DVD Collectors Online

Gran Torino, a review by Rich

Gran Torino



Korean War vet and retired autoworker Walt Kowalski doesn't like much how his life or his neighborhood has turned out. He especially doesn't like the people next door, Hmong immigrants from Southeast Asia. But events force Walt to defend those neighbors against a local gang that feeds on violence and fear.
Clint Eastwood works on both sides of the camera, winning the National Board of Review Award as Best Actor for his bone-deep playing of Kowalski, burnished into a "prime vintage Eastwood performance" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).

This film treads familiar territory in what is said to be Eastwoods swansong as an actor, and his presence on-screen is dominant, with some terrific and joyous scripting keeping an amusing undertone to the whole movie. There are hints of Dirty Harry in Walt, and the banter between him and his neighbours is superb.
This is not his best film, but nonetheless is still highly watchable and refreshing. It will not find favour with anyone too PC, as racial insults abound but are key to the underlying message of the film. The support cast work well in tandem, and although the film was quite long I never found myself clock watching.
If this is to be Clints last appearance in front of camera, he leaves on a high.
 


(From Riches Random Reviews on June 12th, 2009)

Band of Outsiders, a review by Antares

Band of Outsiders (1964) 3/5 - This was my first Godard film and after it was finished, the first thought that ran through my mind was a scene from the movie Amadeus. After Mozart's first royal commissioned opera, is finished, Emperor Joseph II comes on stage to praise Mozart for the work. He is at a loss for words, but manages to blurt out that it was 'quite new', but with slight trepidation in his delivery. Mozart retorts It is new...isn't it your Majesty? as if being new instantly makes it praise worthy. But sometimes, being new doesn't make something a masterpiece, and I felt that Godard was more interested in being fashionably different as opposed to making an interesting film. Sure, it does have it's share of crafted shots, but as a whole the story was lacking in creativity. I will admit that just looking at Anna Karina was worth the effort of watching this film, but aside from her, the rest was pretty shallow and a bit self exalting on the part of the director. It won't stop me from seeking out his other films, but now at least, I know what I can expect and hopefully, this was just an aberration, and not the norm.

(From Antares' Short Summations on July 13th, 2012)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

The Simpsons - Series 1

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
It is up to Homer to save Christmas, when bonuses are cut at the nuclear power plant and Marge is forced to use the Christmas savings on an emergency.



Interesting to revisit such a successful series as the Simpsons and view its starting point. The winning formula is evident from the pilot, the animation and production may be certainly slicker now, but little has changed in the humour and feel of the show.
I will never be the biggest fan of the show, they were and are purchased for my son, but I respect how and why this programme is so popular.
As a pilot, it did a good job introducing all the major characters, their roles in the show, and the many nuances that have become so familiar over the years.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on September 19th, 2009)