DVD Collectors Online

Taking Chance, a review by Rich

Title: Taking Chance

Runtime:78
Certificate:TV-PG
Year:2009
Genres:Drama, War

Plot:The remarkable true story of one soldier's death in battle, another soldier's journey of discovery and a nation's reverence and gratitude toward its war dead. After hearing of the heroic death of a young Marine in Iraq, veteran officer Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl (Kevin Bacon) volunteers to escort the remains of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps back to his hometown, where he embarks on an unexpected emotional journey.
In this drama, Kevin Bacon stars as a high-ranking military officer who takes on a surprising mission: he escorts the body of a PFC home to his family.

My Review:
Very short film, which is basically a sentimental and moving tribute of how the services escort home and honour their fallen heroes, from battlefield death to the funeral service. This was written by the serviceman who volunteered to escort home a soldier who was KIA in Iraq, and the extras on the disc cover this. It has political undertones, but is deliberately non-controversial and the focus is mainly on the dead serviceman, and the office based marine who goes through a myriad of guilt feelings as he escorts the soldier back to his family.
From a non-US citizen, it always amazes me that a country that can honour it's dead, with such compassion and dignity, and displays such huge respect and unity with its armed services, can have such social problems with guns, drugs, violence and murder? Is that contradiction what they call an oxymoron??


(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 11th, 2009)

Dragnet, a review by Dragonfire

Just the facts: Dan Aykroyd is Tom Hanks' unlikely partner as the two set out to solve a pattern of unusual robberies and, along the way, encounter an oddball assortment of obstructions to justice.

My Thoughts

I've seen some of the episodes of the television show when they were on Nick at Nite.  Aykroyd is perfect in the part, making it very believable that his character is the nephew of the original Joe Friday.  He's very by the book, and a bit uptight about certain things.  The way he reacts to his new partner is entertaining.  The plot dealing with the crime spree by the PAGANS is kind of silly, but it is still very entertaining.  I could have done without seeing the giant snake at one point though.  Overall, this is a fun, entertaining movie, though it probably won't appeal to everyone.

 

I did get a review posted on Epinions.

Dragnet

(From Dragonfire: What I've Been Watching on May 27th, 2009)

Charmed Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

"Dream Sorcerer"
Original Airdate: November 4, 1998
Overworked Prue battles a sleep demon in the guise of a handsome man, while Phoebe conjures a spell to attract men that turns out to be too strong - the sisters can barely escape their myriad admirers.

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode... but not one I would call a favorite. I enjoy these early episodes... seeing the sisters making some mistakes with their magic as they learn.

"The Wedding From Hell"
Original Airdate: November 11, 1998
An evil bride-to-be, interested only in creating more demonic offspring, battles the Halliwell sisters during her demonic wedding party but is thwarted by Prue's investigation of a mysterious knife.

My Thoughts:
A decent episode... but once again not one of my favorites. This one had quite a bit about Pru's boss... and that was always a storyline I didn't care for too much... will be glad when that arc is over.

"The Fourth Sister"
Original Airdate: November 18, 1998
A troubled teenager, Aviva (Danielle Harris), befriends Phoebe with the hopes of joining the Halliwell coven of witches, but Aviva has her own agenda - to steal the Charmed Ones' powers.

My Thoughts:
This was a cool episode. One of the things I had fun with on this episode... was the back and forth between Piper and Phoebe... both trying to win over Leo... after all these years it is kinda weird seeing Phoebe lusting after Leo. Another thing about this episode... Aviva's aunt is played by an actress that returns seasons later as a recurring star... playing Phoebe's boss at the newspaper.

"The Truth Is Out There And It Hurts"
Original Airdate: November 25, 1998
The sisters stumble across a truth spell in the Book of Shadows and are put in the dangerous position of having to hear and speak the truth for 24 hours.

My Thoughts:
Another episode I liked a lot. Pru hitting Andy with such a huge bomb (that she is a witch) and expects to get a true reaction on whether he can handle it or not to me is ridiculous. And if I remember correctly she realizes this later in the season. I like the whole story where the demon from the future coming to destroy those that finds the "cure" before they can do so. It has a real Terminator feel to it.

(From Charmed Marathon on February 26th, 2008)