All Aboard the Polar Express in 3-D!!!!

The Polar Express: Presented in 3-D
Warner Bros./ Castle Rock/ Play Tone
Starring Tom Hanks
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Rated G
Running Time = 100 minutes (Two DVDs; one with 3-D version, the other with theatrical version)

I love Christmas movies. There’s something about the really good ones like Miracle of 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life that really resonate with me. Holiday films of recent have held less interest for me, especially “holiday” movies like Deck the Halls and Christmas with the Kranks. The Polar Express, however, Continue reading “All Aboard the Polar Express in 3-D!!!!”

5 Things I Learned While Watching The New World

The New World: The Extended Cut
New Line Cinema
Starring Colin Farrell, Q’orianka Kilcher, Christopher Plummer, and Christian Bale
Written and Directed by Terrence Malick
Rated PG-13 for some intense battle sequences.
Running Time = 135 minutes

As I watched this extended version of The New World, which was my first time viewing the film, several thoughts came to mind. I wish to share five of them with you now. Continue reading “5 Things I Learned While Watching The New World”

TV on DVD Review: Primeval – Volume One

Primeval – Volume One
BBC Video
Starring Douglas Henshall, James Murray, Andrew Lee Potts, Lucy Brown, Hannah Spearitt
Not Rated
Running Time = 585 minutes (on 4 DVDs)

Dinosaurs! Interdimensional portals! English accents! Yes, all that and more add to the fun and excitement of Primeval. Seen in the U.S. on BBC America, the show’s a Continue reading “TV on DVD Review: Primeval – Volume One”

Shrek The Halls – DVD review

Shrek being an ogre… knows nothing about Christmas. Welcome to “Shrek the Halls”, a short half hour X-mas special about learning the ways of the holidays. Shrek takes quick lessons about Christmas to try and give his family the holiday they deserve. Donkey and Puss in Boots show up to add to the fun and screw things up a bit. Its exactly what you’d expect when you think of Shrek + holidays.

This is the same holiday special that ran on TV a year ago, it runs a little over 23 minutes, but this time no commercials! The original cast from the films is back to reprise their character roles which is nice, since typically this sort of thing would feature a bunch of horrible sound-a-likes. The animation is pretty solid quality as well, almost on par with the films themselves.

Surprisingly, the DVD has a variety of features considering it is just a TV holiday special. There are several sing a longs, a couple interactive games, and a video jukebox. The DVD also features widescreen and fullscreen formats which is nice and 5.1 surround.

It’s worth a watch to get into the holiday spirit. However, being a holiday movie it’s really only good for about 2 months out of the year. Overall worth picking up for the Shrek fans in your family or just renting to have some Christmas cheer to pass the time.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition: Cheesy Movies Beware!

Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition
Shout Factory/Comedy Central/Sci-Fi Channel
Starring Joel Hodgson, Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, Trace Beaulieu
Not Rated
Running Time = +/- 7 hours (on four DVDs)

The first MST3K episode I ever saw was Pod People. I have been hooked ever since. I love this show! Another favorite: Continue reading “Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition: Cheesy Movies Beware!”

DVD REVIEW: Sabrina (1954)

 

Audrey Hepburn plays the role of Sabrina, the Larrabee’s Chauffeur’s daughter. Sabrina has been in love with David Larrabee, a young playboy, for as long as she could remember. After a trip to Paris for culinary school, Sabrina comes back looking like a beautiful, elegant, and sophisticated lady rather than a girl stalking David from the trees.

Catching David’s attention, he falls in love with her, forgetting about his fiancé and the 20 million dollar sugarcane and plastic deal. So Humphrey Bogart, who plays Linus, decides to try to entice Sabrina out of leaving with David, but apparently Linus ends up falling in love with Sabrina but it is hard to notice. 

This movie has poor acting and a weak plot. It’s like Cinderella but with a father, and she doesn’t have until midnight. I found Sabrina to be a psycho. She has been in love with this man for over 10 years and he doesn’t notice her. I especially felt this way after she tried to commit suicide in the garage by carbon monoxide poisoning, because he didn’t love her.

I believe this was a horrible role for Audrey Hepburn to play; maybe she was blackmailed into this movie because while some may think it’s a classic, I believe Paramount wasted a horrible amount of money to produce this garbage without a likeable storyline. I cannot emphasize how horrible the acting is. While it may have been the script, I could not tell if Linus or David, loved her, loathed her, or was just drunk.

If I were you I would pass on this movie. It was two hours that I could have spent studying! (But not really). Well I would advise you to check out Witness of the Prosecution if you are in for a good black and white flick.