DVD Collectors Online

Holiday Inn, a review by Danae Cassandra

Holiday Inn

Year of Release: 1942
Starring: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale
Directed By: Mark Sandrich
Genre: Romance, Comedy

Overview:
Experience one of the most popular holiday movies of all-time like never before with the 3-disc Holiday Inn Collector's Set featuring a brand-new color version of the film and the complete CD soundtrack!

Screen legends Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire star as two talented pals who find themselves competing for the affections of the same lovely lady (Marjorie Reynolds) in this Academy Award®-winning† musical, filled with singing, dancing, comedy and romance. Whether you are watching the original black & white masterpiece, discovering the new color version, or listening to the timeless Irving Berlin soundtrack featuring "White Christmas," the 3-disc Holiday Inn Collector's Set is the perfect way to enjoy the holiday season!

My Thoughts:
We've been trying to watch this for a few days, but life kept getting in the way.  But finally we were able to!  Here we have a couple of old Hollywood greats, Astaire and Crosby, doing what they do best (sing, dance, and romance).  Crosby is in his usual fine form with several excellent songs, and Astaire wows us with his dancing, especially the firecracker number.  Man, he sure could dance! 

I can't really consider it a Yuletide film however.  Sure, part of the film is set at Christmas, but it encompasses many more holidays and doesn't really have the spirit I expect from a Christmas film.  It is, after all, basically about one fellow trying to steal another's gal.

Despite the political incorrectness of it today, I'm glad the blackface number is still included.  We can't learn from the past by erasing it.  If you must apply modern sensibilities to the number, consider that this was a different time and how far we have come from it - and how far we still have to go. 

However it's a great film, really lovely with a great nostalgic feel, warm and romantic.  There's great chemistry among the cast, and you end the film with a smile on your face.  Really, what more does one want from a romance and a musical?  I will be untagging it from the Yuletide group however.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 4/5

(From Danae's Yuletide Marathon on December 30th, 2012)

28 Weeks Later, a review by Jimmy

Title : 28 Weeks Later (2007)

Overview
The terror and devastation unleashed in '28 Days Later' picks up six months after the Rage virus has decimated London in this heart-stopping horror sequel that "surpasses the original" ('Dallas Morning News'). With order restored and the war against the infection won, the U.S. Army steps in to help repatriate Mainland Britain. But one of the returning refugees carries a terrible secret that threatens to reignite the deadly explosion of bloodlust, carnage and chaos.

My Impression
Sadly I'm not like Pete and when I watch a sequel I can't leave aside the precedent part. As a sequel this movie is a big deception... The movie start well and this is sad that the director had decided to not follow the story of the survivor. In place of this he had decided to make an ode to the US army and its greatness  , sure the others european countries can't intervene since they are a bunch of wimpy non coalition members (I'm sarcastic here). Honestly this movie is not a sequel at all, this is just a bad war movie... The script is weak, we don't care about the kids and why were we, since they are no development or backstory... Seriously don't tell me that the chopper stunt isn't stupid and impossible to do... No suspense, it's like the director had thrown everything that works in the first film in the garbage and a completly different movie (better known as the Nightmare on Elm Street syndrome).

Bad as a sequel and bad as a stand alone movie...

Rating :

Number of film watch : 20

(From My October Horror Marathon on October 10th, 2008)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Fullmetal Alchemist: Season One: Part One (2003/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia FUNimation Productions (United States) Length: 420 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English

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Plot:
What are you willing to sacrifice ?

Under stormy skies, Eward and Alphonse Elric exploited the
clandestine science of Alchemy in attempt of the forbidden - To
resurrect their dearly departed mother. But every art form has its taboos
and every science its laws not to be broken. The tragic failure of
the young brothers unleashed and unholy reaction that ripped their
bodies apart and their innocense asunder.

Four years later, an evil lurks behind the false face of freedom, its
growth unchecked. A lone State Alchemist combs the countryside
in search of a mythological stone. If found, the stone could amplify
natural talents and harness a power equal to the restoration of
things once held precious, now lost. If found, the stone would also
allow the State Military to senselessly obliterate countless more in
the ongoing struggle. The youngest State Alcehmist in history is
soon faced with harsh truth: The power to create is but a breath
away from the power to destroy.


Hagane no Renkinjutsushi
1.01 Taiyo- ni Idomu Mono (2003-10-04)
Writer: Hiromu Arakawa (Original Material By), Sho Aikawa (Screenwriter)
Director: Seiji Mizushima
Cast

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 20th, 2011)