Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 10th, 2003
Synopsis
Instead of the Montagues and the Capulets, it’s the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs onthe mean streets of Manhattan’s west side (these gangs wouldn’t recognize their old stompinggrounds today). Full of energy and wit, bursting with spectacular choreography, the film is atriumph of the musical form.
Audio
A brand new 5.1 mix, and it sounds wonderful. There aren’t enough surround sound effectsto create an environment, the music is reproduced in ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 10th, 2003
Star Trek: The Motion Picture is considered a failure not because it was a bad film, but because it just didn’t feel at all like Star Trek. Star Trek IV is perhaps the most Star Trek of all the films. A mixture of saving planet Earth with a social message, humor, and a strong character chemistry has always been Roddenberry’s dream at its very best. There’s no question that of all the Trek films this is the most enjoyable even if you’re not really a fan.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 10th, 2003
Killing Me Softly is a decent sexual thriller. This disc is the unrated version of the film, containing a little more skin, and a more “erotic” cover. The story is a little far fetched, but does contain a few twists that will help to keep the viewer entertained.
”From the very moment that Alice (Heather Graham) locks eyes with Adam (Joseph Fiennes), a mysterious stranger, she is catapulted into a whirlwind of intense erotic desire and adventure, risking everything just to be with him. But, when se...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 8th, 2003
I’ve got a confession. I just don’t get it. The Real World lays claim to being one of the first “reality” shows, dating back almost ten years. If you get off on watching a group of 7 twenty-somethings pretending to be spontaneous while basically either making out or grossing out, then this DVD is for you. This particular version is a season that was deemed too “hot” for broadcast TV so never appeared on MTV.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 8th, 2003
This is a collection of short stories set in the world of Beauty and the Beast featuring Belle, Beast, Cogsworth, Lumiere and a continuing cast of characters as they explore the castle. With all new songs and all of your favorite characters from the original film this is sure to delight any of the kids in your family.
Video
The film features very good quality cell type animation with an image just short of the quality you would see in one of Disney’s feature animation films. Colors are vibr...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 8th, 2003
Synopsis
Michel Bouquet and Stephane Audran are a well-off couple with a young son. They live in anice house in the countryside near Versailles. Everything looks swell. But Audran has beendistant lately. Bouquest suspects she is having an affair. He hires a PI to discover the truth, andthis truth leads to murder. The film is deliberately paced, with a musical score that convincesyou that something awful is going to happen, even when all is, on the surface, benign. Thismakes the viol...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 8th, 2003
Synopsis
China is under the rule of the Ching dynasty, who send out assassins to kill anyone whochallenges the regime. Greatest of these assassins is the blind master of the flying guillotine. Hesets out to kill the One-Armed Boxer (don’t ask me why all these guys have disabilities). Thecharacters come together at a huge martial arts tournament (this is where Mortal Kombat comesfrom, kiddies). The plot is no more developed than that of a typical porno. The film’s reason forbeing is ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 8th, 2003
Let me admit from the start I have an almost pathological fear of needles. This means I watched several minutes of this film with my eyes closed. If you share the phobia this is not a DVD for you. Sugar Hill has a lot of unfulfilled potential. The acting is mostly first rate and the story is often compelling. The producers mucked it up with too many Godfather clichés from the “I’m your older brother and I was stepped over” to Snipes coming of age at a baptism. Even AbeVigoda shows us what Tessio would have turned into if he hadn’t taken that “ride”.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 8th, 2003
Synopsis
When terrorists strike New York City (blowing up a ferry, for instance), a courageous TVreporter winds up being the only one who can stop the terror. Extremely low-budget stuff, andthe subject just isn’t as much fun as it once was (though the campiness remains). Interesting,though, to see Adam West as a senator (not to mention all the other cameos).
Audio
The soundtrack is mono. It gets the job done, but there isn’t too much to say about it. Themusi...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 8th, 2003
Synopsis
Ben Cross is a British officer during WWII. After the invasion of Sicily, he becomes themilitary governor of a small town. Naturally, all sorts of characters are present, and he falls inlove with a forbidden woman.
Audio
Mono sound on this disc. It’s acceptable, but certainly unspectacular, and there is somedistortion on the dialogue.
Video
A good news/bad news disc. The picture is widescreen at 1.78:1, but still appears to ...
