I’m not a big fan of fantasy novels for many reasons that I won’t list here. My fantasy knowledge is limited, but I'm aware of many popular fantasy authors, such as the late Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series. Over the years, many readers have suggested I should read the Discworld books. I’ve kept my eye out for the books at thrift stores and used bookshops, but I've never come across any of them.
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
I’m taking a wild guess there might be a few people wondering why I’m reviewing a movie starring Dolly Parton. There’s a simple answer - Unlikely Angel (Not Rated; 96 mins) costars the late Roddy McDowall. I grew up watching the original Fright Night flicks and The Planet of the Apes films, which all starred Roddy McDowall (minus Beneath the Planet of the Apes). I remember watching Unlikely Angel when it originally aired on CBS around Christmas 1996.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Recently, I watched the Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga miniseries and the 30-minute mini-movie Ultra Fight Orb. Mill Creek Entertainment had released them on a two-disc Blu-ray set (Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy) way back in February. There are no special features or bonus extras, which is disappointing. One would think they could've at least put trailers or commentaries on the discs. It comes with a moviesSpree digital code. The digital video quality on the platform is excellent.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.
AMAZON |
Back in 2017, I fell in love with the horror-fantasy series American Gods that aired on STARZ. It's based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, which I read shortly after the series debuted. The first season followed very closely to the book and at times went far beyond it by expanding the characters. Thanks to the showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, the series had an unique artistic look that was very graphic at times.
I, like many all other fans, had to wait nearly two years for the second season. This is due to the fact that the original showrunners were fired and a few cast members quit. Jesse Alexander was hired as the new showrunner but was also later let go. The second season premiered back in the spring and was quickly renewed for a third season despite losing over half its audience.
American Gods: Season Two was released to Blu-ray (+Digital) last week by Lionsgate Home Entertainment, featuring all eight episodes on a 3-disc set. The season is also available on DVD.
Season Two picks up shortly after the first season's finale with many of the Old Gods reuniting at The House of Rock. However, their reunion is cut short when Mr. World attacks the restaurant, leading to the death of Zorya Vechernyaya (played by Cloris Leachman). Once again, Mr. Wednesday (played by Ian McShane) and his human bodyguard, Shadow Moon (played by Ricky Whittle) are going on a quest across America looking for a way to end the war with the New Gods.
Meanwhile, Shadows undead wife, Laura, has to once again rely on the leprechaun Mad Sweeney (played by Pablo Schreiber) to help keep her decaying body alive.
I, like many all other fans, had to wait nearly two years for the second season. This is due to the fact that the original showrunners were fired and a few cast members quit. Jesse Alexander was hired as the new showrunner but was also later let go. The second season premiered back in the spring and was quickly renewed for a third season despite losing over half its audience.
American Gods: Season Two was released to Blu-ray (+Digital) last week by Lionsgate Home Entertainment, featuring all eight episodes on a 3-disc set. The season is also available on DVD.
Season Two picks up shortly after the first season's finale with many of the Old Gods reuniting at The House of Rock. However, their reunion is cut short when Mr. World attacks the restaurant, leading to the death of Zorya Vechernyaya (played by Cloris Leachman). Once again, Mr. Wednesday (played by Ian McShane) and his human bodyguard, Shadow Moon (played by Ricky Whittle) are going on a quest across America looking for a way to end the war with the New Gods.
Meanwhile, Shadows undead wife, Laura, has to once again rely on the leprechaun Mad Sweeney (played by Pablo Schreiber) to help keep her decaying body alive.
Special Features include:
- The House of the Rock: Setting the Stage
- The Second Coming: Neil Gaiman on Season Two
- Gods and Ends: Random Musings from the Cast
Final Thoughts
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Fox; Not Rated; 437 mins; Amazon |
Now available from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is 9-1-1: The Complete Season One, featuring all ten episodes. There are no special features or bonus extras on the 3-disc set.
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear (American Horror Story), the series stars Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Connie Britton, Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, and Rockmond Dunbar.
9-1-1 centers around the lives of Los Angeles police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and 911 operators. An 911 operator named Abigail "Abby" Clark (played by Connie Britton) must find a way to take care her mother, who has dementia, along with dealing with the daily stress that comes with her job.
LAPD patrol sergeant Athena Grant who is one of the first to arrive at an emergency. Despite the chaos of her job, Athena's home life is a complete mess, especially after husband, Michael (played by Rockmond Dunbar), announces that he's always been gay, even before they were married. To make her life even worse, her daughter tries to commit suicide.
Robert "Bobby" Nash (played by Peter Krause), the LAFD station 118 captain, is probably the most stressed of the first responders. With every 911 call, he makes it a personal mission to save everyone. However, this isn't an easy thing to do when he doesn't have faith in his firefighters, especially when cocky Evan "Buck" Buckley (Oliver Stark) has his mind getting laid instead of saving people's lives.
Episodes on the DVD set include
- Pilot
- Let Go
- Next of Kin
- Worst Day Ever
- Point of Origin
- Heartbreaker
- Full Moon (Creepy AF)
- Karma's a Bith
- Trapped
- A Whole New Year
Final Thoughts
Saturday, June 17, 2017
If you're in your 30's, like I am, then you mostly likely grew up watching cartoons every Saturday morning. You know, back way before the Federal Communications Commission mandate, which required networks to air at least 3 hours of educational program per week - aka, killing Saturday Morning Cartoons forever.
Yes, you can still find plenty of new cartoons on cable channels; some even have 24 hours of animated programs, but it just doesn't feel the same as it did in the late 1980s and the early 1990s. Thankfully, many of our cartoon favorites are now available on DVD, so we can watch them anytime we like. We can even have a Saturday Morning Cartoons Marathon, if like.
14 hours 20 minutes: $19.98; Mill Creek Ent. |
Now available from Mill Creek Entertainment are 'the complete series' sets of Where On Earth is Carmen Sandiego? and Archie's Weird Mysteries.
Where On Earth is Carmen Sandiego? is based on a series of computer games. It aired on the now defunct Fox Kids block from 1994 to 1999, lasting for only 40 episodes. The series won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program in 1995.
The series centers on the ACME agents Ivy and Zack, whom happens to be brother and sister. In each episode, the duo tries to track down Carmen Sandiego, the leader the organization V.I.L.E, who is always stealing a historical artifact. With the help of the Player (a live-action kid who is playing a computer game), Ivy and Zack follows the clues left behind by Carmen to solve the mystery and retrieve the missing artifact.
The DVD set has 4 discs (10 episodes per disc). There are no special features or extras, though there is a bonus episode from the short-lived series Liberty's Kids.
14 hours 52 minutes; $19.98; Mill Creek Ent. |
Lasting for only 40 episodes, the series centered on Archie (now a school reporter) and his friends, as they investigate strange occurrences around Riverdale. The episodes were basically spoofs of low-budget B-movies from the 1950s, involving encounters with Frankenstein's monster, werewolves, mad scientists, UFOs, zombies, and vampires.
The DVD set has 4 discs (10 episodes per discs). There are no special features or extras, though there are bonus episodes fro Sabrina: The Animated Series, Sabrina's Secret Life, and Mona the Vampire. It comes with an instant digital access code that be redeemed at www.millcreekent.com/redeem.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Now available on for Digital Download from HBO Home Entertainment is The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks. Written & directed by George C. Wolfe, the film stars Oprah Winfrey, Rose Byrne, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Courtney B. Vance, Reg E. Cathey, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Leslie Uggams.
Based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks follows writer Rebecca Skloot (played by Rose Byrne), who seeks out to learn the history of Henrietta Lacks, an African American whose cancer cells were the source of the HeLa, the first immortalized cell line. Rebecca seeks out Henrietta's children in the hope of letting her write about their mother.
Upon meeting Henrietta's emotionally-drained daughter, Deborah Lacks (played by Oprah Winfrey), Rebecca learns the Lack family never authorized the harvesting of Henrietta's cancer cells back in 1951. Over the years, scientists have used the cancerous cells in medical research and for commercial purposes.
Together, Deborah and Rebecca chronicles Henrietta's life, leading them to understand the meaning beyond her death.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Now available to purchase on Digital HD from HBODigitalHD.com is Banshee: Season 4, the final season of the hit Cinemax action/crime series.
The series centers on an ex-con (played by Antony Starr), who had spent the last fifteen-years in prison for apparently stealing $15 million in diamonds. Now as a free man, he sets out to locate his ex-lover Anastasia Rabitov (played by Ivana Miličević) as she was the one in possession of diamonds before he went to prison. Anastasia is now living in Banshee, Pennsylvania (Amish country) under the name Carrie Hopewell, where she married and raised two children during the last fifteen-years.
With a ruthless crime boss, Rabbit' Rabitov (played by Ben Cross), hot on his trail, he takes the identity of the Banshee's newly-appointed sheriff, Lucas Hood, who was killed in a bar fight. Though the town is part of the Amish country, there is plenty of murders & crimes to keep Lucas busy.
The official "Season 4" description:
This MAX action drama charts the final twists and turns that follow Lucas Hood, an ex-convict who assumed the identity of sheriff in the Amish-area town Banshee, where his former lover and partner-in-crime was living under her own alias, Carrie Hopewell. The final season takes place two years after Lucas gave up his badge after a bloody, multimillion-dollar heist at the Camp Genoa Marine Base which proved costly: Carrie's husband Gordon was killed, and Lucas's longtime computer-hacker partner, Job, was abducted by a shady criminal ring. After settling a score with a "recruiter" from Lucas's past whom he hoped would have intel on Job, Lucas went on a bender before being rescued by an unlikely savior, Proctor's niece.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Not Rated; 3811 minutes; $44.98; Amazon; Mill Creek Ent. |
Created by Donald P. Bellisario, the original 97-minute pilot centers on Airwolf, a high-tech helicopter developed by The Firm, a division of the CIA), being stolen its designer, Dr. Charles Henry Moffet. The Firm's point man, Archangel (played by Alex Cord), makes a deal with Stringfellow Hawke (played by Jan-Michael Vincent) - String will steal back Airwolf in exchange the government's help in locating his brother whom went MIA during Vietnam War.
Along with his friend Dominic Santini (played by the late Ernest Borgnine), String travels to Libya to retrieve Airwolf. After the mission is a success, String refuses to return Airwolf to The Firm, hiding it in a cave in the "Valley of the Gods," until The Firm locates his brother.
After the pilot, Seasons 1-3 focused String and Dominic using Airwolf to go on missions that were funded by The Firm. To boost ratings, season two added Jean Bruce Scott as pilot Caitlin O'Shannessy. Sadly, this move didn't help much as the series was canceled by CBS after three seasons, but that wasn't the end of the series as a fourth season was ordered by USA Network.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Not Rated; 589 minutes; $9.98; Amazon, Mill Creek Ent. |
Created by Donald P. Bellisario (NCIS), Airwolf premiered on CBS in 1984 as a mid-season replacement, kicking off with a 97-minute movie that would later be re-edited and released as a a feature film overseas.
The pilot movie centered on a top-secret high-tech battle helicopter being stolen from the government agency known as the "Firm." The Firm sends in Archangel (played by Alex Cord) to recruit Army veteran Stringfellow Hawke (played by Jan-Michael Vincent) to lead a mission to recover Airwolf. Hawke agrees if only his friend Dominic (played by Erenest Borgnine) helps him. Plus, Hawke wants the government's help in finding his brother who is MIA.
After successfully recovering Airwolf, Hawke refuses to return it to the government, hiding the helicopter where nobody would ever find it. The rest of the series follows a week-to-week formula with "The Firm" assigning missions to Hawke and Dominic.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
72 minutes (counting extras); Amazon |
Picking up after the events of 2012's Ice Age:
Continental Drift, The Great Egg-Scapade centers on Sid (voiced by
John Leguizamo), who comes with the idea that he is responsible
enough to babysit a dozen eggs while the mother's are gathering
food. Sounds like a great plan, well, that is until Sid falls asleep
and when he wakes up all the eggs have disappeared.
Meanwhile, Crash (voiced by Seann Williams Scott) and Eddie (voiced by Josh Peck) try to play an April Fools' joke on Peaches (played Keke Palmer).
Special Features includes:
Ice Age: The Story So Far
More Nuts for Scrat
Ice Age – Continental Crack-Up, Part 1
Ice Age – Continental Crack-Up, Part 2
Gone Nutty – Scrat’s Missing Adventure
No Time For Nuts
Falling For Scratte
Scrat: From Head to Toe
Educational Featurettes: Lost Historical Films, The Sloth: “Nature’s Loveable Lisper”, The Saber-Toothed Tiger: “Nature’s Fearsome Feline”, The Possum: “Nature’s Spunky Spectacles
Thursday, September 17, 2015
It seems that scripted television is no longer ruled by the networks anymore as mostly streaming, cable or premium series were nominated for Emmys this year, including HBO's Veep starring the talented Julia Louis- Dreyfus (Seinfeld).
