TV Review: Wolf Creek - Season One

In 2005 writer/director Greg McLean introduced us to the dangerous world of the Australian Outback. For years there have been tales, and in some cases actual truth, to ruthless killers leaving in the Outback. Serial killers who did not take kindly to the tourist interlopers that they would find on their land. The two films (Wolf Creek in 2005 and Wolf Creek 2 in 2013) introduced us to the world of Mick Taylor (John Jarratt), a killer with wicked sense of humor and a mean temper. The films were quite the success, at least for this viewer, of delivering the horror goods and mixing in some elements of true crime. In 2016, they decided to adapt it to the small screen.

Blu-ray Review: Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season One

Among the fond memories of my childhood are watching reruns of he original Star Trek series with my father. When it came to movies, music, and television, I was generally left on my own to discover what I liked, but Star Trek was a different story. I may not have the encyclopedic knowledge of the die hards, but that makes my fandom no less valid. When 1987 rolled around and I came to learn that a new series of Star Trek was being developed, I was rightfully excited. Star Trek: The Next Generation was a welcome addition to the television landscape.

Blu-ray Review: Doctor Who - The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe

When it comes to Doctor Who, I must admit to large amounts of ignorance. I have been aware of the show for a long time, I can probably track it all the way back to my early childhood. I recall stumbling across episodes on PBS or some such network and I would watch; however, I never really absorbed it. I liked it but it never attracted me in the way that, say, Star Trek did. I never felt compelled to seek it out, I would watch but I never went out of my way. Then the series was revived in a rather substantial fashion in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston and it was good and I loved it. Then David Tennant stepped into the TARDIS in 2006 and I enjoyed the first few seasons but then lost track. Now, with this release I am officially introduced to the Matt Smith version of the Doctor.

Blu-ray Review: Zombie Apocalypse

There was a time when I heard that a movie was being produced by The Asylum, I would scoff, laugh a bit, and move along. Those attitudes have changed somewhat. You see, I do enjoy my fair share of cheesy movies and The Asylum certainly delivers in that regard, just check out the likes of Transmorphers and HG Wells' War of the Worlds for a couple of examples. They often team with SyFy, another fine purveyor of trashy, low-budget genre fare. This time out they bring us Zombie Apocalypse, an entertaining exercise in CG gore and zombie blasting fun.

Eyes on Christmas: He-Man, She-Ra, and Mr. Magoo

I decided to take a little break from my live action Christmas spectacular that has been going on for the past week and a half and squeeze in a couple of animated holiday titles. Well, it is not so much by choice as it was a bit of a time squeeze. You see, there are only so many hours in the day and after a long day of work and other obligations, I had only a small window in which to keep the run going. So, I decided on a pair of short specials that aired on television years ago.

DVD Review: Jabberjaw - The Complete Series

"They call him jabber-jabber-jabber-jabber-jabber-jabber-jabber-Jaw!
The most futuristic shark you ever saw!
He's the finniest, funniest, shark you ever saw,
He's Jabber-Jabbber-Jabber-Jabber-Jabber-Jabber-Jabberjaw!
Jabber: I don't get no respect!!
JABBERJAW!!! N-YUK N-YUK N-YUK!!"

DVD Review: Thundarr the Barbarian

"The year: 1994. From out of space comes a runaway planet, hurtling between the Earth and the Moon, unleashing cosmic destruction! Man's civilization is cast in ruin!
Two thousand years later, Earth is reborn...

A strange new world rises from the old: a world of savagery, super science, and sorcery. But one man bursts his bonds to fight for justice! With his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel, he pits his strength, his courage, and his fabulous Sunsword against the forces of evil.

He is Thundarr, the Barbarian!"

DVD Review: Supernatural - The Complete Fifth Season

I am in shock that this series has lasted five seasons (and counting). It is not that I think it is a bad show, not by a long shot, but it is the kind of show that I like to see hit the airwaves last a few episodes and then get unceremoniously dropped from the airwaves. I guess we should be thankful it got its start on The WB before it turned into the CW. You see, it is something of a lesser network and that brings lesser expectations. At least that is how I read it. When it comes right down to it, be thankful it did not start on Fox. In any case the show has enjoyed five seasons with a sixth on the way.

Better Off Ted - The Complete First Season

When Ricky Gervais brought The Office to BBC who knew what he was really doing? Sure, the show was funny, but who would think it would usher in a new era of office based comedy? It went on to spawn an American version that really tok off after a slightly rocky start and is currently one of my favorite sitcoms. Now there is Better Off Ted that seems to combine elements of The Office and perhaps a little bit of Arrested Development and Sports Night. While those flavors are there, the show does have its own voice and it is a voice that will make you laugh.

The series debuted in March of 2009 and proved to be a modest success. Fortunately, it was successful enough to garner a second season, although I am not sure it will make it to a third. One can always hope. If not, at least we have two seasons of episodes to revisit and enjoy. That right there is something special that not every comedy can claim to have. Rewatchability. These season one episodes are funny and actually make me laugh each time I watch. In fact, if I happen to have it on as background entertainment I am liable to forget what I am doing and get caught up in any random episode.

Better Off Ted is set in a think tank called Veridian Dynamics. They research and develop all manner of oddball items, hair growing formula, cow-less beef, and bio-computers (be careful if they get sick), among others. It is not a terribly realistic world, but I find it easy to believe that there are companies out there that work on strange things like this. I mean, our technological advances must come from somewhere, right?

Our focus is on a division run by Veronica Palmer (Portia De Rossi), a by the book corporate mouthpiece. Working directly under her is Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington), a corporate suit, super organized, extremely nice, and our star. He is our entry into the show and bridges the gap between Veronica's corporate mentality and that of the cast of characters working under him. He also has a habit of speaking directly to the camera, like The Office, while not having the documentary style. Who is he talking to? I have no idea, but I like to think he is really doing it within the reality of the show's universe. Just picture him walking around talking to himself. Everyone must think he's losing his mind.

Beneath Ted is a pair of scientists, said to be the tops in the company. They also may be my favorites on the  show. Phil (Jonathan Slavin) and Lem (Malcolm Barrett) are the brightest minds in the company. What they have in scientific know-how they make up for in utter lack of social skills. They are always causing some sort of issue with their projects. Besides the comedic projects, the two actors bring great personas to the role. Their delivery and chemistry is great. Joining these to is Linda (Andrea Anders), a product tester who is constantly perky and seems to enjoy flirting with Ted.

