Bond Is Back In Action!: Review for the Ultimate James Bond Collection
Sure, they’re trying to get your money, but for Bond fans of all sorts, the new box sets are completely worth it. In four volumes, the set contains 20 of the 21 Bond films. Volumes 1 & 2 were released November 7 as a tie in with Casino Royale. For Christmas, Volumes 3 & 4 were released in mid December. Each volume contains some of the best (and worst) of the Bond series. The menus, though somewhat repetitive and a little risque, are amazing. Each of the films are restored by the people who restored the Star Wars Trilogy. The picture is as clear as a beach in Dr. No, crisp and “sharp” in Goldfinger, as well as the others. The special features are amazing, featuring brand new, never before seen features and recycled features from the 2002-2003 release. One of the only reasons I got this collection is because of the artillery of new special features and the recycled old features. Each is enhanced with the best possible sound and picture quality ever before on DVD (documentary on process can be found in Volume 4, Dr. NoDisc 2). Each with 5.1 DTS Surround Sound. This is the greatest assembly of the Bond films ever released on DVD. The set also contains documentaries , screen tests, and photo galleries. Each film even features audio commentaries. The Roger Moore films have all new commentaries from none other than Roger Moore himself. Overall: Grade: A Stars: 9.5 Films: Grade: B+ Stars: 7.5 Special Features: Grade: A+ Stars: 10 Picture and Sound Quality: Grade: A+++ Stars:15
Cross an "Ocean": Reveiw for "Ocean’s Thirteen"
I remember seeing Ocean’s Twelve on DVD. It was really bad. I remember all the commercials praising the film. It was not funny. It was not well written. It was arrogant. The sequel to the hit remake of the Rat Pack film, Ocean’s Eleven, was a disappointment. Then I saw the trailers for Ocean’s Thirteen and looked forward to the film. The scenes of George Clooney crying at the Oprah Winfrey Show and of Al Pacino threatening Clooney are hilarious. It seems that the trailers live up to the actual film. Reuben Tiskoff (Elliot Gould) makes a deal with Willy Bank (Al Pacino) on their brand new casino. Turns out, Reuben is no longer a partner. He’s thrown into shock and suffers a heart attack. Danny (George Clooney) and the gang want to bring the Bank down. With great acting, a hilarious story line, and top notch gags, the film lives up to Ocean’s Eleven. With only one problem: a scene where Danny and Rusty (Brad Pitt) pollute room 1706, where the casino critic is staying. The scene has each of them doing different tasks with the tools needed. Only that each scene is put on top of each other so it is hard to concentrate on what each is doing. Other than that the film is part of the greatest heist films ever made. Grade: B+
"Royale" Flush: Review for "Casino Royale" DVD
His name is Bond…James Bond. For over 40 years, he has used his License to Thrill. He returns with a new man as the timeless character. Daniel Craig brings new feeling to Bond. For 45 years it’s been an annoying formula. Shaken, not stirred: Bond gets mission, Bond meets girl, Bond sleeps with girl, Bond meets villain, Bond fights villain, Bond wins fight, Bond sleeps with girl again. This formula has been used in the last 18 films before Casino Royale. Craig makes you believe he is a human and not a super hero. He leaves us shaken AND stirred. And he falls in love with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green). This is great change for the series. Sadly, the DVD does not live up to its predecessors (Ultimate Bond Collection (2006), Bond Special Edition (2002-2003), Die Another Day Special Edition). The DVD contains three documentaries: One on the “evolution” of the Bond Girl in an updated edition of AMC’s Bond Girls Are Forever, one on the making of the film centered on Daniel Craig called The New Bond, and one on the stunts on the film (which were spectacular) called Bond For Real. There is also a music video for the main theme song for the film: Chris Cornell’s You Know My Name. The extras are almost as bare as the Golden Girl (see: 1964’s Goldfinger with Sean Connery), but the film makes it somewhat worth your $19.95. The film is great. The extras sad. Movie: Grade: A- Stars: 8/10 DVD Overall: Grade B- Stars: 2 Extras: Grade: D+ Stars: 1.5
"End" of the Line: Review for "Pirates: At World’s End"
John Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley are back in this latest installment of the Pirates series. In a nutshell, the film is better than Dead Man’s Chest, but still not a cinematic achievement. The film has too many subplots, for instance: Elizabeth Swann (Knightley) wants to avenge her father’s death, Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) wants to get in touch with his soft side, Pirate lords are teaming up against the British, Will Turner (Bloom) wants to rescue his father from the Flying Dutchman, and countless others. The film jumps from one scene to another without explaining how it got there. Johnny Depp is, as usual, hilarious and hysterical as Captain Jack. The story is a bit too long for me to put into a synopsis (2 hrs. 47 min.). The special effects are a bit over done and there are quite a few scenes that were not needed in any way. Grade: C+ Stars: 2.5
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I Like Things That Look Like Mistakes 