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When we last left Jiro and Kotaro, the two vampire brothers had been separated just as an all-out war between the Kowloon and the Company was hitting a fever pitch. Now, as the infected Kowloon spread across the Special Zone, the Company must join forces with the original black bloods in a battle against the new threat. Doing more to further the story than the first eight episodes combined, the third volume of “Black Blood Brothers” is a satisfying conclusion to a show that didn’t really deserve one. Those that watched the anime from the very beginning are aware that it was neither original nor particularly engaging, and though “Chapter Three” really picks up the pace with some great battle sequences, it’s a case of too little too late. The only reason this batch of episodes even turned out so well is conceivably because the series was performing poorly, and were the creators not forced to end things so quickly, it might have been just as dull. Still, thanks to a well-crafted, open-ended finale, “Black Blood Brothers” could very well live on should it experience a renewed interest on DVD. |
The first series of the British comedy “Suburban Shootout” is a clever combination of American favorites “Desperate Housewives,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” and even “The Sopranos.” In the pilot episode, we meet Joyce, a middle-aged housewife who has just moved with her husband to the London suburb of Stempington, a seemingly perfect community. There are no burglaries or vandalism or crime of any kind in Stempington. Why? Because the entire town is controlled by rival housewife gangs – yes, you read that correctly – who are now vying for Joyce’s allegiance. Above any content within the individual episodes, it is this overall premise that serves as the ultimate running joke. It makes you wonder if it would have worked better as a more contained feature length film rather than an episodic series. While there is nothing tangibly wrong with the show (solid writing, fine performances by a good cast), there’s not much else to bring you back week after week, therefore making this DVD collection of the complete first series the best viewing choice. Also making the set more beneficial is the fact that all eight episodes on the disc contain optional commentary from various producers, writers and cast members, something too many TV sets are lacking. There is also a Cast Filmography listing, and the “Behind the Scenes” feature serves as a good introduction of the characters and the story and proves more valuable to watch prior to screening any of the episodes. |
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Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale (Ernest Borgnine) and his band of “eight balls” from the PT-73 are back with more schemes and scams in the 36 episodes that make up the complete third season of “McHale’s Navy.” Set in the South Pacific during World War II, the show remains a light-hearted comedy focusing more on beating the boss than the actual enemy. While it’s obvious that the plot ideas were beginning to run thin by Season Three, Borgnine and Tim Conway, who plays Ens. Parker, are just as good as ever in this classic war-time comedy. Joe Flynn’s Capt. Binghamton returns to the short end of McHale’s shenanigans, while Yoshio Yoda can be counted as the only real new addition to the cast, playing Japanese POW Fugi Kobiaji. (Yoda appeared in the first two seasons but was given an extended part in Season Three.) Some other recognizable faces that pop up in this season include Ted Knight (Ted Baxter on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and Judge Smails from “Caddyshack”), a pre-“That Girl” Marlo Thomas, and a very young but ever stunning Raquel Welch. Unfortunately, there are no special features included in this set, but with 36 episodes, there’s more than enough comedy to make this worth your while if you’re a true fan of the series. |
