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Christmas Carol – The Movie

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 13th, 2003

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Synopsis

This is, of course, the familiar tale of miser Ebenezer Scrooge (voice of Simon Callow) andhis conversion thanks to his encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-To-Come. This version has a few alterations, though: Scrooge’s lost love (Kate Winslet) is still verymuch around, and is trying to get in touch with him; there’s a new subplot involving a hospitalfor poor orphans that shuts down because of Scrooge; and Scrooge’s only friends are two mice,who sca…
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Men Seeking Women

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 9th, 2003

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Three best friends all born on the same day in the same hospital make a bet to help them find love. Each of them put two thousand dollars in a bank account and the first one that get get a girlfriend and live with her for 60 days wins. Nick the playboy makes a pact with a college friend, Al (played by Will Ferrell) embarks on misadventures in dating and Les finds himself a married woman of mystery who may be married to the mob. You can see the ending coming a mile away but, the story is still entertaining.

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Osbournes – The Complete Second Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 8th, 2003

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Ozzy’s back! Jack, Kelly, Sharon, and of course Ozzy, have returned for a second season where they share their insane lives with all of the world; the result is a hilarious look at a functioning dysfunctional family. The shock and uniqueness of this show is waning somewhat, but it is still extremely entertaining to watch.

Video

Considering the source material, this set looks just fine. The picture quality is pretty standard “TV on DVD” fair, and the color levels and blacks are maintained…
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Absolutely Fabulous – Absolutely Special

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 8th, 2003

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Absolutely Fabulous is a British series that aired on the BBC starting in 1992. The show stars Jennifer Saunders as Edina, who is a fashion-world publicist whom with her best friend Patsy, played by Joanna Lumley, tries to re-live their younger days by consuming large amounts of alcohol and drugs. Gotta love those crazy Brits! This formula worked well enough for 4 seasons of the show, which are now available on DVD. Apparently Rosanne Barr tried to convince the networks in the US to make an American version but they…
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It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 6th, 2003

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Often family Christmas movies, while ambitious, often miss the mark with a weak story or bad acting. I was worried that a Muppet Christmas movie would follow in these footsteps. Additionally, some of the previous Muppet movies fell short of the comedic styling that resonated within a generation of kids like myself whom grew up with the Muppet Show. Thankfully I was disappointed on both accounts.

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Movie holds it’s own against the best of the family Christmas movies and in my mind riv…
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Dawson’s Creek – The Series Finale

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 5th, 2003

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Synopsis

Cards on the table: I never watched the show, and so didn’t have the faintest idea what wasgoing on. Here’s the case summary: “It’s five years later and Dawson, Joey, Pacey, Jen and Jackare reunited in Capeside for Dawson’s mom’s wedding. But the celebratory mood comes to anend when they receive some heartbreaking news. As the gang faces a future more uncertain thanbefore, Joey struggles to come to terms with her true feelings for Dawson, Pacey and her currentboyfrie…
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Christmas with the Simpsons

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 5th, 2003

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Synopsis

There are five episodes here, going all the way back to arrival of Santa’s Little Helper (in“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”) and featuring such classics as the “Mr. Plow” episode.Admittedly, that one has more to do with snow than Christmas itself, but what the hell. Sure, thisis pure marketing (and don’t bother if you’re already buying the complete seasons in boxed sets),but there’s plenty of comic gold here too.

Audio

The sound is 2.0, a…
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Dark Angel – The Complete Second Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 5th, 2003

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Synopsis

Having been recaptured by the government at the end of the previous season (not to mentionalmost killed), Max (Jessica Alba) breaks loose at the start of this season. Also freed are otherexperiments, mutants who are very visibly mutants (their DNA was crossed with that of animals,for instance), ultimately leading to some very X-Men style battles with human prejudice. JamesCameron himself comes in to direct the final episode.

