Collection ID 88
Director: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood
Genre: Western
Studio:   Release date: 1956   Rated:   
Language (Country): English, German, Spanish (USA)
Summary: As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.
My Rating:
My Review: John Wayne stars in this outstanding John Ford (Directed by) movie. With excellent camera work, cinematography and locations, this movie presents the wild west in a sweeping epic spanning numerous years as two men (John Wayne as Ethan Edwards and Jeffrey Hunter as Martin Pawley) as they track down the notorious Comanche chief 'Scar'. Scar and his warriors murdered Ethan's entire family - except the young Debbie, who they took as a spoil of war. Ethan Edwards is a man possessed, filled with hatred and bitter memories, he's committed his soul to this obsessive quest. Will he recapture his missing niece (Natalie Wood playing Debbie), or kill her as his hatred for the Comanche blinds him to his family ties. Despite the excellent cinematography, superb direction and strong plot, the racist aspects of this movie left a bad taste in my social conscience. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 877
Director: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood
Genre: Western
Studio: C.V. Whitney Pictures   Release date: 1956   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English, German, Spanish (USA)
Summary: As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.
My Rating:
My Review: John Wayne stars in this outstanding John Ford (Directed by) movie. With excellent camera work, cinematography and locations, this movie presents the wild west in a sweeping epic spanning numerous years as two men (John Wayne as Ethan Edwards and Jeffrey Hunter as Martin Pawley) as they track down the notorious Comanche chief 'Scar'. Scar and his warriors murdered Ethan's entire family - except the young Debbie, who they took as a spoil of war. Ethan Edwards is a man possessed, filled with hatred and bitter memories, he's committed his soul to this obsessive quest. Will he recapture his missing niece (Natalie Wood playing Debbie), or kill her as his hatred for the Comanche blinds him to his family ties. Despite the excellent cinematography, superb direction and strong plot, the racist aspects of this movie left a bad taste in my social conscience. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 55
Director: Herbert Ross
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Helen Slater, Richard Jordan, Margaret Whitton, John Pankow
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Rastar Pictures   Release date: 1987   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): German, English, French, Italian, Spanish (USA)
Summary: A talented young man can't get an executive position without rising through the ranks, so he comes up with a shortcut, which also benefits his love life.
My Rating:
My Review: Michael J. Fox is full of energy and near the top of his game in this romantic comedy about the world of big business. Fox plays Brantley Foster, a midwestern college graduate who dreams of making it big in the Big Apple. Helen Slater plays Christy Wills the unattainable female power-broker. Brantley moves to New York, but his promised job has evaporated under harsh economic times. Running low on funds but fueled by a driving desire to succeed, Brantley lands a job in the mail room of 'Uncle' Howard's bit time corporation. Compelled to make that jump from mailroom to boardroom, Brantley concocts an alter-ego named 'Carlton Whitfield'. While Carlton does his best to infiltrate the inner-circle and win the heart of an unattainable Christy Wills, Brantley does his best to avoid the amorous advances of Aunt Vera and a suspicious mailroom boss. The pacing is Michael J. Fox classic, and the story a twisted comedy that never relents. The double-life comedy was perfectly suited to Michael J. Fox, and he was fantastic in this 80s comedy. The writing was surprisingly strong for a movie that's primarily intended as a light-hearted comedic vehicle. The editing and direction were expertly handled. The casting terrific and the I give this gem a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 857
Director: Herbert Ross
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Helen Slater, Richard Jordan, Margaret Whitton, John Pankow
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Rastar Pictures   Release date: 1987   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): German, English, French, Italian, Spanish (USA)
Summary: A talented young man can't get an executive position without rising through the ranks, so he comes up with a shortcut, which also benefits his love life.
My Rating:
My Review: Michael J. Fox is full of energy and near the top of his game in this romantic comedy about the world of big business. Fox plays Brantley Foster, a midwestern college graduate who dreams of making it big in the Big Apple. Helen Slater plays Christy Wills the unattainable female power-broker. Brantley moves to New York, but his promised job has evaporated under harsh economic times. Running low on funds but fueled by a driving desire to succeed, Brantley lands a job in the mail room of 'Uncle' Howard's bit time corporation. Compelled to make that jump from mailroom to boardroom, Brantley concocts an alter-ego named 'Carlton Whitfield'. While Carlton does his best to infiltrate the inner-circle and win the heart of an unattainable Christy Wills, Brantley does his best to avoid the amorous advances of Aunt Vera and a suspicious mailroom boss. The pacing is Michael J. Fox classic, and the story a twisted comedy that never relents. The double-life comedy was perfectly suited to Michael J. Fox, and he was fantastic in this 80s comedy. The writing was surprisingly strong for a movie that's primarily intended as a light-hearted comedic vehicle. The editing and direction were expertly handled. The casting terrific and the I give this gem a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 394
Director: Penelope Spheeris
Starring: Marlon Wayans, David Spade, Matthew Lillard, Rip Torn, Tamara Taylor
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Dimension Films   Release date: 1998   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A student gets his senses enhanced by an experimental drug. But abuse is not an option.
