Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 12th, 2002
Synopsis
Randolph Scott is a young man who refuses to live up to his potential. Though very skilled, and possessing every attribute necessary to excel as a marine, he refuses to do so. When not training, he does one of two things: engage in a battle of wills with the crusty sergeant (John Payne) who knows what Scott should be capable of; or court sensible nurse Maureen O'Hara (who also expects more of Scott than he does of himself).
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 12th, 2002
Synopsis
1941. Field Marshal Rommel's forces are sweeping across Africa. The only thing blocking him from the Suez Canal is Tobruk. The British and Australian forces are hopelessly outmanned and outgunned, but their orders are to hold out, and hold out they will. Richard Burton is placed in charge of a battalion of green Australians. Though his toughness doesn't endear him to his him, Burton nevertheless whips them into combat and commando troops.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 10th, 2002
Film
Here comes another teen movie from Columbia-Tristar… no, not “Not Another Teen Movie”, rather just another teen movie. This time it is Slackers that is getting the DVD treatment. This film was not as bad as I expected. Actually it was somewhat entertaining, especially the role played by Jason Schwartzman (from Rushmore fame) who plays an absolutely insane collage student infatuated with a girl beyond his means. Enough for my rambling, here is the synopsis…
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 9th, 2002
Another recent big-budget French production to hit these shores, this, along with Brotherhood of the Wolves, makes for an interesting comparison with American blockbusters.
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 9th, 2002
“Danger, Will Robinson.” Attempting to make a serious film out of Irwin Allen’s beloved space family Robinson wasn’t one of Hollywood’s brightest ideas. The filmmakers did a pretty decent job of creating a fun science fiction film, but their obvious attempts at nostalgia never quite gel with the overall vision of the film. Complete with stellar special effects and a much more logical plot than the campy 60’s show, Lost In Space had promise. What New Line failed to understand was the cheese cardboard effects and zipper-toting aliens spun around a totally ridiculous plot was the true charm of Lost In Space. While it was warming to see 4 of the original cast in cameos the two that were missing, Jonathan Harris and Bill Mumy were the true heart of the TV series. The one jewel in this film has to be the performance of Gary Oldman as the indomitable Dr. Smith.
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 5th, 2002
This is a rather unique match-up, pairing one star in the twilight of his career (Burt Lancaster) with one entering her prime (Susan Sarandon), and both are given meaty roles.
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 4th, 2002
Time travel stories and their inevitable paradoxes have been with us since Twain’s Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. This film takes a fresh approach to the subject. Instead of the characters moving through time, they are afforded the chance to communicate through time. Frequency is both engaging and often emotional. There is an amazing chemistry between father and son even though for most of the film they are never actually together. The baseball theme, for me, adds warmth that makes the relationship play out like a common memory. I hesitate to use the moniker “feel good movie” but it does seem to fit Frequency.
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 4th, 2002
Films
Fox offers five more Marilyn Monroe classics in Marilyn Monroe - The Diamond Collection Vol. II
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 3rd, 2002
Film
Fritz Lang became one of the earliest masters of filmmaking. Known mostly for such classic silents as Metropolis and Spies, Lang delivers a startling film definitely ahead of its time with M. This is also the very first film for the talented Peter Lorre who would later shine in Corman’s Poe series, and of course, along-side Bogart in The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca. M is a disturbing film that constantly assaults the viewer with stark images of a city’s underworld life. Th... portrayal of a child serial killer was incredibly bold for the time and is unsettling even today when audiences are almost numb to horrific acts of violence on our movie screens.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 20th, 2002
“Welcome to Jurassic Park”. With those words begin an adventure that started with the legacy of Willis O’Brien’s “The Lost World”… which would lead to Steven Spielberg to acknowledge this connection with the title of Jurassic Park 2. Dinosaur films are nothing new; they have held our child-like fascination since the industry was born. Jurassic Park was, however, something very new when it thundered into our cineplexes and forever in our imaginations. The marriage of brand new CGI technology with Stan Winston’s superbly detailed animatronics models transport you back 65 million years in time. CGI technology has improved since then and has become somewhat commonplace but there is nothing common about Jurassic Park.
Synopsis