Audio

An energeti…
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Full Bottom – Not Another Half-Arsed DVD Set

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 5th, 2003

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Rik Mayall (Drop Dead Fred) and Adrian Edmondson are the stars in this British comedy about two obnoxious loaners at the bottom of the food chain. Follow along with Richie Richard and Eddie Hitler on their quest for love and money as they try out pheromones, dating services and visit the carnival. This DVD collection contains all three seasons of the show for a total of 18 episodes.

Video

This disc contains a 1.33:1 fullscreen transfer of very good quality. The putrid green color of Richie and Eddie’s apartment comes through in all its grimy glory.
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Hollywood Homicide

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 2nd, 2003

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Synopsis

Harrison Ford is the veteran cop whose runs a real estate business on the side (and businessisn’t good). Josh Hartnett is his young partner who is thinking of givine up police work in favourof acting. Their current case involves a massacre at a night club, where the members of an up-and-coming rap group were gunned down. They investigate while trying to keep their alternatecareers going. More trouble lurks in the form of Internal Affairs investigator Bruce Greenwood,who has…
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Deranged

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 1st, 2003

Synopsis

JoBeth Williams plays radio host Dr. Rose. Turfed from her radio show, she moves fromsmall-town Eureka to LA (taking with her a mannequin with whom she has involvedconversations). She lands a new job at a small college, and starts making a name for herself.Unfortunately, she has no real qualifications, and is (as Williams twitchy performance makesclear from the opening seconds on) completely off her nut. When a skeptical student starts raisingquestions about her, Dr. Rose w…
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Watchers / Watchers II

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 30th, 2003

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Synopsis

The premise to both movies is pretty much the same: super-intelligent Labrador retrieverescapes from government lab and is pursued by evil Sasquatch/ape monster that kills anyone thedog comes near (the two are telepathically linked, you see). In the first movie, the dog hooksup with Corey Haim. In the second, with Marc Singer. The results are odd, rather like OldYeller meets Predator: Disney animal scenes mixed with eye-gougings. None of thisis particularly go…
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Fright Night Part II

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 29th, 2003

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Synopsis

Convinced, after therapy, that his previous vampire-fighting adventure was the product of adelusion, William Ragsdale returns to normal life. Unfortunately, he and horror host PeterVincent (Roddy McDowall, reprising his Peter Cushing/Vincent Price role) are targeted byvampire Julie Carmen, who wants revenge for the death of her brother. The comedy isn’t funny,and the horror isn’t scary. The film is slick, but is just barely a passable time-waster.

Audio

Old Grey Whistle Test, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 28th, 2003

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British Television has always done a good job of showcasing music with variety programs. The Old Grey Whistle Test is probably the best of these and over its 16 year run featured some of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. We are treated to 28 live performances by huge bands like U2, REM, The Police, Bob Marley and Bruce Springsteen as well as riveting performances by the likes of The Dammed, Tom Waits and Iggy Pop. This is a great disc for any rock and roll fan especially if you grew up in th…
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Howling V: The Rebirth / Howling VI: The Freaks

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 28th, 2003

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Synopsis

In Howling V: The Rebirth (**), a group of strangers gather for the re-opening of aHungarian castle, which has been shut up for 500 years. One by one they are killed off by a(barely glimpsed) werewolf, and there is a secret that ties them all together. Nothing tooextraordinary here, and werewolf fans will be disappointed by the monster’s next-to-zero screentime. This is, in fact, a throwback to the kind of movie involving much prowling around a darkcastle that Italy …
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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 22nd, 2003

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Please do not confuse this Hallmark made for TV film with the wonderful Tim Burton film of the same year. They have about as much in common with each other as either does with the classic Washington Irving story. The only good thing I can say about the film is that Brent Carver’s Ichabod Crane is a spectacular performance. Carver reminds me a great deal of the late and great Roddy McDowall. He shares his overall appearance as well as certain characteristic mannerisms and speech inflections with McDowall.
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Roger & Me

