Topic: Tom's Random Reviews

[Tom]

Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: George Lucas Writing: George Lucas (Writer) Length: 125 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Italian: DTS 5.1, German: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, German, Italian, Commentary

Stars:
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa
Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin
Alec Guinness as Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi

Plot:
Der Bauernjunge Luke Skywalker gerät in ein galaktisches Abenteuer, als er zufällig einen aufgezeichneten holografischen Hilferuf der gefangenen Prinzessin Leia sieht. Dies ist der Auslöser seiner wagemutigen Mission, sie aus den Fängen Darth Vaders und des diktatorischen Imperiums zu befreien.

Awards:
Won:

Academy Award (1977)		Best Art Direction (John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley (Art Direction), Roger Christian (Set Decoration))
Academy Award (1977)		Best Costume Design (John Mollo)
Academy Award (1977)		Best Film Editing (Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, Richard Chew)
Academy Award (1977)		Best Music, Original Score (John Williams)
Academy Award (1977)		Best Sound (Donald MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler, Derek Ball)
Academy Award (1977)		Best Visual Effects (John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune, Robert Blalack)
Academy Award (1977)		Special Achievement Award (Benjamin Burtt Jr. (Creation of the alien/creature/robot voices featured in 'Star Wars'))
BAFTA (1978)		Anthony Asquith Award For Original Film Music (John Williams)
Golden Globe (1977)		Original Score (John Williams)
Grammy Awards (1978)		Best Album of Original Score written for a Motion Picture or Television Special (John Williams)
Hugo Award (1978)		Dramatic Presentation
Saturn (1977)		Best Costumes (John Mollo)
Saturn (1977)		Best Director (George Lucas)
Saturn (1977)		Best Makeup (Rick Baker, Stuart Freeborn)
Saturn (1977)		Best Music (John Williams)
Saturn (1977)		Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn (1977)		Best Special Effects (John Dykstra, John Stears)
Saturn (1977)		Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness)
Saturn (1977)		Best Writing (George Lucas)
Saturn (1977)		Outstanding Art Direction (Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley)
Saturn (1977)		Outstanding Cinematographer (Gilbert Taylor)
Saturn (1977)		Outstanding Editing (Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, Richard Chew)
Saturn (1977)		Outstanding Sound (Ben Burtt, Donald MacDougall, Sam F. Shaw)
Saturn (1977)		Outstanding Television Performance (Jonathan Harris)

Nominated:

Academy Award (1977)		Best Director (George Lucas)
Academy Award (1977)		Best Picture (Gary Kurtz (Producer))
Academy Award (1977)		Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness)
Academy Award (1977)		Best Writing, Original Screenplay (George Lucas)
American Cinema Editors Awards (1978)		Best Edited Feature Film (Richard Chew, Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas)
BAFTA (1978)		Film Editing (Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, Richard Chew)
British Society of Cinematographers Awards (1977)		Best Cinematography Award (Gil Taylor)
Directors Guild of America (1978)		Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (George Lucas)
Golden Globe (1977)		Actor in a Supporting Role (Alec Guinness)
Golden Globe (1977)		Director (George Lucas)
Golden Globe (1977)		Picture - Drama (Gary Kurtz)
Saturn (1977)		Best Actor (Harrison Ford)
Saturn (1977)		Best Actor (Mark Hamill)
Saturn (1977)		Best Actress (Carrie Fisher)
Saturn (1977)		Best Supporting Actor (Peter Cushing)
Writers Guild of America Awards (1978)		Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen (George Lucas)

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Commentary
• Trailers
• Photo Gallery
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Interviews

My Thoughts:

This was now the first time, that I have shown my son this movie. He is going to be seven years old soon. I "prepared" him for Star Wars with the Nintendo Switch game "Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga". We started the game with the chapter for this movie (the order of the story how it is supposed to be watched ). We finished recently the first part of the game which covers this movie. And he is a big fan of the Star Wars LEGO sets.
So I tried to show him this movie in the hope he will enjoy it. He managed it in one sitting
And he enjoyed it the whole way through. And I also still enjoy this movie quite a lot.

Rating:

[Tom]

Dilwale (2015/India) IMDb | Wikipedia (Germany) Director: Rohit Shetty Writing: Yunus Sajawal (Writer) Length: 156 min. Video: Widescreen 2.35 Audio: Hindi: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Subtitles: German

Stars:
Shah Rukh Khan as Raj Bakshi/Kaali
Kajol as Meera Malik
Varun Dhawan as Veer Bakshi
Kriti Sanon as Ishita Malik
Varun Sharma as Sidhu

Plot:
The siblings of two estranged lovers fall for each other, unaware of the violent past that drove them apart.

Extras:

• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

I am currently in the mood to watch Bollywood movie. I am currently rewatching some old Shah Rukh Khan movies, which I again greatly enjoyed.
I have watched now this last collaboration between SRK and Kajol for the first time. Usually always great movies. This time I was disappointed. I was not really bored. But I was not really moved like I am usually with their pairing. Not sure if I will rewatch that one any time soon.

