It's been three days since I first heard the shocking news of the untimely death of actor Heath Ledger at the age of 28 due to a drug overdose and possible pneumonia (the full details are still coming together at this point, but that's what I've heard thus far). It really saddens me, because here was a young man whose career was blossoming because of some really high profile appearances in films such as "A Knight's Tale", "The Patriot", and his Oscar-nominated performance in the 2006 film "Brokeback Mountain" (aka the gay cowboy movie). It saddens me even more that, as a parent myself, he too had an infant daughter who's only two and will now have to grow up without getting to know her daddy. I just don't have more words about that part.
But here's what really is sad. Obviously you know about his high profile portrayal of the Joker in Christopher Nolan's upcoming Batman sequel "The Dark Knight", which is scheduled for release this July. I was looking forward to his take on one of comicdom's most sinister villains ever, which from the few video and audio glimpses I've seen thus far was going to be even more intense than Jack Nicholson's portrayal 20 years ago in Tim Burton's big-screen adaptation. On one of Warner's promotional sites for the film, WhySoSerious.com, it's got a very ironic and chilling message that says something to the effect of, "The only way to live in this world is without rules." On the film's official website, in place of the usual film-related promotions they have a single touching memorial page to Ledger.
And last night I shared this with my wife... Jack Nicholson had talked with Ledger some time recently and warned him of the dangers of drugs and fame. It's extremely eerie that the actor who portrayed the Joker two decades before had warned the actor who would have made his mark as the Joker in this decade of this danger. Even eerier is the fact that in Burton's original "Batman" film, the Joker dies. Apparently, in some earlier promotional teases for "The Dark Knight", a mock police dossier appeared online stating that the Joker was dead. Now Heath Ledger is dead in real life. This is too eerie, if you ask me.
How many more actors, musicians, and Hollywood celebrities have to die from drugs before people stand up and take notice? Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, John Belushi, Chris Farley (who idolized Belushi to the point of boasting that he wanted to live and die like him - don't ask for it, you may get it), Kurt Cobain, River Phoenix, and now Heath Ledger - granted I've only mentioned some of the more notable examples, but who else has to die before everyone gets the message? If Britney Spears doesn't get her act together inside and out, she'll be gone before she's 30, mark my word.
In any event, when "The Dark Knight" hits theaters in July, we'll have the opportunity to see Heath Ledger's last fully completed performance on the big screen. As for his unfinished work on Terry Gilliam's current film project, nobody really knows what'll happen there - probably Gilliam will have to recast the role and reshoot everything. Really sad.
I know this is a bit of a downer compared to my reviews, but somehow I just had to get this out of my system.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Friday, December 28, 2007
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones - Volume 2: The War Years
Well, just as quickly as the first volume of "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones" was issued on DVD, CBS/Paramount Home Video has just come out with the second volume, "The War Years". In this new, stunning nine-disc set, the curtain continues to be unveiled on young Indy's (Sean Patrick Flanery) adventures during World War I.
When we last left our young adventurer-to-be, he had left behind the girl of his dreams and retreated to the Belgian army with a broken heart. Now, as Indy goes into battle, he soon faces dangers too immeasurable to consider. In Chapter 8, "The Trenches of Hell", Indy and his friend Remy face certain danger in the battle of the Somme, which claimed over a million casualties on both sides. Indy, however, is captured and imprisoned in a German prison camp that makes Alcatraz look like a Sunday school picnic. Indy soon finds himself plotting his escape with the help of a young visionary officer named Charles de Gaulle. In Chapter 9, "Demons of Deception", Indy finds himself as a messenger in Verdun carrying messages between two sides of the army, only to discover that senseless death in war need not occur. From there Indy journeys to France where, in the second portion written by Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia of "Star Wars" fame), Indy has a torrid romance with the infamous Mata Hari.
In Chapter 10, "The Phantom Train of Doom", Indy encounters a group of aging soldiers in Africa seeking to take out and destroy the Germans' latest superweapon, the Big Bertha. Later, in Chapter 11, "Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life", Indy's mission through Africa brings him face to face with a deadly epidemic in a small village with only a single child as the lone survivor. As his troops fall one by one to the epidemic, Indy eventually encounters Dr. Howard Schweitzer and relearns his humanity in the process. From there, in Chapter 12, "Attack of the Hawkmen", Indy engages in battle against the German force's legendary pilot, the infamous Red Baron.
Chapter 13, "Adventures in the Secret Service", finds Indy as a spy to bring two brothers to the emperor of Habsburg, then later Indy must choose between friendship and war as he comes face to face with the growing Bolshevik rebellion in Russia. The lighter-hearted Chapter 14, "Espionage Escapades", finds Indy in Barcelona meeting up with his old friend Pablo Picasso and caught up in a humorous spy mission in, of all places, the opera! Indy then finds himself in Prague caught up in the most perilous of situations - hoping to get his telephone turned on to find out his next assignment! - until he is aided by Franz Kafka. Finally, in Chapter 15, "Daredevils of the Desert", Indy is sent to assist the Australians as they attack the ancient town of Beersheba. He enlists the help of a belly dancer (Catherine Zeta-Jones) in a suspenseful mission to defuse the explosives with which the occupying Turks have booby-trapped the city's water supply. Look for future 007 star Daniel Craig in a supporting role in this installment.
As with the first volume, executive producer George Lucas has reedited many of the original one-hour segments into two-hour telefilms, eliminating all of the old Indy (George Hall) bookend segments and filming new footage to bridge the gaps where needed. Each segment is presented in full-frame format in English Dolby 2.0 surround sound, with optional English subtitles. For "The Trenches of Hell", an elderly Indy's encounter with a rude donut worker lands him in jail. In "Demons of Deception", the elderly Indy recounts his tale as a courier, then later finds himself in line at a grocery store spinning his tabloid-like romance with Mata Hari to shoppers. These and many other bookend segments were completely omitted from the DVD release, and it's a real shame, since only those like me who remember the original broadcasts remember these bookends quite well. Only "The Phantom Train of Doom" remains virtually untouched from its original two-hour broadcast, with only a few minor changes in the credits sequences. That credit on the package, "Some episodes have been re-edited from their original TV broadcasts" should really read, "All...", if you ask me.