Shortly after fourth season concluded this summer, it was made available to download on Digital HD on the platforms iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, Xbox Video, Best Buy CinemaNow, Nook and PlayStation Video.
Veep centered on Vice President Selina Meyer (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her idiotic staff - Amy Brookheimer (played by Anna Chlumsky), Gary Walsh (played by Tony Hale), Jonah Ryan (Timothy Simons) and Kent Davison (played by Gary Cole).
At the end of the 3rd season, Selina took over as President of the United States. The fourth season centers on the craziness of her White House reign. From Selina's first speech to freeing a detained American reporter in Iran, she has her work cut out for her, especially with the reelection just around the corner.
The episodes in the fourth season are:
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Now available on Digital HD is the entire 4th Season of the HBO critically-acclaimed series Girls. Produced by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, This Is 40), the series stars Lena Dunham (whom also created the series), Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet and Adam Driver.
The series follows twenty-something aspiring writer Hannah Helene Horvath (played by Lena Dunham), whom is financially cut off from her parents after she graduates college. With the support of her friends Marnie Marie Michaels (played by Allison Williams), Jessa Johansson (played by Jemima Kirke) and Shoshanna Shapiro (played by Zosia Mamet), she awkwardly tries to make a life of her own; only to stumble along the way.
Season 4 takes things in a new direction with Hannah leaving New York to get her MFA in Iowa; leaving her boyfriend Adam (played by Adam Driver) and her friends behind. Marnie continues her affair with Desi (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who's girlfriend (played by Natalie Morales) is starting to suspect there is something between them. Shoshanna is finally graduating college and she has a hard time finding a job. Despite going to AA, Jessa still has many personal problems to overcome.
The ten episodes includes:
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Set prior to the original Madagascar film, All Hail King Julien centers on the selfish, party-loving ring-tailed lemur named King Julien XIII (voiced by Danny Jacobs), whom doesn't take the leadership of a kingdom very seriously. Even his big-boned Aye Aye adviser Maurice (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) and his new bodyguard Clover (voiced by India de Beaufort) can't stop his crazy antics.
These five new episodes are:
Eat Pray Love
He Blinded Me With Science
Viva Mort
The Really Really Big Lie
One More Cup
King Julien is ready to rule with an iron fist … waving in the air, like he just doesn’t care! Photo: DreamWorks Animation All Hail King Julien © 2014 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. |
Monday, March 2, 2015
Adventure Time: Frost & Fire
Voice Cast: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hynden Walch, Niki Yang, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson, Dee Bradley Baker, Pendleton Ward, Polly Lou Livingston, Jessica DiCicco, Maria Bamford
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Retail: $19.82
ASIN: B00R5ES308
Running Time: 176 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Buy Link: Amazon
Review:
Arriving on DVD tomorrow from Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is Adventure Time: Frost & Fire, featuring 16 exciting episodes. There are no special features or extras on the single-disc.
Since it's debut in 2010, Adventure Time has been one of the most popular animated programs on the Cartoon Network. Created by Pendleton Ward, the series centers on a human boy named Finn and his best friend & adopted brother Jake, whom happens to be a magical dog. They live in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, where they go on different adventures in each 11-minute episode. The cartoon's quirky humor has won over both kids and adults. The series also has over 18 million Facebook fans.
The episodes on the single-disc DVD are:
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Retail: $45.99
ISBN: B00KMXQIYM
Running Time: 946 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: DVD, Blu-ray
Review:
Available to own on DVD and Blu-ray is Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - The Complete First Season, featuring all 22 action-packed. Bonus Features include: Journey Into S.D.C.C., Marvel Studios: Assembling A Universe, 5 Behind-The-Scenes Field Reports ("The Malibu Jump," The Bridge," "Asgardian Bar Fight," "Classified" and "Cello Duet"), VFX Breakdown, Audio Commentaries with Filmmakers & Cast, Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes.
Picking up shortly after Marvel's The Avengers, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. centers on the return of Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), literally from the dead, who assembles a brand new S.H.I.E.L.D team consisting of an ace pilot and weapon expert Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen), a black ops specialist Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), an engineering specialist Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), a life sciences specialist Jemma Simmon (Elizabeth Henstridge) and a hacker Skye (Chole Bennet).
Agent Coulson leads his unique team to investigate the strange and beyond, from investigating a superhuman, who later becomes Deathlock, to helping Lady Sif battle the Asgardian Lorelei. the main focus of the team is to unravel the mystery of who the villain "The Clairvoyant" is. Other stories include Skye searching for her birth parents and Agent Coulson's journey to learn how he was resurrected.