Audio/Video. The transfer looks beautiful. The series is shot on the Panavision Genesis HD camera and has an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. There is nary a speck to be found. The action is smooth and there is always good detail. Granted, it is not a big budget feature film, but no one is expecting the show to look like that. The colors are all nicely rendered and have good depth. The audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 and sounds fine. It is not exactly an active surround mix, most of it is centered in the front as the show relies pretty heavily on dialogue. When it comes right down to it, this television show looks very good on DVD.

Extras. This is where the release receives a failing grade. It has nothing. No featurettes, interviews, deleted scenes, gag reels, or commentaries. Very sad. At least the show makes it a must own.

Bottomline. I really like this show. It is smart, memorable, has great characters, and is just a lot of fun. This is a show you will want to get your hands on. I have already watched every episode multiple times and will surely watch them many times into the future. So, do yourself a favor, if you like the show already, get this set. If you are curious, get it, you will like it.

Highly Recommended.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Chrstmas! (1966)

I do not recall my first experience with the Grinch. The story and the animated special both existed well before I came into the picture, so I am guessing that I was pretty young when I first witnessed the Grinch scowling from his lair down upon the cheerful inhabitants of Who-ville. Well, whenever that original experience was, it became one of my most anticipated annual Christmas specials alongside Garfield and Charlie Brown. Each one of these shows heralded the arrival of the season and never failed to put a smile on my face. As I have gotten older some of the luster has dulled and I do not always catch them on a year to year basis, but when I do watch them I still get a little giddy. Yes, the child inside is still alive.

Everyone has their favorite Christmas special, perhaps it is one of those I mentioned or maybe something else like the Emmett Otter Jug Band Christmas or Mickey's Christmas Carol. I am not sure I have a favorite. They all deliver a different experience. However, there is something about the Grinch that makes it stand out from the crowd. That something is the incredible imagination of Dr. Seuss. Now, combine his skills with the word and the pen with the talents of animator Chuck Jones, who directed this special and is the man behind a good number of classic Looney Tunes shorts, and you have a magical combination to bring something very special to the screen.



It is undeniable that How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a classic. I also feel fairly certain that you are all familiar with the story, either through the book, this special, or through the Ron Howard/Jim Carrey live action film. Each of them are a little bit different, but the live action film is undeniably the biggest departure. If your sole experience is through the film, allow me to suggest you get your hands on the book and/or this release and get a better look inside Who-ville and their Who's Christmas experience.

Now, since we all know about the Grinch's distaste for Christmas and his attempts to take it away from Who-ville, so I will not go into a recap. Instead, let's take a look at this new home video release and see if it is worth the upgrade. Without even looking I wholeheartedly recommend picking it up if you do not already own it. Don't have Blu-ray yet? Don't fear, like a lot of Disney releases it comes with the DVD version as well.

The video definitely looks better than the last home video release I saw (the 2000 DVD release). There is less evidence of dust and other marks that appeared previously. The high definition transfer is bright, crisp, and speckle free. It is probably the best it has looked since its original broadcast. However, this image comes with a price that may not sit well with everyone.



The Grinch has gone from a pale brownish color to bright lime green. Quite a drastic change, no? The Grinch is not the only big change, a lot of the colors are much brighter and definitely a different shade from what we have grown accustomed to. This is a change that fans may not care for. I was not distracted by the differences, in fact, the improved contrast, brightness, and detail outweighed any sadness I found in the color changes.

A little research reveals that the new look is in line with the artists original intention, shown by the original film negatives. The colors many of us have grown to love have been more a result of aging prints.

While the video received a definite upgrade, the audio did not get the same treatment. There is no HD or lossless audio to be found, instead we are treated to the same stereo track from the DVD. It is not bad, but it does sound like an old track. It does not have a lot of range and is a bit on the muffled side. It still does the job and sounds fine, bu it seems somewhat lacking when you factor in the video upgrade. It brings to mind those television broadcasts, but I would have liked something more.



The release has a host of extras ported over from the DVD release

• Audio Commentary. June Foray(voice of Cindy Lu Who) and Phil Roman (animator) are on this track. They have a nice, easy chemistry. It is not the most informative but it is an enjoyably listen.
• Dr. Seuss and the Grinch: From Whoville to Hollywood (16 minutes). This has some good information regarding Seuss, his inspirations, and his creations, but it is joined by an awful rap song. Who thought that was a good idea?
• Songs in the Key of Grinch (8 minutes). Composer Albert Hague and "Tony the Tiger" vocalist Thurl Ravenscroft talk about working on the show. This is quite interesting as both speak candidly about their involvement.
• Song Selections. Want to listen to the songs without watching? Use this to select a song to listen to: "Opening Song," "Trim Up the Tree," "Welcome, Christmas," and "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch."
• "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Special Edition (19 minutes). This originally aired on TNT back in 1994. Hosted by Phil Hartman, the documentary is a little corny looking and feels dated, but it still has some interesting information, particularly with Chuck Jones.
• Who's Who in Whoville. Text-based bios for Chuck Jones, Dr. Seuss, Boris Karloff, and June Foray.
• Grinch Pencil Test. A three storyboards that trace back to the original production. A few more would have been nice.
• Bonus Copies of the Film. A standard DVD version of the film is included and that has a Digital Copy as well. This is nice, but it is not iPod compatible and in order to get it you need to install a proprietary bit of software. What's the point?
• Slipcover. I usually do not mention things like this, but the slip cover is coated in glitter to simulate snow. Before you know it, it is everywhere. This is one cover that will likely find its way to the garbage can soon enough.

Bottomline. Like I said, if you do not have this, get it. If you have the DVD and are happy with it, you may wish to think about the upgrade. This is the only one I own and I am glad that I do. This is a delightful Christmas special that should be seen every year. It is sweet and inventive and just a lot of fun.

Recommended.

