DVD Collectors Online

Gymkata, a review by Jimmy

Title : Gymkata (1985)

Overview
Race through swamps. Climb a burning rope. Dangle above raging rapids. Brave fierce hand-to-hand smackdowns. And always be wary of the hurled spears and plunging blades of attacking ninjas. Survive the unsurvivable: It's part of The Game.

My Impression
Remember 1985? It was the year when Women Against Pornography claimed that the Huggies Diapers publicity were pornographic ( ), it was the year of the first Wrestlemania, it was the year the Parents Music Resource Center was formed (you know the crazy group who think that Judas Priest, Twisted Sisters and AC/DC were Satan himself), it was the year of Live Aid, it was the year of the New Coke disaster, it was the year the first Blockbuster Video had opened and it was the year were the First Early Warning Earth Station was placed in Parmistan for the U.S. Star Wars Defense Program. I think that we can all agree that the eighties decade was a weird one. The music was bizarre, the clothes were ugly and the north american cinema was mostly a propaganda instrument. But it was the decade of Reagan so there are no surprise there.

The link is there : this film is a no brainer entertaintment like all the Chuck Norris or Sylvester Stallone ones made in those years. So don't expect a challenging script here 

I like this one even if : the acting is bad (Kurt Thomas the hero isn't an actor but a gymnast), the story is really stupid, the game is really lame (really no one win it in 900 years  ), the fighting scenes aren't that great (even for an art martials movie) and you can hear the screams "USA, USA We are the best" in your head. But how you can not like the fact that some random gymnastic devices appear to help the fight (why do you think the title starts with the letters "gym"), the fact that Buck Kartalian is the Kan (even if he really overact), the karate fighting sound effect (close your eyes and you will think that you are watching a Bud Spencer's movie),...

I recommand it. Not because it's a masterpiece, but because it just make no sense to not laugh at it.

Rating :

(From My Alphabet Marathon Review on November 9th, 2008)

Los cronocrímenes, a review by Achim

(2007/Spain) Optimum Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) Director: Nacho Vigalondo Writing: Nacho Vigalondo (Writer) Length: 88 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: English

---

Stars:Plot:Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers

Where Primer did my head in with it's high-level approach this was a lot of fun to watch. Kept much simpler and more approachable than before mentioned film, Timecrimes is an interesting watch. It is unfortunately held back by a weird pacing, giving the audience lots of information too early, so we are left to merely observe how things unfold. This is especially true in the middle section and even in the "climax" little is done to keep us on the edge of the seat. That leaves the viewer ultimate with, as I said, interesting but mostly unengaging story.

Rating:

(From The Movies from Within My Lifetime on August 22nd, 2011)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Tom

2.01 North (1995-11-09)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), Jeff King (Writer)
Director: Richard J. Lewis
Cast: Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser), David Marciano (Detective Ray Vecchio), Beau Starr (Lt. Harding Welsh), Daniel Kash (Detective Louis Gardino), Tony Craig (Detective Jack Huey), Catherine Bruhier (Elaine), Red Green (Hamish), David Calderisi (Vecchio Sr.), Gordon Pinsent (Fraser Sr.), Andrew Jackson (Hogan), Kevin Rushton (Hunter), Brian Smegal (Jack), Barry Stilwell (Cop), Ramona Milano (Francesca (uncredited))

A good start into the new season. It follows up on Ray's promise in the last episode. This episode perfectly shows how far their friendship has come.

Rating:



2.02 Vault (1995-11-07)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), Jeff King (Story By), Paul Haggis (Story By), Kathy Slevin (Story By), Kathy Slevin (Screenwriter)
Director: Steve DiMarco
Cast: Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser), David Marciano (Detective Ray Vecchio), Beau Starr (Lt. Harding Welsh), Daniel Kash (Detective Louis Gardino), Tony Craig (Detective Jack Huey), Catherine Bruhier (Elaine), Ramona Milano (Francesca), Camilla Scott (Inspector Margaret Thatcher), Christina Cox (Morgan), Scott Gibson (Ovitz), Boyd Banks (Norm), Vince Corazza (Lenny), Nicholas Kilbertus (Harold), David Crean (Cooper), Ken Quinn (Mountie Will), Michael Maiola (Damian), Marc Donato (Little Kid)

A great episode. Fun interactions between Ray and Fraser in the Vault. More screentime for Francesca. And the introduction of Fraser's new boss Inspector Thatcher. I always liked her character in the second season. Sadly with beginning of season 3 she is only bitchy (and with a bad new hairstyle).

Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on August 9th, 2009)