Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 30th, 2005
I love it when a DVD as advertised as a “hit series” on the back of the box, yet I have never even heard of it. Granted, I am not this product's target market, but you would still think that I would have at least come across the title of this show somewhere. I am familiar with all of the products advertised on this disc, so I know I am not completely out of the loop.
This show tells the adventures of Lopaka, a boy who has made friends with a dolphin with the original (?) name of “Flipper”. It seems that Flipp...r has somehow taught his earth-bound buddy how to live and breathe underwater. Now, I know this is a cartoon, and it is supposed to fanciful, but come on! I am all for teaching kids to think outside the box, but I don't know of anybody who can “learn” to breathe underwater. Yo have to have a strong command of reality to live outside the box.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 28th, 2005
Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney are a couple whose marriage appears to be reaching its end. They travel through France, which was the scene of so many other memories, and they (and we) experience, through interlocking flashbacks, the history of their relationship.From the moment the animated credit sequence and Henry Mancini score begin, one is clearly watching a Stanley Donen film from the peak of his career (the presence of Hepburn is yet another reminder of Charade from just a couple of years prior). The flashbacks-within-flashbacks structure might initially seem daunting, but the film is light on its feet, and is never confusing. Finney's character is sufficiently cranky even in the early stages of the relationship that one might be forgiven for wondering what Hepburn ever saw in him, but the scenery is pretty and the dialogue zings.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 27th, 2005
Synopsis
Wow, take a look at the vocal talent that lends a hand to this straight-to-video sequel! As Lilo, you’ve got that child actress next to be exploited by her parents in Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds). Lilo’s custodian is Nani (Tia Carrere, Wayne’s World). Stitch’s alien friends are voiced by David Ogden Stiers (M*A*S*H*) and Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall). Jason Scott Lee (Dragon) plays Nani’s love interest David.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 27th, 2005
Synopsis
In between the other new stuff that’s come out (and the older stuff I’ve picked up), I wanted to try and whittle down the archives, so huzzah for small victories.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 27th, 2005
George Montgomery plays the lead trumpet for the "Gene Morrison Band" (the Glen Miller Band). As they set out on tour, he falls in love with, and marries, audience member and big fan Ann Rutherford, much to the displeasure of Lynn Bari. The film then uses the tensions between the various significant others during the tour to cobble together a plot that connects the various musical numbers.From the point of view of plot and character, this is nothing to write home about. But as a record of one of the greats of the Big Band era in action, it is a valuable document, and certainly manages to entertain, if not much else.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 27th, 2005
Synopsis
Wow, take a look at the vocal talent that lends a hand to this straight-to-video sequel! As Lilo, you’ve got that child actress next to be exploited by her parents in Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds). Lilo’s custodian is Nani (Tia Carrere, Wayne’s World). Stitch’s alien friends are voiced by David Ogden Stiers (M*A*S*H*) and Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall). Jason Scott Lee (Dragon) plays Nani’s love interest David.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 26th, 2005
Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme. When is the last time you heard those two names? I'll bet it has been quite some time. Lundgren is the poor man's Schwarzenegger, and Van Damme is best known as the Canadian action superstar that is long on physical talent, but horrid at dialog. These two team up in Universal Soldier, a film that is filled with as much action as possible, with as little actual story as possible. This is the action film equivalent of pornography... give the viewers what they want, and a...d a little story in at the end to loosely tie together all of the set pieces.
The story involves two excellent Vietnam-era solders, who die on the battlefield and are reincarnated as... what?...zombie soldiers?... many years later to become super-soldiers. Unfortunately, the two gradually gain some of their memory back from their past lives, remember that they don't like each other, and go to war. Somewhere in the middle of all of this, a girl shows up. I was really shocked to see how much of this film was "borrowed" from the original Terminator film. For mindless action, this film has plenty of it. Just don't expect to go into this and find anything resembling a cohesive plot.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 26th, 2005
Synopsis
India, 1938. Dissolute ex-pat Brit George Brent is amused when old flame Myrna Loy, now married to an aging aristocrat, arrives, but is less amused when he sees her set her sights on Indian doctor Tyrone Power (all done up in dark make-up). Power is so decent that Brent doesn’t want him corrupted. But it soon turns out that Loy really loves Power, as she demonstrates by helping selflessly after the city is savaged by torrential rains, flooding and an earthquake.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 25th, 2005
Wooden monologues, bad jokes, revolting fashions and way, way too much hair. I wish I could say that this means one thing... but it means a lot of things. In this case, however, I am talking about Tony Orlando and Dawn. Now, the quality of Orlando's rich voice is undeniable. My bone to pick is with virtually every other aspect of this cheese fest. At the time in the 70's, it seemed like everybody had their own variety show. Such a thing could be a big boon to a performer's career, so you certainly can't fault ...rlando for signing on for such deal. Part music show, part comedy sketch show, marginal celebrity guests... it's like the Smothers Brothers show without actually being any good.
If you like the songs, the majority of the musical numbers are actually pretty good. The real disappointment is the simply horrid skits. Two to three minutes of buildup to one lame punchline? Really? Nobody thought this was a bad idea?
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 25th, 2005
Wooden monologues, bad jokes, revolting fashions and way, way too much hair. I wish I could say that this means one thing... but it means a lot of things. In this case, however, I am talking about Tony Orlando and Dawn. Now, the quality of Orlando's rich voice is undeniable. My bone to pick is with virtually every other aspect of this cheese fest. At the time in the 70's, it seemed like everybody had their own variety show. Such a thing could be a big boon to a performer's career, so you certainly can't fault ...rlando for signing on for such deal. Part music show, part comedy sketch show, marginal celebrity guests... it's like the Smothers Brothers show without actually being any good.
If you like the songs, the majority of the musical numbers are actually pretty good. The real disappointment is the simply horrid skits. Two to three minutes of buildup to one lame punchline? Really? Nobody thought this was a bad idea?
