Mirkwood Reflections

I was excited about Bandidas , having read on the internet that Steve Zahn, one of my favorite actors, was in it. However, when I saw it in the store, I was apprehensive about the suitability of the film due to the choice of the picture on the cover – two women dressed in midriff-baring bustiers and modern low-rise Western-style jeans, accessorized with ammunition belts, pistols, and throwing knives. You may have disregarded the movie entirely based on the cover. The old adage does apply here – don't judge this DVD by its cover! The outfits worn by Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz on the DVD cover photo are not actually in the movie. The actresses are fully dressed in period costume throughout most of the movie. (A quick google search shows at least 3 other DVD covers for other countries that are much more appropriate!) Bandidas powered by frazy.com Maria (Penélope Cruz) is the impetuous daughter of a poor Mexican farmer whose farm has just been repossessed illegally. Sara (Salma ...

Dirk Pitt!!! A Dirk Pitt movie! I have enjoyed Clive Cussler's novels since I read Raise the Titanic in high school. Dirk Pitt is the hero of Mr. Cussler's novels, an explorer for NUMA - the National Underwater and Marine Agency . I haven't read many lately, but perhaps I should! Then I found out that Sahara was a Dirk Pitt movie and I was excited! But it didn't get very good reviews, so I didn't bother seeing it in the theatre. When it came out on DVD, however, I was RIGHT THERE waiting. Netflix sent it promptly. Sahara is the story of a World Health Organization (WHO) doctor who is tracking down the source of some mysterious disease in Africa. She is attacked by an evil stranger, but then rescued by none other than Dirk Pitt himself (played in Sahara by Matthew McConaughey). Of course, they go on to track down the source of this disease, facing tons of obstacles, villains, and SAND. Dirk himself is in Africa on th...