Accompanying each chapter are a total of 26 new documentaries produced by Lucas and Rick McCallum that further explore the real characters, locations, and themes conveyed in each chapter. Unlike the first volume, which had some of the documentaries occupying a single disc, all of the documentaries are contained with each respective chapter, thereby streamlining the set by three discs. The final disc contains a new 40-minute discussion on history and war, as well as a DVD-ROM interactive game and interactive timeline. If only we had had more meaty information on the making of the series itself, as with the 11 VHS releases, then I would have found it more satisfying, along with the original broadcast versions of these episodes.
What a wonderful Christmas present this made! The second volume of "Young Indiana Jones" is another great addition to the Indy canon, and I've got to admit, I'm ready for the third and final volume to come in the new year (not to mention the fourth "Indiana Jones" feature film - maybe they'll do a cross-promotion for the film with a trailer on the final set). If only my dad were alive to enjoy this series once again as he did during the early 90's.
How about that for a nice surprise review! With that I wish you a blessed and prosperous Happy New Year, and I'll see you again in 2008!
When we last left our young adventurer-to-be, he had left behind the girl of his dreams and retreated to the Belgian army with a broken heart. Now, as Indy goes into battle, he soon faces dangers too immeasurable to consider. In Chapter 8, "The Trenches of Hell", Indy and his friend Remy face certain danger in the battle of the Somme, which claimed over a million casualties on both sides. Indy, however, is captured and imprisoned in a German prison camp that makes Alcatraz look like a Sunday school picnic. Indy soon finds himself plotting his escape with the help of a young visionary officer named Charles de Gaulle. In Chapter 9, "Demons of Deception", Indy finds himself as a messenger in Verdun carrying messages between two sides of the army, only to discover that senseless death in war need not occur. From there Indy journeys to France where, in the second portion written by Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia of "Star Wars" fame), Indy has a torrid romance with the infamous Mata Hari.
In Chapter 10, "The Phantom Train of Doom", Indy encounters a group of aging soldiers in Africa seeking to take out and destroy the Germans' latest superweapon, the Big Bertha. Later, in Chapter 11, "Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life", Indy's mission through Africa brings him face to face with a deadly epidemic in a small village with only a single child as the lone survivor. As his troops fall one by one to the epidemic, Indy eventually encounters Dr. Howard Schweitzer and relearns his humanity in the process. From there, in Chapter 12, "Attack of the Hawkmen", Indy engages in battle against the German force's legendary pilot, the infamous Red Baron.
Chapter 13, "Adventures in the Secret Service", finds Indy as a spy to bring two brothers to the emperor of Habsburg, then later Indy must choose between friendship and war as he comes face to face with the growing Bolshevik rebellion in Russia. The lighter-hearted Chapter 14, "Espionage Escapades", finds Indy in Barcelona meeting up with his old friend Pablo Picasso and caught up in a humorous spy mission in, of all places, the opera! Indy then finds himself in Prague caught up in the most perilous of situations - hoping to get his telephone turned on to find out his next assignment! - until he is aided by Franz Kafka. Finally, in Chapter 15, "Daredevils of the Desert", Indy is sent to assist the Australians as they attack the ancient town of Beersheba. He enlists the help of a belly dancer (Catherine Zeta-Jones) in a suspenseful mission to defuse the explosives with which the occupying Turks have booby-trapped the city's water supply. Look for future 007 star Daniel Craig in a supporting role in this installment.
As with the first volume, executive producer George Lucas has reedited many of the original one-hour segments into two-hour telefilms, eliminating all of the old Indy (George Hall) bookend segments and filming new footage to bridge the gaps where needed. Each segment is presented in full-frame format in English Dolby 2.0 surround sound, with optional English subtitles. For "The Trenches of Hell", an elderly Indy's encounter with a rude donut worker lands him in jail. In "Demons of Deception", the elderly Indy recounts his tale as a courier, then later finds himself in line at a grocery store spinning his tabloid-like romance with Mata Hari to shoppers. These and many other bookend segments were completely omitted from the DVD release, and it's a real shame, since only those like me who remember the original broadcasts remember these bookends quite well. Only "The Phantom Train of Doom" remains virtually untouched from its original two-hour broadcast, with only a few minor changes in the credits sequences. That credit on the package, "Some episodes have been re-edited from their original TV broadcasts" should really read, "All...", if you ask me.
Accompanying each chapter are a total of 26 new documentaries produced by Lucas and Rick McCallum that further explore the real characters, locations, and themes conveyed in each chapter. Unlike the first volume, which had some of the documentaries occupying a single disc, all of the documentaries are contained with each respective chapter, thereby streamlining the set by three discs. The final disc contains a new 40-minute discussion on history and war, as well as a DVD-ROM interactive game and interactive timeline. If only we had had more meaty information on the making of the series itself, as with the 11 VHS releases, then I would have found it more satisfying, along with the original broadcast versions of these episodes.
What a wonderful Christmas present this made! The second volume of "Young Indiana Jones" is another great addition to the Indy canon, and I've got to admit, I'm ready for the third and final volume to come in the new year (not to mention the fourth "Indiana Jones" feature film - maybe they'll do a cross-promotion for the film with a trailer on the final set). If only my dad were alive to enjoy this series once again as he did during the early 90's.
How about that for a nice surprise review! With that I wish you a blessed and prosperous Happy New Year, and I'll see you again in 2008!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Long time, no blog...
Sorry it's been a while since I've blogged with the latest DVD reviews. To be perfectly honest, the past two and a half weeks have been an extremely stressful time in my life. I've been juggling between 3-4 jobs just to make ends meet for me and my family, working an exhausting night job until 1 a.m. in the morning, going between a weekend part-time job that I had to give up because the hours conflicted with my wife's work schedule, and two seasonal jobs that will end Christmas Eve. It's been staggering, to say the least, and, as my long-time boyhood friend Jeff Henson (whom I owe so many thanks that I cannot begin to say the words) has said, I'm in a season of gazelle intensity, to quote Dave Ramsey.
Needless to say, all of this job juggling and searching has left me with little time to sleep and no time to even watch and review DVDs. But that's not to say I'm completely giving it up. As soon as my life stabilizes again to a point where I can review some of the latest DVDs, I'll be back online. There are a number of recent titles that I want to post my thoughts on, among them the recent Disney-Pixar offering "Ratatouille", the extended DVD release of "High School Musical 2", Sony's recent release of "Spider-Man 3", Universal's extended unrated cut of "Battlestar Galactica: Razor" (which would have been the last review I would have posted here and on TrekWeb.com and was 99% complete with it but for some unusual reason it got deleted, which gripes me to no end), Paramount's new two-disc SE of Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning epic "Braveheart", and my continuing analysis of the first volume of "Young Indiana Jones".
Don't forget that next week marks the release of two long-awaited DVD sets that I've got my eye on that would make awesome Christmas gifts, the second volume of "Young Indy" and the mega-awesome five-disc "Blade Runner" Ultimate Collector's Edition (which I will go on record and say that for the upcoming Bitsy Awards will be selected as THE DVD release of 2007). I don't know if I'll be able to score review copies of either, or even if they'll be under my Christmas tree this year, but we'll wait and see.
That's all for now. Unless I blog again in the next few weeks, have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I'll see you again in 2008!
Needless to say, all of this job juggling and searching has left me with little time to sleep and no time to even watch and review DVDs. But that's not to say I'm completely giving it up. As soon as my life stabilizes again to a point where I can review some of the latest DVDs, I'll be back online. There are a number of recent titles that I want to post my thoughts on, among them the recent Disney-Pixar offering "Ratatouille", the extended DVD release of "High School Musical 2", Sony's recent release of "Spider-Man 3", Universal's extended unrated cut of "Battlestar Galactica: Razor" (which would have been the last review I would have posted here and on TrekWeb.com and was 99% complete with it but for some unusual reason it got deleted, which gripes me to no end), Paramount's new two-disc SE of Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning epic "Braveheart", and my continuing analysis of the first volume of "Young Indiana Jones".
Don't forget that next week marks the release of two long-awaited DVD sets that I've got my eye on that would make awesome Christmas gifts, the second volume of "Young Indy" and the mega-awesome five-disc "Blade Runner" Ultimate Collector's Edition (which I will go on record and say that for the upcoming Bitsy Awards will be selected as THE DVD release of 2007). I don't know if I'll be able to score review copies of either, or even if they'll be under my Christmas tree this year, but we'll wait and see.
That's all for now. Unless I blog again in the next few weeks, have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I'll see you again in 2008!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Young Indy glitch, Razor, and Thanksgiving...
Okay, so I know last time that I promised you the second part of my "Young Indiana Jones" review. I had it all written out, stored on disc, and ready to post. But somehow along the way to posting the review, for some unusual reason the computer would not read my file at all, and it came out looking like symbolic gibberish. You know how recently in Superman lore how sometimes they revert to those unusual Kryptonian symbols to replace dialog? That's how the remains of my text looked. Why it did that, I have no idea. Can we honestly say that the computer ate my homework? (It wouldn't be the first time that happened!) Unfortunately, that means having to rewrite my entire review from scratch - ugh! That means pushing back the second part of my review until sometime next week, I don't know when. But I promise, once it's rewritten, I'll have it posted for you, along with the third part of my review.
In the meantime, I just received my review copy of the upcoming Universal DVD release of "Battlestar Galactica: Razor". The TV movie is set to premiere this Friday on the Sci-Fi Channel, and the unrated extended DVD will hit stores Tuesday, December 4th. But I've got my copy in hand right now, even before the movie has premiered! It's got running audio commentary with series creator Ronald D. Moore, three and a half minutes of deleted scenes, 19 minutes of mini episodes, two featurettes, and two previews for the upcoming fourth (and unfortunately final) season set for premiere next year, among the bonus features. This will make the first BSG review I'll be working on in about a year, so hopefully I'll have shaken off the ring rust enough to do a good review (which will simultaneously appear on TrekWeb.com as well). Look for it coming soon!
Well, this will make the last time I'll be able to blog for the rest of the week because of Thanksgiving holidays. Stay safe, don't spend too much money on gasoline (it's already too high enough as it is!), and don't eat too much turkey, ham, and dressing (like that'll happen!). If you're in the Alabama area, look for the Albertville High School band in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade tomorrow! And Guntersville moves into the third round of the Division 4 football playoffs against Brooks this Friday night - go, Marshall County!
See you again soon!
In the meantime, I just received my review copy of the upcoming Universal DVD release of "Battlestar Galactica: Razor". The TV movie is set to premiere this Friday on the Sci-Fi Channel, and the unrated extended DVD will hit stores Tuesday, December 4th. But I've got my copy in hand right now, even before the movie has premiered! It's got running audio commentary with series creator Ronald D. Moore, three and a half minutes of deleted scenes, 19 minutes of mini episodes, two featurettes, and two previews for the upcoming fourth (and unfortunately final) season set for premiere next year, among the bonus features. This will make the first BSG review I'll be working on in about a year, so hopefully I'll have shaken off the ring rust enough to do a good review (which will simultaneously appear on TrekWeb.com as well). Look for it coming soon!
Well, this will make the last time I'll be able to blog for the rest of the week because of Thanksgiving holidays. Stay safe, don't spend too much money on gasoline (it's already too high enough as it is!), and don't eat too much turkey, ham, and dressing (like that'll happen!). If you're in the Alabama area, look for the Albertville High School band in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade tomorrow! And Guntersville moves into the third round of the Division 4 football playoffs against Brooks this Friday night - go, Marshall County!
See you again soon!
Friday, November 16, 2007
A quick note on a Friday...
This will be a quickie for you today... First off, I posted my recent review of "Star Trek" Season 1 (DVD/HD-DVD) on TrekWeb.com, which was my main outlet for DVD reviews prior to my blog site. Click here to read both the review and reader comments on the review and the set.
Second, I should have my second part of my "Young Indy" review ready to go next week, so be on the lookout for it! It'll cover Discs 2 and 3 of all the content pertaining to "Passion for Life".
