DVD Collectors Online

Chaplin, a review by Antares

Chaplin (1992) 3.5/5 - I'm a big fan of silent films and Charlie Chaplin is one of my favorites, so I was looking with great anticipation back in 1992 when Richard Attenborough made this film. This is my second viewing of this film, and upon finishing it, I realized that I liked it a whole lot more the first time I watched it back in 1992. I have read that Attenborough submitted a director's cut that was close to 16 minutes longer, and he felt that the studios editing ruined the flow of the film. Maybe that is so, but until a director's cut is issued on DVD, we're stuck with this version, and some things that were done don't work. The novelty of the scenes where Attenborough tries to move the story along as if we're watching a silent film, now appear amateurish or hokey. The character played by Anthony Hopkins, whom we find out in the end is fictional, is a weak device to propel the narrative. On the good side, Robert Downey Jr. nails Chaplin's mannerisms and technique and probably should have won the Oscar for his portrayal. Moira Kelly and Diane Lane are both good in their limited roles as two of Chaplin's wives. I think this film should have dealt with more of Chaplin's woes during the late 40's and early 50's, and not just brushed aside their importance. Maybe this is more fleshed out in the director's cut, but for now, we'll never know. All in all, it's an OK biography of one of the great artists of cinema.

(From Antares' Short Summations on January 2nd, 2011)

Growing Up Brady, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Growing Up Brady
Year: 2000
Director: Richard A. Colla
Rating: PG-13
Length: 88 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: N/A

Stars:
Adam Brody
Kaley Cuoco
Rebeccah Bush
Kaitlin Cullum
Ricky Ullman
Carly Schroeder

Plot:
Remember them? The Dad, Mom, and six kids that were The Brady Bunch, whose clean-cut but chaotic lives and hilarious domestic mayhem made them the most popular TV sitcom family of the 1970s?

This fabulous new biopic, based on the memoirs of actor Barry Williams (Greg Brady), reveals the behind-the-scenes truth about what really happened: the legendary off-screen battles between Robert Reed (Mike Brady) and the show's real daddy, series creator Sherwood Schwartz; Barry's date with his screen Mom; his relationship with 'sister' Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady) and the ultimate question - did they or didn't they? You'll laugh and cry along with them all as the meteoric rise to international TV stardom brings happiness and heartbreak in a moving story of what the rocky road to fame is really like.

Extras:
Scene Access
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
I bought this one more because I am a Kaley Cuoco fan then I am a Brady Bunch fan. It does seem I enjoy the series more now then I did when I was a kid... I know it is a very odd thing... I don't understand it myself. Maybe it is just a strong nostalgic thing.

Anyway... in this TV movie Kaley Cuoco plays Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady). This movie was made 10 years ago so she does look a bit younger in this one. After all going by imdb... Kaley was only 15 at the time of making this movie.. wow... that is my daughter's age. It was odd though... in some scenes I actually saw Maureen McCormick in her. But in other scenes all I could see  is Kaley Cuoco.

I like that this was off the book written by Barry Williams (Greg)... it makes you feel you can believe at least a big part of it. And I learned a lot of things I didn't realize before... like the fact that the Brady Kids actually went on tour as a musical group. I was surprised that this movie didn't even touch on the trips they went on for the vacation episode... like the Grand Canyon and Hawaii. Over-all I found the movie to be both interesting and fun... so I am glad I picked it up.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Unwatched DVDs on November 6th, 2010)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

The Dead Zone: Season One (2002/Canada) IMDb | Wikipedia Lions Gate Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 565 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, Spanish

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Plot:
Based on the characters and story from the best-selling book by Stephen King, The Dead Zone is a unique psychological thriller that combines a rich mix of action, the paranormal and a continuing quest for justice.


The Dead Zone
1.01 Wheel Of Fortune
Writer: Stephen King (Original Characters By), Michael Piller (Screenwriter), Shawn Piller (Screenwriter)
Director: Robert Lieberman
Cast: Anthony Michael Hall (Johnny Smith), Nicole DeBoer (Sarah Bracknell/Sarah Bannerman), Chris Bruno (Walt Bannerman), John L. Adams (Bruce Lewis), Rick Tae (Dr. Tran), Anna Hagan (Vera Smith), Gina Chiarelli (Nurse Elaine MacGowan), Michael Rogers (Frank Dodd), David Ogden Stiers (Reverend Gene Purdy), Emily Holmes (Allison), John Hainsworth (Barker #1), Campbell Lane (Barker #2), Justin Stillwell (Boy Student), Kenya Jo Kennedy (Child in Bedroom), Nicole La Placa (Girl Student #1), Mercedes de la Zerda (Girl Student #2), Chris Kelly (Hockey Coach), Michael St. John Smith (Mike Kennedy), Liliane Lee (Mother Tran), Diana Ha (Older Mother Tran), Bryce Hodgeson (Player #1), Alvin Sanders (Principal), Dominic Louis (Sarah's Son), Evan Smith (6 Year Old Johnny), Victoria Billingsley (6 Year Old Sarah), Nicholas Lee (3 Year Old Dr. Tran), Donald Fong (Uncle Tran), Ed Chow (Younger Uncle Tran)

This series is a based on a Stephen King book. There was also a movie based on it with Christopher Walken. The source material is very fitting as a premise for a TV series. I always enjoyed watching it. The first episode is a good introduction and has many elements which were also in the movie (I haven't read the book).

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on April 2nd, 2011)