DVD Collectors Online

Doctor Dracula, a review by Jimmy

Title : Doctor Dracula (1980)

Overview
Though his readers find it hard to believe, prominent author John Wainwright claims in his books to be the reincarnation of famed magician and mind controller Svengali. The black magic forces of Radcliff (Carradine) allow Wainwright to stage the ritual sacrifice of his newest Trilby, wich leads to a bizarre confrontation with the strange Dr. Gregorio - Who is actually the long undead Count Dracula.

My Impression
Even if I'm a fan of Al Adamson usually, I wasn't expecting much from this movie (this isn't for nothing if I've wait more than one year and a half to watch it). This film was destined to be a mess, why? Because it was first a Paul Aratow's incompleted movie made in 1975 under the name Lucifer's Women about a satanic cult. Years later Adamson had shoot some new footage and add a vampire plot to the film. Evidently the result is inegal and the story isn't an easy one to follow (without forgetting that the appearance of Larry Hankin had changed in 6 years). The acting isn't too good and no one seems really interested by the project. This is really sad to see John Carradine in this film, since he looks very unhealthy and had to read his text (he even do that with many difficulty). Of course
Jane Brunel-Cohen is easy on the eyes but she's one of the worst actress I've seen (and I've seen my part of bad acting in my movie genre).

By chance the movie was a part of a 3 movies set and the others were good...

Rating :

(From Jimmy's 2009 Horror Marathon on October 9th, 2009)

Darkman, a review by Jon

Darkman
3 out of 5

Peyton (Liam Neeson) is a scientist working on synthetic skin that only lasts 99 minutes in the light. His girlfriend (Frances McDormand) is uncovering corruption and so hired thug Durant (Larry Drake) blows up him and his lab. Horribly disfigured, without feeling and in a rage, Peyton plots his revenge.

A pure comic book movie from Sam Raimi and an obvious dry run for Spider-Man, but bears a huge resemblance to both Robocop and Batman (especially Danny Elfman's lazy overbearing score that never... shuts... up! )

It's an unusual cast really for this sort of thing which along with Raimi's trademark abstract direction makes for a surreal experience. So it should be much better than it is, but for poor dialogue and a story that plays safe by borrowing far too much. Apparently Raimi's creation, he obviously didn't trust himself. It gets much better in the end, after finally abandoning Robocop (hero dead and buried, except he's rebuilt and looking for his old life while picking off the gang) and Batman (duh), but it's so clearly what would become Spider-Man that even it's best bits are too familiar now. Hero swinging through city, albeit attached to a helicopter, leading to kidnapped girlfriend about to drop many hundreds of feet before he swings in and catches her...  Raimi obviously has a bit of a fetish about swings...

(From Jon's Random Reviews on January 28th, 2009)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

TNG 1.01 Encounter at Farpoint
Writer: J. Michael Bingham (Screenwriter), John D. F. Black (Original Material By), J. Michael Bingham (Original Material By)
Director: Paul Lynch
Cast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Geordi La Forge), Denise Crosby (Lt. Tasha Yar), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Doctor Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher), John de Lancie (Q), Michael Bell (Zorn), DeForest Kelley (Admiral McCoy), Colm Meaney (Battle Bridge Conn), Cary-Hiroyuki (Mandarin Bailiff), Timothy Dang (Main Bridge Security), David Erskine (Bandi Shopkeeper), Evelyn Guerrero (Young Female Ensign), Chuck Hicks (Military Officer), Jimmy Ortega (Torres)

I decided to do a Q marathon next. The start makes the pilot episode of Star Trek TNG.
This episode introduces the crew, which in retrospect it fails at, as the characters are very different compared to later on in this series. Picard is a grumpy old man. Tasha Yar is portrayed as a very incompetent security chief. Worf is really stupid (he even almost destroyed the view screen, because he wanted to shoot something appearing on it ).

I find it strange that the crew obviously came together without knowing who else will be on that ship. Even the captain didn't know. Riker and Troi are surprised to meet each other again. Picard even asks Crusher to leave again after he finds out that she has now the position of the chief medical officer.

Q is ultimately what gives this episode somewhat of a rewatch value. Especially because his storyline will bookend this series in the final episode of TNG. What I have read, he only was integrated into the story, after the pilot had be padded when the studio asked to make a 90 minute pilot movie instead of the planned 45 minute pilot episode.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on October 5th, 2009)