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Hostel Part II, a review by Hal

Title: Hostel Part II: Unrated Director's Cut
Year: 2007
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: Unrated
Length: 95 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: PCM: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai

Stars:
Lauren German
Roger Bart
Heather Matarazzo
Bijou Phillips
Richard Burgi (1958)

Plot:
Presented by Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill, Vols. 1 & 2) and written and directed by Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever), HOSTEL PART II is the shocking and gruesome sequel about the underground torture ring where rich businessmen pay to torture and murder their victims.

The second installment in this terrifying franchise centers around three young American women (Lauren German, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Bijou Phillips, Bully, and Heather Matarazzo, Welcome to the Dollhouse) who are studying in Rome. They are lured into a hostel by a beautiful young woman who sells them in as the next victims of a murder-for-profit business. Also starring Roger Bart (TV's "Desperate Housewives") and Richard Burgi (Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation).

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Interviews
Outtakes/Bloopers
Interactive Surveillance Camera Footage

The carnage continues in this sequel to Hostel but with young women as the targets instead of young men.  We get a little closer look at the inner workings of the "enterprise", and a little less of the blood and gore; not much less but a little.

The role reversal of Todd and Stuart was an interesting and unexpected twist and Stuart's fate will give lifelong nightmares to any red-blooded male!  

Rating:

(From Hal's 2010 Horror Marathon Reviews on October 3rd, 2010)

Family Plot , a review by Dragonfire

Family Plot When a wealthy woman unwittingly hires a con man and a phony psychic to find her missing heir, the results are diabolically funny in Alfred Hitchcock's tongue-in-cheek mystery thriller. Bruce Dern and Barbara Harris star as a conniving couple plotting to bilk an old lady out of her fortune by pretending to find her long-lost nephew (William Devane). Meanwhile, Devane, a larcenous jeweler, and his beautiful girlfriend (Karen Black) have kidnapped a rich Greek shipping magnate for ransom. Together they're on a nonstop merry-go-round of mystery, murder and mayhem that combines suspense and comedy for unforgettable entertainment. My Thoughts This one is a bit different from the other Hitchcock movies that I've seen.  I know this one isn't one of his more popular movies, but I did like it.  There isn't as much suspense in general, though I do think a sequence late in the movie is very suspenseful.  There is a bit of mystery to what is going on, though it isn't as strong since the viewers are aware of certain things fairly early.  Things are slightly more complicated in since there are basically two stories being told that intersect.  Things jump back and forth between the two stories and characters.  I think the plot is very interesting and entertaining.  Some of what happens is a bit more light hearted, but there are also some serious things happening as well.  Characters are definitely in danger at different points, though even some humor is added to some of those scenes.  The way humor is blended into everything that make the story a little different.  Some people may not like that the movie is more lighthearted in general, but I think that works for the plot and what is going on. The characters are interesting, especially Blanche who pretends to be psychic.  Her boyfriend George gets pulled into what is going on as well.  He has a legitimate job as a cab driver, but he ends up acting like a private investigator, following people and trying to track down someone.  Arthur isn't in the same league as other Hitchcock villains, but he makes a decent villain.  These characters are fine, but they aren't as memorable as others. Overall, I did enjoy this movie and am glad I decided to pick it up.  It is different from other Hitchcock movies, but it is still entertaining.  I do think it is worth watching. I did get a review posted on Epinions. Family Plot

(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on August 22nd, 2010)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

12. Helpless (1999-01-19)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), David Fury (Writer)
Director: James A. Contner
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Jeff Kober (Zackary Kralik), Harris Yulin (Quentin Travers), Dominic Keating (Blair), David Haydn-Jones (Hobson), Nick Cornish (Guy), Don Dowe (Construction Worker)

A great episode! I especially like the scenes where Buffy learns about the betrayal by Giles and the ending, where Giles is fired.
Btw, Lt. Reed from Enterprise is vampire food in this episode.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on March 4th, 2009)