Archive for the 'TV Shows' Category
February 9th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
Newly remastered and restored to their original U.K. broadcast order, Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 1 and 2 debuts on Blu-ray and arrives on DVD from Acorn Media on January 31, 2012. These 10 full-length mysteries per set star fan-favorite and BAFTA nominee David Suchet as the brilliant Belgian detective. Based on the novels by Agatha Christie, these lavish adaptations capture every splendid detail of the Art Deco era. ITV Studios’ Poirot has aired on ITV1 in the U.K. since 1989 and on PBS and A&E in the U.S. The 2-disc Blu-ray sets and the 3-vol. DVD sets include all 20 mysteries from the first two series, now with SDH subtitles. Continue reading ‘Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 1 and 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
January 22nd, 2012 by Jami Ferguson
From Terence Winter, Emmy Award-winning writer of The Sopranos, and executive producer Martin Scorsese, comes the lavish and addictive HBO drama Boardwalk Empire that re-creates the glitter and decadence of 1920’s Atlantic City at a time when Prohibition proved to be a major catalyst in the rise of organized crime in America. Full of corruption, backroom politics, vicious power struggles and a fierce hunger for wealth, the critically-acclaimed series personifies one of the most colorful and violent time periods in American history. The Great War was over, Wall Street was about to boom, women got the vote and everything was for sale, even the World Series. The undisputed ruler of Atlantic City was the town’s treasurer, Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Buscemi), a political fixer and backroom dealer who was equal parts politician and criminal and equally comfortable in either role. Because of its strategic location on the seaboard, minutes from Philadelphia, hours from New York City and less than a day’s drive from Chicago, the town was a hub of activity for rum runners. And Nucky Thompson took full advantage. Continue reading ‘Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)’
January 2nd, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
Two years after the release of its landmark Emmy-winning series WWII in HD, The History Channel shifts its focus to a new generation and one of the most controversial chapters in American history, the Vietnam War. Vietnam in HD will immerse viewers in the sights, the sounds and the stories of the Vietnam War as it has never before been seen. Thousands of hours of uncensored footage – much of it shot by soldiers in action – will detail every critical chapter of the conflict. The war will unfold onscreen through the gripping firsthand accounts of thirteen brave men and women who were forever changed by their experience in Vietnam. Continue reading ‘Vietnam in HD (Blu-ray Review)’
December 19th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
The Simpsons Season 14 Blu-ray is loaded with bonus features including the incredible 300th episode starring Tony Hawk and blink-182. Additionally, the Blu-ray is packed with deleted scenes, features and never-before-seen footage, audio commentaries, sketch galleries, original animated menus, a special language feature and much more. Other guest stars throughout the season include rock ‘n’ roll legends Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello and Brian Setzer who open up a Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp. Also paying Springfield a visit are Elliott Gould, Marisa Tomei, Little Richard and the dynamic duo of Adam West and Burt Ward.
Continue reading ‘The Simpsons: Season 14 (Blu-ray Review)’
December 17th, 2011 by Jami Ferguson
Big Love: The Complete Collection brings together the series’ uniquely crafted story arc about modern day polygamists Bill Henrickson, his three wives (Barb, Nicki and Margene), and nine children as they struggle to overcome the myriad of challenges brought about by their beliefs, lifestyle and Bill’s entrepreneurial and political ambitions. The complete collection includes all 53 episodes from all five seasons, plus all of the extra features from the individual releases that offer additional insight into the Henrickson family dynamics. Big Love features an all-star ensemble cast which is lead by Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny (Golden Globe winner for Best Supporting Actress for the series) and Ginnifer Goodwin. Other cast members include Amanda Seyfried, Robert Patrick, Harry Dean Stanton, Bruce Dern, Anne Dudek, and Ellen Burstyn. Features include “Inside the Episodes,” “Their Stories So Far,” “Big Love: A Balancing Act on Ice,” “Big Love: End of Days,” three pre-quels, three mini-episodes and audio commentaries. Continue reading ‘Big Love: The Complete Collection (DVD Review)’
December 14th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
An imaginative fusion of live action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics and CGI, Farscape, produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with RHI Entertainment, featured mind-boggling alien life forms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters — all brought to rich life by the creative minds at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Strap in and hold on tight for the extraordinary adventures of astronaut John Crichton, (Ben Browder) who, after a freak accident, finds himself surrounded by hostile aliens and soaring through the cosmos aboard Moya, a glorious living space ship. Hunted by the relentless Peacekeepers, he allies himself with Moya’s crew — Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), Luxan warrior Ka D’Argo (Anthony Simcoe), azure priestess Zhaan (Virginia Hey), spritely Nebari thief Chiana (Gigi Edgley), Dominar Rygel, the deposed royal ruler of the Hynerian Empire and Pilot – to search for a way out of this inconceivably alien world and return home. Continue reading ‘Farscape: The Complete Series (Blu-ray Review)’
December 10th, 2011 by Jami Ferguson
For six eye-opening seasons, The Girls Next Door dropped the towel to reveal all the goings-on at the Playboy Mansion and beyond, from exotic European escapades to sexy and scary camp-outs in the “wilds” of the Mansion’s backyard, from tender moments among friends and lovers to the occasional friendly rivalry among the Playmates. The Girls Next Door: The Complete Series captures it all in 35 glorious hours, centering around the three original girls – Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson – as well as newcomers Crystal Harris (who came this close to becoming the next Mrs. Hef) and the centerfold twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon. Continue reading ‘The Girls Next Door – The Complete Series (DVD Review)’
December 5th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Game of Thrones, one of the most elaborate and visually striking series on television, makes its highly-anticipated Blu-ray, DVD and digital download debut on March 6, 2012. Based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire, the sweeping fantasy saga instantly became one of HBO’s biggest hits and won two 2011 Emmy awards including Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage). The drama follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen as they vie for power in a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. Two powerful families are engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As betrayal, lust, intrigue and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdoms, their bloody struggle for the Iron Throne will have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences. Continue reading ‘Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season Arrives on Blu-ray March 6!’