To tie into the events of Captain America: The Winter Solider, Hydra takes over S.H.I.E.L.D from within and one member of Agent Coulson's team is a traitor.
Episodes on the five-disc set are:
Monday, September 16, 2013
Voice Cast: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hynden Walch, Niki Yang, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson, Martin Olson, Dee Bradley Baker, Pendleton Ward, Polly Lou Livingston, Jessica DiCicco, Maria Bamford
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Retail: $24.98
ASIN: B00DDZDYT8
Running Time: 176 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Review:
Cartoon Network, along with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, will be releasing the all-new compilation DVD release titled Adventure Time: Jake the Dad, PLUS a nifty Jake hat is included as an on-pack bundle, tomorrow, September 17, 2013! The DVD includes sixteen (eleven-minutes each) of the most popular episodes from seasons four and five with a special feature called "Little Did You Know."
After premiering in 2010, Adventure Time has become a hit with children and a cult classic with adults. The series follows a human boy, Finn, and his best friend/adopted brother, Jake - a dog who can change shape, grow, and shrink. They live in a post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, which typically they go on quests to help their friends.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors Volume 1 is another DVD that I won in a recent giveaway. I didn't recognize the name or the cover art. It wasn't until I played the first episode that I finally, more like vaguely, remembered the show, as I was a four-year-old when it aired on television. Actually, I don't recall much about the show, but I do the toys, which were released by Mattel before the show was created. Mattel needed a way to explain the strange looking silver vehicles and the even stranger looking organic/machine vehicles, thus Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors was created. Talented writes such as Larry DiTillio, Barbara Hambly and J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5, wrote most the episodes.
Here is the series main plot: Audric, a botanist, was experimenting with biotechnology, and developed a crop that could grow in any environment. A burst of radiation from a solar flare mutated one of his crops, transforming it an evil creature called Saw Boss. The other plants transformed as well and were called the Monster Minds. Audric created a magic root to destroy Saw Boss, but time was not on his side as his laboratory is being attacked. He splits the magical root in half and gives the other half of it to his faithful servant, Oon. He commands Oon to take the root to his son, Jayce, and serve under his command.
Oon (a magically animated suit of armor servant) finds Jacye along with Gillian (a wizard/scientist), and Flora, who was created from a flower by Audric. With the help of a Han Solo ripoff character, Herc Stormsailor - a pilot and mercenary, they become known as the Lightning League. They use their ground vehicles to battle the Monster Minds vehicles, that are grown from vines. The Lightning League travels to planet to planet by the Pride of the Skies II, Herc's space barge, as Jayce searches for his missing father.
Here is the series main plot: Audric, a botanist, was experimenting with biotechnology, and developed a crop that could grow in any environment. A burst of radiation from a solar flare mutated one of his crops, transforming it an evil creature called Saw Boss. The other plants transformed as well and were called the Monster Minds. Audric created a magic root to destroy Saw Boss, but time was not on his side as his laboratory is being attacked. He splits the magical root in half and gives the other half of it to his faithful servant, Oon. He commands Oon to take the root to his son, Jayce, and serve under his command.
Oon (a magically animated suit of armor servant) finds Jacye along with Gillian (a wizard/scientist), and Flora, who was created from a flower by Audric. With the help of a Han Solo ripoff character, Herc Stormsailor - a pilot and mercenary, they become known as the Lightning League. They use their ground vehicles to battle the Monster Minds vehicles, that are grown from vines. The Lightning League travels to planet to planet by the Pride of the Skies II, Herc's space barge, as Jayce searches for his missing father.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
I recently won a giveaway that including several cartoon DVDS and as soon as I ripped open the box I saw the cool cover of The Best of Archie's Weird Mysteries, which is a homage to the 50's and 60's B-movie posters. I recall watching the Archie Show when I was kid, but I was unaware of this incarnation. After doing an online search, I learned that the series lasted only one season, 1999-2000, with 40 episodes.
In this release from Cookie Jar Entertainment consists of ten episodes:
- Attack of the Killer Spuds
- Me! Me! Me!
- Driven to Distraction
- Attack of the 50-foot Veronica
- Invisible Archie
- The Haunting of Riverdale
- Cure of the Mummy
- Fleas Release Me
- Mega-Mall of Horrors
- The Jughead Incident