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Zoom: Academy for Superheroes, a review by addicted2dvd

Zoom: Academy for Superheroes
 Buckle up and prepare for a ride that's out of this world! When Earth is threatened with imminent destruction, an out-of-shape, out-of-work and over-the-hill former superhero is called back into action to save the day.

That hero is Jack Sheppard a.k.a "Captain Zoom" (Tim Allen). The problem is he's lost all his powers. And now, it's up to General Larraby (Rip Torn) and Dr. Grant (Chevy Chase) to coax him into taking one more mission: train a ragtag bunch of kids with amazing superpowers of their own. With help from the brainy Marsha Holloway (Courteney Cox), they'll learn to work as a team and harness their powers to battle an evil menace who's determined to make one seriously huge mess of life as we know it.

TV Stars:
Tim Allen (Home Improvement)
Courtney Cox (Friends)

My Thoughts:
This morning my daughter wanted to watch a couple movies with me. So I told her to pick out something from her list for us to watch together. This is what she picked. I have read a few reviews of this movie... and every one of them basically said this movie sucked. I can't agree with that though. You do have to remember that this movie is more geared towards the family... especially with kids in mind... but it is a fun movie to watch. You just can't expect anything more from it then that. Just a fun... leave your brain at the door type superhero movie. If you expect anything more then that... yes you will be disappointed. But if you go in expecting nothing more then a good time with a handful of laughs I think you will enjoy it. Of course my daughter loved every minute of it.


Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1ufzHIhaJg

(From Weekend Movie Marathon: TV Stars in the Movies on March 29th, 2009)

Phantom of the Opera, a review by Hal

Title: Phantom of the Opera: Classic Monster Collection
Year: 1943
Director: Arthur Lubin
Rating: NR
Length: 93 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Nelson Eddy
Susanna Foster
Claude Rains
Edgar Barrier
Leo Carrillo

Plot:
This spectacular retelling of Gaston Leroux's immortal horror tale stars Claude Rains as the masked phantom of the Paris opera house -- a crazed composer who schemes to make a beautiful young soprano (Susanna Foster) the star of the opera company and wreak revenge on those who stole his music. Nelson Eddy, the heroic baritone, tries to win the affections of Foster as he tracks down the disfigured "monster" who has begun murdering those who resist his mad demands. This lavish production remains a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Featurettes
Production Notes

Although included in the Classic Monster Collection, I'm not sure it really belongs.  It is really a story of unrequited love and obsession.  The setting provides a grandeur for the cinematography which is spectacular with vibrant colors for the on-stage opera players, and even though I am not a big opera fan, the score was simply marvelous.  Claude Rains gives his usual stellar performance and Susanna Foster handles her "can't make up my mind between two suitors and my career" role quite nicely.  If yo do like opera, the music is splendid.  The "underworld of the "phantom" makes for a stark contrast from the "play" world from which he has been cast out.  Very well done!!!

Rating:

(From Hal's 2010 Horror Marathon Reviews on October 18th, 2010)

Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Every story has a beginning and the beginning of this story I will tell you now:


Synopsis: Xena is a fearsome warlord who raids defenceless villages. And as basically every warlord of that time she wants to slay the son of Zeus: Hercules. But first she has to break him. And what better way is there than to seduce his best friend Iolaus and let them turn against each other?

My Opinion: I have to admit, the only one who really convinced me here was Xena. Neither Hercules nor Iolaus behaved liked you would expect them to. They've travelled so much together, fought side by side and back to back. And suddenly Iolaus believes her more than he does believe him and even challenges him to the death? Unlikely.

Synopsis: Xena has raised a new army but unfortunately her soldiers don't follow her code of honour. In her absence they raid a village without warning and kill every man, woman and child in it (except for the one baby she can save). Her second-in-command, Darphus, sees this as a weakness and starts a mutiny. He puts her through the gauntlet, a ritual that nobody has ever survived - until now. Now she wants revenge and she gets help in the form of Hercules who wants to stop this army, too.

My Opinion: Here they started to build up the character for her own series and except for her sudden fondness for Hercules in the end there was nothing that contradicts with her former appearance. I liked how they changed her character because she's already much more like the Xena I know and love. But Salmoneus was also great. Both shows have a good number of supporting characters that act as comic relief and Salmoneus is one of them.

Synopsis: Ares, God of War, has resurrected Darphus and has given him his favourite "pet". Xena and Hercules decide to stop him once and for all, but they are not alone. Salmoneus is still with them, even if he's not the bravest of guys. And Iolaus is also joining them, despite his and Xena's history.

My Opinion: If you watch the show you have to admit that the effects have never been the best or even slightly realistic. But if you can look past this then it's really enjoyable. It makes it up with interesting characters, cool stories and a nice potpourri of Greek, Roman, Christian and whatnot mythology.

(From Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon on November 21st, 2009)