Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 16th, 2002
Let me start off by being very honest. I was not a huge fan of the Devlin and Emerich film version of Stargate. And because I wasn’t into the film, I did not bother to watch the Showtime original series when it first debuted. That was a major mistake on my behalf. The series is closer to Star Trek than Stargate (the movie). The cast is excellent beginning with Richard Dean Anderson taking over the Mike Douglas role of Col. O’Neal. With a refreshing blend of wit and tough guy, Anderson is everything you want in a le...der. Showtime’s commitment to quality production values and tight writing make this one of the better TV boxed sets out there (in terms of content). Look for Anderson’s reaction in the pilot when Carter explains how she needed to “McGyver” a dialing station… it’s priceless.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 14th, 2002
The X-Files is one of those TV shows that lends itself very well to the DVD format. Its insanely complicated mythos and attendant continuity makes it a show where extras actually make sense. (Does anyone REALLY need Ally McBeal commentary?)
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 12th, 2002
Let’s take a little trip down memory lane, shall we? Follow me back to that bygone era known as the eighties. Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer were consolidating their formula for slick, commercial fluff, Harold Faltermeyer’s synthesized scores were inescapable, and Steven Bauer actually rated star billing.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 10th, 2002
Let me start off by saying that “The Cell” is not for the timid. It can be as disturbing as it is visually stunning. On the surface this is a serial killer thriller but in reality the film is much more. Elements of suspense and graphic horror combine with a science fiction premise that one can enter the dreams of another person. It’s hard not to make comparisons with the 1980’s film “Dreamscape”; both have created elaborate larger than life dream worlds where if you die in your dream you die in reality. “The Cell” goes much further with its stark contrasts of often gritty environments followed by lavish and brightly colored settings.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 9th, 2002
Anyone who has been to a Star Trek convention will have heightened appreciation for Galaxy Quest. George Takei, who played Sulu on the original Trek, was asked about the film at a convention and he responded, “That was real. I know that guy played by Tim Allen”. There are many classic parodies of science fiction films but I think this is one of the most entertaining.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 27th, 2002
This film has been met with mixed but mostly rave reviews (Maltin only gives it 2.5 stars) since it was released. I loved it. It wasn’t just the spaceships and groundbreaking effects but the well-rounded cast that makes this film a future classic for me. Goldblume’s quirky nerd works perfectly here (more than it did in Jurassic Park), Quaid is a simple joy, Will Smith showed that he has grown out of the “Fresh Prince” stereotype, and anyone who thought Judd Hirsh wasn’t anything more than Taxi’s Alex must have been awed by his performance. This is a visually appealing film with a touch of cheese to wrap it all up.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 25th, 2002
“Welcome back to Jurassic Park”. How do you make a blockbuster better? The simple answer is: You don’t. The story for this one is about as contrived as a good Godzilla film. Call it the politically correct Jurassic Park. The high point, however, is bigger, better, and cooler dinosaurs. The T-Rex and raptors are back but now they’re joined by dozens of new species to gape at. The movie is actually fine until the ending. What was Spielberg thinking? Substitute Tokyo for San Diago and we’ve seen it too many times before done better.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 22nd, 2002
Intro
This film has been dubbed as “The Original Kung Fu Comedy”. Jackie Chan is his good old self in this classic Kung Fu film, and the comedy and action are both fun to watch. The sequel entitled “The Legend of Drunken Master” does not hold a candle to this original, but that is also the case with most sequels.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 21st, 2002
Intro
If you have small children, this DVD is made for you. The story and animation are not as good as the original (of course), but this disc is a great spin for the kids.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 20th, 2002
The second version of Cornell Woolrich’s novel “Waltz Into Darkness” (previously filmed by François Truffaut’s Mississippi Mermaid), this is a decidedly steamier version, especially here, in its unrated form.
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