The Moguls DVD

Advantages: complelling, dramatic, exceptional acting
Disadvantages: 3 hours may be a bit long for some viewers...

...This story traces the story of aviation genious/ pioneer Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), the eccentric billionaire industrialist and Hollywood film mogul, famous for comforting some of the world's most beautiful women, including Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett). The drama recounts the years of his life from the late 1920s through the 1940s, an era when Hughes was directing and producing Hollywood movies and test flying innovative aircrafts he designed and created. I greatly enjoyed trawling through the history books, and tracing the life of a truly gifted, yet somewhat spasmotic individual, in Howard Hughes. I would like to commend the acting efforts of Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale and John C. Reilly in their support roles, a truly great back-up. I highly recommend this those wishing for a night of entertainment, but also who... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful sentimental story
Disadvantages: Perhaps a little long

...James Stewart, perhaps not renowned for sentimental and romantic movies plays George Bailey in this classic movie. George, who has dreams of traveling around Europe and exploring the world, has to put his dreams on hold when his father dies. Taking over as the head of a loan and building society, George fights the local ‘Mogul’ and begins to help normal people to own their own home. He begins life with a new wife and starts a family, all ideas of traveling and going to college forgotten. He struggles through many problems and gradually begins to build a successful society and a nice community. As the story unfolds and George struggles to keep the ‘mogul’ from destroying his town, George finally becomes down hearted when money disappears from the society and it look likely that they will go bankrupt and George... Read review

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Advantages: stunning action set pieces, stunning locations, stunning Michelle Yeoh, stunning music by David Arnold
Disadvantages: Carver's henchman needs to have more character, more inhumanity in a comic book way

...In the second outing of Pierce Brosnan as 007 we see him battling an insane media mogul (hmm..who was that modelled on I wonder?). The deliciously evil Jonathon Price as Elliot Carver (the media mogul) is setting up international incidents putting superpower vs. superpower. As a fabulous twist on the Cold War scenario we now have stiff upper-lipped Brits dallying with the inscrutable Chinese. From the first fifteen minute stunning title introduction (worth the DVD price alone), we have some great set piece martial arts action with Michelle Yeoh as Wai Lin, Bond’s Chinese counterpart (she definitely gives Brosnan a run and a kick for his money!), Gotz Otto as Stamper (well named) as Carver’s henchman to Teri Hatcher as Paris Carver (Yes Elliot’s wife) who just happened to be a certain 007’s past love interest... Read review

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