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Back to the Future: Part III, a review by DJ Doena

January, 18th


Michael J. Fox    ...    Marty McFly / Seamus McFly
Christopher Lloyd   ...    Dr. Emmett Brown
Mary Steenburgen   ...    Clara Clayton
Thomas F. Wilson   ...    Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen / Biff Tannen
Lea Thompson   ...    Maggie McFly / Lorraine McFly
Elisabeth Shue   ...    Jennifer Parker
James Tolkan   ...    Chief Marshal James Strickland
Matt Clark   ...    Chester the Bartender

Synopsis: Marty's stuck in 1955 while the Doc's back in 1885. But the Doc isn't going to live much longer after he had written the letter and Marty decides to go back and get him.But the old West didn't have real roads and Marty subsequently rips the fuel line apart. Now they have to find another way to accelerate the DeLorean to 88 miles per hour. As if this weren't enough Doc also falls in love and Marty agrees to a gunfight against 'Mad Dog' Tannen.

My Opinion: In my opinion this movie is a bit more serious than the other two and both characters seem to have grown a lot due to their travels. I felt it to be a bit unfair that Marty travelled back to save Doc's life and he doesn't even thank him by warning him of the "Rolls-Royce accident". But I also thought it to be a really good idea to let Marty make that decision alone and to show that the time travels have taught him something. I also thought that Mary Steenburgen was a great addition and to see Doc in love was very nice. It great conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.

BTW: When Marty arrives in 1985 the formerly know Shonash/Clayton Ravine is now called Eastwood Ravine.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on January 18th, 2009)

From Dusk Till Dawn, a review by Jon

From Dusk Till Dawn
4 out of 5



I love this movie. One of my favourite horrors. And after the last few days of the elegant brilliance of Val lewton, I felt I needed to cut loose with some balls-out action vampire killing!

I wish I could have seen it without knowing what it actually was, because the shock of the switch from thriller to horror would have been great fun. It's great that Rodriguez put full effort into that first half to give us well rounded characters, because a problem with a lot of horror films is the thin characters. What's also lacking is a sense of humour, but last section is full of laughs, especially Tom Savini trying to hide his new teeth! Or the vamp that disintegrates on a pool table and his eyes roll into the pockets!

Speaking of which, the gore never gets boring. So many gags, you could watch this several times and still see something new and disgusting. The script is fantastic, full of quotable lines, some of which I've been able to get into everyday conversation... like "I might be a bastard, but I'm not a f***ing bastard!" or the speech about pussy. Actually, I wish I'd not tried that last one. I'm still not welcome in Asda...

It's alright having a good script, but you need a good cast to deliver it and this lot are perfect. Even Tarantino, working to his, erm, strengths. Juliette Lewis I thought would be wrong, but she strikes a good tone between schoolgirl and temptress to Richie's nightmare. Harvey Kietel is as dependable as ever and Clooney is obviously having a riot. Well, I say "obviously", but the outtakes show him frequently pissed off and without his usual humour, so maybe it just proves what a good actor he actually is. And it does no harm to have room for cult favourites like the afore mentioned Tom Savini and Fred Williamson.

Everything oozes confidences in this movie. All the scenes have that little extra they didn't actually need, but looks cool anyway. It will possibly always stand as Rodriguez' best film because it's the most perfect fit for his seat of the pants directing style and there aren't many stories that can stand such a change in tone and still work fully committed to both styles.

"And I don't want to hear anything about "I don't believe in vampires" because I don't believe in vampires, but I believe in my own two eyes, and what I saw is fucking vampires!"

(From October Marathon: Horror! on October 8th, 2008)

Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

9. Death in Chains
Hades, god of the underworld, asks Xena to undertake the task of freeing his sister - the embodiment of death - from the clutches of a greedy king who's captured her in order to give himself eternal life.

My Thoughts:
This episode is a bit of a mixed bag. While I found it to be a very fun episode... it is not without it's problems. Of course it's problems is part of the thing that makes this show fun anyway. For example it showed Xena throw her Chakrum at a tree and it works like a buzz saw on a huge branch. Even going as far as making the sound of a buzz saw. Another thing about this episode is it is very inconsistant. In the beginning it shows some people that are mortally injured and un able to barely move... but yet it show other while fighting keep coming at you... like Ha-Ha! Stab me again... I cannot die! But for the most part I just found the episode to be a fun!

My Rating:

10. Hooves & Harlots
Xena has a tall order to fill trying to prevent a war between the Amazons and the Centaurs; and Gabrielle finds herself with some pretty big shoes to fill when she's chosen to replace an Amazon princess who died in her arms.

My Thoughts:
This is the episode I been waiting for... this is the one where Gabrielle becomes an Amazon... and starts wearing that leather outfit... and doing some fighting herself. I didn't realize it was so close to the beginning of the series... I was thinking it was in the second season. Thankfully I didn't have to wait that long. This has always been one of my favorite episodes. I always thought they did the Centaurs good... it has a good story.,, and it somewhat changes the series from this point on. At least the character of Gabrielle.

My Rating:

11. The Black Wolf
Xena fights her way into a dungeon (on purpose) to rescue the freedom-fighting daughter of an old friend.

My Thoughts:
This is another episode I really enjoyed. Once again Xena uses her past to make some people believe she is still bad.I got a kick out of Gabrielle trying to get thrown in the dungeon.

My Rating:

12. Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts
At the behest of Helen of Troy, Xena goes to the embattled city to help end a 10-year war with the Greeks. But while trying to rein in the hostilities, she discovers a Trojan horse who's working with the enemy.

My Thoughts:
While I liked this episode... I didn't care for it quite as much as the previous few. But I really can't put my finger on why. The premise is a good one. It was kinda fun seeing Xena involved in the Trojon horse. But for some reason it just didn't work as good as it should have for me.

My Rating:

(From Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon on November 28th, 2009)