Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 6th, 2003
Let me start out and admit that I never really understood this show to begin with. The DVD can at times be mildly humorous, but never once can I say I really enjoyed this disc. I’m sure fans of the show will “get” a few inside jokes. Tom Green’s act is reminiscent of some of David Letterman’s much more clever street sketches throughout New York City. In this show, Tom Green travels through Japan begging for laughs, mostly by pretending not to understand the people around him.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 1st, 2003
Piglet has finally moved from supporting cast of the Winnie the Pooh crew to lead in Piglet’s Big Movie. In the fashion that made the Winnie the Pooh stories so popular, Disney has created another Pooh adventure that is sure to entertain children all around the world. This film is not at the same level as Disney’s blockbuster animated features such as A Bug’s Life or Finding Nemo, but it will hold it’s own in the children’s DVD market.
”It's Piglet's first m...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 16th, 2003
As a film, John Carpenter’s Vampires leaves a lot to be desired. The story is average and has been done before, and the acting is questionable at best. I just cannot appreciate James Woods as a bad ass Vampire Killer. Vampires does contain a number of scenes that build tension and effectively instill some horror, but you will not be traumatized by the scariness of this film. Yes, there are a few sequences that look very good in terms of the cinematography, and there is some nice gore and violence, but you w...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 13th, 2003
The In-Laws was one of those films that just never fit neatly into any safe category. Recently I’ve been ask to describe it to others who had not seen it before. If your only point of reference is the recent remake with Michael Douglas, run to your nearest rental store and look up this gem of an original. Peter Falk is best known, of course, for the rumpled-raincoat detective, Columbo. While many of his Columbo mannerisms are in evidence in this film (that outstretched hand to the head and his gravelly low mumbles) the character is really quite removed from Columbo.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 4th, 2003
Synopsis
We are in the last five days before the Rodney King verdict will set LA on fire. Movingthrough the mean streets is one mean cop -- Eldon Perry (Kurt Russell). Perry is very much avintage Ellroy character: hard, mean, utterly corrupt, but still possessing the glimmerings of asoul. He is contrasted by his younger partner Scott Peedman, who still has ideals and wants tobe a good cop, and his boss Brendan Gleeson, who is a complete monster in the Dudley Smithmould. Investigatin...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 30th, 2003
Black Mask 2 doesn’t really seem to have anything to do with the first film. Instead what you get is a cheesy Japanese version of The X-Men. With the help of less than special effects, professional wrestlers change into hilarious creatures that are more loony tunes funny than actually dangerous. It doesn’t help that newcomer Andy On has the large fists of Jet Li to fill. Even fans of the original won’t find too much to like about this odd sequel.
Audio
The sound is an adequate Dolby Digital 5.1 track.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 30th, 2003
We are all familiar with the so called “great wars” of American history. Hollywood has supplied more hours of World War II film than the actual war itself. From classics like Torra Torra Torra to Saving Private Ryan, we have gotten to know every inch of those wars. Vietnam became a popular subject by the mid 80’s with films like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. “Peace-keeping” missions like the U.N. directed effort s like the one in Somalia in the 1990’s isn’t the “stuff” of heroes it seems. Leave it to Ridley S...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 26th, 2003
Synopsis
Humphrey Bogart leads a trio of cons who have violently broken out of prison. On the run,they randomly select a suburban house in which to hole up and take hostages. This happens to bethe home of Fredric March, and a tense battle of wits and wills ensue. March’s dilemma issimple: if the police show up, Bogart will make sure his family dies. But if he doesn’t get help,what guarantee does he have that Bogart won’t kill them all anyway? Though film adaptations ofplays are ofte...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 23rd, 2003
Converting Tom Wolfe’s classic book The Right Stuff was undoubtedly a difficult task. The original 7 Mercury astronauts were epic figures in American history. Perhaps the last of Earth’s true explorers, astronauts are the stuff that every kid’s fantasies are made of. It seems nearly impossible to capture such incredible bravery and charisma in the scope of even a 3 hour movie. Philip Kaufman somehow achieved the impossible. It starts with one of the most dynamic casts since The Godfather. Names like Jeff Goldblume, Dennis Quaid and Ed Harris were all relative unknowns at the time.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 20th, 2003
Steven Seagal is certainly showing his age in Half Past Dead. To ardent fans of his tough-guy act, this might be a bad thing. To those of us just looking for a good film, I think it’s actually a good thing. With Seagal’s ass-kicking held more in check there appears more room for a story to grow. This one is above average. Seagal’s age also means a stronger supporting cast and this one has a nice one. Mia Peoples is stunning as one of the main villains. Ja Rule and Kurupt add the necessary urban reality and some comedy relief when called for.
