Topic: Tom's Random Reviews

[Tom]

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Concorde Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: Chris Weitz Writing: Melissa Rosenberg (Screenwriter), Stephenie Meyer (Original Material By) Length: 131 min. Video: Widescreen 2.40 Audio: German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Commentary: DTS 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: German, Commentary

Stars:
Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan
Christina Jastrzembska as Gran/Bella
Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen
Billy Burke as Charlie Swan
Anna Kendrick as Jessica

Plot:
Bellas Traum scheint wahr geworden: Für immer mit Edward zusammen zu sein! An ihrem achtzehnten Geburtstag findet dieser Traum jedoch ein jähes Ende, als ein kleiner, aber blutiger Zwischenfall ihr fast zum Verhängnis wird. Edward hat keine andere Wahl: Er muss sie verlassen. Für immer. Bella zerbricht beinahe daran, einzig die Freundschaft zu Jacob gibt ihr die Kraft weiterzuleben. Da erfährt Bella, dass Edward in höchster Gefahr schwebt und sein Schicksal in ihren Händen liegt. Sie muss zu ihm, rechtzeitig, bis zur Mittagsstunde ...

Awards:
Won:

MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Best Female Performance (Kristen Stewart)
MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Best Kiss (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson)
MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Best Male Performance (Robert Pattinson)
MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Best Movie
MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Global Superstar (Robert Patinson)
National Movie Awards (2010)		Best Fantasy Film
National Movie Awards (2010)		Best Performance (Robert Pattinson)
Teen Choice Awards (2010)		Choice Movie Chemistry (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson)
Teen Choice Awards (2010)		Choice Movie Liplock (Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart)
Teen Choice Awards (2010)		Choice Movie Villain (Rachelle Lefevre)

Nominated:

Golden Raspberry Awards (2009)		Worst Prequel Remake Rip-Off or Sequel
Golden Raspberry Awards (2009)		Worst Screen Couple (Kristen Stewart, Either Robert Pattinson or Taylor Whatz)
Golden Raspberry Awards (2009)		Worst Supporting Actor (Robert Pattinson)
MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Best Male Performance (Taylor Lautner)
MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Global Superstar (Kristen Stewart)
MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Global Superstar (Taylor Lautner)

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Commentary
• Trailers
• Bonus Trailers

My Thoughts:

I have to admit that I enjoyed this one more than the first one. Maybe it was because Edward hardly has any screentime. Only in the beginning and at the end. This movie is more about the Werewolves and I liked how they were done here.

But I have to say it is sad that these movie's main target audience gets so bad role models. A girl who gets depressed at an alarming degree just because she is left by her boyfriend.

The releases that I have of these movies are almost barebones releases. Besides trailers they only have a audio commentary. But there is one additional feature here: Playlists to only watch scenes with Edward or only scenes with Jacob

Rating:

[Dragonfire]

I don't really think they are werewolves in these movies.  I see them as shape shifters who turn into gigantic wolves - really they are too freaking huge.

[Tom]

I don't really think they are werewolves in these movies.  I see them as shape shifters who turn into gigantic wolves - really they are too freaking huge.

And vampires are also not really vampires in these movies
They call these shapeshifters werewolves here. I have no problem when a movie has its own ideas about what a werewolf or a vampire should be like. As long as they stay true to their own concept and not mix it up from movie to movie.

[Dragonfire]

I don't mind differences either for the most part.  The sparkly thing is just stupid though.
Hmm..well there are differences there..but I think the vampires are more vampire than the werewolves are werewolves.  If that makes sense. 

[Tom]

The Vampire Diaries: Season Two (2010/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United Kingdom) Director: Writing: Length: 889 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish

Stars:


Plot:
They're back – and they're not alone. The seductive characters of The Vampire Diaries return for a stunning 5-DISC 22-EPISODE SEASON TWO. This time Elena, Stefan, Damon and the other residents of Mystic Falls are joined by sinister new blood. Released from the tomb, Katherine unleashes her personal brand of evil in a diabolical plot. The Originals – the world's oldest and most dangerous vampires – hunt for Elena, who discovers she has a terrifying connection to their world. And now bloodsuckers aren't the only monsters in town. On moonlit nights, werewolves roam in search of victims... including vampires, who succumb to a single werewolf bite. The Vampire Diaries: unending suspense, undying romance.

Awards:
Won:

Teen Choice Awards (2010)

Choice TV Villain (Ian Somerhalder)

Extras:

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes

My Thoughts:

I started watching this season almost a year ago. But I got bored with it and stopped after the first disc. Now I got in the mood again and continued watching it. And I got sucked in again. I watched the other four discs now in three days. And it didn't bore me for a minute. Now I can't wait to watch the third season. Though I will wait for the price to drop a little more.

