
Alibi
(2003)/The Commander: The
Complete Collection (2003
- 2008/both Acorn DVD releases)/Kissdum
R: Engage Planet
(2007/Sentai Blu-ray Set)/Rowan
& Martin's Laugh-In: The Complete Second Season
(1969 - 1970/Time Life DVD Set)
Picture:
B-/B/C+/C Sound: B-/B/C+/B- Extras: D/C+/C/C Episodes:
C+/B/C+/B+
Here's
our latest set of TV reviews...
If
you like British crime/thriller series or are a fan of the genre in
general, then you'll want to check out this series, Alibi
(2003), which is packed full of great performances and interesting
filmmaking. The three hour TV program(me) centers around Greg
(Michael Kitchen) to whom is discovered with the dead body of his
wife Marcey's (Sophia Okonedo) lover. As Greg attempts to cover up
the murder, Sophie has own plan of attack for dealing with Greg.
The
show also stars Phyllis Logan, Simon Hyde, Paul Thronley, and Stefan
Weclawek to name a few. The series is directed by David Richards and
written by Paul Abbott.
Presented
in anamorphically
enhanced, standard
definition with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a standard,
lossy
Dolby Digital
5.1 audio mix, the show looks and sounds better on DVD than it likely
did upon its original broadcast. While it's a shame that it's not on
Blu-ray, Acorn does a nice job of presenting the piece to the best of
its ability, but this is well done and worth checking out.
No
extras.
The
UK crime series The Commander emerges with a collectible new
seven-DVD disc set from Acorn TV that presents the whole show in one
binge friendly edition The
Commander: The Complete Collection
(2003 - 2008).
Starring Amanda Burton as Commander Clare Blake, the procedural cop
drama centers around a London elite murder squad and Blake, who isn't
afraid to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Seventeen
episodes are spanned over the discs and features a semi-realistic
portrayal to the material. The show is created by Lynda La Plante
(Prime
Suspect).
The
Commander also stars Matthew Marsh, Nicholas Jones, Pip Torrens,
Christopher Robbie, Anthony Valentine, and Tristan Gemmill, to name a
few.
Series
1 (2003) - Entrapment
Parts One and Two
Series
2 (2005) - Virus
(Parts One and Two) and Blackdog
(Parts One and Two)
Series
3 (2006) - Blacklight
(Parts One and Two)
Series
4 (2007) - The
Devil You Know
(Parts One and Two), The
Fraudster
(Parts One and Two), and Windows
of the Soul
(Parts One and Two)
Series
5 (2008) - Abduction
(3 Parts)
The
series is presented on anamorphically
enhanced, standard
definition DVD commercial and watermark free with a 1.78:1 widescreen
aspect ratio and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, a presentation that
is nicer (or on par) with the original television broadcast and
previous DVD releases.
Special
Features include...
Interview
with star Amanda Burton
Character
retrospective with creator Lynda La Plante
Supporting
Cast Featurette.
In
the near future of Kissdum
R: Engage Planet
(2007), alien lifeforms has suddenly appeared all over the world and
is destroying all mankind, the Hadeans. Only the N.I.D.F. (Neo
International Defense Force) stands in the way from the complete
extinction of the human race. However, on the frontlines is maverick
fighter pilot Shu Aiba who is involved with the lead scientist Yuno
who believes mankind's salvation can be saved with an artifact the
'Book of the Dead', but when Shu is mortally wounded, Yuno uses the
Book of the Dead to save his life, but now Shu is the
'Emissary'/Necrodiver and last hope for mankind.
Mankind
discovers aliens have visited earth before and ancient relics
foretold that mankind will have to fight the Hadeans, powerful
creatures/monsters for the right to exist. Their only hope lies in a
Book of the Dead, granting power equal to the Hadeans. The Book of
the Dead grants power to the 'Emissary' as the representative to
mankind and to test to see if mankind is worthy. Yuno however
sacrifices herself and uses the Book of the Dead to save Shu, and Shu
becomes the Emissary. Only thing is, Shu could care less about the
human race and becomes obsessed with revenge and finding a way to
bring Yuno back from the dead. Shu then meets and save Noa, another
scientist and just so happens to be Yuno's younger sister who then
also then falls for Shu too. But the dark truth is the Hadeans is
made from human life and it tempts mankind with their inner desires
and immortality. One by one, Shu's teammates becomes Hadeans and
become either his enemy or rival. And what they thought the Hadeans'
were 'aliens' are just mutated humans.
The
entire series played off like a gigantic Greek tragedy, stories of
love, lost and revenge. In each episode people die tragically and
then our hero goes into 'God mode' to save the day and defeat the big
bad monsters afterward. In the end, the whole thing is about the our
own inner demons and the dark side of human nature and the only thing
that saves and redeems us as humans ...is love.
The
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer can show the
age of the materials used and the animation style, along with a style
that is limited holds this back visually. The DTS-HD MA (Master
Audio)
Japanese 2.0 Stereo lossless mix on all the episodes (including OVAs)
is good, but not great either, so expect only so much sonically.
Extras
include clean opening and closing animations, Japanese commercials,
promos and trailers, plus I liked the show, so give it a look with
those factors known.
Before
The
Late Show,
before Comedy Central, before America's
Funniest Home Video,
there was Laugh-In.
Join Dan Rowan and Dick Martin as they host stand-up comedy from
downtown Burbank as they bring guest stars and aspiring new talent to
TV entertainment with quick wit, gags, one-liner jokes, tongue
twisters and skits they make fun of the political and cultural events
in America of the late 1960s through the new Rowan
& Martin's Laugh-In: The Complete Second Season
(1969 - 1970) DVD Set.
Laugh-In
was a popular comedy show in the late '60s that made fun of people,
events from the time period from the civil rights movement to hippie
culture to the antiwar movement of Vietnam. It features a huge cast
of people who became stars and guests who already were. Martin and
Dick would host and introduce famous actors and make jokes with them.
Many of the jokes were one liners, tongue twisters and had sexual
innuendos. While Dan played as the charming intelligent host, Dick
would play the dim witted plucky side kick. Many of the girls on the
show were portrayed as beautiful hippies and were charming, but they
had no brain among them. Along with other guests they would make fun
of minorities, other races and nationalities. Common and repeat
gags/skits includes 'Sock it to me' the random soaking of actors,
'The Party' people telling one-liner jokes while dancing and
'Laugh-In Looks at the News' making fun of the past, present and
future.
The
series gives an insight into what was considered a comedy show in the
late '60s and early 70s, a lot of it nowadays people would argue they
didn't care/consider about political correctness or gender equality
(but hey, it was the '60s). Laugh-In
featured not only famous celebrities but also new talents, anyone who
got on the show was more likely to move on to bigger and better
things, including their own show in the future.
You
can read more about the debut season of the show here...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/15064/The+Big+Sick+(2017/Lionsgate+Blu-ray+w/DVD)/
The
1.33 X 1 image has the same analog videotape flaws like some video
noise, video banding, telecine flicker, tape scratching, cross color,
faded color and tape damage that the previous set had a little bit,
but not much and looks fine, but I was really impressed with the
lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono remastering. The playback quality
makes this even more watchable. Extras
include tons of guest stars and interviews with the cast.
-
Ricky Chiang & James
Lockhart (Acorn DVDs)
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/