Dirty Sexy Money - The Complete and Final Second Season

When Dirty Sexy Money first premiered in the Fall of 2007, I was not sure I was going to like. To say it is not my usual type of show would be an understatement. Still, I felt somewhat compelled to check it out, perhaps it was the presence of Donald Sutherland or maybe Peter Krause, whom I enjoyed on Sports Night and who distinguished himself on Six Feet Under (which I still need to see), or maybe it is the abundance of lovely woman, including Natalie Zea, Zoe McLellan, and Samaire Armstrong. Whatever the truth is, I tuned in that fateful night and was hooked. Unfortunately, the first season was shortened by the writer's strike and we had to wait a long time before we learned that a second season would indeed come. It did indeed come, only to be struck down partway through due to poor ratings. Frankly, I was surprised it was picked up for a second go around, not that I am disappointed.

When the second season debuted, nearly a year after the final episode of season one aired, the ratings were atrocious. Despite my enjoyment of the show, it struggled to find any sort of audience, then the axe fell. The show's run ended after the tenth episode of its second season, with the remaining three episodes burned off during the summer with no advertising. It is too bad, the show had plenty of story possibilities, the cast was loaded with talent, and it was quite superficial and entertaining.

For those not in the know, Dirty Sexy Money was a prime time soap that took us inside the world of a family driven, ultimately, by money. And yes, it is dirty and sexy. We are taken inside the world of the Darlings, American royalty in this fictional, yet very real, take on our world. It gives us a window into the powerful people who are known for the money and famous for being famous. It is not unlike much of our celebrity driven culture and the fascination with tabloid journalism. Its funny, I am not terribly enamored with that aspect of society, but make it fictional, throw a few stars at it and put it weekly on my television screen and I'm there.

The second season saw a few cast changes affect the cast and push the stories in a different direction from the first. Samaire Armstrong was dropped from the cast, if I recall correctly there was some sort of controversy regarding her exit, but it was never explored (although it was said she would return as Juliet Darling late in the second season, but the show was canceled before it could happen). On the other side of the coin, we saw the addition of Lucy Liu as a bulldog defense attorney.

This abbreviated season has a number of story threads to keep everyone on the cast busy. Among the stories is the murder trial of Letitia Darling (Jill Clayburgh), accused of the murder of former Darling family lawyer Dutch George, father of reluctant current family lawyer Nick George (Peter Krause). The mystery of his death took up a little bit of each episode during the first season, and the mystery continues through the second season with a major revelation in the thirteenth episode of the season, which also proves to be the last of its run.

Other stories include the strain of the Darling family on Nick and Lisa's marriage, the attraction between Lisa and Jeremy Darling, the smoldering emotions between Nick and Karen Darling, plus Karen's engagement to Simon Elder (Blair Underwood), the Darling's chief competitor who has eyes on more than Karen. There is also lapsed clergyman, Brian Darling, and his tempestuous relationship with his estranged wife and the custody battle over their son, which spans continents. Not to be forgotten is Patrick Darling (William Baldwin), the New York District Attorney running for Congress, whose wife dies under mysterious circumstances and who is having an affair with a transgender woman named Carmelita.

All things considered, it is silly, it is over the top, it is trashy, but it is fun. It is buoyed by an experienced cast who generally know how to hit the right mark. Donald Sutherland, as the Darling patriarch, commands the screen, and respect as Tripp Darling. Meanwhile Peter Krause is the everyman at the center of the story, trying to retain what makes him who he is in the midst of the craziness of the family. While these two seem to draw the most respect, it is the expanded family that adds the flavor.

I am not going to go through everyone, but there are two characters who bring the most life to the show. First is Seth Gabel as Jeremy Darling, he is the party boy of the clan, not that bright and always getting into some sort of trouble. He is fun, goofy, and adds levity to the show. The other is Glenn Fitzgerald as Brian Darling. This guy is fantastic, he takes everything over the top and into self parody, it is hilarious. His character is a lapsed clergyman who likes woman, loves his son, and hates his ex. He chases her around the world to get his son back, but then something happens and he heads back to the Church. No matter how you slice it, the man is funny.

Audio/Video. The technical qualities of the release is exactly what you should expect from a major studio release. It definitely looks better than the broadcasts I saw. The image is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and it is a solid transfer. This is not a show filled with special effects, so there are no scenes that pop out at you, but the cinematography, colors, and overall look is nicely detailed and devoid of any digital artifacts or other such issues. The audio is in the same vein, nothing terribly stands out at either end of the scale, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 track does a fine job of delivering the dialogue heavy sound track.

Extras. There is some bonus material included, all of it is located on disk 3 of the set.

• Directing the Darlings. This featurette centers on director Jamie Babbit and her adventure directing for the show. It really is a tough job, there is a lot of work that goes into producing a weekly show.
• A Total Knockout. This is a look at a day in the life of Natalie Zea, who plays Karen Darling. It is fun, if insubstantial.
• Dirty Sexy Crafty. This is nice, we never get a look at craft services, but here we do, we even get to watch him interact with the cast. Clever.
• Faux Pas: Bloopers from Season 2. This includes your usual collection of flubbed lines and such.
• Deleted Scenes. A total of seven scenes are included for your viewing pleasure.

Bottomline. I would have loved to have had more of this show, I am sure there are a few more seasons worth. That said, I think it will be fun to revisit these episodes from time to time. It certainly was an underrated show on the sheer entertainment scale, it is a trashy show that was not trying to reinvent television.

Recommended.

Stargate Atlantis - Fans' Choice

Nice set picked by and specifically for fans. If you'd like to see the series in high definition, this is delivers a nice taste.

In 1994, Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich brought Stargate to the big screen. The movie starred Kurt Russell and James Spader and proved to be a decent science fiction film and was a decent box office success. For all intents and purposes it was merely a one off film, but it turns out that someone had different ideas. Three years later the movie would be turned into a Showtime series, Stargate SG-1, which would go on to run for a decade between Showtime and the Sci-Fi Channel. It would even go on to spawn a pair of spin off series, Stargate Universe (set to debut in October 2009) and Stargate Atlantis, plus a short-lived animated series. This Blu-ray brings us two fan selected episodes and cased with cover art also selected by fans. It is the first appearance of Atlantis on Blu-ray, and the first episodes of either series in high definition (two straight to video films have previously taken a Blu-ray bow).