My Rating:
My Review: Senseless - 1998 (Comedy, romance) Stupid. Stupid funny. Starring Marlon Wayans (as Daryl Witherspoon) and David Spade (as Scott Thorpe). I own this film. I've seen it several times. It doesn't get any better, but it doesn't have to. This movie is inane, there's no big surprises in the plot. College student Witherspoons needs money to support single mom and his siblings. He agrees to participate in a drug trial that gives him super senses. He uses the benefits to help his chances in a post college placement program. He gets cocky, exceeds the dosage, and the side effects just about destroy him. Very funny. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1115
Director: Penelope Spheeris
Starring: Marlon Wayans, David Spade, Matthew Lillard, Rip Torn, Tamara Taylor
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Dimension Films   Release date: 1998   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A student gets his senses enhanced by an experimental drug. But abuse is not an option.
My Rating:
My Review: Senseless - 1998 (Comedy, romance) Stupid. Stupid funny. Starring Marlon Wayans (as Daryl Witherspoon) and David Spade (as Scott Thorpe). I own this film. I've seen it several times. It doesn't get any better, but it doesn't have to. This movie is inane, there's no big surprises in the plot. College student Witherspoons needs money to support single mom and his siblings. He agrees to participate in a drug trial that gives him super senses. He uses the benefits to help his chances in a post college placement program. He gets cocky, exceeds the dosage, and the side effects just about destroy him. Very funny. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 652
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment   Release date: 2005   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: "Serenity" offers perfect proof that "Firefly" deserved a better fate than premature TV cancellation. Joss Whedon's acclaimed sci-fi Western hybrid series was ideally suited (in Browncoats, of course) for a big-screen conversion, and this action-packed adventure allows Whedon to fill in the "Firefly" backstory, especially the history and mystery of the spaceship Serenity's volatile and traumatized stowaway, River Tam (Summer Glau). Her lethal skills as a programmed "weapon" makes her a coveted prize for the power-hungry planetary Alliance, represented here by an Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who'll stop at nothing to retrieve River from Serenity's protective crew. We still get all the quip-filled dialogue and ass-kicking action that we've come to expect from the creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", but Whedon goes a talented step further here, blessing his established ensemble cast with a more fully-developed dynamic of endearing relationships. "Serenity"'s cast is led with well-balanced depth and humor by Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds, whose maverick spirit is matched by his devotion to crewmates Wash (Alan Tudyk), Zoe (Gina Torres), fun-loving fighter Jayne (Adam Baldwin), engineer Kaylee (Jewel Staite), doctor Simon (Sean Maher), and Mal's former flame Inara (Morena Baccarin), who plays a pivotal role in Whedon's briskly-paced plot. As many critics agreed, "Serenity" offered all the fun and breezy excitement that was missing from George Lucas's latter-day "Star Wars" epics, and Whedon leaves an opening for a continuing franchise that never feels cheap or commercially opportunistic. With the mega-corporate mysteries of Blue Sun yet to be explored, it's a safe bet we haven't seen the last of the good ship Serenity. "--Jeff Shannon"
My Rating:
My Review: First of all, yes I've seen the television series (FireFly). I thought it was rather well done. I liked the stories, the characters and the premise. The future can be a frontier, not all science fiction is porcelain coated stainless steel. This movie was great. Take away the pulse pounding action scenes, the astonishing special effects, the gritty post-apocalyptic environment, and all your left with is above par acting, fantastic writing and a great story. Mix in some outstanding music and rock solid directing and you've got yourself a winner. The involved story was something I couldn't predict, and the characters were far more complex than your typical Star-Trek cookie cutter crew.