Rating:

[Tom]

Shazam! (2019/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: David F. Sandberg Writing: Henry Gayden (Screenwriter), Henry Gayden (Story By), Darren Lemke (Story By) Length: 132 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39 Audio: English: Dolby Atmos 3D, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Atmos 3D, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English, German

Stars:
Zachary Levi as Shazam
Mark Strong as Dr. Sivana
Asher Angel as Billy Batson
Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman
Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy

Plot:
A newly fostered young boy in search of his mother instead finds unexpected super powers and soon gains a powerful enemy.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes

My Thoughts:

I have the sequel on the way and I had the urge to rewatch the first one first. I really enjoy this movie.This time around though I thought, that it is really sudden that Billy comes around accepting this new family suddenly. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment of this movie. Mark Strong is again a good villain. Enjoyed him in Kick-Ass.

Rating:

[Tom]

FAN (2016/India) IMDb | Wikipedia Rapid Eye Movies, Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (Germany) Director: Maneesh Sharma Writing: Length: 138 min. Video: Widescreen 2.35 Audio: German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Hindi: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Subtitles: German

Stars:
Shahrukh Khan as Aryan

Plot:
Gaurav develops an obsession with a movie star who looks just like him. He goes to Bombay to meet his idol, but he refuses to grant him five minutes of his time. Gaurav is enraged and plots to destroy his hero.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Bonus Trailers

My Thoughts:

Shah Rukh Khan in a dual role. A fictionalized version of himself as a Bollywood superstar. And him as a fan who looks like a younger version of himself who first idolizes him but then gets disappointed after the superstar refuses to meet him and he plots a revenge. He tries to ruin the superstar's reputation by using his looks to impersonate him.
SRK did a great job in both parts. They used a mixture of make-up effect and VFX to make look SRK like his younger self like he looked in his 90s movies.

Rating:

[Tom]

Aladdin (2019/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: Guy Ritchie Writing: John August (Screenwriter), Guy Ritchie (Screenwriter) Length: 128 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, German: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, Italian: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, Polish: Dolby Digital 5.1, Czech: Dolby Digital 5.1, Greek: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English, German, Italian, Greek, Polish, Czech

Stars:
Will Smith as Genie / Mariner
Mena Massoud as Aladdin
Naomi Scott as Jasmine
Marwan Kenzari as Jafar
Navid Negahban as Sultan

Plot:
A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Music Videos
• Outtakes

My Thoughts:

I had watched this one a few times before with my family. But this time I watched it alone, because I wanted finally to see it with the original English audio track. I think it is a great movie. My favorite Disney iteration of the story. I saw the original animated film. And I saw the official (German) musical version on stage.
Will Smith does a very fun version of the Genie.

Rating:

[Tom]

Shazam: Fury of the Gods (2023/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: David F. Sandberg Writing: Henry Gayden (Writer), Chris Morgan (Writer), Bill Parker (Original Characters By), C.C. Beck (Original Characters By) Length: 130 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39 Audio: German: Dolby Atmos 3D, English: Dolby Atmos 3D, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Stars:
Zachary Levi as Shazam
Asher Angel as Billy Batson
Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman
Rachel Zegler as Anthea
Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy

Plot:
The film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!" is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes

My Thoughts:

I was excited to this see sequel. But it was a little bit of a let-down compared to the first one. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. The problem is, that the main character has grown too much since the first one and isn't believable as a kid anymore. And he has hardly screen time. His Shazam character behaves like a 12 year old, but in his original form he is a 18 year old. Also his foster brother Freddie was believable as a bullied kid in the first one. But here he is too handsome and his disability hardly seems a bother.

Rating:

[Tom]

Deadpool (2016/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: Tim Miller Writing: Rhett Reese (Writer), Paul Wernick (Writer), Rob Liefeld (Original Characters By), Fabian Nicieza (Original Characters By) Length: 108 min. Video: Widescreen 2.40 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, French: DTS 5.1, German: DTS 5.1, Italian: DTS 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: Danish, English, French, German, Finnish, Italian, Commentary, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish

Stars:
Ryan Reynolds as Wade/Deadpool
Karan Soni as Dopinder
Ed Skrein as Ajax
Michael Benyaer as Warlord
Stefan Kapicic as Voice of Colossus (voice)

Plot:
A wisecracking mercenary gets experimented on and becomes immortal but ugly, and sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.

Awards:
Nominated:

Golden Globe (2016)		Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical
Golden Globe (2016)		Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical (Ryan Reynolds)

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Commentary
• Trailers
• Photo Gallery
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes
• Digital Copy
• Wendecover

My Thoughts:

I have watched it a few times in the past. A really fun movie. Though it lost a little bit of the bite it once had for me. Most fun are Deadpool's interactions with Colossus from the X-Men. Ryan Reynolds was born for this role. I don't think the character would work with anyone else. You can clearly see the love he has for this character.