As I watch the extended versions of the included episodes, I realize that this is not the best place to start for a series newcomer. Just as the title implies, this Blu-ray is strictly for the fans. Why is that? Simple, the two episodes included are the series premiere and the series finale. You miss all of the middle seasons, where the story grows, expands, changes, and develops, while characters come, go, die, and change alliances. So, if you are looking for a taste of the series, go rent the first season, slip this until you know you like the series, then pick this up to satiate your high-def bug.

Let me start by saying the high definition Stargate Atlantis experience is definitely a good one. It does not match the clarity of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, but don't let that scare you away. These episodes are crisp, clear, and just really look good, the best I have ever seen them. I will say that the first episode, "Rising," suffers a little bit in that the special effects are not the best and the added resolution afforded by the format expose the technical and budgetary constraints of the early episodes. Granted is not that bad, but it can be noticed. On the other hand, there is nary a spot to be found, colors look great, and the detail is very good.

Keeping an eye on the technical specifications, the English DTS-HD 5.1 tracks that both episodes sport are lively, and always clear. Dialogue is always front and center, and there are some very nice panning effects as firefights move around the frame and spaceships fly by. I cannot say that any particular scene stands out, but do not take that as an indictment, as the sound is solid straight through.

"Rising" is the double length premiere episode, and I have to say it plays better now than it ever did before. I recall when I first watched it, I was not sure I was going to like it. It was a feeling that would linger over the first handful of episodes. I could not quite get a handle on the characters. It turns out, the writers probably didn't either. Watching now, I can see the actors were not completely sure of how to approach the characters. They seemed tentative and the personalities were half-baked.

Anyway, this premiere benefited from the presence of Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks reprising their SG-1 roles of Jack O'Neill and Daniel Jackson. On top of that, the premiere also has Robert Patrick playing the ranking military officer on the expedition. The presence of these three helps bring the fledgling series a little more gravitas.

We follow our new crew through the Stargate, using coordinates believed to be for the lost city of Atlantis. It turns out to be true and our intrepid team of soldiers and civilians as they explore the technologically advanced city built by the Ancients. Problems quickly arise on two fronts, with the discovery that the city is underwater and with a failing shield, and while searching nearby planets they find some friendly folks, but also some nasty aliens. In one fell swoop we meet new friends, meet the new big bad, called the Wraith (replacing the Go'auld), and show that this advance city is still vulnerable. Overall, it is a decent way to start the series.

Moving onto the second episode of the set, "Enemy at the Gates" jumps us over five seasons worth of episodes and picks up during the final showdown with the Wraith. The life-sucking aliens have found Earth and a large ship of theirs is preparing to unleash the fury on our home planet. Defending Earth is a lone Ancient chair which controls the only weapons capable of defeating the invaders. Meanwhile, Atlantis has found the power to lift off from its adoptive planet in the Pegasus Galaxy and is flying home to Earth, where it engages the Wraith ship.

Of course, more happens, but I am not going to tell you. If you are a fan, you likely know already. I will say that I sort of liked the final moments, although it fails to live up to the excellence of the SG-1 finale.

Bottomline. This is a very nice set. The packaging looks good, the two series book-ending episodes are quite entertaining. This high definition test run for the series is pretty solid and I look forward to full seasons. So, if you are a fan, get this, if not, go check out the seasons first.

Recommended (to fans).

TV Review: Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles: "The Mousetrap"

Season two keeps on chugging along. The season premiere was an explosive piece of television and a good example of how to put people on the edge of their seat. The second episode brought the action back down to more acceptable week to week levels, but was nonetheless another strong outing as we get into more character moments while not sacrificing the action on which this series will be built. Now, here we are, week three and still going strong. I have to saw that this show, while not the best thing I've seen, continues to impress with its ability to mix the personal with the epic, the action with the heart, not to mention a little bit of comedy.

Now, I am going to assume that anyone reading this has already seen the episode, as there will likely be spoilers as I recap and share my thoughts on the show.

During the second episode, Charley's (Dean Winters) wife, Michelle (Sonya Walger), discovered more about his relationship with the woman known as Sarah Connor than she would care to. Because of this news, and the fact they are now targets, they must go on the run. Needless to say, Michelle is none too happy with this.

As we get into the third episode, Charley and Michelle are on their way out of Dodge. While stopping for gas, they are discovered by Cromartie (Garrett Dillahunt), who promptly hopes in the vacated driver's seat and takes off with Michelle, leaving Charley in a cloud of dust. Not knowing what else to do, Charley calls John, who had foolishly given him his cell number.

Sarah gets word on what has happened, and without telling John or Cameron what is going on, heads off into the desert with a disapproving Derek in tow. What does she expect to find? An upset Charley and a dead Michelle. Fortunately, Michelle is able to get a call off to Charley, allowing them to get a fix on her location.

What have we learned? Charley is indeed upset, but Michelle is far from dead. She happens to be strapped to a chair and wired to explode. Why the elaborate setup? Easy. Cromartie needs a couple of things from them. First, he needs them to give him an opportunity to find John, and second, he needs them out of the way. No need to kill them, just stick them in the middle of nowhere, nice and out of the way. This leads us into the John and Cameron arc for the episode.

Obviously, Sarah doesn't want John to know she is going to help Charley. Why? Not exactly sure, but I would assume it would have to be believed it could be a trap. Sarah charges Cameron with keeping an eye on John. Problems arise when John exhibits a knack for eluding pursuers, slightly reminiscent of the arcade sequence in T2. He runs off to meet Riley for a day like a normal teenager. Cameron, however, is pretty good at tracking too.

Both stories converge as Cromartie closes in on John. Meanwhile, there is one more thread in this episode. James Ellis gets a call from Shirley Manson (why can't I remember her character's name?) with an offer to meet. We all know Manson is another Terminator, sorry, machine. She is in a position of power and seems to be in the process of getting things in place for the future, while also wanting to eliminate John. Ellis is wary, but definitely curious.

This series continues to do a great juggling act of keeping the energy high while also delivering strong characters. Sarah's arc continues to show her toughness, but also something of a vulnerability when it comes to people she cares about, needing to help at all costs, although she continues to mask her feelings. Derek, always at her side is the weakest link at the moment, although I am sure he will get a focus episode in the next few weeks to help beef him up a.

John continues to be a sullen teenager, destined for greatness in the eyes of humanity, but struggling to accept what he is destined to be while trying to retain some of his youth. This makes his relationship with Riley an interesting one. She is vibrant, blissfully unaware of what is to come and more than willing to challenge John to be a kid and enjoy life. This is a relationship to keep an eye on. I am still wondering how far it will go before she begins to suspect something bigger about him and his weird extended family.

Cameron is a good focal point for the comedy of the series, owning the episode's biggest laughs. For example, her early scenes discussing the movement of the house ("Next year we will have to re-paint"), and the presence of the bird in the chimney ("I'll kill it before it flies away"). At the same time, watching her try to understand the human condition through her closeness to John will be something to keep an eye on. Next week's episode was revealed to be a Cameron-centric one, looks like some big revelations are afoot.

There were some really good sequences in this episode, although two stand out over the rest. The first is when Michelle is strapped to the chair. Michelle is very freaked out and talking about how she has to stand up and her legs are on fire. Sarah says it is the adrenaline, to which Michelle yells "I know it's the adrenaline!" I loved that line. How many other shows would have let it go after Sarah's line? I loved how they went a step further to show Michelle is not stupid. I am sorry she died, but it was still a great moment. The other moment was when Cromartie followed John over the pier and promptly sunk. As John gets to the surface and asks Cameron for help, she replies "I can't swim." What a fantastic moment. I can honestly say I never thought about a Terminator not being able to swim.

Looking forward to next week!

DVD Review: The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries - The Complete First Season

Over the years when you talk about classic cartoons the conversation will invariably include a question along the lines of: "Disney or Warner Brothers?" It could take shape in a number of different forms, or even be disguised in a discussion of characters. In whatever directions the conversation goes, the other participant will be able to tell what side of the fence you fall on (much like other either/or conversations involving the likes of PC/Mac and Mets/Yankees). In my case loyalties have always lay with Warner Brothers. I do love and respect classic Disney, but Warner Brothers is where I am really at. Sure, my depth of knowledge of toon names and directors is weak, but I know what I like. This leads to a surprise, I had never seen an episode of The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries until now.

I must say that the series is quite addictive. Once I started watching, I found it hard to turn the disk off. It is much the same case as the even more addictive Golden Collections of the true Warner Brothers classics (which are an absolute must have). As addictive as the show reveals itself to be, the DVD looks equally good. The colors are sharp and vivid, but with the occasional grain. I suspect these could look a bit better, but they look great as is. So, this two disk, twelve-episode set has a nice one too punch of quality content and quality presentation. Kind of hard to argue with that.

The show appeared on Saturday morning rosters way back in 1995, well after the Golden Age of the characters, but during a resurgence by both Warner Brothers and Disney in the half hour cartoon market. This resurgence includes the likes of Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers, and Ducktales. While those other shows easily overshadow the likes of this one, this quartet of characters is not to be ignored.

The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries brings together Sylvester the cat and Tweety Bird (of course), along with Hector the Bulldog and Granny. Together they do a little globetrotting as they solve mysteries. These mysteries include finding the stolen Blarney Stone in Ireland, a missing periscope, and a giant kidnapped tuna! Along the way a string of classic films are spoofed, including The Maltese Falcon in "The Maltese Canary" complete with Sam Spade and Peter Lorre, and Frank Capra films in "It Happened One Night Before Christmas."

Each episode finds master sleuth Granny, who is always in high demand, taking on some mystery with the help of her three beloved pets. The problem is that while Tweety is being helpful, Sylvester keeps trying to eat the little bird and Hector has to keep punishing the cat for his acts. The slapstick trio are the focus of each episode while Granny is used to propel the plot, as thin as they are.

The plot of each episode is little more than window dressing on which to hang the animated animal antics. It also allows the creative team to stretch their creativity with accents and wordplay. Fortunately, the classic characters translate well into this new format that is simultaneously old school and self-aware. You have to love moments like Sylvester questioning why he insists on pursuing Tweety, he answers himself with the simple answer: "It's tradition." Not to mention variations on Tweety's signature phrase: "I tawt a taw a puddy tat." into the likes of: "I tawt I taw a tug! I did, I did tee a tug!" and "I tawt I taw a clue!" Nice stuff.

Bottomline. The set lacks any extras, but that is all right. The presentation is good, and the episodes are fun. This comic mystery series offers plenty for young and old viewers alike. Definitely worth spending time with.

Recommended.

TV Review: Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles: "Automatic for the People"

The second season of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles aired its second episode this week. I have to say that for a series that I liked but was not immediately wowed by during its first season has really gotten off to a great start this year. Last week's premiere, "Samson and Delilah," was spectacular, from its explosive stunts, to the groundwork for the big story to the smaller character driven moments. If they can keep up that quality, who knows how far this will go? If the second episode, "Automatic for the People," is any judge, we are in for a wild ride.

Now, I am going to assume that anyone reading this has already seen the episode, as there will likely be spoilers as I share my thoughts on the show.

This episode picks up with our dysfunctional, non-traditional family unit still in the church where they found sanctuary in the premiere. The group leaves and finds a home for rent where they take up shelter and attempt to present themselves as normal, although we all know this quartet will never be normal.

As the story moves forward, John is sent off to school, don't want to be seen as a delinquent, you know. While at school, he skips class to sit outside, trapped in his mind, captive to his thoughts of what has happened, with the return of the machines, the reprogrammed friendly terminator, the subsequent malfunction that almost led to his death, all culminating in his fight to save her. This has left him seriously conflicted and distracted. He still manages to make friends with a girl from school named Riley.

Meanwhile, the episodes bigger story kicks off when a man crashes through a glass door at the new Connor residence. The man is bleeding and on his way towards death. The man falls to the ground clutching Sarah and Derek, imploring that they stop Greenway at the nearby nuclear plant. I must admit, at this point I had to wonder how this guy knew where Sarah was, as he was obviously there for her, then it dawned on me. Duh, if he was sent by the future, he likely was told by John where they would be at that point. Damn the nuanced tales of time travel! (if you could see me, I am shaking my fist indignantly as I look to the sky, Wrath of Khan style)

Sarah and Cameron head off to the plant where they are able to acquire temp jobs with ease. Once inside, they need to find out what and who they are supposed to stop. This leads to a knock down drag out between Cameron and a terminator duplicate. With the end revealing another step to world domination by the T-1001 that was revealed last week, played by Shirley Manson.

In my eyes, this is another winning episode. While it did not further the bigger picture story in any big way, it was filled with more character moments. I believe these character moments and building of conflicts are what the young series needs. Make us care for the characters, draw us in and you will have us with plenty of time to allow the big picture to unfold. With the Terminator franchise to draw upon, there is a gigantic big picture from which to pick and choose from and grow into something truly spectacular.

I love the conflict brewing between Cameron and John. There is the bit between the two where Cameron says John can no longer be trusted because he fought to save her, despite what she could mean to him. While John is developing some sort of bond with the machine. That brings up another note, they do not refer to the terminators as terminators, rather they are always called machines. I wonder why? Not that it matters, but it is curious.

John has the weight of his future upon him as he sees his childhood and freedom slipping away, leading him to try and make a connection with Riley. It will be interesting to see where this relationship leads, how far down the rabbit will she be allowed to go?

Meanwhile, Cameron seems to be developing in ways we have never seen in a machine before. She may not be programmed for feelings, but can they be developed? Taking a lead from the "I love you" moment from the premiere and coupling it with the more motherly way she protects John. Then there is the moment as we near the climax when she does nothing, telling Sarah that she's thinking. What? Since when do they think? Could the damage she has taken be affecting the way she operates?

Then there is Sarah, not quote the powerhouse I expected based on the portrayal by Linda Hamilton. This Sarah is definitely tough and not to be messed with, but she is vulnerable. She is also struggling with the knowledge of her death by cancer, which may not happen in this alternate take, although the time spent in the nuclear plant cannot make her feel an safer. Watch as she breaks down when questioning Cameron about it.

I didn't forget Derek, but he needs a bit more screen time. I am sure it is coming. What I did like was the flash forward to him at the nuclear plant in the future, leading a raid where the Resistance took control of the plant. This fades back to the present, where it is intact without a machine in sight. It was a nice moment.

Overall, I thought the episode was really good. So far, they are balancing the action, drama, with comic touches and a healthy dose of heart. I think it is the character interaction that is drawing me in, in addition to the recognizable Terminator dressing. Not to mention Summer Glau....

DVD Review: The Big Bang Theory - The Complete First Season

Mmmm hmmmm mm hm mnmnmnm uuuhmm nnmmm hhmmm. Blech. That's better. Let me begin by saying that I will happily put my foot in my mouth with regards to The Big Bang Theory. If you'll recall, I did not think very much of the show when it was first announced (evidenced in this post). It struck me as dumb, simple comedy that would not go anywhere, much less be anything of quality. After watching the premiere when it was originally aired, my opinion was pretty much the same as it was when I saw the pre-release clips. However, for some reason I kept going back from time to time. Over the course of the first season I found myself inexplicably drawn to the tale of the nerds.

All right, let's back up a bit. As we all know, the Big Bang is the theory that the dawn of the universe was at a finite time in the past when a dense mass of matter exploded, thus creating said universe. Since that time all matter in the universe is expanding, always moving away from everything else, just like an explosion. Sure, much of this can be ordered within galaxies and solar systems, but little by little we are getting farther away from everything else around us.

Now, what does that have to do with The Big Bang Theory? I guess you could look at the arrival of the pretty neighbor as the fuel sparking the nerd explosion, during which the primary duo and extended quartet of geeks begin to see new aspects of the world brought into their lives. I don't know, but that sort of makes sense with what is going on in the show.

The further into the season we got, the better the writing became and the better the characters became. I began to see more clearly what they were doing, and I came to enjoy it more. Rewatching the episodes now, I have a greater appreciation for the series. Sometimes I think shows benefit from watching a cluster of episodes back to back, 30 Rock is another show that falls under this concept. I will doubt I will ever go so far as to say this is a great show, or ever will be a great show, but it is quite enjoyable and a cut above what I was initially expecting. That said, I will say I enjoy this show much more than Two and a Half Men.

At the center of the series are Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons), roommates and physicists who gravitate towards all things geek. They are not representative of all geeks, but I think they do a decent job of capturing the essence. Their lives are flipped upside down when Penny (Kaley Cuoco) moves in across the hall. She is the "dumb" side of the equation, which is not completely accurate and played up too much early on. Fortunately, they learned more about writing her character, making her much better in the long run.

Leonard is immediately taken with her, and proceeds to explore ways of asking her out. As that plays out as the undercurrent thrusting the show we get to see all manner of geeky situations with Leonard as the geek with an understanding of how to function in the real world, while Sheldon is completely socially inept. This doesn't even mention the other two geeks, Howard and Rajnesh.

How can I tie all of this together? Let me just say that the show won me over. This show has an addictive quality that is hard to ignore, and if you like the geeky things in life, this could be the sitcom you've been looking for.

Audio/Video. The tech side of the disks is good. It looks better than it did during the initial broadcast. The video is presented in 1,78:1 widescreen and is nice and sharp, while the Dolby Surround audio sounds fine.

Extras. The lone extra is a featurette called Quantum Mechanics of The Big Bang Theory (a behind-the-scenes look into geek chic). That is definitely a mouthful and it is a watch once sort of fluffy featurette. It includes interviews with creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, as well as star Johnny Galecki. On another note, I like the packaging, it is a standard Amaray case with a hinged insert containing the three disks.

Bottomline. This is a better show than I ever wanted to give it credit for. It may never reach the heights of Seinfeld or Scrubs, but it is a darn good B-level sitcom that is well worth spending time with. I suspect that I will revisit this on a semi-regular basis. It is funny and in the end that is what matters most.

Recommended.

TV Review: Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles: "Samson and Delilah"

Wow! Now this is how you start a season, decisively, with action, and even a touch of emotion. When Terminator: The Sarah Chronicles was announced in 2007, I was definitely intrigued. The franchise certainly offers plenty of potential for drama. Of course, you have to be willing to play with the timeline a bit, and considering the time travel roots that shouldn't be too much of a problem. The series premiered in Spring 2008 to good ratings, despite the distinct shortening of the season due to the writer's strike. I liked it, but did not love it immediately, but it is growing on me. With the start of the second season I am hooked.

