Category: TV DVD Quicktakes (Page 16 of 26)

Killing Hitler: The True Story of the Valkyrie Plot

If you went into Bryan Singer’s “Valkyrie” without knowing anything at all about the many plots to kill Hitler throughout his reign of power, then you probably enjoyed the film a hell of a lot more than those who were already familiar with the history of those events. Indeed, you may have walked out of the theater with an interest in learning more about what really happened…and that’s where “Killing Hitler: The True Story of the Valkyrie Plot” comes in. While it does flesh out the events prior to Claus Von Stauffenberg’s actions in a manner which “Valkyrie” fails to do (kids today don’t know nearly as much about World War II as you think they do), the proceedings are a bit dry. It does indeed serve the purpose of educating viewers in a less dramatized fashion…and, more importantly, without the distraction of having one of Hollywood’s top actors playing the part of a German officer…only WWII buffs will be left breathless. And possibly not even them.

Click to buy “Killing Hitler”

Make ’em Laugh: The Funny Business of America

Simply put, the three-DVD set of PBS’ six-part special on comedy in America is a must-have for any fan of comedy. Hosted by Billy Crystal and narrated by Amy Sedaris, “Make ’em Laugh” traces the origins of the wiseguy, the oddball, the breadwinner, the satirist, the pratfaller, and the groundbreaker in incredible detail, combining footage of the masters at work (both movies and TV) with interviews of dozens of comedians, writers and producers. (Holy cow, was Jack Benny’s writing staff an All-Star lineup of funny.) It’s all very informative, but if the set has one flaw, it’s in each show’s tendency to stop the timeline around 1989, which results in the omission of several prominent modern-day comedians (Bill Hicks, Patton Oswalt and Sarah Silverman, to name a few). That will happen, of course, when trying to condense 80 years of comedy into six hours. Each disc also contains extended interviews with dozens of comedians, and a couple bits of guys telling their favorite jokes. Great stuff, across the board.

Click to buy Make ’em Laugh: The Funny Business of America

Claymore: Chapter Two

Those who were patient enough to stick with “Claymore” through its shaky opening will be more than happy to discover that Chapter Two doesn’t waste any time in kicking it into high gear with bloody battles galore. Maybe it’s just that Clare’s annoying sidekick, Raki, is nowhere to be found, but this group of episodes feels remarkably more serious than the ones before it. Though Episode Four briefly hinted at Clare’s complicated past, the first half of Chapter Two blows the doors wide open as the audience learns more about her relationship with Teresa and the reason she ultimately volunteered to become a Claymore. Additionally, a new type of Yoma is introduced called Awakened Beings that pretty much sets up the rest of the series – especially since the one Clare is hunting down is responsible for the death of her mentor. Their big battle likely won’t happen for a while, though, which begs to ask the question, what’s in store for the rest of the series? Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer, but if I had to guess, it’ll probably just be a lot more on-the-job training for Clare and her fellow Claymores. That may not sound very interesting, but if it’s anything like Chapter Two, it’ll only be bigger and better.

Click to buy “Claymore: Chapter Two”

Coyote Ragtime Show: The Complete Series

“Coyote Ragtime Show” is like a party sampler of some of the best animes ever made, but while it may ooze potential, it never attains the level of quality of the shows it imitates. Part of this has to do with its surprisingly short length (a mere 12 episodes), but it’s mostly because it makes the age-old mistake of choosing style over substance. Sure, “Coyote Ragtime Show” may be fun to look at, but once you get past the sharp animation, it’s pretty shallow stuff. The series, which follows a team of space pirates as they attempt to uncover a hidden treasure while being pursued by a police inspector and an android assassin, feels a lot like “Firefly” and “Cowboy Bebop” rolled into one, only you’re never given the chance to truly get to know the main characters. Showgate really missed out on the opportunity to make the best of such a great cast of characters, and had the series wrapped up the treasure hunt storyline quicker, “Coyote Ragtime Show” might have enjoyed bigger success. As it is, the show is more like an appetizer than a full meal, and though there’s nothing too negative to say that would prevent anyone from watching it, you might be better off investing your time in something a little more… substantial.

Click to buy “Coyote Ragtime Show: The Complete Series”

Aqua Teen Hunger Force 6

I don’t know what it is about “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” that causes me to be forever surprised at how funny it is, but I think perhaps it’s because the concept is so downright surreal. Nonetheless, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force 6” (which actually contains the whole of Season 5 of the series) contains just as many laughs as the previous collections. The first few episodes, however, feature little or no appearances from Frylock, Master Shake, and Meatwad, due to their being cocooned in the desert by their vampire-esque landlord Marcula; ever the caring neighbor, Carl immediately tries to rent out their place to a bunch of robots, but his greatest spotlight comes in the third episode, “Sirens,” when he meets another set of new neighbors, voiced by Kelly Hogan, Neko Case, and John Kruk. (Kruk plays himself; the other two do not.) Other guest voices during the season include David Cross, T-Pain, Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Scott Adsit (“30 Rock”), Jon Benjamin (a.k.a. Coach McGuirk on “Home Movies”), and Kristen Schaal (“Flight of the Conchords”).

There are four previously-unaired episodes, the best of which is “Shake Like Me,” where Master Shake is bitten by a radioactive black man and becomes black himself. Scientifically implausible, you say? Surely no more so than an anthropomorphic Happy Meal. Of the special features, sports fans will particularly enjoy the “Carl’s Pissed” shorts, where the hairy undershirt-wearing gentleman moans and groans about various events in the world of sports, but there are also other oddities that fans of the show’s bizarre comedic sensibilities will enjoy. Those who do not belong to the Adult Swim cult, however, will almost certainly not…and that goes not just for the bonus material but also for “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” as a whole.

Click to buy “Aqua Teen Hunger Force 6”

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