Rating:

[Tom]

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017/United States/Denmark) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: Chris McKay Writing: Seth Grahame-Smith (Screenwriter), Chris McKenna (Screenwriter), Erik Sommers (Screenwriter), Jared Stern (Screenwriter), John Whittington (Screenwriter), Seth Grahame-Smith (Story By) Length: 104 min. Video: Widescreen 2.40 Audio: German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Subtitles: English, German

Stars:
BAT FAMILY
* Will Arnett as Batman/Bruce Wayne (voice)
* Michael Cera as Robin/Dick Grayson (voice)
* Rosario Dawson as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon (voice)
* Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
* Siri as 'Puter (voice)

Plot:
A cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Digital Copy
• 4 neue animierte Kurzfilme

My Thoughts:

Always fun to watch. Even though I recently watched it with my son, I watched it now again with the original English audio track. One of the best, if not THE best, Batman movie.

Rating:

[Tom]

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Pictures (Germany) Director: Kevin Smith Writing: Kevin Smith (Writer) Length: 105 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French: DTS 5.1, German: DTS 5.1, Polish: DTS 5.1 Subtitles: Danish, English, French, German, Finnish, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish, Polish

Stars:
Joey Lauren Adams as Alyssa Jones
Ben Affleck as Holden McNeil
Fred Armisen as Merkin
Diedrich Bader as Security Guard
Johnny Bananas as Guy with Banana

Plot:
Jay and Silent Bob inadvertently sign away their names and rights to the new Bluntman and Chronic movie. Now they head to Hollywood to stop the film from being made. Along the way Jay discovers that he is a father.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Interviews
• Outtakes

My Thoughts:

I treaded this one. I enjoyed the first one at the time, but since then, I was not much of a fan of Kevin Smith. Probably since he started smoking weed when working on Zack & Miri with Seth Rogen. At least since then he didn't make a good movie. But as I am hyped to see Clerks 3 (there is no German disc release yet, so I am probably ordering soon a UK release), because I am a fan of the second one, I thought I will finally add the sequel to "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" to my collection. And what I heard of Clerks 3, I probably will enjoy it.

This movie is very meta. Even more so, than the first one. But it has been awhile, since I saw that one. Some of the jokes I liked. I can recommend this movie only for fans of the first one. But as far as I remember, the first one was better.

Rating:

[Tom]

Black Adam (2022/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Bros Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures Germany (Germany) Director: Jaume Collet-Serra Writing: Adam Sztykiel (Writer), Rory Haines (Writer), Sohrab Noshirvani (Writer), Bill Parker (Original Characters By), C.C. Beck (Original Characters By), Jack Kirby (Original Material By), Jerry Siegel (Original Characters By), Joe Shuster (Original Characters By) Length: 125 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39 Audio: German: Dolby Atmos 3D, English: Dolby Atmos 3D, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, German

Stars:
Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam / Teth Adam
Aldis Hodge as Hawkman / Carter Hall
Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate / Kent Nelson
Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher / Al Rothstein
Sarah Shahi as Adrianna Tomaz

Plot:
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods--and imprisoned just as quickly--Black Adam is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.

Extras:

• Featurettes
• Production Notes

My Thoughts:

Black Adam is a superhero, that I didn't know before. I also was suprised, that he essentially got the Shazam powers. The action sequences were good. There was not much of a story here. I am not suprised, that the movie didn't fair so well. I think Shazam 2 and this movie would have been better, if they would have made it a crossover.

Rating:

[Tom]

Les Douze Travaux d'Astérix (1976/France) IMDb | Wikipedia Kinowelt Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: Henri Gruel, Pierre Watrin, René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo Writing: René Goscinny (Original Characters By), Albert Uderzo (Original Characters By), René Goscinny (Writer), Albert Uderzo (Writer), Pierre Tchernia (Writer) Length: 78 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 1, French: Dolby Digital 1, German: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles: German

Stars:
Französische Stimmen
Roger Carel as Astérix (voice)
Jacques Morel as Obelix (voice)
Georges Atlas as (voice)
Claude Bertrand as (voice)
Caroline Cler as (voice)

Plot:
Asterix and Obelix are tasked by Julius Caesar with accomplishing twelve impossible labors to determine the fate of their indomitable Gaulish village.

Extras:

• Bayerische Dialekt-Fassung
• Bonus Trailers
• DVD-ROM Content
• Production Notes
• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

My favorite Asterix movie that I have seen (I know the first six animated movies). I always enjoy it. On the German DVD releases, each movie is additionally dubbed in one of the German dialects. This one is dubbed in Bavarian (my own dialect) and it is even additional joy to watch it like that

Rating: