Reviews Written by The Critiquer also Ringfan
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May 28, 2005
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May 27, 2005
The Chrous
5 of 5 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: An engaging film
Cons: none
This is a wonderful film, though most reviewers didn't like it. It tells the story of a conductor after a successful concert returns home on a rainy night to be reunited with the youngest member of his Boys' School music class in France during the war.
They reflect back on the diary left by their music teacher a bumbling man at first who seems not to be able to handle the students at first. He selects his singers sopranos, tenors etc, and even uses one boy as a music stand.
The child who becomes the conductor has the demenour of the devil yet the voice of an angel. The rest of the tale folds into the typical difficulties of boys getting along and sharing a love for music.
By the end of the story, you'll have fallen in love with the youngest tyke who waits for his parents to come and get him though they never show. He's perhaps the most adorable little face on the screen and you'll just want to take him home with you after seeing this wondrous film. It's a three hankie film but it's a good cry not a sad one. My rating is an A-. ... -
April 14, 2005
Stand By Me
1 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: A great coming-of-age tale
Cons: Though not enough of a bonus disc
This film was culled from the novella collection by Stephen King called "Different Seasons". It's full title was "Fall From Innocence; The Body". It told the story of four twelve-year old boys who embark on a trek through the Maine wilds searching for the body of another child who'd been killed while walking the train tracks.
The film directed by Rob Reiner and written by Raynold Gideon and Bruce A Evans, stuck faithfully to King's tale and is now presented here as a deluxe collectors edition. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a Commentary Track from the three surviving stars Wil Wheaton, Jerry O'Connell and Corey Feldman. This whould have been interesting in hearing what they remembered of the film and just having a bonus disc of the Ben E King song doesn't cut it. There should be much more to this. Stick with the original release version instead. This should be a message to the studios to clean out their vaults and load Deluxe packages with tons of extras especially the Extras stingy Paramount films. ... -
April 4, 2005
Star Trek: First Conact
1 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Eigth in the Star Trek franchise is a solid tale
Cons: The denoument drags a bit
Star Trek First Contact is perhaps the best of the series featuring the Next Generation cast. Finally, the old crew has been laid to rest, no more Kirk and Co. In this opus, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) is bothered by his past encounter with the Borg Collective. The Borg are intent on destorying Earth and the crew of the Enterprise must travel back in time to stop this from occuring. Here they meet Zephram Cochran (James Cromwell) the inventor of warp speed.
Data (Brent Spiner) is captured by the Borg and is seduced by the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) into becoming one of the collective. The Queen makes perhaps the most incredible entrances ever put on film as her upper torso floats above Data and is lowered onto the rest of her body, then she walks towards him.
There is a race against time for the Enterprise crew to fight off the Borg who have begun to assimilate those on the ship, while Troi, Riker and LeForge are on Earth with the wacky scientist. Troi has a hilarious scene of inebriation. When Cochran does go to warp speed, this enables Earth to have a First Contact with the Vulcans.
This is a must for every Star Trek collection along with 2, 3, and 6. The other films need not apply, yes, I detested The Voyage Home. ...
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Seinfeld Season 4
2 of 3 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: The best episodes
Cons: More bloopers
They're back! The definitive season of Seinfeld arrives on DVD. We have the eps The Smelly Car and my own favourite The Contest, in which they bet well, who's master of their domain. It's also the first ep to feature George's mother. There are other eps but you'll have to see them for yourself.
The commentary tracks are back as are the behind the scenes, bloopers and pop-up facts the Yadda-yadda-yadda feature. This is the season that made Seinfeld a bona fide hit. This is a worthy companion piece to the other two volumes. Oh, and by the way: They're real and they're spectacular!!! Rating A ...