November 29th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
The only people to see the war like this were the ones who lived it. Until now. Seventy years in the making. Three thousand hours of color footage no one knew existed. The first documentary to show original color footage of World War II in immersive high definition, WWII in HD uses the journals and accounts of those who served in the war’s biggest battles to create a personal, introspective and detailed look at life on and off the front lines. Follow twelve unforgettable Americans, and experience the war through their eyes, in their own words, as it really looked and sounded. Culled from over 3,000 hours of rare color film found in a two-year worldwide search and converted to HD with meticulous technique, WWII in HD provides a picture of World War II as it has never been seen before. Also included in this ultimate edition is The Battle For Iwo Jima, an immersive look at the momentous battle using gloriously restored, full-color footage, some of which has never seen before and WWII in HD: The Air War, the untold story of the American 8th Air Force’s bloody battle to defeat the German Luftwaffe in the months leading up to D-Day. Continue reading ‘WWII in HD Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
November 24th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Fusing the heist and espionage genres, It Takes a Thief was an action-adventure series that was inspired by Hitchcock’s 1955 Cary Grant film, To Catch a Thief, and was among the last of the 1960s spy television genre. Stealing to finance his life as a playboy and sophisticate, Alexander Mundy (Robert Wagner) was the world’s greatest cat burglar…until the day he got caught. But thievery skills are an asset in the world of espionage, so Mundy is pardoned when he agrees to use his wily ways to help steal for the SIA, an American espionage agency. Technically under house arrest, Mundy then travels the world over, performing daring acts of thievery in the name of Uncle Sam. He also works closely with SIA department head, Noah Bain (‘70s TV mainstay, Malachi Throne), his boss, aide, friend and watchdog. Continue reading ‘It Takes A Thief: The Complete Series (DVD Review)’
November 8th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Considered two of the finest depictions of the sweeping panorama of World War II, the HBO Miniseries Band of Brothers and The Pacific are being offered, for the first time, in one ultimate collector’s edition – just in time for holiday gift giving. Band of Brothers / The Pacific Special Edition Gift Set, will be available November 8, 2011 in an all-new premium packaging including both ten-episode miniseries, all the special features from previous editions, plus the exclusive never-before-seen documentary He Has Seen War featuring surviving veterans of Easy Company and the 1st Marine Division, whose stories are told in Band of Brothers and The Pacific. From their initial steps at reintegrating into civilian life to the lasting impact the war had on each of their lives, “He Has Seen War” features veterans and their families relaying their own unique stories. Complemented by renowned historian and author Donald L. Miller, as well as rarely seen archival and documentary footage, it captures the struggle and ultimate triumph of a generation who, after helping rescue the world from unprecedented calamity, reclaimed their lives and re-forged a country. Continue reading ‘Band of Brothers / The Pacific Special Edition Gift Set (Blu-ray Review)’
November 5th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
The complete collection of the popular culinary detective series. Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter) stars as Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe – a semi-retired cop who would rather be in the kitchen than collaring criminals. Seen on public television, Pie in the Sky debuted on BBC1 in the U.K. in March 1994 and aired for five series. The show’s unique concept of a part-time chef and part-time cop, was original enough to win the show fans from across the world. The series has featured a plethora of well-known guests stars, including Michael Kitchen (Foyle’s War), Pete Postlethwaite (In the Name of the Father), Malcolm Sinclair (Casino Royale), Jane Wymark (Midsomer Murders), Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes), Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Nicola Walker (Touching Evil, MI-5), and Keeley Hawes (Upstairs Downstairs).
Continue reading ‘Pie in the Sky: The Complete Collection (DVD Review)’
November 5th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited took a staggering two years to make and is the equivalent of seven feature films back-to-back. Waugh tells a poignant story of romantic yearning and loss set in the world of British aristocracy. The story is told in flashbacks as Irons, an officer in the British Army, is stationed with his company at a remote country home that turns out to be Brideshead, a home in which he spent much of his younger years. The stationing triggers a multitude of memories of his youth and young manhood, his loves, life, and his journey of faith and anguish. Premiering in the UK on ITV in October 1981 and on PBS Great Performances in January 1982, the visually ravishing production won 17 international awards, including seven BAFTA awards including Best Actor and Best Drama Series; an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for Laurence Olivier; and Golden Globe for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV. In 2000, the series placed tenth on the British Film Institute’s 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. Continue reading ‘Brideshead Revisited: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
October 30th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is a television series on Disney DXD that is inspired by the Marvel Comics Super Hero team of the same name. In each episode, the Avengers defend Earth from unimaginable threats – dangerous Super Villains, time-traveling conquerors, alien invaders and mythical beasts bent on the total destruction of humanity. When the forces of evil are so overwhelming that no single hero has the power to save the world, when no hope is left… the Avengers Assemble! Join Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk, and many more of your favorite Avengers, as they discover the value of teamwork and friendship in the fight against evil! Continue reading ‘The Avengers Volumes 3 and 4: Iron Man Unleashed / Thor’s Last Stand (DVD Review)’
October 28th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Both had supposedly outlived their usefulness to the Circus, the British Secret Intelligence Service: George Smiley, the retired head of espionage, and General Vladimir, an aging informant who reported to him. When the general walks into a bullet after sending an urgent message to his old handler, the Circus asks Smiley to “tidy things up.” But Smiley hears Vladimir’s message as a call to arms against his nemesis, the Soviet super spy Karla, once again tantalizingly within his grasp in this gripping sequel to John le Carré’s classic Cold War-era spy drama, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Oscar winner Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia) reprises his BAFTA-winning role as retired spymaster George Smiley for the 1982 sequel. Filmed on location in London, Paris, Hamburg, and Berne, Smiley’s People co-stars Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men), Eileen Atkins (Upstairs, Downstairs), and Bill Paterson (Traffik). The miniseries also stars Anthony Bate, Bernard Hepton, Michael Lonsdale, Beryl Reid, and Michael Gough. Continue reading ‘Smiley’s People (DVD Review)’
October 24th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
No
doubt remains: a mole has infiltrated the Circus, code name for the British Secret Intelligence Service. It can only be one of four men operating at the very highest level. Sidelined agent George Smiley is covertly tapped to root out the mole, a task that requires a painstaking dig through the double-blind world of Cold War-era espionage and his own past. Alec Guinness brilliantly captures the weary heart and steely soul of John le Carré’s master spy. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was nominated for an Emmy for best miniseries and won two BAFTA Awards, including best actor for Guinness. The series also stars Ian Richardson, Michael Aldridge, Joss Ackland, Ian Bannen, Ian Bannen, Terence Rigby, Michael Jayston, Hywel Bennett, Anthony Bate, and a memorable cameo by Patrick Stewart, who returns in a larger role for the sequel. Hailed as one of the finest dramas ever made for television, this 1979 BBC miniseries garnered universal critical acclaim for its stellar ensemble cast, literate writing and intricate plots. Continue reading ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (DVD Review)’
October 14th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
One of television’s most influential and beloved programs, The Honeymooners first appeared in 1951 as a series of sketches on the DuMont network’s Cavalcade of Stars starring Jackie Gleason. The following year Gleason moved to CBS, where The Jackie Gleason Show featured numerous Honeymooners sketches and full length shows from 1952 to 1957. These shows aired live and were never rebroadcast. For decades, these early Honeymooners telecasts were lost until Jackie Gleason began releasing them from his private film vault. Now, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the very first Honeymooners sketches, MPI Home Video and Jackie Gleason Enterprises present the most complete collection possible of these rare gems, many of which have not been seen anywhere in 50 years or available previously on DVD. It’s a treasure trove of the hilarious antics of hapless Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason), his long-suffering but loving wife Alice (Audrey Meadows), Ralph’s neighbor and pal, sewer worker Ed Norton (Art Carney) and Norton’s wife Trixie (Joyce Randolph). Continue reading ‘The Honeymooners: Lost Episodes 1951-1957 – The Complete Restored Series (DVD Review)’
October 11th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
This season, Ames (Jason Schwartzman) has recently finished his second novel (which remains unpublished) and decides to augment his meager income by becoming a creative-writing teacher, while also taking on new, even more desperate clients. With his continuing misadventures alongside his henpecked friend Ray (Zach Galifianakis) and eccentric boss George (Ted Danson), how he solves anything is a mystery. Continue reading ‘Bored to Death: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray Review)’
