Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 18th, 2005
This is a review based on a screener copy.
Kelly Clarkson - Behind Hazel Eyes is a behind the scenes look at the former American Idol winner. The documentary format suits the work well. We get to see Kelly revisiting her old high school haunts, in the studio, and going camping with her girl friends (among other things). The portrait that emerges, or the portrait Kelly wants to have emerge (a slightly more cynical opinion), is of a young woman who hasn't lost touch with her "roots".
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 16th, 2005
The Bodyguard is silly. Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner star this decade old thriller/romance. Houston plays Rachel Marron, a pop singer. Not much of stretch back then, these days...not so much. Costner plays Frank Farmer, bodyguard to the stars. It seems as though Marron is receiving death threats. Enter Frank Farmer. A romance eventually develops. This is this the stuff of high camp. Instead, we get low camp. The Bodyguard is not quite bad enough to be Showgirls, and not quite good ...nough to be Basic Instinct. The Brit director, Mick Jackson, tries to add some intelligence to the precedings. But why bother. It's The Bodyguard.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 16th, 2005
posted by Kim Lee
Orange County Choppers (OCC) is a legendary custom motorcycle shop run by a father & son team. The Teutel family business consists of Paul Sr., Paul Jr., and Mikey featuring Vince DiMartino, Rick Petko, and Cody Connelley. Paul Sr. runs the show at OCC and Paul Jr. is the artistic genius behind custom bike fabrications while Mikey is the untalented son that’s there to bring humor and motivation to the shop. The cast of American Chopper is what makes everything interesting as each character brings a different level o... attraction to the show. The complete first season of American Chopper brings humor, sarcasm, and tension to every episode as these geniuses fight deadlines, delays, and sometimes each other to build the coolest choppers on this planet.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 15th, 2005
Very few shows had the longevity that The Jefferson’s did. Its eleven year run is one of the longest tenures for any sitcom in any decade. Season three was not one of the better seasons… as proved by TV ratings (24th in 1978). Who knows why ratings were not as good as most other seasons… You still get George’s shuffling, Weezie’s tirades, and now in season three we are introduced to Florence… the wise talking maid.
Season three did have its fair share of moments. Here is a brief season three syno...sis provided by Sony Pictures… “With an irresistible combination of biting social satire and pure hilarity, America's funniest cast of characters are all on hand to deliver even more laughs: Geroge Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) takes up flying, wife Weezy (Isabel Sanford) struggles to keep her cool around Mother Jefferson (Zara Culley), maid Florence (Marla Gibbs) moved on in and starts trouble, son Lionel (Mike Evans) married the daughter of the next-door-neighbors, interracial couple Helen and Tom Willis (Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover), and neighbor Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict) lands himself in jail after punching out a police officer not to mention all the other wacky characters who shake things up in the "dee-luxe apartment in the sky."
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 15th, 2005
Season five of Cheers is a major turning point for this show which ran an impressive 11 seasons. This season marks the end of Shelly Long’s (who plays Diane) tenure, and frees up a key opening in the cast – eventually filled by Kirstie Alley in season six. All of the regulars are back, including Sam, Woody, Carla, Frasier, Lilith, Norm, Cliff, and the aforementioned Diane. The laughs are contagious in each episode, and make you realize why this show was so popular for its entire eleven year run.
...eason five has lots of sub-plots, some of which are described in this brief season five synopsis provided by Paramount… “In Cheers: The Complete Fifth Season, Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelley Long) make on-again, off-again wedding plans - including a marriage proposal that ends in an assault and battery charge! Not to be outdone, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) move in together; Woody (Woody Harrelson) finds himself abruptly engaged; Carla (Rhea Perlman) falls for a hockey goalie; and Cliff (John Ratzenberger) gets bitten by a dog ... and becomes smitten with the dog's owner. Will Norm's (George Wendt) new job pan out? Will Carla get "birdzilla" cooked in time for Thanksgiving dinner? Will wedding bells finally chime for Sam and Diane? You'll find all the answers - and unending laughs - in all 26 hilarious episodes of the season that marks the farewell appearance of Shelley Long as Cheers regular Diane Chambers.“
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 15th, 2005
It is 1994, and both ER and Chicago Hope premier in hopes to win the battle for Hospital drama supremacy on primetime TV. Fast forward to today, and the winner of this battle has been clearly decided; Chicago Hope had six successful seasons before getting cancelled after the 2000 season, while ER has become the most successful Hospital drama in TV history. While ER is currently in its 11th season, we now rewind to 1997, to the shows third season.
