DVD Collectors Online

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, a review by dfmorgan

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Year: 2008
Director: Patrick Tatopoulos
Cast: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra
Overview: The prequel story traces the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian (Michael Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle against the Death Dealer army and his struggle for Lycan freedom.

Watched: 3rd. Oct 2010
My Thoughts: Another lycanthrope disappointment. Whilst I enjoyed this more than The Wolfman I feel that it didn't come up to the standard set by the two earlier films in the Underworld series.

My Rating: Just a 2 again.

Dave

(From 2010 October Horror Marathon (Discussion thread) on October 3rd, 2010)

The Wrecking Crew, a review by Antares

The Wrecking Crew (2015) 75/100 - If you grew up in the sixties the music was unparalleled in history. In 1965 alone, you had three major movements just in Rock & Roll. You had the British Invasion leading the charge, surf music on the West Coast and Berry Gordy forging a musical empire in Detroit with Motown. But along side these three movements was a pop hit making machine in Los Angeles which rivaled the Brill Building in New York City in the early sixties. And at the various producer's disposal was a group of musicians whose abilities were second to none. They were called The Wrecking Crew. Phil Spector wouldn't record without them. All of The Monkees hits were instrumentally done by them. Pet Sounds is virtually a Brian Wilson and the Wrecking Crew album. The amount of hit records they played on is mind boggling in its scope. Yet, Hal Blaine, Tommy Tedesco, Joe Osborne, Carol Kaye, Earl Palmer & Bones Howe are names that most music aficionados do not know. A few of the Crew would go on to music careers of their own, with varied success. The most successful was Glen Campbell, who is thought to be by many, one of the greatest studio guitarists of all time. Leon Russell would have a short successful career and Larry Knechtel would become a member of the group Bread in the early seventies. The documentary mainly focuses on the six unknowns I mentioned and while it tells of their history in the recording studio, it offers very little in revelations. And that is why I can only give this documentary a lukewarm rating. It was made by Tommy Tedesco son, and he's really not a filmmaker. He's basically just trying to give his pop some props for what he accomplished while he was in the music business. In a sense, it works, and if you know nothing about this group of extraordinary musicians, you will be entertained and schooled a bit. Though there's one really sad and poignant moment when the Crew's days are long since over and Tommy Tedesco appears on and wins The Gong Show. It brought a tear to my eye to think that Tedesco was desperate for any gig and chose that. He should be remembered, and so should the rest of the Crew. There wouldn't be a sixties without them.

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on December 16th, 2019)

Smallville Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

1. Crusade
Clark returns to Smallville re-programmed as Kal-El. Intent on fulfilling his destiny, Kal-El takes to the skies to steal a powerful kryptonite crystal. Determined to save her son, Martha turns to Dr. Swann's emissary, Bridgette Crosby, and learns about a surprising new form of kryptonite. Meanwhile, Lois Lane comes to town to investigate the murder of her cousin Chloe.

My Thoughts:
This was a really good episode. Another guest star from the Superman movies... Margot Kidder as Bridgette Crosby. This is also our first look at Smallville's version of Lois Lane. This is the first look we get at the flying on Smallville... even if it is supposed to be "Kal-El" instead of Clark. The flying effects was pretty cool.

2. Gone
Clark and Lois Lane investigate Chloe's apparent murder, but are stopped by an army officer, General Sam Lane, who turns out to be Lois' father. Lois suspects that Sam knows more about Chloe's death than he will admit, and Clark discovers that Sam has recently been in contact with Lex.

My Thoughts:
Of course I liked this episode since I am a Chloe fan... Chloe is back in this episode! I liked the assassin that was after Chloe in this one... yes a rip-off of Terminator 2 (Liquid metallic man who turns his arm into a sword)... but cool all the same.

3. Facade
Clark faces a surprising new foe in the form of a shy high school girl who turns to plastic surgery to enhance her looks and boost her popularity. However, things go awry when she discovers that her kryptonite - enhanced beauty causes harm to anyone she kisses.

My Thoughts:
This one is not one of my favorites. There is just nothing special about the episode. It is just a basic "Freak of the Week" episode  Not that that makes it a bad episode... it is enjoyable... just nothing special or memorable about it.

4. Devoted
Clark joins the football team at school and is immediately given the starting quarterback position after the old quarterback starts a fight with new coach Jason. Curious about the behavior change in his old teammate, Clark and Lois investigate and discover that the cheerleaders are poisoning the teams' water with kryptonite, turning the players into Stepford-like boyfriends.

My Thoughts:
This one is much like the last episode... just another decent episode.... but nothing really special. this is the one where Lois Lane gets her first taste of being a reporter... other then that just a basic... good episode.

(From Smallville Marathon on August 7th, 2007)