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 18th, 2003

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Synopsis

This comic-yet-scathing documentary begins as an autobiography, as Michael Moorerecounts his formative years in Flint, Michigan, accompanied by all kinds of amusing stockfootage. From here we segue to the closing of GM’s Flint plants, a move that devastated thetown. Moore begins a quixotic quest to confrong Roger Smith, the head of General Motors, andalong the way winds up in all kinds of amusing (yet revelatory) situations. He also meets manycolourful characters in his hom…
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Fargo

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 18th, 2003

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Synopsis

Terminal loser William H. Macy hatches a scheme to get out of his debt problems: hire SteveBuscemi and Peter Stormare to kidnap his wife, then get the ransom from his father-in-law.Naturally enough, everything goes spectacularly wrong. Bodies pile up, and hugely pregnantSheriff Frances McDormand investigates. All the elements of prime Coen work are present:wonderful character turns from a top cast, dialogue to die for, cinematography that will take yourbreath away, and a sc…
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Deadly Invasion

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 17th, 2003

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You can pretty much guess a film’s in trouble when it begins with an ominous narrative that ends with: “The following could be a true story”. Deadly Invasion starts slow and gets dull from there. This was a 1995 TV film about killer bees. Weren’t we over that story in the 1970’s? The plot is predictable at every turn. This might not be all that bad if not for below B grade acting and cinematography. I’m more afraid of having to watch this film again than of killer bees.

Audio

MTV Cribs: Rock

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 17th, 2003

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With seemingly every TV show coming out on DVD as of late you know it was only a matter of time before MTV jumped on the bandwagon. Cribs is one of their longest running series and this discs looks at the homes of 8 different rockers and one of their own VJ’s. Follow along as we venture in to the living quarters of Incubus, Tommy Lee, Rob Zombie, Fieldy (the bass player for Korn), Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker of Blink 182, Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach) and MTV VJ Ian Robinson.

Waxwork / Waxwork II: Lost in Time

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 16th, 2003

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Synopsis

The plot to both features is rather similar, in each case serving to set up a bunch of mini-movies loaded with tributes and/or parodies of classic cinema monsters. In the first film, amysterious wax museum, presided over by David Warner, appears in town, and a group of teensill-advisedly wander in. Step too near an exhibit, and you wind up in the world depicted, upagainst a werewolf, the mummy, vampires, and so on. In the sequel, Zach Galligan (hero of thefirst) and his gir…
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Prom Night III: The Last Kiss / Prom Night IV: Deliver Us From Evil

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 15th, 2003

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Synopsis

Though a largely undistinguished series the Prom Night hit something of a high watermark with Prom Night III: The Last Kiss (***). Advertized, on its initial release, as “ARomantic Comedy From Hell,” this sees the demonic prom queen Mary Lou Maloney escapingfrom Hell (where she was stuck in an infernal chorus line) to continue her depredations atHamilton High. There she falls in love with Alex, an average student whose life is suddenly notaverage at all now th…
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Outer Limits: Complete Second Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 14th, 2003

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Maybe there wasn’t anything wrong with your television set, but what were the network executives thinking? It’s hard to believe that a show as influential and as well known as The Outer Limits never made it to the end of its second season. The original Outer Limits was cancelled just 17 episodes into season 2. Like Star Trek after it, this short-lived show found its footing in later syndication and revival projects. It is fortunate indeed that today’s general rule of 100 episodes to qualify for syndication did not exist in the 1960’s.
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Bride of Re-Animator

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 14th, 2003

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Synopsis

Having mysteriously survived the slaughterhouse finale of Re-Animator, madscientist Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs, in his definitive role) is continuing his experiments in re-animating the dead. Now he and his reluctant partner Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott) are bringing lifenot just to the recently deceased, but to assemblages of body parts. The big project becomes thecobbling together of a woman, based around the heart of Meg, Dan’s lost love. Sloppy inconstruction, and wit…
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Sleeping Beauty

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 14th, 2003

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In the tradition of DVD releases of other classic Disney films, Sleeping Beauty as been given an all-star DVD treatment. Everyone has grown up watching Disney animated classic films, and everyone knows the story. No matter how many time you see these films, they never go out of style… and so is the case with Sleeping Beauty.

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