DVD Collectors Online

The Green Man, a review by Antares

The Green Man (1956) 74/100 - I love Alastair Sim, he's one of my favorite English actors and comedians. I bought an R2 DVD set of his films a couple of years ago, and haven't really explored it yet. This was the first film I've watched in the set, and if it's any indication, I'm going to enjoy the others immensely. Sim plays an assassin named Hawkins, famous for his ability to kill anyone, anywhere with his meticulously crafted time bombs. His latest job is the elimination of a member of Parliament, who will be at the the Green Man hotel for a weekend with one of his secretaries. Hawkins knows of his plans because he has been romancing the MP's head secretary, to find out the information he needs to carry out his assignment. But when he finds out the MP's itinerary, he mistakenly writes the info on some typing paper on the secretary's desk, not knowing that a few pieces below is a piece of carbon paper. When the secretary returns to work after Hawkins leaves her office, she finds the paper under the carbon and deduces that Hawkins has been using her for information. She calls Hawkins and demands an explanation, and when he is not forth coming, she heads over to his home to confront him. Hawkins is about to leave for the hotel and has his assistant change the signs on his and the neighbor's newly purchased house, so the secretary will think that he has left. But the assistant isn't quick enough and he has to kill the secretary when she warns of going to the local constabulary. At this moment, a door to door vacuum salesman, who has an appointment with Hawkins' maid, makes the same mistake as the secretary and rings the wrong house. The salesman tries to demonstrate the vacuum for Hawkins' assistant, who is visibly rattled by his predicament, and he finds a way to exit through the back door. The salesman spots blood on the carpet and when the woman who owns the house returns, he explains about his appointment, and asks her about the blood on the carpet. From here on out, the madcap hijinks and dry, dark British humor comes fast and furious as the salesman and the woman, deduce Hawkins plans to assassinate the MP, and set off to warn him. It's a quick, fun little film, and if you're a fan of this kind of British humor, I'm sure you'd enjoy.

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 October 12th, 2013)

Riding The Bullet, a review by Rich

Stephen King's Riding The Bullet



Alan embarks on a 100-mile hitchhike to see his mother in the hospital. Along the way he must confront his many demons - both living and dead -and in the end make the ultimate choice that will mean life or death for him and his mother!

Good book - awful film - how familiar does that sound??
Criminally bad adaptation, I'm surprised King would allow his name to be used on this dire attempt. Totally unengaging, pointlessly long, soulless and dull. The whole point of the film - choices - seemed to get lost in the telling
 


(From Riches Random Reviews on April 19th, 2009)

Charmed Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

13. Charmageddon
The conflict-free Utopian world can only be protected if the Avatars control who lives and dies. Leo gives up his life when he is unable to persuade The Charmed Ones that the Avatars kill innocent people.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... this is part 2 of the episodes that puts an end to the Avatar storyline. If I remember right... there is no more episodes dealing with the Avatars through-out the rest of the series. Which I am cool with... as I never cared for this storyline anyway.

14. Carpe Demon
An ex-demon professor candidate for Magic School causes a media frenzy when he falls under a spell that makes him believe that he is Robin Hood and that Phoebe is Maid Marian.

My Thoughts:
Even though you wouldn't know it by the description... this is actually a Valentine's Day episode. I like this character of Drake... his whole character does nothing but lightens up the show... he is a really fun character type. Shame he didn't last longer then he did on the series... of course I could see that he would get old pretty quick... but one or two more episodes with him would have been fun.

15. Show Ghouls
While trying to help the Lost Souls of hundreds of victims who died in a catastrophic fire at a cabaret, Phoebe and Drake (Billy Zane) transport themselves back to the night of the fire and are stuck in the year 1899.

My Thoughts:
Even though it is a decent episode... it is not one of my favorites. no real reason for it... just didn't strike me as very good.

16. The Seven Year Witch
Piper ends up in a coma after a vicious demon attack and her spirit is stuck in the cosmic void between life and death. Moreover, she is surprised to find Cole (Julian McMahon) waiting for her.

My Thoughts:
OK... even in this episode I still hate the Cole character. But this is a really good episode.I like how they handled the whole Leo's punishment thing. It made for a really good story.

(From Charmed Marathon on July 14th, 2008)