Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 25th, 2004
James Gurney created a wonderful mythical land to rival Tolkien’s Middle Earth that was populated by stranded travelers and talking dinosaurs. Hallmark finally brought these settings to life on film with their popular mini-series. The ABC series that followed was unfortunately complete with several fatal flaws. The dino f/x were not really as good as we have become used to. The blurs and surreal appearance often takes one out of the experience. The actors used in the mini-series were replaced with virtual unknowns and a noticeable lack of skills. It was obviously a mistake to attempt such an ambitious project for weekly television.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 25th, 2004
In 1976 a New York media group conducted a survey of the NYPD detectives. The question was: “Of all the TV cop shows, which most accurately portrays life as a detective?” The overwhelming response was the comedy Barney Miller.
It seems that real cops related to the daily grind and weekly wackos of Barney Miller. Let’s not put aside that this was also one of the most consistently funny shows on television. I remember it took me a while to accept Abe Vigoda in such a light role as Fish. My first exposure to Vigoda was the ruthless mobster in The Godfather.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 25th, 2004
Scorched follows in the tradition of Guy Ritchie films such as “Loch Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch” from the perspective of having a group of characters that don’t have too much in common except for fate brining them all together at the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong) time.
Scorched follows three main characters who all work at a bank and have the same idea, although thought of independently, to rob the bank – all on the same weekend. Sheila (Alicia Silverstone) has been dating ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 24th, 2004
Synopsis
An arrogant, misanthropic Charlton Heston leads a trio of astronauts who left Earth in 1972for a trip they expected to last some 900 years. 2000 years later, they crash-land on what theysuppose to be another planet. They encounter mute, primitive humans, but then are set upon bycivilized apes. Heston is the only survivor, and is befriended by ape scientists Roddy McDowalland Kim Hunter, who challenge the religious and scientific orthodoxy of their society bybelieving that a...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 23rd, 2004
Synopsis
René (Gorden Kaye) is the owner of a cafe in occupied France. All he wants to do is getthrough the war, and avoid making any waves, and so is very obsequious towards the Germans.Unfortunately, the French resistance wants him to hide two British airman. And every woman insight throws herself at him. And his wife is jealous. And, and. and... One complication afteranother descends upon his head.
I'll confess that I've never been a fan of Are You Being Served?, s...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 22nd, 2004
Synopsis
During the German occupation of Holland, two Jewish families take refuge in an Amsterdamattic. After some months, they are joined by a dentist. The tensions and friendships ebb and flowin this confined space, and the two-year period is chronicled in her diary by Anne, who is thirteenwhen the hiding beings.
Given that the film is scripted by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, from their Broadwayplay, and the film’s locations are essentially limited to this one set,...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 21st, 2004
Synopsis
Daryl Hannah plays CJ, a world-weary hired assassin. She wants out of the life, but hercurrent job goes awry when the drugs she is suppossed to recover for mob boss Alex Rocco gomissing. They have wound up in the hands of nervous Brad Renfro and his very pregantgirlfriend, Dominique Swain. CJ finds it difficult to kill these two young people, and this gets herinto trouble herself. Meanwhile, she begins to succumb to the overtures of a former priest (EricMabius), who wants a...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 21st, 2004
Synopsis
Kate Hudson arrives in Paris to visit sister Naomi Watts. Hudson is the drifter, while Watts,the poet married to the painter, appears to be the success story. But Hudson arrives just as Watts'husband walks out on wife and daughter. While trying to be the supportive sister, Hudsonmeanwhile falls into an affair with one of Watts' married in-laws.
As with all Merchant-Ivory films, this looks great, in terms of both cast and scenery. Butthere's a rather stilled, coffee-...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 20th, 2004
Synopsis
Richard Harris is Oliver Cromwell, reluctant revolutionary, every more reluctant dictator.Alec Guinness is Charles I, the King of England who is given very bad advice, but makes somestupid decisions all on his own. The English Civil War is played out for us, with a cast offamiliar faces (Robert Morley, Timothy Dalton, Charles Gray, etc. etc.) and some prettyimpressive battle scenes. (Though those of you fresh from a screening of The Return of theKing should please re...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 20th, 2004
Synopsis
Oh, give me a break. You want a plot synopsis for softcore 3-D porn? Fine, then. There issome incomprehensible gibberish about a crook the police are trying to nail, and the club ownercaught in the middle, who also suffers from impotence and is in love with the crook’s girl. Andthere’s a psychiatrist who keeps materializing out of thin air. There. That good enough forya? As for the sex, wake me up when it’s over.
Audio
Thin, reedy mono, but less background ...
On The Web
Sponsors
