DVD Collectors Online

Lakshya, a review by Tom

Title: Lakshya
Year: 2004
Director: Farhan Akhtar
Rating: FSK-16
Length: 178 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: German

Stars:
Amitabh Bachchan
Hrithik Roshan
Preity Zinta
Om Puri
Sharad S. Kapoor

Plot:
'You never know where life will take you.' These words could not have been more true than in the case of Karan Shergill, the protagonist of Lakshya. Karan Shergill, born to rich, affluent parents, lives life not worrying about tomorrow. In most case, one can only be worried if they know what they want to do. Karan hasn't a clue! He is forever at the crossroads of life. The only thing stable in his life is Romila Dutta, a bright and ambitious, young woman. Romi, as she is known, loves Karan and believes that someday, he will find his calling.

Here begins his journey.

A journey that will test Karan, physically, mentally and emotionally.
A journey that will stretch him far beyond his limitations.
A journey that will force him to make bitter choices.
A journey that he will start as a boy but will end as a man.

Awards:

Filmfare Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Actor Award	Hrithik Roshan
Filmfare Awards	2005	Won	Best Choreography Award	Prabhu Deva
Filmfare Awards	2005	Won	Best Cinematographer Award	Christopher Popp
Filmfare Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Director Award	Farhan Akhtar
Filmfare Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Story Award	Javed Akhtar

Extras:
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Music Videos
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers

This is a war drama based on the real-life Kargil War, a conflict between India and Pakistan in 1999. I enjoyed the movie very much. Suprising how fitting the music numbers they used are in a war drama. They do not detract at all from the movie.
The movie reflects how highly regarded the army is for India, but does not shy away from criticizing their actions. The Pakistanis are portrayed a rather faceless enemy but reading up the history behind this conflict, it is understandable.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on July 20th, 2009)

My Neighbours The Yamadas, a review by dfmorgan

Title: My Neighbours The Yamadas
Original Title: Houhokekyo tonari no Yamada-kun
Year: 1999
Director: Isao Takahata
Rating: PG
Length: 104 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Yukiji Asaoka
Toru Masuoka
Masako Araki
Hayato Isohata
Naomi Uno

Plot:
A stylistic departure for Studio Ghibli, with writer-director Isao Takahata using digital production to create the feel of a moving watercolour sketch, My Neighbours The Yamadas follows the exploits of the Yamada family. Takahata charts the day-to-day life of husband and wife Takashi and Matsuko who, along with their two children, their dog, and Matsuko's live-in mother, navigate the pitfalls of modern life to often comic effect.

Featuring the voices of Jim Belushi, David Ogden Stiers and Molly Shannon, My Neighbours the Yamadas is a one-of-a-kind comic treat.

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Full-length storyboard version of the film



As I said in my review of the DVD a weird film which takes some getting used to and because the colouring used is based on pastel shades with the drawings based on comic strips the upgrade to Blu-ray doesn't pop as much as Laputa: Castle in the Air. Still looks good though but maybe not an essential upgrade, also the only credits again are the Japanese ones.

Original DVD review is here

(From Ghibli Blu's on May 15th, 2011)

Smallville Marathon #2, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Lana tries to get into the "Tri Psi Sorority" at the Met U and gets accepted. But "Tri Psi" isn't like any other sorority anywhere and Clark and Chloe become concerned about their friend.

My Opinion: Great episode! I didn't really notice it before, but this episode was packed with cultural references, especially towards Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It begins with Chloe baptizing the head of the sorority as "Buffy Sanders". James Marsters (Spike in Buffy and Angel) declares in his role as Professor Fine that "there's no such thing as vampires". Then the "Daily Planet"'s editor (Carrie Fisher) calls her "Buffy the Vampire". And when Chloe starts as a reporter in the basement of the "Daily Planet", she declares that she will only go "up, up and away".

Synopsis: Chloe investigates in a murder and Lois helps her with it. The trail leads to Senator Jennings who happens to be an old friend of Jonathan's. He claims that someone tries to frame him and not without good reason. Lex has just entered the race for the Senator's seat.

My Opinion: If the previous episode was a homage to Buffy, this one was definitively a homage to The Dukes of Hazzard. But I have to say that time has been more merciful to John Schneider (Bo Duke in TDoH) than to Tom Wopat (Luke Duke in TDoH).
I really liked this episode, too. Not only because of the references, but also because that entire scene in the night club. I don't know what I would have done in Clark's place.

Synopsis: Clark cuts his finger on a fragment of silver Kryptonite. From now on he's being paranoid that people could reveal his secret and that all people around him will betray him. He attacks his parents, Lex and finally Lana and only Professor Fine seems to be able to stop him.

My Opinion: I like Marsters. He makes an excellent villain. I saw him here on Smallville for the first time. I knew he was Spike in Buffy but at this point I had no real interest in the show. But his acting here convinced me to give it a try.
His plot gave him the perfect foundation to gain Clark's trust. Well done. I also liked it how Clark mixed up real events and imagination during his exposure.

Synopsis: Martha gets struck by something and Clark finds her unconscious on the driveway. Then she develops a weird bruise and Clark fears that his biological father has come to collect. In his fear that he might lose his mother he turns to Professor Fine who actually can help. But he can't stop the infection, just ease the pain. In order to prevent Martha's death Clark has to destroy the "Fortress of Solitude".

My Opinion: Fine played him perfectly. And if one wouldn't knew who Zod really is, who wouldn't believed Fine? We mustn't forget that Clark destroyed his own spaceship because there was a message that said he was sent here to rule this planet. Too bad that Fine's story has ended so soon (for now).
Funny thing is I just found out that the voice of Jor-El belongs to Terence Stamp. Ok, that I knew before now but the name didn't ring any bells until IMDb told me that he was General Zod in Superman II:



But everytime I hear the name "Zod" I cannot help it but to think of Mallrats:



(From Smallville Marathon #2 on June 8th, 2008)