#	Episode	Rating
01	The Return
02	Brave New World
03	Bad Moon Rising
04	Memory Lane
05	Kill or Be Killed
06	Plan B
07	Masquerade
08	Rose
09	Katerina
10	The Sacrifice
11	By the Light of the Moon
12	The Descent
13	Daddy Issues
14	Crying Wolf
15	The Dinner Party
16	The House Guest
17	Know Thy Enemy
18	The Last Dance
19	Klaus
20	The Last Day
21	The Sun Also Rises
22	As I Lay Dying

[Tom]

Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Tele München Gruppe, Concorde Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: David Slade Writing: Melissa Rosenberg (Screenwriter), Stephenie Meyer (Original Material By) Length: 124 min. Video: Widescreen 2.40 Audio: German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Commentary: DTS 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: DTS 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: German, Commentary

Stars:
Xavier Samuel as Riley
Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan
Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen
Billy Burke as Charlie Swan
Justin Chon as Eric

Plot:
Alles beginnt ... mit einer Entscheidung.

Bellas Leben ist in Gefahr: Seattle wird von einer Reihe mysteriöser Mordfälle erschüttert, ein offensichtlich blutrünstiger Vampir sinnt auf Rache. Und seine Spuren führen zu Bella. Aber damit nicht genug: Sie muss sich inmitten all dieser Geschehnisse zwischen Edward und Jacob entscheiden - wohl wissend, dass damit der uralte Kampf zwischen Vampiren und Werwölfen neu entfacht werden könnte. Bella ist mit der wichtigsten Entscheidung ihres Lebens konfrontiert.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Commentary
• Trailers
• Bonus Trailers

My Thoughts:

Very slow moving and nothing really happens. But strangely I wasn't bored. Far from a great movie though. Both guys are real jerks. So far Jacob a little less so than Edward.
I don't regret finally seeing these movies. I guess I will complete the saga when a double-feature of the final two movies is released.

Rating:

[Tom]

I want to add something to my Vampire Diaries review:
Werewolves are introduced in the second season, and they follow the "American Werewolf in London" kind. I.e. once a month with a very painful transformation. The transformation is clearly inspired by the scene in the movie. Good special effects. Especially considering it is done on a TV series budget and time.

[Tom]

Wir sind die Nacht (2010/Germany) IMDb | Wikipedia Highlight Video (Germany) Director: Dennis Gansel Writing: Dennis Gansel (Writer), Jan Berger (Writer) Length: 100 min. Video: Widescreen 2.35 Audio: German: DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: German

Stars:
Karoline Herfurth as Lena
Nina Hoss as Louise
Jennifer Ulrich as Charlotte
Anna Fischer as Nora
Max Riemelt as Tom

Plot:
BLUTIG, BÖSE, FASZINIEREND
DER NEUE THRILLER VON DEN MACHERN VON DIE WELLE!

Die 20-jährige Lena hält sich durch kleinere Diebstähle über Wasser. Bei einem ihrer Beutezüge durch das nächtliche Berlin trifft sie auf die attraktive Louise, die Besitzerin eines illegalen Nachtclubs. Was Lena nicht weiß, Louise ist die Anführerin eines tödlichen, weiblichen Vampirclans, dem auch die elegante Charlotte und die abgedrehte Nora und angehören.
Fasziniert von der attraktiven Erscheinung, erliegt Lena bereits in der ersten Nacht der blutigen Gier von Louise und wird gebissen. Fortan erfährt die einst verwahrloste Lena den Fluch und den Segen ihres neuen, ewigen Lebens. Sie genießt den Luxus, die Partys und die grenzenlose Freiheit. Doch schon bald machen ihr der unstillbare Blutdurst und die Mordlust ihrer Begleiterinnen zu schaffen.
Als eine Reihe von Leichen die Polizei auf die Spur der Todesengel führt und sich Lena auch noch in den ermittelnden Kommissar verliebt, geraten die Ereignisse völlig außer Kontrolle ...

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Commentary
• Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Production Notes
• Interviews
• Bonus Trailers
• B-Roll
• Booklet
• Wendecover

My Thoughts:

I stumbled across this German vampire movie on Amazon. I never heard of it before. As I am currently in a vampire movie and TV series mood, I ordered it.
I did enjoy this movie. Well done. Though I didn't like the acting of some of the cast. Especially Nina Hoss as Louise bothered me.
The only actor I knew beforehand was Anna Fischer. She did a good job.
Going by the cover I originally expected a silly movie, but it was not. It had very serious themes and was not a comedy at all.

Rating:

[DSig]

...
Very slow moving and nothing really happens. But strangely I wasn't bored. Far from a great movie though. Both guys are real jerks. So far Jacob a little less so than Edward.
I don't regret finally seeing these movies. I guess I will complete the saga when a double-feature of the final two movies is released.

Well .. not being bored is good.  Might be the first step toward acceptance 

[goodguy]

Wir sind die Nacht (2010/Germany)
IMDb | Wikipedia

Thanks for that! That was surprisingly good.

