Category: TV DVD Quicktakes (Page 12 of 26)

Fallen Angel

May 7, 2009 /

Based on the Roth Trilogy of novels by Andrew Taylor, “Fallen Angel” stars Emilia Fox – late of “The Pianist” – as one of the most evil characters ever seen on British television. This may sound like hyperbole, but given that the ironically-named Angel Wharton (Fox) is seen to assist a pedophile in obtaining his latest victims in the first of this miniseries’ three episodes, be assured that it isn’t as far off a claim as it may sound. “Fallen Angel” opts for an intriguing method of storytelling, offering up Angel’s horrific activities in the present before taking one step back, then another, to show how she came to be the person that committed the atrocities in Episode 1. Though it’s a fascinating character study, it must be said that the miniseries has one fatal flaw that must, in the name of fair warning, be acknowledged: its first episode is its best episode. That’s not to say that the other two episodes aren’t strong in their own right, given that the reveal the psychological motives behind Angel’s actions, but…well, when you already know how the story’s going to end, it’s hard to stay excited when you’re watching the beginning.

Click to buy “Fallen Angel”

External Entertainment, External TV, Reviews, TV, TV Dramas, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

The Spectacular Spider-Man: Volume Four

April 27, 2009 /

Sony’s decision to break up the first season of “The Spectacular Spider-Man” into volumes may be a hard one to swallow, but at least they haven’t wasted any time in releasing them on DVD. While the last two sets were definitely an improvement over the slightly disappointing “Return of the Lizard” trilogy, Volume Four ups the ante yet again by expanding the universe to include even more things we loved about the comics. For starters, it marks the debut of the popular alien symbiote and black suit storyline (which also includes a cool flashback to Spider-Man’s origin), and perhaps more importantly, the entrance of fan favorite Venom into the fold. Those who feel like the comics went downhill after the introduction of Venom, however, will be pleased to discover that the writers have included a few classic stories as well including a team-up episode with Black Cat and the inevitable formation of the Sinister Six (the vintage line-up featuring Doc Ock, Sandman, Rhino, Electro, Vulture and Shocker). The show only gets better with every episode, and though it would be nice to be able to watch more than just a few at a time, we’ll take what we can get.

Click to buy “The Spectacular Spider-Man: Volume Four”

External TV, TV, TV Cartoons, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

Wolverine and the X-Men: Heroes Return

April 20, 2009 /

It’s been six years since we’ve had an “X-Men” cartoon on the air, and with “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” due in theaters this summer, there couldn’t be a better time to launch a new animated series. Enter “Wolverine and the X-Men,” Marvel’s latest show based on the superhero group that debuted at the end of last year. Combining the look of “X-Men: Evolution” with the storytelling of the popular 90s series, the latest iteration finds Wolverine in charge of the team when Professor Xavier suddenly goes missing. Though Volume One (dubbed “Heroes Return”) only includes the first three episodes, “Wolverine and the X-Men” doesn’t take long to pull you in. All of the familiar characters are there (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman and Beast), as well as a few welcome surprises (Emma Frost, Angel and Forge), while the overarching story of the season promises a clever spin on the “Days of Future Past” storyline. The character designs are solid (even if some of the costumes suck, like Cyclops’ angry rocker look) and the writers seem intent on remaining true to the comic’s long history by reintroducing and reinventing classic stories. It’s hard to imagine this show ever becoming as big of a hit with the fans as the aforementioned “X-Men: The Animated Series,” but based on “Heroes Return” alone, it certainly has the potential.

Click to buy “Wolverine and the X-Men: Heroes Return”

Actors, External TV, Movies, TV, TV Cartoons, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

JAG: The Eighth Season

April 16, 2009 /

Although it ran for a staggering ten seasons over the course of its time on NBC, who canceled it after a single season, and CBS, who no doubt spent the next nine seasons patting themselves on the back for having the foresight to pick up the show, I gotta tell you: I’ve repeatedly tried and consistently failed to find myself intrigued by the exploits of Captain Harmon “Harm” Rabb and and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie. For the most part, Season 8 of the series is no exception. It’s not bad, but I’m just “meh” about it. And, yet, as an “NCIS” fan, I cannot help but deny that, for those who share my appreciation of the adventures of Leroy Gibbs and his gang, it’s totally worth owning “JAG: Season 8” to see the pair of episodes which introduced the characters of Gibbs, DiNozzo, Abby, and Ducky. Yes, sometimes we forget, but “NCIS” was indeed a spin-off of “JAG,” and one which, at least as far as I’m concerned, outshines its original source, but the mere fact that it originated here is a reason to offer up at least a three-star rating.

Click to buy “JAG: The Eighth Season”

External Entertainment, External TV, Reviews, TV, TV Action, TV Dramas, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

One Piece: Season One, Fourth Voyage

April 14, 2009 /

The final volume of “One Piece: Season One” ends the Straw Hats’ early adventures in much the same way that they began: with a solid mix of action, comedy and great storytelling. This is why I fell in the love with the show in the first place, so it’s nice to see that despite some rather lackluster episodes in the middle, “One Piece” has returned to form. In Fourth Voyage, Luffy escapes his watery grave to defeat Arlong, but just as the Straw Hats are making their way to the Grand Line, they discover that they’ve become wanted men. Stopping off at Logue Town (Gold Roger’s final resting place) to pick up supplies for their journey, the crew encounters plenty of adversity along the way. Luffy’s bounty is challenged by a Marine captain named Smoker; Zoro faces off against a swordswoman named Tashigi; Usopp unknowingly talks himself into a duel with famous bounty hunter Daddy the Father; and Sanji competes in a cooking competition to win a rare fish. Additionally, Buggy the Clown has returned with a new partner in tow (Alvida, newly endowed with powers from the Smooth-Smooth Devil Fruit) to exact revenge. Some might complain that not enough happens in this volume, but I would disagree. While there’s only one major battle to speak of (Luffy vs. Arlong, which is by far the best part about the entire Fishman Saga), the rest of the episodes do a great job of setting up Season Two. It only looks to get better from here, so let’s hope Funimation doesn’t make us wait too long between releases.

Click to buy “One Piece: Season One, Fourth Voyage”

External TV, TV, TV Anime, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2023 Premium Hollywood

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