Collection ID 1348
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment   Release date: 2005   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: "Serenity" offers perfect proof that "Firefly" deserved a better fate than premature TV cancellation. Joss Whedon's acclaimed sci-fi Western hybrid series was ideally suited (in Browncoats, of course) for a big-screen conversion, and this action-packed adventure allows Whedon to fill in the "Firefly" backstory, especially the history and mystery of the spaceship Serenity's volatile and traumatized stowaway, River Tam (Summer Glau). Her lethal skills as a programmed "weapon" makes her a coveted prize for the power-hungry planetary Alliance, represented here by an Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who'll stop at nothing to retrieve River from Serenity's protective crew. We still get all the quip-filled dialogue and ass-kicking action that we've come to expect from the creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", but Whedon goes a talented step further here, blessing his established ensemble cast with a more fully-developed dynamic of endearing relationships. "Serenity"'s cast is led with well-balanced depth and humor by Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds, whose maverick spirit is matched by his devotion to crewmates Wash (Alan Tudyk), Zoe (Gina Torres), fun-loving fighter Jayne (Adam Baldwin), engineer Kaylee (Jewel Staite), doctor Simon (Sean Maher), and Mal's former flame Inara (Morena Baccarin), who plays a pivotal role in Whedon's briskly-paced plot. As many critics agreed, "Serenity" offered all the fun and breezy excitement that was missing from George Lucas's latter-day "Star Wars" epics, and Whedon leaves an opening for a continuing franchise that never feels cheap or commercially opportunistic. With the mega-corporate mysteries of Blue Sun yet to be explored, it's a safe bet we haven't seen the last of the good ship Serenity. "--Jeff Shannon"
My Rating:
My Review: First of all, yes I've seen the television series (FireFly). I thought it was rather well done. I liked the stories, the characters and the premise. The future can be a frontier, not all science fiction is porcelain coated stainless steel. This movie was great. Take away the pulse pounding action scenes, the astonishing special effects, the gritty post-apocalyptic environment, and all your left with is above par acting, fantastic writing and a great story. Mix in some outstanding music and rock solid directing and you've got yourself a winner. The involved story was something I couldn't predict, and the characters were far more complex than your typical Star-Trek cookie cutter crew.

Collection ID 137
Director: Wes Craven
Starring: Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Brent Jennings
Genre: Horror
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Dennis Allan is a scientist who visits Haiti on the strength of a rumour of a drug which renders the recipient totally paralyzed but conscious. The drug's effects often fool doctors, who declare the victims dead. Could this be the origin of the "zombie" legend? Alan embarks on a surprising and often surreal investigation of the turbulent social chaos that is Haiti during the revolution which ousted hated dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier. Often a pawn in a greater game, Alan must decide what is science, what is superstition, and what is the unknown in a anarchistic society where police corruption and witch-doctory are commonplace.
My Rating:
My Review: I completely forgot/missed the fact that this movie was directed by that master of Horror; Wes Craven (one of his less known works). Starring a fantastic cast of Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Brent Jennings, Conrad Roberts, and others. Here is a movie that starts out as scientific exploration and ends as a voodoo tinged horror story. The story: Dennis Allen (played by Bull Pullman) is an ethnobiologist/antrhopologist sent to Haiti by a pharmaceutical company. He's there looking for plants, animals and medicines associated with Haitian folklore. He comes across a rumored drug that leaves recipients totally paralyzed but conscious. Believing he's found a powerful narcotic and pain reliever he pursues the secrets of the drug with scientific indifference to its larger role in the creation of Zombies. Set during the terror inducing reign of Baby Doc Duvalier, the danger of man's inhumanity is just as much a threat as the voodoo steeped horror of zombies in this movie. As Dr. Allen is played as a pawn by politics and rival religious sects, he must decide whether this drug is worth his life or his soul. Filmed in Haiti, the attention to detail exhibited throughout the meticulously produced film are well worth it. The acting by Bill Pullman was surprisingly good and the direction quite good. As the tension and suspense build, this movie moves inexorably towards an excellent climax. 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 920
Director: Wes Craven
Starring: Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Brent Jennings
Genre: Horror
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Dennis Allan is a scientist who visits Haiti on the strength of a rumour of a drug which renders the recipient totally paralyzed but conscious. The drug's effects often fool doctors, who declare the victims dead. Could this be the origin of the "zombie" legend? Alan embarks on a surprising and often surreal investigation of the turbulent social chaos that is Haiti during the revolution which ousted hated dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier. Often a pawn in a greater game, Alan must decide what is science, what is superstition, and what is the unknown in a anarchistic society where police corruption and witch-doctory are commonplace.
My Rating:
My Review: I completely forgot/missed the fact that this movie was directed by that master of Horror; Wes Craven (one of his less known works). Starring a fantastic cast of Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Brent Jennings, Conrad Roberts, and others. Here is a movie that starts out as scientific exploration and ends as a voodoo tinged horror story. The story: Dennis Allen (played by Bull Pullman) is an ethnobiologist/antrhopologist sent to Haiti by a pharmaceutical company. He's there looking for plants, animals and medicines associated with Haitian folklore. He comes across a rumored drug that leaves recipients totally paralyzed but conscious. Believing he's found a powerful narcotic and pain reliever he pursues the secrets of the drug with scientific indifference to its larger role in the creation of Zombies. Set during the terror inducing reign of Baby Doc Duvalier, the danger of man's inhumanity is just as much a threat as the voodoo steeped horror of zombies in this movie. As Dr. Allen is played as a pawn by politics and rival religious sects, he must decide whether this drug is worth his life or his soul. Filmed in Haiti, the attention to detail exhibited throughout the meticulously produced film are well worth it. The acting by Bill Pullman was surprisingly good and the direction quite good. As the tension and suspense build, this movie moves inexorably towards an excellent climax. 4 out of 5.