Finally, to change gears, how hard is it to get a job? Half of these places don't ever respond, and those who do give you the polite "no, thank you, we're not interested" line. And those who say they're going to call you back and follow up with you don't ever follow up. What's the point of it all? It's just frustrating, which explains why I haven't been blogging as much lately as I should be. Job searching is a full-time job in and of itself, but it doesn't pay the bills, the gasoline for the car, and the food on the table. When will someone say, "We want you for the job, when can you start?" I'm tired of playing the bridesmaid in this dance. I'm always the one with the impressive resume, but... (and there's that dangling "but" again that I've despised since I was in junior high school). I'm so more than ready for a breakthrough, but nothing's happening. And time's running out.
I'll touch base again with my latest blog when I can. See you again soon...
Second, I should have my second part of my "Young Indy" review ready to go next week, so be on the lookout for it! It'll cover Discs 2 and 3 of all the content pertaining to "Passion for Life".
Finally, to change gears, how hard is it to get a job? Half of these places don't ever respond, and those who do give you the polite "no, thank you, we're not interested" line. And those who say they're going to call you back and follow up with you don't ever follow up. What's the point of it all? It's just frustrating, which explains why I haven't been blogging as much lately as I should be. Job searching is a full-time job in and of itself, but it doesn't pay the bills, the gasoline for the car, and the food on the table. When will someone say, "We want you for the job, when can you start?" I'm tired of playing the bridesmaid in this dance. I'm always the one with the impressive resume, but... (and there's that dangling "but" again that I've despised since I was in junior high school). I'm so more than ready for a breakthrough, but nothing's happening. And time's running out.
I'll touch base again with my latest blog when I can. See you again soon...
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 (DVD/HD-DVD combo)
Okay, I know that this was to have been the second part of my continuing series of analyses on the first volume of "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones". But when this baby arrived on my doorstep, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. So away we go!
In 2006 it seemed that the "Star Trek" franchise was, for all intents and purposes, dead. The fifth series "Enterprise" died in the ratings at the end of its fourth season. All of the series (including the animated incarnation from the 1970's) had been released on DVD, and Paramount was attempting something new with the first of five different Fan Collectives, which were nothing more than selected repackagings of episodes from the different series in cost-friendly sets. The only way to get new adventures was to either pick up the latest Pocket Books novels or surf the Internet for different fan-based productions. Even then, rumblings were abound of yet another feature film project. It looked like the franchise would go quietly into its 40th anniversary with nothing significant.
But someone asked the question, "What if we brought the Original Series back to television but with updated visual effects?" Several years before, fans had done a series of video tests with the second season episode "The Doomsday Machine", giving the special effects a much-needed makeover to compete with all of the current crops of television series and movies that were laden with spectacular visuals. In 2001, Paramount Home Video released the acclaimed Director's Edition of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" with many completed visual effects. In addition, the then-recent slate of "Star Trek" series and movies, most notably "Deep Space Nine", "Voyager", "Enterprise", and the four "Next Generation" spinoff films, utilized state-of-the-art CGI effects to the max. One of the most celebrated DS9 episodes, "Trials and Tribble-ations", revisited the Original Series' "The Trouble with Tribbles", complete with many fresh visual effects and an equal number of subtle trickeries a la "Forrest Gump" that caught many fans off guard. The two series that needed the heaviest visual effects makeovers were the Original Series and TNG. Could such an attempt be accomplished? Could the original "Trek" return but with a fresh facelift?
This immediately sent shockwaves throughout Trekdom. To some it seemed like the perfect way to celebrate the Original Series' 40th anniversary. To others it seemed sacrilege. How dare they screw up the original 79 episodes we all grew up with and know so well? What would happen to the original masters of the episodes? Would they go by the wayside a la the original theatrical versions of the first three "Star Wars" films, long forgotten by the creators and discarded like yesterday's trash?
When the first remastered episodes came out in the fall of 2006, fans immediately sought out the major and minor makeovers to the classic Treks they knew by heart. Many of the effects were done as outright replacements to the original effects created in the 1960's, which were at the time state-of-the-art. Some of the effects were quite subtle, in the same way that some of the subtle makeovers in the Director's Edition of TMP were accomplished. Even the original Alexander Courage theme was given a new makeover, complete with a new orchestral adaptation and a digitized version of William Shatner's classic opening monologue. It was akin to putting a fresh coat of paint and a new engine into a '57 Chevy. But could this 2006 version of the Original Series ever replace the original episodes in fans' hearts? The debate continues to this day.
Now comes the first season of "Star Trek: The Original Series" from CBS Video in a new 10-disc combination standard DVD and HD-DVD set. I won't go back and comment on the episodes themselves, having already reviewed the first season in the complete season set back in 2004. Click here to read my original review on TrekWeb for a detailed look at the episodes and its content. While I'm not able to discuss or extol the HD-DVD features, my review is limited to the standard DVD presentation, though I will reference the HD-DVD information for completion's sake.
As with the previous 2004 DVD release, all 29 episodes of the first season of "Star Trek" are presented in their original 1966 airdates, in 1.33:1 full screen format. Sonically, this fresh update is a treat, with the standard DVD sound in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, LAS Mono (whatever that means), and French mono, with optional English, LAS, and French subtitles. The HD-DVD presentation features English Dolby True HD and LAS mono sound, with optional English and LAS subtitles.
The picture format is just absolutely stunning and breathtaking! It was like looking at the last couple of seasons of "Enterprise", particularly with all of the new digital effects in place. The picture is that crisp and clear - imagine what it looks like in HD-DVD format! Having grown up with the original 79 episodes over the years, seeing the newly minted visual effects seemed jarring at first. Still, this is the original "Star Trek" we're talking here, and with the advancements in DVD and HD-DVD technology, the only way it can look is better than ever.
The DVD packaging is reminiscent of the four "Enterprise" sets, with the set packaged in a clear plastic case that is smaller than the other series' packages, which means it'll take up less space on your DVD shelves. Housed inside the clear plastic case is the DVD package itself, with the discs in a clear plastic bookcase tray and banded with a yellow sleeve a la the 2004 DVD set. Inside is an insert for the other "Star Trek" DVD releases currently available, as well as an offer for a "Star Trek" phaser remote control.