[Tom]

Wir sind die Nacht (2010/Germany)
IMDb | Wikipedia

Thanks for that! That was surprisingly good.

You're welcome!

[Tom]

Iron Sky (2012/Finland) IMDb | Wikipedia Revolver Entertainment (United Kingdom) Director: Timo Vuorensola Writing: Johanna Sinisalo (Story By), Michael Kalesniko (Screenwriter), Timo Vuorensola (Screenwriter) Length: 93 min. Video: Widescreen 2.35 Audio: English: PCM 2.0 Stereo, English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Subtitles:

Stars:
Julia Dietze as Renate Richter
Christopher Kirby as James Washington
Götz Otto as Klaus Adler
Udo Kier as Wolfgang Kortzfleisch
Peta Seargant as Vivian Wagner

Plot:
In the last moments of World War II, a secret Nazi space programme evaded destruction by the Allies and made a daring escape to the Moon. 70 years later they have re-colonised, re-armed with devastating new technology and silently plotted their revenge.

Witness the ultimate battle for humanity and civilisation as space-age Nazi hordes are unleashed on an unsuspecting Earth. In this time of chaos can the world unite against the Nazi UFO armada, or will history be re-written forever?

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Trailers
• Photo Gallery
• Featurettes
• Digital Copy

My Thoughts:

It is very noticable that this is not a Hollywood production. The Americans are made fun of just as much as the Nazis are. The American president here is obviously a parody of Sarah Palin.
I am very glad that they used German actors for the Nazis. If it were a Hollywood movie, they probably would have used actors trying to speak German, or have the Nazis switching to English for the audience's convenience.
A very silly movie. I enjoyed it, but I must say I expected a little different kind of movie. Only towards the end it became the movie I expected, when the Nazi fleet came towards Earth.

Rating:

[Achim]

I enjoyed it, but I must say I expected a little different kind of movie. Only towards the end it became the movie I expected, when the Nazi fleet came towards Earth.

I had the same experience. I can't even quite say what I originally expected, but certainly not this much of a comedy Luckily I had been somewhat prepared by a few reviews beforehand. I quite enjoyed it as well.

[Tom]

[tom]8717418306144.5f.jpg[/tom]

I Am Number Four (2011/United States/India) IMDb | Wikipedia Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Touchstone Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: D.J. Caruso Writing: Alfred Gough (Screenwriter), Miles Millar (Screenwriter), Marti Noxon (Screenwriter), Pittacus Lore (Original Material By) Length: 110 min. Video: Widescreen 1.85 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, German: DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1, French: DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 Subtitles: Danish, English, French, German, Finnish, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish, Icelandic

[tom]8717418306144.5b.jpg[/tom]

Stars:
Alex Pettyfer as John
Timothy Olyphant as Henri
Teresa Palmer as Number 6
Dianna Agron as Sarah
Callan McAuliffe as Sam

Plot:
Aliens and their Guardians are hiding on Earth from intergalactic bounty hunters. They can only be killed in numerical order, and Number Four is next on the list. This is his story.

Extras:

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

My Thoughts:

I became curious about this movie when I saw Dianna Agron on the cover. I didn't hear about it before. I enjoyed this movie. The screenplay is by the creators of Smallville (and a writer/producer of Buffy), and this movie had very much a Smallville kind of vibe to it.
Seems this is based on a series of books. But sadly the movie didn't fair too well and it looks like there will be no sequel. Which is a shame. I would have liked to see more of it.

Rating:

[Tom]

[tom]5051890120229.5f.jpg[/tom]

The Dark Knight Rises (2012/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (Germany) Director: Christopher Nolan Writing: Jonathan Nolan (Screenwriter), Christopher Nolan (Screenwriter), Christopher Nolan (Story By), David S. Goyer (Story By), Bob Kane (Original Characters By) Length: 165 min. Video: Widescreen Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1, Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: Chinese, Danish, English, French, German, Finnish, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Other, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Icelandic, Thai

[tom]5051890120229.5b.jpg[/tom]

Stars:
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne
Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon
Tom Hardy as Bane
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Blake
Anne Hathaway as Selina

Plot:
Eight years on, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham's finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Commentary
• Trailers
• Photo Gallery
• Featurettes
• Digital Copy

My Thoughts:

For me this movie is a bit of a let down. Too many stupid plot contrivances. Like why is Gordon sending all police officers down to the sewers? Doesn't he even consider in the slightest that it could be a trap?
Also it feels a lot like rehashing Batman Begins, having Bruce again locked up in a prison where he has to escape from. When I first saw it, I saw it coming very early on, who the main bad guy will turn out to be.
This movie could have been easily told in a shorter runtime. Anne Hathaway as Catwoman is great though. And I liked the ending, even though I guessed it coming.

Rating: