Category: TV DVDs (Page 13 of 54)

Wolverine and the X-Men: Deadly Enemies

July 19, 2009 /

The second volume of Marvel’s new “X-Men” animated series may contain a few more episodes than the last DVD, but that doesn’t change the simple fact that anyone who wants to invest in the series will end up spending nearly twice as much as they would on a normal season release. I mention this not as a disgruntled fanboy, but as someone who believes that the show deserves much better. Like me, you probably had your doubts at first, but “Wolverine and the X-Men” is quickly shaping up to be just as good as (if not better than) the popular 90s cartoon. “Deadly Enemies” doesn’t feature an overarching story like the previous volume, but instead offers up five standalone episodes that longtime fans will appreciate. We probably didn’t need another Wolverine vs. Hulk match-up so soon after the release of the DVD movie, but we do get a cool Wolverine/Gambit team-up episode (“Thieves’ Gambit”), a story dedicated exclusively to Nightcrawler (“X-Calibre”), and the debut of fan favorite, Psylocke. If there’s one thing writers Craig Kyle, Greg Johnson and Chris Yost know, it’s how to please the fans with mutant cameos galore. Now if only we could enjoy them on DVD without having to worry about going broke.

Click to buy “Wolverine and the X-Men: Deadly Enemies”

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

G.I. Joe: Season 1.1

July 11, 2009 /

“He’ll fight for freedom wherever there is trouble, G.I. Joe is there!” And now, thanks to the fine folks at Shout! Factory (no doubt inspired by the upcoming film), the classic 1980s animated series has been re-released on DVD. For those who might not remember, G.I. Joe is a team of highly-trained soldiers assigned to defend the world against a terrorist organization known as Cobra. The good guys were comprised of Duke, Flint, Scarlett and Snake Eyes (as well as a host of other interchangeable Joes), while the baddies included Cobra Commander, Destro, The Baroness and Zartan. The characters themselves are probably more memorable than the actual show (you can thank Hasbro’s long line of action figures for that), but even though most of the episodes don’t stand out, they’re still entertaining – especially when compared to the junk on TV nowadays.

It’s not very often that a childhood favorite retains the appeal it did when you were younger, but “G.I. Joe” fairs much better because, with the exception of characters with stupid codenames like Snow Job, Barbeque and Beach Head, the series was essentially one big action movie that just happened to be animated. In fact, it even debuted with three annual miniseries (“The M.A.S.S. Device,” “The Revenge of Cobra” and “The Pyramid of Darkness,” all collected here) before going into syndication as a weekly cartoon. The first seven episodes of Season One have also been included in the four-disc set, while an interview with writer Rob Friedman and a handful of “Knowing is Half the Battle” PSAs highlight the modest collection of bonus features. Diehard fans will still be better off waiting for the Complete Collector’s Set due out later this month, but for those that would rather test the waters and see if “G.I. Joe” is just as great as they remember it, Season 1.1 is the perfect way to help jolt your memory.

Click to buy “G.I. Joe: Season 1.1”

TV, TV Cartoons, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XV

July 10, 2009 /

Do “Mystery Science Theater 3000” fans engage in fierce debates over who was the better ringleader – Joel or Mike? And if so, does it ever get ugly? A little bit of MST3K (as the cool cats refer to it) has always gone a long way for me. I’ve never been able to grasp how this gimmick lasted for as long as it did, since it requires 90-plus minutes of your time for each installment; while the concept of heckling bad movies is novel, you still have to sit through the bad movies. Often times the fare would be considered unwatchable if not for all the slings and arrows lodged in the direction of the movie screen. Of course I realize that’s the whole point of the thing, but if the gimmick isn’t working, as is the case about half the time with MST3K, it can be a torturous way to watch a bad movie.

The latest set from Shout Factory collects four more installments, from different eras of the series. Judging by these episodes, Mike would unquestionably win the proposed fan debate, as neither of the Joel offerings are anything to write home about. “The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy” comes from very early in the series, and it’s just terrible. I swear I didn’t even laugh once. “The Girl in Lovers Lane” is somewhat better, but the difference is negligible. The third offering, “Zombie Nightmare,” is an absolute scream – everything that this show ever did well is encapsulated in their lambasting of this terrible ‘80s film featuring Adam West. The final entry is called “Racket Girls,” and while not quite the standout the previous title is, it’s still pretty good stuff, although you’ll be able to safely slip off to the bathroom from time to time, and likely not miss anything special. Regardless, MST3K has such a devoted following, I can’t imagine fans of this show will be satisfied until every single episode is available on DVD, and therefore my stick in the mud antics carry very little weight whereas this series is concerned.

Click to buy “Mystery Science Theater 3000 XV”

External Entertainment, External Movies, External TV, Movies, Reviews, TV, TV Comedies, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs, TV Sci-Fi

Reno 911!: The Complete Sixth Season

July 8, 2009 /

There was a time when “Reno 911!” was so uproariously funny that it’s hard to believe the show never became more popular. Nowadays, it’s just amazing Comedy Central hasn’t pulled the plug. Ever since the release of their feature film, the Reno Sheriff’s Department has been a magnet for low-rent gags and overused cameos. Desperately in need of a creative shake-up, the show killed off three of its deputies and introduced two new ones in their place. Improv veterans Ian Roberts and Joe Lo Truglio quickly proved that they weren’t the answer to the show’s problems, however, no matter how willing they are about making complete asses of themselves. They just don’t bring anything to the table that Carlos Alazraqui, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Mary Birdsong already contributed themselves, and in some instances, their involvement is even less effective. The show tries to make up for it with guest appearances by Jonah Hill, Rainn Wilson and George Lopez, but it’s like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. There’s still the odd flash of brilliance sprinkled throughout the season – like the well-made parody of the Montgomery Flea Market commercial – but unless you’re willing to sit through 20 minutes of groan-worthy jokes for the chance at laughing once, you’d be better off just watching something else.

Click to buy “Reno 911!: The Complete Sixth Season”

TV, TV Comedies, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

Baccano!: Volume Four

July 3, 2009 /

Much like the ending of the story-within-the-story, the fourth volume of “Baccano!” will probably be viewed as a letdown by some, but although it’s not quite as action-packed as the volumes that preceded it, the final batch of episodes does an excellent job of tying up all the loose ends – past, present and future. In the past, we see the demise of Szilard at the hands of Firo, who’s instructed by Ennis of the necessary steps to “eating” a soul, and in the future (2001, to be precise), we discover along with Isaac and Miria that they’ve been immortals all along. Most of the action takes place in the present, however, with the surviving members of the Flying Pussyfoot incident trying to move on with their lives. But when Chane is kidnapped by Graham Specter (a new character introduced via flashback as Ladd’s protégé), Jacuzzi sets off to rescue her, only to be interrupted by Claire, who’s hoping to convince Chane to marry him. The conclusion is about as satisfying as one could hope for from such a multi-layered series, but it still feels like something is missing. Whether or not that affects the overall experience will depend on the person, but if you liked the first three volumes, there’s no reason you won’t enjoy this quiet sendoff.

Click to buy “Baccano!: Volume Four”

TV, TV Anime, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

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