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 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 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 22nd, 2002
Synopsis
The Djinn (John Novak) is unwittingly released by Tara Spencer Nairn. Adopting the identityof one of her friends, the Djinn insinuates himself into her life. If she makes three wishes, hisentire race will be unleashed upon the earth. The tricky thing is, her last wish is that she couldlove him for himself. Oops. How is the Djinn supposed to grant a wish that only she can grant?He certainly has an odd way of courting her. Very, very, very low-budget stuff, mildly divertingfo...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 21st, 2002
Synopsis
Poor Will, AKA Flappy the Clown. He lives in a dump, is dumped on by his mother, andis tormented by just about everyone he meets. Then he’s brutally raped. Just when he’s ready toend it all, he saves a little girl, and his instant celebrity turns his life around. But the men whoassaulted him haven’t forgotten him... I really didn’t know what to make of this flick, and thisis reflected in the middling star rating. Is it supposed to be a comedy or not? There are enoughcharact...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 19th, 2002
Synopsis
Sir James Bond (David Niven), a superhuman prude with a stutter, is forced out of retirementto discover who is killing off all the world’s spies. He recruits a whole load of other 007s, fromPeter Sellers to Ursula Andress (don’t ask), and the villain turns out to be Woody Allen.Comedies should rarely run more than 90 minutes. This clocks in at 137. Interminably,mortifyingly dull. I defy anybody to sit through this.
Audio
The sound comes in both 5.1 ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 19th, 2002
Synopsis
The plot is very simple, as the spectacular song-and-dance numbers are the real star of theshow. Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen are big stars of the silent screen. But sound is arriving, andHagen’s voice sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard (and she has a personality to match). Kellyfalls in love with Debbie Reynolds, a struggling dancer with a terrific voice. This is enough of aframework on which to hang the production numbers, but the comedy in between is oftenhowlingly fun...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 17th, 2002
Band of Brothers, as should be expected from multiple emmy award winner, is an amazing miniseries. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have collaborated on creating a memorable and poignant story that can be appreciate by all.
”Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's nonfiction bestseller, BAND OF BROTHERS tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. Starting with their rigorous training in Georgia in 1942, it recounts the achievements of the elite rifle company fr...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 14th, 2002
Synopsis
A group of college friends gathers at the isolated island home of Muffy St. John for an AprilFool’s weekend. One by one... Well, you know how the rest of it goes, don’t you?
SPOILER WARNING: ...or do you? The film’s main distinction (other than having somevery funny pranks and actors playing something approaching real characters) is that all of themurders turn out to be a practical joke – no one gets killed. Does this make or ruin the film? Hardto say – my own feeli...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 13th, 2002
As my odds-on favorite to win Best Animated Film at this years Academy Awards, Ice Age combines a wonderful mix of breathtaking digital animation, and a wonderful story full of entertaining characters. Fox, with this film, has jumped into the upper echelon of digital animation studios, along with Disney and Dreamworks.
”Twenty thousand years ago, the Earth was being overrun by glaciers, and creatures everywhere were fleeing the onslaught of the new ICE AGE. In this time of peril, we meet the...