In the first season we were introduced to this new take on Sarah Connor, now played by Lena Headey (300). The toughness of Linda Hamilton's performance is there, although it is tempered more with a motherly influence. Playing opposite her is Thomas Dekker, as John Connor, who rose to prominence on Heroes, where he famously videotaped Claire Bennett's fall. Rounding out the main trio is Summer Glau, of Firefly and The 4400, as Cameron the Terminator. She is a decidedly different Terminator model, but one sharing the traits of the second two Arnie outings, protect John Connor. Let's not forget Brian Austin Green as Derek Reece, John's uncle from the future.

"Samson and Delilah" picks up right where the first season finale left off, they are looking for the Terk and a deal to get closer to it was going bad. John and Sarah are trapped in a house with some very bad guys while Cameron was getting blown up in a jeep outside. Cameron extricates herself from the wreckage, calmly walks into the house, picks up a gun and resumes her original programming objective: Terminate John Connor.

What follows is a big chase, Cameron after John and Sarah, John and Sarah after Cameron, Derek after Sarah, and a variety of combinations therein. Meanwhile, Cromartie, the truly bad terminator has his own methods of pursuit, but his story is very secondary to what is going on within our core group.

I have to say that I really love how this season got started. We are reintroduced to our characters, there is big, explosive action, there are strong personal moments, as well as some story arc building going on in the background.

After watching Prison Break's premiere last week, I was half expecting to have similar issues with this episode. I know, I know, the show is completely different in terms of staff and talent. I can't explain it, I was just expecting some disappointment. Fortunately my worries were for naught, this is as tight and strong an opening as you are likely to find in an action series.

I absolutely love what is going on with the John and Cameron characters. Just watch as they try to take Cameron down, John feels loyalty to the machine because she saved his life, but he is torn as he knows what she is capable of. Follow this up with the earlier scene with John and Sarah running away from the newly evil Cameron, the sulking of the teen just feels so right considering the circumstances.

However, above all of these sequences, the one when they trap Cameron between the trucks. There she is, unable to move as John climbs onto the hood of the truck, positioning himself to take out her main chip board. He is wavering, that loyalty thing again, but he still knows how dangerous she is. Meanwhile, Cameron is pleading with him that she is all right, that she is back to normal. The emotion and desperation in this scene is just fantastic. This was, by far, the best scene of the episode and one of the best of the series thus far.

While the bulk of the episode is focused on Sarah, John, and Cameron, it is not the whole story. We get some further information on Ellison and the knowledge that he harbors and his interactions with Cromartie. These are good, but then there are the scenes with newcomer Shirley Manson (vocalist for the group Garbage) as Catherine Weaver, the head of a technology firm with a special project called Babylon. She is definitely going to be a person of interest as the season moves forward, and her biggest secret? She's a.... nope, not going to tell you. You have to go watch the episode. I am sure Fox or Hulu.com will have it available soon.

TV Review: Prison Break - Season 4 Premiere

The fourth season of Prison Break is here. It premiered with its first two episodes, "Scylla" and "Breaking and Entering," and seems to be all set for another season of action peppered with conspiracy theories and spiced with thoughts of revenge. That said, I am not sure the name Prison Break really applies any more, also, how far can this concept be taken before it has run its course? Do not get me wrong, I am a fan of the show and I like the characters, I just think that it may be time to perhaps think about making a spin off featuring the primaries, calling it something else. Well, that is neither here nor there. On to the premiere.

The new season does not take long to get going. We pick up the story not long after the events of the season three finale. The remaining escapees and survivors of the first three seasons are off in a multitude of directions. Mahone is hooked up with Gretchen and The Company, Lincoln and LJ are still in Panama, T-Bag is on the hunt for Michael, Michael is on the hunt for Gretchen, Sucre and Bellick are trying to get back to loved ones, and they are all on a collision course for each other.

The speed with which everything moves in the two hour premiere (well, two one hour episodes run back to back) makes you think that another writer's strike is in the offing. Of course that is not going to happen, but man, do they ever move quick. No time is wasted in getting out protagonists back together, old bad guys out of the way, plot devices switched over and a new reason for them to work together in place. By the time it was all over, my head was spinning.

The plot, such as it is, has Scofield and his crew and now in the charge of Homeland Security Agent Donald Self (Michael Rapaport), who wants them to steal data from a highly secured location that will help take down The Company. The cost? Freedom for all of the wanted felons involved.

All right, I'll buy that. It doesn't strike me as much of a prison break, but it could prove to be an exciting season. I only hope that they slow it down some, allow some of it to sink in rather than bludgeoning us with everything all at once. Everything that happens in these first two episodes could have been nicely fleshed out over an entire season. I guess they have bigger plans than just stealing some data.

Now, beware of spoilers, but in these two hours we have the death of Whistler, the death of Gretchen, the birth of Sucre's baby, T-Bag and a little cannibalism, the revelation that Sarah is still alive, The Company finding Linc in Panama, the theft of some important data, the data is revealed as unreadable, Michael and Sarah are reunited, everyone is arrested, everyone is brought together in one room, they are joined by another felon, they are forced to wear tracking bracelets, they stake out the bad guys house, the use the maid to find the data, have to break in anyway, find they don't have all they need, and probably some other things I am forgetting. Oh yeah, how could I forget Michael getting his body tattoo lasered off, without anesthesia (I guess Miller has intentions of doing some topless work this season, he never did like the body suit tattoo thing he had to wear. You ever notice how often he had long sleeves on? Outside of Fox River, the tat is little more than a conversation piece).

Whew, let me catch my breath for a minute........ Okay.

You know, it was not a bad premiere, just a little too much too fast, and now I sound like a broken record. I like the character of Michael Scofield, Wentworth Miller plays him with nice blend of confidence, intelligence, and vulnerability. I also always loved Robert Knepper's T-Bag, the dude is seriously creepy and his line about the Mexican food? Priceless. The whole ensemble is quite strong and varied enough not to become boring.

I am interested in the rest of the season, I just hope they tone the pace down a little bit.

DVD Review: Transformers Animated - Transform and Roll Out

I am a Transformers fan from way back. I cannot claim to have an extensive knowledge of the series, but when I was a child I loved watching Transformers and GI Joe. Those two shows/extended toy commercials always held my attention. Over the years I lost track of the story, as well as the other series that appeared. Then, the movie arrived last year, and while I did enjoy it, it was not quite what I had hoped. Now we have a new animated series to check out, and it is distinctly different from the show that I remember, with a much more "cartoony" look to it and appears to integrate story elements of both the live-action movie and the original cartoon. I enjoyed it, but I am not sure how much I will like it in the long-term. And yes, this is my first exposure to this version.