The majority of the extras on this DVD set have been ported over from the previous 2004 set. This includes "The Birth of a Timeless Legacy", which discussed the series' origins; "Reflections on Spock", a new interview with Leonard Nimoy; "Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner", which profiled the actor's writings and involvement with horses; "To Boldly Go: Season One", a look at the first season's most memorable moments; "Sci-Fi Visionaries", which looked at the many noted science fiction writers who contributed to the series; and the series' episode preview trailers. In addition, the two bonus features that were included in the Best Buy bonus disc - "Kiss and Tell: Romance in the 24th Century" and "Trek Connections" - have also been brought over to this new DVD/HD-DVD combo set. There's no need for me to rehash my thoughts on these additional features, so all I'll say is go back and read my original review.
What is new does have interest to both long-time "Trek" fans and newcomers to the series. First off is "Spacelift: Transporting Trek into the 21st Century". This interesting feature explores the debated and controversial aspects of returning the series to television and updating all of the visual effects and sound to 2006 standards. You get to see rough animatics of the new visual effects, as well as comparisons between the original 1966-67 visual effects and their modern-day counterparts. It's definitely jarring, to say the least, but I will give credit to the CGI artists who made these effects both major and subtle happen.
We also have something that is quite unique when it comes to "Star Trek": outtakes and home movies! In "Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories", this program spotlights actor Billy Blackburn, who was featured as a background extra in many episodes of the series. During the series' production, Blackburn shot a number of eight-millimeter home movies on the "Star Trek" sets, showing the stars in more relaxed moments and preparing to shoot scenes from different episodes. Now this is a treat! Fans have long clamored for any vintage outtakes and behind-the-scenes films to be included on DVD, and seeing these home movies makes it all the more interesting yet poignant, considering that DeForest Kelley and James Doohan are no longer with us. Kudos to Mr. Blackburn for bringing these vintage films to DVD!
In addition, Perpetual Entertainment has a preview of its upcoming "Star Trek Online" MMO game, which takes the saga into the 25th century. There is also a new feature entitled "Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier" - whatever that means. All of these above features can be found on both the standard DVD and HD-DVD sides of the discs.
As if that weren't enough, HD-DVD owners will be in for even more treats. First of all, there is a new on-screen graphic interface program entitled "Starflet Access" on seven episodes - "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Menagerie, Parts 1 and 2", "Balance of Terror", "The Galileo Seven", "Space Seed", and "Errand of Mercy". In this interactive feature, viewers can access Picture-in-Picture video commentaries with surviving cast members and writers, comparisons of the remastered episodes with their original visual effects, episode trivia, and encyclopedic information used in the series. This is definitely a step or seven up from the text commentaries from Michael and Denise Okuda!
From there we have the "Interactive Enterprise Tour", in which viewers can explore the interior and exterior of the U.S.S. Enterprise in detail as they pilot their own shuttlecraft in this spectacular 3-D feature.
Obviously, as I said earlier, the majority of the bonus features from the 2004 DVD set were ported over to this new combo set. That means the Okuda text commentaries are the only significant extras that were left off this new set. For that matter, the previous set had a series of "Red Shirt Logs", a series of bonus hidden Easter eggs that contained additional interview segments - I don't know if these have also been ported over from the previous 2004 set.
As with the previous sets, missing in action are a wealth of additional extras that could have greatly enhanced the overall completeness of "Star Trek" on DVD. Of course, I'm talking about the two direct-to-VHS documentaries, "William Shatner's Star Trek Memories" and "Inside Star Trek: The Real Story", both of which feature interviews with cast and production members no longer with us (among them De Kelley, Jimmy Doohan, director James Goldstone, and makeup artist Wah Chang). Furthermore, vintage TV spots promoting the series during its premiere and first two seasons are missing, as well as the infamous blooper reels, production outtakes (can we say Jeffrey Hunter outtakes from "The Cage"?), and deleted scenes that we know exist and have been well documented all across the Internet.
Most conspicuously, the original versions of the first season episodes have been left off. This means forcing the consumer to double-dip to get not only this newly enhanced "Trek" but also the additional bonus features. Not many people are going to enjoy the fact that the original episodes we all grew up with and know so well have been omitted from this DVD/HD combo set. Remember Fox's "Star Wars Trilogy" debacle from 2004, leaving off the original versions of the trilogy? (Of course, it would take another couple of years before getting the originals onto DVD, but in really crappy form, but that's another argument for another place and time.)
Finally, who in their right or left mind is going to spend $217 to get this 10-disc set? When the price tag for this set was announced at this past summer's Comic-Con, how many people didn't mind wanting to pay the high price tag for this set? A grand total of three people. The rest of the hundreds and thousands in attendance gave it a good ol' Stone Cold "Hell, no!" Why didn't CBS and Paramount listen to the fans for once? It's a no-brainer that you'll find this set for probably $150 in stores. For that matter, you can go to your local Wal-Mart and pick up all three seasons of the original "Trek" (in their original forms!) for about the same price as you would spend for this remastered version. Which sounds like the better deal? You do the math.
Yes, "Star Trek" is back and in remastered form, with newly improved picture and sound. So why am I giving it only three stars out of five? It's hard for me to give this set a firmly satisfied recommendation, given all that was left off the new release. But since this is like buying a vintage car with a fresh paint job and high-tech engine, it does merit a decent recommendation. Of course, long-time fans will bemoan the loss of the original versions of their beloved episodes in this new set. As with everything, your mileage may vary.
Okay, next time, I promise, will be my second part of the "Young Indy" review. See you then!
In 2006 it seemed that the "Star Trek" franchise was, for all intents and purposes, dead. The fifth series "Enterprise" died in the ratings at the end of its fourth season. All of the series (including the animated incarnation from the 1970's) had been released on DVD, and Paramount was attempting something new with the first of five different Fan Collectives, which were nothing more than selected repackagings of episodes from the different series in cost-friendly sets. The only way to get new adventures was to either pick up the latest Pocket Books novels or surf the Internet for different fan-based productions. Even then, rumblings were abound of yet another feature film project. It looked like the franchise would go quietly into its 40th anniversary with nothing significant.
