DVD Collectors Online

This Boy's Life, a review by Rich

This Boy's Life



For Toby Wolff and his divorced mom Caroline, 1950s life wasn't all fun and games. These two free spirits and cross-country travellers settle in the Pacific Northwest, where life will be better. They hope.
This Boy's Life, the Wolffs' true story, "is every boy's life," the Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan wrote. The dynamic teaming of Robert De Niro (Analyze This, Meet the Parents), Ellen Barkin (The Big Easy, Sea of Love) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, Gangs of New York) sparks this funny, touching slice-of-life drama that pits rebellious teen Toby (DiCaprio) against his tyrannical new stepfather Dwight (De Niro). Directed by Michael Caton-Jones (Memphis Belle, City by the Sea), This Boy's Life is one to remember.

What a tremendous feeling to discover a film in your collection that you continually overlook, to finally view it, and find it is an absolute corker.
Hats off to DiCaprio as this movie shows his true talent as an actor, he actually outshines DeNiro which one can rarely say.
The film itself is a true story, is very moving and at times totally shocking. DeNiro as Dwight the stepfather who bullied and mentally tortured the boy, mostly away from others eyes and ears, is frighteningly menacing and you thoroughly hate this character by the end of the film. Barkin as the desperate mother looking for a normal man is superb, and you ache for her happiness. All of the supporting cast do a great job, Blechman in particular as Tobys friend is a great character.
A frightening depiction of 'family' life that still goes on today, is raised above the average stakes by DiCaprios amazing and moving performance. The fight scene in the kitchen between stepfather and Toby will stay in my mind for a long time. A gem of a dvd to own.
 


**Carla Gugino mini-marathon


(From Riches Random Reviews on August 6th, 2009)

Homecoming, a review by addicted2dvd

Homecoming
It's a few weeks before the Presidential election and an unpopular war still rages overseas. But when the Republican administration wishes that our dead troops could return to tell America how proud they were to serve their country, veterans begin to rise from their flag-draped coffins for the most horrific reason of all: to vote. Are they gloriously resurrected heroes or brain-dead zombie dissidents? And even if the administration can devise the proper spin in time to steal their re-election, will an army of men and women killed for a lie finally show our nation the true face of hell?

'Jon Tenney' (THE CLOSER), 'Thea Gill (QUEER AS FOLK) and 'Robert Picardo' (STAR TREK: VOYAGER) star in this provocative stunner from director 'Joe Dante' (GREMLINS, THE HOWLING, PIRANHA) that 'The Village Voice' calls "jaw-dropping...easily one of the most important political films of the era!"

My Thoughts:
This episode has a touch of comedy... as well as a strong mixture of politics. I liked this episode a lot. It is fun to watch and thought provoking at the same time. A really strong episode well worth the hour you put into it. The effects on this episode was done well... without being overly gory. Just like the episodes before it... the quality is good and the DVD is loaded with extras.

For those interested... here is the trailer
[googlevid=425,350]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2767568699780046690&q[/googlevid]

(From Masters of Horror Marathon on May 26th, 2008)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs (1984/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia (Germany) Length: 100 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

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Plot:Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
1.01 Episode 1

I loved this series as a kid. This was originally a Japanese anime, but it was completely recut and restructure by an American company. Even the names of the characters and the dynamic between them changed. In the original it was not Saber Rider who was the leader, but the young Japanese hothead.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 27th, 2012)