So what is this show about? Here is a...brief series synopsis from Warner Brothers… “Combining the extraordinary talents of multiple award-winning producer John Wells, best-selling author Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg, "ER" follows the lives of the emergency room staff and doctors at Chicago's County General Hospital, where the difference between life and death rests on split-second decisions--and the pressure, joy and guilt are often overwhelming.”
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 15th, 2005
I remember growing up with The A-Team; Mr. T. was the Man… and the originator of true bling-bling. This action series lasted 5 seasons, and was quite entertaining for its time. It does not really meet today’s standards for action & effects, but then again... this series ran in the 80’s. I am very surprised that today, in the day of film remakes of classic television shows, we have yet to see this show make it to the big screen. With The Dukes of Hazard about to get its theatrical debut… can an A...Team film be far behind
Video
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 14th, 2005
In Good Company is a "feel good" movie about the ruthless corporate world. Now, is such a thing possible? Writer/Director Paul Weitz almost pulls it off. The movie stars Dennis Quaid as Dan Foreman, the head of advertising sales for a sports magazine. All goes down the toilet for Dan when the sports magazine is swallowed up my a major media conglomerate. Enter Carter Duryea, played by Topher Grace. Carter is brought in as the new "boss", but he's young and in way over his head. Carter decides to keep Dan...around. There's also a romance too, as Carter hooks up with Dan's daughter Alex (played by the lovely Scarlett Johansson). That's the basic gist.
The performances are all excellent here. Topher Grace seems perfectly cast. Johansson, as always, is a complete delight. But Dennis Quaid really seems to be coming into his own lately in these "older man" roles. Quaid has definite screen presence. David Paymer's performance is also worth noting, as the sad sack long time employee of the magazine.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 12th, 2005
“It’s been a long time getting from there to here.” 35 years to be exact. Enterprise is the fourth spin-off from the original 1960’s hopeful series. Rick Berman decided to set this series about 100 years before the days of Kirk and Spock. Enterprise has certainly taken a ton of heat since its debuted just 4 years ago. While much of the whining by the “get a life” fans can be delegated to the “Nitpicker’s Guides,” much of it is well deserved.
The most egregious infraction is the liberty the show has taken with established timeline of Star Trek. At times it does appear Berman has decided to insult the very fans that have made the program so enduring. The writers try too hard to make Enterprise the underdog in every fight. It sure seems like everybody else has shields and better weapons. Makes you wonder how Earth became the dominant member of the Federation. With that said, I have found this to be the most entertaining Star Trek since Picard and his crew flew their Enterprise in The Next Generation. The characters, with the notable exception of Hoshi, are the most compelling in many years. Finally there is a trinity of characters reminiscent of the Kirk, Spock, and McCoy relationships. Great effort has been made to create this chemistry with Archer, Trip, and T’Pol, the newest Vulcan. I particularly liked the nice touch of having the three often dine together while discussing the business of exploring space.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 11th, 2005
What the Bleep Do We Know!? appears to be a New Age film without actually saying the words “New” or “Age.” Consider this, the film, produced by Captured Light & Lord of the Wind Films, is about “a life-changing journey with Amanda (Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser “God), a divorced photographer who tumbles down a metaphysical rabbit hole.”
Now, that premise sounds interesting enough, you’re unsure where Amanda will wind up or how she’ll get there. But read on…”Her mind-bending voyage throug... the worlds of science and spirituality includes revelations by quantum physics experts, playful animation and even a conversation with a 35,000 year-old being.”