But someone asked the question, "What if we brought the Original Series back to television but with updated visual effects?" Several years before, fans had done a series of video tests with the second season episode "The Doomsday Machine", giving the special effects a much-needed makeover to compete with all of the current crops of television series and movies that were laden with spectacular visuals. In 2001, Paramount Home Video released the acclaimed Director's Edition of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" with many completed visual effects. In addition, the then-recent slate of "Star Trek" series and movies, most notably "Deep Space Nine", "Voyager", "Enterprise", and the four "Next Generation" spinoff films, utilized state-of-the-art CGI effects to the max. One of the most celebrated DS9 episodes, "Trials and Tribble-ations", revisited the Original Series' "The Trouble with Tribbles", complete with many fresh visual effects and an equal number of subtle trickeries a la "Forrest Gump" that caught many fans off guard. The two series that needed the heaviest visual effects makeovers were the Original Series and TNG. Could such an attempt be accomplished? Could the original "Trek" return but with a fresh facelift?
This immediately sent shockwaves throughout Trekdom. To some it seemed like the perfect way to celebrate the Original Series' 40th anniversary. To others it seemed sacrilege. How dare they screw up the original 79 episodes we all grew up with and know so well? What would happen to the original masters of the episodes? Would they go by the wayside a la the original theatrical versions of the first three "Star Wars" films, long forgotten by the creators and discarded like yesterday's trash?
When the first remastered episodes came out in the fall of 2006, fans immediately sought out the major and minor makeovers to the classic Treks they knew by heart. Many of the effects were done as outright replacements to the original effects created in the 1960's, which were at the time state-of-the-art. Some of the effects were quite subtle, in the same way that some of the subtle makeovers in the Director's Edition of TMP were accomplished. Even the original Alexander Courage theme was given a new makeover, complete with a new orchestral adaptation and a digitized version of William Shatner's classic opening monologue. It was akin to putting a fresh coat of paint and a new engine into a '57 Chevy. But could this 2006 version of the Original Series ever replace the original episodes in fans' hearts? The debate continues to this day.
Now comes the first season of "Star Trek: The Original Series" from CBS Video in a new 10-disc combination standard DVD and HD-DVD set. I won't go back and comment on the episodes themselves, having already reviewed the first season in the complete season set back in 2004. Click here to read my original review on TrekWeb for a detailed look at the episodes and its content. While I'm not able to discuss or extol the HD-DVD features, my review is limited to the standard DVD presentation, though I will reference the HD-DVD information for completion's sake.
As with the previous 2004 DVD release, all 29 episodes of the first season of "Star Trek" are presented in their original 1966 airdates, in 1.33:1 full screen format. Sonically, this fresh update is a treat, with the standard DVD sound in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, LAS Mono (whatever that means), and French mono, with optional English, LAS, and French subtitles. The HD-DVD presentation features English Dolby True HD and LAS mono sound, with optional English and LAS subtitles.
The picture format is just absolutely stunning and breathtaking! It was like looking at the last couple of seasons of "Enterprise", particularly with all of the new digital effects in place. The picture is that crisp and clear - imagine what it looks like in HD-DVD format! Having grown up with the original 79 episodes over the years, seeing the newly minted visual effects seemed jarring at first. Still, this is the original "Star Trek" we're talking here, and with the advancements in DVD and HD-DVD technology, the only way it can look is better than ever.
The DVD packaging is reminiscent of the four "Enterprise" sets, with the set packaged in a clear plastic case that is smaller than the other series' packages, which means it'll take up less space on your DVD shelves. Housed inside the clear plastic case is the DVD package itself, with the discs in a clear plastic bookcase tray and banded with a yellow sleeve a la the 2004 DVD set. Inside is an insert for the other "Star Trek" DVD releases currently available, as well as an offer for a "Star Trek" phaser remote control.
The majority of the extras on this DVD set have been ported over from the previous 2004 set. This includes "The Birth of a Timeless Legacy", which discussed the series' origins; "Reflections on Spock", a new interview with Leonard Nimoy; "Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner", which profiled the actor's writings and involvement with horses; "To Boldly Go: Season One", a look at the first season's most memorable moments; "Sci-Fi Visionaries", which looked at the many noted science fiction writers who contributed to the series; and the series' episode preview trailers. In addition, the two bonus features that were included in the Best Buy bonus disc - "Kiss and Tell: Romance in the 24th Century" and "Trek Connections" - have also been brought over to this new DVD/HD-DVD combo set. There's no need for me to rehash my thoughts on these additional features, so all I'll say is go back and read my original review.
What is new does have interest to both long-time "Trek" fans and newcomers to the series. First off is "Spacelift: Transporting Trek into the 21st Century". This interesting feature explores the debated and controversial aspects of returning the series to television and updating all of the visual effects and sound to 2006 standards. You get to see rough animatics of the new visual effects, as well as comparisons between the original 1966-67 visual effects and their modern-day counterparts. It's definitely jarring, to say the least, but I will give credit to the CGI artists who made these effects both major and subtle happen.
We also have something that is quite unique when it comes to "Star Trek": outtakes and home movies! In "Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories", this program spotlights actor Billy Blackburn, who was featured as a background extra in many episodes of the series. During the series' production, Blackburn shot a number of eight-millimeter home movies on the "Star Trek" sets, showing the stars in more relaxed moments and preparing to shoot scenes from different episodes. Now this is a treat! Fans have long clamored for any vintage outtakes and behind-the-scenes films to be included on DVD, and seeing these home movies makes it all the more interesting yet poignant, considering that DeForest Kelley and James Doohan are no longer with us. Kudos to Mr. Blackburn for bringing these vintage films to DVD!
In addition, Perpetual Entertainment has a preview of its upcoming "Star Trek Online" MMO game, which takes the saga into the 25th century. There is also a new feature entitled "Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier" - whatever that means. All of these above features can be found on both the standard DVD and HD-DVD sides of the discs.
As if that weren't enough, HD-DVD owners will be in for even more treats. First of all, there is a new on-screen graphic interface program entitled "Starflet Access" on seven episodes - "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Menagerie, Parts 1 and 2", "Balance of Terror", "The Galileo Seven", "Space Seed", and "Errand of Mercy". In this interactive feature, viewers can access Picture-in-Picture video commentaries with surviving cast members and writers, comparisons of the remastered episodes with their original visual effects, episode trivia, and encyclopedic information used in the series. This is definitely a step or seven up from the text commentaries from Michael and Denise Okuda!
From there we have the "Interactive Enterprise Tour", in which viewers can explore the interior and exterior of the U.S.S. Enterprise in detail as they pilot their own shuttlecraft in this spectacular 3-D feature.
Obviously, as I said earlier, the majority of the bonus features from the 2004 DVD set were ported over to this new combo set. That means the Okuda text commentaries are the only significant extras that were left off this new set. For that matter, the previous set had a series of "Red Shirt Logs", a series of bonus hidden Easter eggs that contained additional interview segments - I don't know if these have also been ported over from the previous 2004 set.
As with the previous sets, missing in action are a wealth of additional extras that could have greatly enhanced the overall completeness of "Star Trek" on DVD. Of course, I'm talking about the two direct-to-VHS documentaries, "William Shatner's Star Trek Memories" and "Inside Star Trek: The Real Story", both of which feature interviews with cast and production members no longer with us (among them De Kelley, Jimmy Doohan, director James Goldstone, and makeup artist Wah Chang). Furthermore, vintage TV spots promoting the series during its premiere and first two seasons are missing, as well as the infamous blooper reels, production outtakes (can we say Jeffrey Hunter outtakes from "The Cage"?), and deleted scenes that we know exist and have been well documented all across the Internet.
Most conspicuously, the original versions of the first season episodes have been left off. This means forcing the consumer to double-dip to get not only this newly enhanced "Trek" but also the additional bonus features. Not many people are going to enjoy the fact that the original episodes we all grew up with and know so well have been omitted from this DVD/HD combo set. Remember Fox's "Star Wars Trilogy" debacle from 2004, leaving off the original versions of the trilogy? (Of course, it would take another couple of years before getting the originals onto DVD, but in really crappy form, but that's another argument for another place and time.)
Finally, who in their right or left mind is going to spend $217 to get this 10-disc set? When the price tag for this set was announced at this past summer's Comic-Con, how many people didn't mind wanting to pay the high price tag for this set? A grand total of three people. The rest of the hundreds and thousands in attendance gave it a good ol' Stone Cold "Hell, no!" Why didn't CBS and Paramount listen to the fans for once? It's a no-brainer that you'll find this set for probably $150 in stores. For that matter, you can go to your local Wal-Mart and pick up all three seasons of the original "Trek" (in their original forms!) for about the same price as you would spend for this remastered version. Which sounds like the better deal? You do the math.
Yes, "Star Trek" is back and in remastered form, with newly improved picture and sound. So why am I giving it only three stars out of five? It's hard for me to give this set a firmly satisfied recommendation, given all that was left off the new release. But since this is like buying a vintage car with a fresh paint job and high-tech engine, it does merit a decent recommendation. Of course, long-time fans will bemoan the loss of the original versions of their beloved episodes in this new set. As with everything, your mileage may vary.
Okay, next time, I promise, will be my second part of the "Young Indy" review. See you then!
Friday, November 9, 2007
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Volume 1 - Part 1
Well, I'm finally getting down to the good stuff that is on CBS/Paramount's long-awaited first DVD volume of "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones". While you know by now my stance on the decision of CBS, Paramount, and one Mr. George Lucas to release the series on DVD in its re-edited form from the late 1990's and not include the original telecasts with the original bookend segments intact (as seen on ABC during the series' initial run in the early to mid 1990's) - still a crime in my book - I'm going to focus on each respective chapter and the documentaries that complement the first seven chapters of the series.
(Before I go into my thoughts on those documentaries, I just want to put the word out there that if anyone has any of the original one-hour telecasts on video, send me an e-mail. Of this first set I have chapters 1, 2, 4, and 7 preserved to DVD+R, and I know that along the way I missed some of the other segments. I'd like to have all of the original telecasts, as well as the behind-the-scenes segments from the original 11 VHS tapes, preserved and archived on disc, so let's talk!)
Disc 1, "My First Adventure", is just that, young Indiana Jones' first adventures from birth and traveling the world. In the first five chapters, young Corey Carrier portrays Henry Jones, Jr., growing up just as any typical boy would. We learn of young Indy's humble beginnings and the journeys he undertakes with his parents Henry and Anna Jones (Alex Hyde-White, trying for all the world to channel Sean Connery, and Ruth deSosa, in an ineffective role that all but fulfills the perfunctory purpose of Indy's worrysome mother being around in his early years). Joining them on their travels is the crusty Miss Helen Seymour (Margaret Tyzack), Indy's tutor with an iron will all her own. The first half of "My First Adventure" centers on Indy's first trip to Egypt, encountering T.E. (Ned) Lawrence and Howard Carter, while exploring a possible curse centered around an Egyptian jackal - this has been lifted from the first half of the series' premiere "Young Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Jackal", which had a much more effective second half that tied in well with the first. The story then abruptly shifts gears to Cairo, where Indy learns of slavery and nearly winds up a slave as well. This second part of "My First Adventure", which was obviously filmed a few years after the first part, doesn't work as well. Why Luca$ decided to completely forego the original TV broadcasts still baffles many, including me, to this day. But the first part of the story does have a fun charm of its own that parents and Indiana Jones fans should enjoy.
Okay, onto the first four documentaries on Disc 1. First off is "Archaeology", a 16-minute feature that takes a look at how the real-life science of archaeology differs from the fascinating, adventurous, and sometimes romantic notions conveyed in the three (soon to be four) "Indiana Jones" theatrical films. According to modern-day scientists, archaeology is tedious and unsung, as the documentary profiles two such expeditions into remote parts of the world. For generations it was seen merely as looting and graverobbing, but it was not until 1922 that Howard Carter emerged as the benchmark by which archaeology is measured. This is continued in the 22-minute documentary "Howard Carter and and the Tomb of Tutankhamen", which profiles Carter's life-long love for archaeology and Egyptian history, the discovery and research of King Tut's tomb, and the meticulous and precise methods Carter used to archive and document every detail of the mysterious boy king's life and death. Carter's methods continue to be seen as the standard by which all modern archaeology must be measured.
From there we turn to the 36-minute program "Colonel Lawrence's War", a look at the life of British soldier Thomas Edward Lawrence, best known to many as Lawrence of Arabia. This documentary reveals untold aspects to Lawrence's life that, if you're only familiar with the 1960's David Lean epic with Peter O'Toole in the title role, you're in for a rude awakening. Ever in love with the Arabian way of life, Lawrence studied the Arab culture in the early 1900's and lived among them years before his service in the British military and his revolutionary methods of uniting the Arabs against the Turkish Empire in the closing years of World War I. But Lawrence's actions led to unforeseen circumstances that continue to reverberate in today's times, with all of the current troubles in Iraq and Pakistan. Others saw Lawrence as a romantic war hero and leader; Lawrence saw himself as a failure. In his epic chronicle Seven Pillars of Wisdom, how much of what Lawrence writes is truth and how much is fiction?
Finally we have the 30-minute program "From Slavery to Freedom", which looks at many cultures' attempts to enslave people of seemingly lesser quality into a lifetime of slavery. No mention is made of the Egyptians' enslavement of the Israelites, as seen in the Book of Exodus, which is a shame. The program, however, traces the roots of slavery back to ancient China and looks at the brief enslavement of the Greek philosopher Plato; the Roman execution of 400 slaves as the result of the murder of a prominent Roman official; Pope Gregory's desire to use slaves to till his fields in the 6th century; and, of course, the British and American slave movements from 300-400 years ago. However, slavery still continues to occur in parts of the world today, though in more brutal and horrific forms than we can conceive. But the program, which includes interviews with historians and people dedicated to educating and ending slavery, does give a positive note: this could be the generation that finally sees the end of slavery.
So ends my look at the first disc of "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones". Next time I'll take a look at Disc 2, "Passion for Life", which cobbles together young Indy's adventures in 1908 and 1909, and the six documentaries that comprise Disc 3. See you then!
(Before I go into my thoughts on those documentaries, I just want to put the word out there that if anyone has any of the original one-hour telecasts on video, send me an e-mail. Of this first set I have chapters 1, 2, 4, and 7 preserved to DVD+R, and I know that along the way I missed some of the other segments. I'd like to have all of the original telecasts, as well as the behind-the-scenes segments from the original 11 VHS tapes, preserved and archived on disc, so let's talk!)
Disc 1, "My First Adventure", is just that, young Indiana Jones' first adventures from birth and traveling the world. In the first five chapters, young Corey Carrier portrays Henry Jones, Jr., growing up just as any typical boy would. We learn of young Indy's humble beginnings and the journeys he undertakes with his parents Henry and Anna Jones (Alex Hyde-White, trying for all the world to channel Sean Connery, and Ruth deSosa, in an ineffective role that all but fulfills the perfunctory purpose of Indy's worrysome mother being around in his early years). Joining them on their travels is the crusty Miss Helen Seymour (Margaret Tyzack), Indy's tutor with an iron will all her own. The first half of "My First Adventure" centers on Indy's first trip to Egypt, encountering T.E. (Ned) Lawrence and Howard Carter, while exploring a possible curse centered around an Egyptian jackal - this has been lifted from the first half of the series' premiere "Young Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Jackal", which had a much more effective second half that tied in well with the first. The story then abruptly shifts gears to Cairo, where Indy learns of slavery and nearly winds up a slave as well. This second part of "My First Adventure", which was obviously filmed a few years after the first part, doesn't work as well. Why Luca$ decided to completely forego the original TV broadcasts still baffles many, including me, to this day. But the first part of the story does have a fun charm of its own that parents and Indiana Jones fans should enjoy.
Okay, onto the first four documentaries on Disc 1. First off is "Archaeology", a 16-minute feature that takes a look at how the real-life science of archaeology differs from the fascinating, adventurous, and sometimes romantic notions conveyed in the three (soon to be four) "Indiana Jones" theatrical films. According to modern-day scientists, archaeology is tedious and unsung, as the documentary profiles two such expeditions into remote parts of the world. For generations it was seen merely as looting and graverobbing, but it was not until 1922 that Howard Carter emerged as the benchmark by which archaeology is measured. This is continued in the 22-minute documentary "Howard Carter and and the Tomb of Tutankhamen", which profiles Carter's life-long love for archaeology and Egyptian history, the discovery and research of King Tut's tomb, and the meticulous and precise methods Carter used to archive and document every detail of the mysterious boy king's life and death. Carter's methods continue to be seen as the standard by which all modern archaeology must be measured.
From there we turn to the 36-minute program "Colonel Lawrence's War", a look at the life of British soldier Thomas Edward Lawrence, best known to many as Lawrence of Arabia. This documentary reveals untold aspects to Lawrence's life that, if you're only familiar with the 1960's David Lean epic with Peter O'Toole in the title role, you're in for a rude awakening. Ever in love with the Arabian way of life, Lawrence studied the Arab culture in the early 1900's and lived among them years before his service in the British military and his revolutionary methods of uniting the Arabs against the Turkish Empire in the closing years of World War I. But Lawrence's actions led to unforeseen circumstances that continue to reverberate in today's times, with all of the current troubles in Iraq and Pakistan. Others saw Lawrence as a romantic war hero and leader; Lawrence saw himself as a failure. In his epic chronicle Seven Pillars of Wisdom, how much of what Lawrence writes is truth and how much is fiction?
Finally we have the 30-minute program "From Slavery to Freedom", which looks at many cultures' attempts to enslave people of seemingly lesser quality into a lifetime of slavery. No mention is made of the Egyptians' enslavement of the Israelites, as seen in the Book of Exodus, which is a shame. The program, however, traces the roots of slavery back to ancient China and looks at the brief enslavement of the Greek philosopher Plato; the Roman execution of 400 slaves as the result of the murder of a prominent Roman official; Pope Gregory's desire to use slaves to till his fields in the 6th century; and, of course, the British and American slave movements from 300-400 years ago. However, slavery still continues to occur in parts of the world today, though in more brutal and horrific forms than we can conceive. But the program, which includes interviews with historians and people dedicated to educating and ending slavery, does give a positive note: this could be the generation that finally sees the end of slavery.
So ends my look at the first disc of "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones". Next time I'll take a look at Disc 2, "Passion for Life", which cobbles together young Indy's adventures in 1908 and 1909, and the six documentaries that comprise Disc 3. See you then!
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