Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 5th, 2002
Synopsis
Ingrid Bergman is a psychoanalyst and, according to her male colleagues, a cold fish. Thischanges when Gregory Peck shows up as the new head of the psychiatric institution. The onlyproblem is, Peck is not who he says he is. In fact, he doesn’t even know who he really is.Bergman is determined to help him find out, but meanwhile, the man whose identity Peck hasassumed is missing, perhaps murdered... The psychoanalysis in the film is pure hokum, and theplot’s contrivances are ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 5th, 2002
Synopsis
Three working class friends have their hopes set on motorcross stardom to bring them fameand fortune. Their friendships get complicated by, among other things, the arrival of ambitioussexpot Renee Soutendijk (also seen in Verhoeven’s The Fourth Man).
Audio
The sound is mono, and it gets the job done. Nothing exceptional, but clean andserviceable.
Video
The print appears to be in good shape. The colours are very drab, but thi...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 5th, 2002
Synopsis
Set in Mexico, Beat shows us the final days of the relationship between Burroughs and hiswife Joan Vollmer. While Burroughs vacations in Guatemala with his latest boy toy, Vollmergallivants about with two other members of the beats, notably a rather innocent Ginsberg.Somehow this is all going to lead to the fatal William Tell trick with the gun. Keifer Sutherlandturns in a startling bit as Burroughs, perfectly mimicking his speech patterns. But the film itself islittle more...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 3rd, 2002
Synopsis
Jennifer Lopez plays a waitress named Slim. She meets Prince Charming in the person ofMitch (Billy Campbell). They get married, have a kid, and overnight Prince Charming turns intoJason Voorhees. After suffering a relentless campaign of terror, Slim shifts from Sleeping withthe Enemy to I Spit On Your Grave, and fights back. Her retaliation, which is the entire pointof the film in terms of title and promotion, only begins 80 minutes in. That’s a long time to waitthrough wha...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 3rd, 2002
Synopsis
Based on the life of Jim Morris, The Rookie stars Dennis Quaid as a high school coach inrural Texas who has had to give up his dream to play in the major leagues. When he sees his highschool team giving up on themselves, he challenges them with a deal. If they turn themselvesaround, he’ll try out for the Major Leagues. Guess what happens. That’s right, once againbaseball is a metaphor for the American Dream. (Deep sigh from cynical reviewer.) It’s all puttogether very nicel...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 31st, 2002
Synopsis
Zero Mostel is a down-on-his-luck play producer. Gene Wilder is a neurotic accountant.Together they cook up a scheme to raise a million dollars (from old ladies) to produce a playguaranteed to flop (and thus they keep the money.) The play they choose is a little romp called“Springtime for Hitler.” This being a Mel Brooks film, the humour ain’t subtle, and Brooks doesrun some sequences into the ground (he never has known when to quit). But there is a lot oftremendously funny...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 30th, 2002
This disc combines excellent sound, a fantastic movie, and bales of extras with murky video to create a very acceptable – if not truly outstanding - first release of Spider-Man. I would heartily recommend this disc to anyone, but with some caution: this release (“Widescreen Special Edition” reviewed) leaves plenty of doors open for SuperBit Deluxe and later Collector’s releases. Both sound and video are good – but definitely not the best – so, watch for re-releases after the holidays.
This two-disc set is b...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 30th, 2002
In an interview with producer Harve Bennett he tells us that Star Trek II was so successful that he was given the green light for Star Trek III three days after its predecessor’s release. The Search For Spock is not the best of the franchise, but it is certainly the most underrated. Trek lore states that even numbered films are great and odd numbered films bite. This is certainly an exception. Christopher Lloyd is surprising as the main villain, the Klingon Kruge. Shatner actually provides one of his best scenes with Mark Lenard as Spock’s father.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 24th, 2002
Synopsis
Unable, to save her sister from falling off a high cliff, Carla develops a crippling fear ofheights. She also starts to have visions of her sister stalking her. Sister, it seems, wants Carla tojoin her in death. Carla joins a therapy group, hoping to overcome her fears. While she makessome progress, the members of the group start being killed off one by one. There are someeffectively vertiginous moments here, and some okay spookiness, but the film is torpedoed by anending s...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 23rd, 2002
Synopsis
John Wayne plays an American returning to his Irish roots in the town of Innisfree. He fallsin love with the fiery Maureen O’Hara, but the path to true love does not run smoothly. This isbecause O’Hara’s brother is the bully Victor McLaglen. Wayne refuses to fight back, though,because of accidentally killing a boxing opponent in the past. Sooner or later, though... A changeof pace, this, for Wayne: essentially a romantic comedy (loaded with Irish stereotypes) ratherthan a w...
