Big
Bang Theory: The Complete Eighth Season
(2014 - 2015/Warner Blu-ray Set)/Famous
Nathan Of Coney Island
(2015/Film Movement DVD)/Iris
(2015/Magnolia Blu-ray)/Just
Planes Blu-ray series: Edelweiss A330-200,
SAS A340-300
and TMA Twin Otter 300 &
400: Paradise Barefoot Pilots
(all 2014)
Picture:
B/C+/B-/B Sound: B-/C/B-/C+ Extras: C+/B-/C/D Main
Programs: B-/B/B-/B
PLEASE
NOTE:
The Just
Planes
Blu-rays are now only available directly from the producers can be
ordered from the link below.
Here's
the latest comedy and special interest releases...
Big
Bang Theory: The Complete Eighth Season
(2014 - 2015)
is the season where the show had to choose between growth and
formula, choosing the latter and thus, ending any relevant storylines
launched since the show's debut so many years ago. Picking up where
Sheldon visits train stations across the country, the couples have to
make decisions to have better lives and do the mature, adult things
(they don't) and the show loses its comic timing. The actors are
good and there are still enough funny moments, yet it becomes harder
to watch as the season progresses.
This
will be mostly remembered as the season Kaley (now divorced) cut her
hair real short out of nowhere and much worse, the unseen Carol Ann
Susi passed away, though it was great to see her have this final huge
success (I am among many who loved her when she debuted as Monique
Marmelstein in 1974 on Kolchak:
The Night Stalker,
only to last for 3 episodes because someone thought she was too much
like (ironically) a 'TV sitcom' character; but she was great and
dropping her helped kill the show among other eventual poor
decisions) proving her comic talents were inarguable.
Billy
Bob Thorton shows up as a new character in an amusing guest spot and
everyone has funny moments, but the show had 'jumped the shark' at
this point and unless they can shift into new ideas the next season
and bring back the show, early fans can consider themselves finished
even without the closure. I still like the cast very much, though.
Extras
include Digital HD Ultraviolet Copy for PC, PC portable and other
capable devices, while the Blu-rays add a Gag Reel, Shooting
Stars: BBT on BBT, 2014 Big Bang Theory Comic-Con Panel,
Constellation Prize (some of the stars get immortalized on the
Hollywood Walk Of Fame), Here's To You, Carol Ann Susi (nice tribute)
and It's
A Quark... It's An Atom... It's the #BBTSuperfans!
Lloyd
Handwerker's Famous
Nathan Of Coney Island
(2015) is
a biography of immigrant Nathan Hankwerker, who eventually came to
America to avoid WWI and landed up opening a legendary food outlet in
the once-thriving park of Coney Island named Nathan's that became
especially famous for its hot dogs, but made many other food
exceptionally well and invented what we now know as fast food. As
the founding of the original locale is about to turn 100, the
grandson of the food legend is profiled in this excellent program
filled with remarkable archive footage, stories, interviews now &
then and also becomes a history lesson in the American Dream and the
fall of one of the greatest eateries of all time.
I
wish this were longer, but it is still strong as it stands dealing
with the trials and tribulations of what it took for Nathan to make
it and just how against the odds what he did was. Once he embraced
customer service and excellence, success followed the way it used to
without the garbage we have to deal with today that kills good food,
good times and innovation. You will be surprised at some of the
amazing stories and how personal a view we really get of things.
Plus, you will likely be hungry after watching this if you were not
to begin with, so consider that when viewing.
Extras
include a feature length audio commentary track by the director,
Additional Interviews and Deleted Scenes.
Albert
Maysles' Iris
(2015) is
the final work of the legendary, groundbreaking director of
documentaries, this time telling of the biography, work and influence
of art and fashion icon Iris Apfel, with her knack for
over-accessorizing effectively, creating variety from wide-ranging
and often obscure sources and how it created an amazing life for her.
Still together with her husband (who turned 100 years old during
production), we learn of her early years, her worldwide tours to get
items she needed for her work & elite clients, her vital ideas of
style, beauty & individuality and her own dynamic personality.
I
liked how the couple landed up being hired to do serious restoration
work on priceless items, landmark places and how her encyclopaedic
knowledge has made more of a difference that most realize. Big names
also come out to meet her and the fashion people who know better
joyously engage her. It's another great American success story you
should see at least once.
Extras
include a more recent interview with Iris since Maysles passed away
and Deleted Scenes.
Finally
we have a new special interest series to look at, the Just Planes.com
Blu-ray series featuring Edelweiss
A330-200,
SAS
A340-300
and TMA
Twin Otter 300 & 400: Paradise Barefoot Pilots,
running well over 200 minutes each. Like an extended travelog, these
programs go the long way to show how it is to be an airplane pilot,
the ups & downs, the journey and even fun and excitement in
flying behind the scenes. Beautifully shot, each volume focuses on
an airline, the models they use and we get on the spot interviews
about what is going on so we get an even more defined idea of what is
going on.
You
would think this might be repetitive, but these are done so well that
if you have the energy and attention span, you'll find these can be
surprisingly engaging and involving if you are interested and it
should be said that liking the locale does not hurt. In each case,
the makers leave no stone unturned for you to not just see, but
experience what is going on in ways you would miss if you actually
went to these places. It is also a look inside the industry that
gets a bad rap and whose workers are ever underpaid (especially since
the 1980s) and celebrates the hard work of the people who literally
make the world move.
Locales
in these entries are Switzerland & Thailand, Denmark & Dulles
Airport USA and Male International Airport w/surrounding islands and
lands. Nice!
There
are no extras, but these are so long and through, it does not seem as
much of an issue.
The
Blu-rays look pretty good here, are all presented in 1080p 1.78 X 1
digital High Definition image transfers and are all digital shoots,
with Bang and the Planes discs (all three really well
shot more than many similar releases) having nice color range
throughout and Iris only being held back by older video
footage, though its older film footage holds up better than expected.
This is how Blu-ray should always be. The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on Nathan
also had some older film and video footage, with the color home
movies (Kodachrome perhaps?) in particularly nice shape. The newer
HD footage is also decent throughout and when you add all the
interesting past footage edited together this well, it is compelling
viewing.
As
for sound, Bang
and Iris
offer DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mixes are good, if not
always offering a consistent soundfield. Bang
has quiet moments and plenty of talk, while Iris
has older vintage audio and location audio limits to deal with, but
they all sound as good as they will sound. All three Planes
Blu-rays have
lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo tracks that feature the location audio
without tampering, but I bet PCM or another lossless 2.0 format would
help the sound just sound a little better. Otherwise, it is fine for
what it is.
Nathan
has both lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 and lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
mixes, but the 2.0 is very weak and the 5.1 reveals a bit more
detail, but the sound is one the weak side in some mixing issues and
at the volume it was transferred at, so be careful of volume
switching and overly loud levels.
You
can order the Just
Planes
Blu-rays at
this link:
www.JustPlanes.com
-
Nicholas Sheffo