The series takes place in the future, Cybertron would seem to be a thriving planet and we pick up our band of heroes as they work on clearing rocks from a space bridge. The team is made up of new versions of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Prowl, along with a new character (at least to me), Bulkhead. Also with the team is Ratchet, who is a veteran of the long ago war with the Decepticons (which I believe to be the original animated series. The team have distinctive personalities, all which pair up with their counterparts (where applicable) from the original series.

As the team goes about their business, they discover a mysterious object embedded in the rock. This item turns out to be the Allspark, the powerful object which gave life to all robots (and the focal point of the live-action film). Of course, an object of this importance is being sought by the bad guys, led by supreme baddie Megatron and his traitorous second-in-command Starscream. The chase/battle ends on Earth.

Much time passes with the robots inert at the bottom of Lake Erie, on the shores of Detroit. An errant cybernetic bug awakens the Autobots who take the form of current Earth vehicles and make their appearance, becoming near instant heroes. Their fame and relative peace is to be short-lived, as danger looms on the horizon. A danger that has a great reveal at the conclusion of the episode.

This DVD presents the introduction of the new series and is a pretty good way to check out this new take on Transformer lore. The further into the show I got, the more I enjoyed it, although it is no replacement for the classic series. I liked how they showed a smattering of clips from that first series, portrayed as history for the current incarnation. The characters developed nicely and the story has some potential.

However, there is another side, a side that I don't care much for. The look of the show is too rounded, a little too far to the goofy and unrealistic side. Not really a problem, it is more a matter of taste. It also took a little while to get used to the voices.

In the end, the show is interesting, but it is definitely targeted at a younger audience (well, duh). Not being in the target audience more than likely hurts my potential for enjoyment, but it still reminded me of my youth, watching the classic Optimus Prime battling Megatron for those glowing energon cubes.

Audio/Video. The tech specs of the DVD are sharp, crisp, and clear; that goes for both the audio and the video.

Extras. There is a two and a half minute short featuring Optimus talking to a group of schoolchildren, but they are more interested in seeing him transform than whatever he has to say. That is all there is!

Bottomline. Give this a shot. It is Transformers, after all. It is worth taking a peek at. It is fun and silly, and perfectly harmless.

Mildly Recommended.

TV Review: Battlestar Galactica - "He That Believeth in Me"

It is official; Battlestar Galactica will go down in history as one of the greatest science fiction series in television history. I am willing to take that another step further and say that it is quite possibly the best series currently in production of any genre, and will likely be among the greatest television series of all time. Do you doubt me? Just watch the show and see for yourself. This is a show that is firing on all cylinders, from the writing to the directing, from the acting to the effects, there is just no getting around what they are able to accomplish. Now that it is entering its fourth and final season, you know that their A game will be pushed to the limits as we steam towards the series conclusion. First stop: "He That Believeth in Me."

When we last left the BSG crew, four of the final five Cylons had been revealed, Lee Adama had just played an instrumental role in getting Baltar freed in the trial of the millennium, the Cylon fleet had caught up to the colonials, and, in the heat of battle, Starbuck returned, seemingly from the dead, following a two month absence with the news that she had been to Earth. Whew! With all of that, this season premiere had a lot of ground to cover.

Season four kicks off right where season three ended. Lee is in disbelief as Kara flies alongside him, while Adama attempts to get an identification of the Viper. At the same time, Anders deals with his first combat experience following his training as a Viper pilot. On the Galactica bridge Tigh has a fantasy/nightmare of assassinating his best friend. Then there is Gaius Baltar, spirited away to a remote section of the ship where he is believed to be a religious leader.

There is one thing that is important to realize when entering into a viewing arrangement with Battlestar Galactica, is that you will not be able to look away. Each episode is packed with so much that if you blink, or step out for a snack, you are sure to miss something. Beyond that, it is not only packed with plot, but with character development. It is the rare series that can deliver on so many fronts without skimping on others.

"He That Believeth in Me" gets season four of to a roaring start. When the show opened, and we watched Saul Tigh pull his sidearm and shoot Adama in the eye, my jaw dropped. It was a powerful moment that signaled I was back in BSG-land where no one is safe. Of course, it was revealed to all be in Tigh's head, but this goes a long way to what may be going on inside his mind following the revelation at the end of season three.

I don't want to go through the episode scene by scene, do yourself a favor and go watch it, it is currently up in its entirety on Sci Fi Rewind. What I would like to do are spotlight a couple of scenes that really hit home, in addition to that opening one with Tigh.

When Baltar, in full-on Jesus mode, was walked through the area with his new "followers" was quite interesting. It, and the scenes that follow, complete his transformation from a political figure into a religious one. His followers seem to be a bit of the overzealous type, as demonstrated late in the episode when someone who had been directly affected by Baltar’s presidency accosts Baltar. Watch as the woman accompanying him gets her hands on a metal rod. I must admit to being amused.

Much of the time spent with Kara is exquisite. We already know that she is a messed up person, and this only furthers her down the rabbit hole. Katee Sackhoff is so good in this role, capturing the balance of conflict, confidence, strength, and vulnerability. Here she is electrifying as Roslin and Adama question her, in full-on defensive mode, while she reveals her vulnerability with Anders.

Lee and his father have a heart to heart over his recent leaving of his post, only to help Baltar, and then return to help battle the Cylons. It is one of the few quiet moments of the episode.

Not to be forgotten is Roslin's visit to the captured Six to question her about the Final Five. This is where she learns that they are "close," according to the six. Now, we know about four of them, but who is the fifth? The implication is strong that the final unrevealed (to the audience) Cylon is on Galactica. Hmmmm....

There is so much more to dig into, especially the closing shots of Kara holding a gun on Roslin. Kara insists that they get back on course as she knows how to get to Earth, while Roslin is leading them further off course. The big question is whether or not she can be trusted. There are many unanswered questions regarding her two month absence, which Kara believes to only be six hours.

This is going to be a busy season and I cannot wait to take the ride.