of it to decide.

My Rating:

Note: This is a recycled review from when I first watched the pilot episode during my month-long horror marathon.

(From Pete's Pilots on February 10th, 2010)