Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 30th, 2011
"Millions of people around the world believe we have been visited in the past by extraterrestrial beings. What if it were true? Did ancient aliens really help to shape our history? And if so, what if there were clues left behind, something hiding in plain sight? What if we could find that evidence?"
Ever since Eric von Daniken released his speculative book and its subsequent 1970 film Chariots of the Gods, there has been an entire field of study created around something commonly called Ancient Astronaut Theory. The idea is that extraterrestrials have visited many of our ancient civilizations. The theory continues that these visitors had a hand in shaping our development, whether it be through technology or even manipulation of our very DNA. These believers point to a world of evidence to support their claims. There are tons of images from earlier civilizations that could certainly be interpreted as depicting modern devices, concepts, or even space men. There is plenty of speculation that some of the knowledge and accomplishments of these peoples could not have been possible without some outside interference. There are even those who believe that aliens best explain our religious beliefs and that God himself was/is an extraterrestrial being. Whatever your own beliefs on the subject, there are certainly some fascinating points to be made. There is no question that the speculations and observations bring up some interesting queries that deserve our attention. This series attempts to document much of this evidence and the beliefs these findings have inspired.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 30th, 2011
“As an exterminator I'm called upon to curb the destruction by beasts both great and small, be it eliminating a deadly menace or safeguarding a lake from ruin. But sometimes one wrong turn on the job can become a question of life or death."
Billy Bretherton is the owner of Vex Con Pest Control in Shreveport, Louisiana. It's a family-run business. Mom is the office manager and takes all of the service calls and then dispatches the technicians to their various jobs. Dad is the office mascot. He's had a heart attack along with a few other medical scares, so he's not really very hands-on. You might say his main job is to worry and complain. Ricky is Billy's brother and often his partner on many of his two-man jobs. It's interesting that we're constantly told that Ricky is deathly allergic to wasp stings. One sting and it's an airlift ride to the ER, Billy is always reminding us. But when a wasp call comes in, who do you think Billy takes along to help? Of course, it's Ricky. Mom always reminds us of the allergy and admonishes Billy to be sure his brother doesn't get stung. It's things like this that make this the most frustrating A&E series I've ever watched.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 1st, 2011
"In the farthest corner of America lies the nation's largest swamp. A hidden world where nature rules and man fights back. Welcome to the swamp."
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 31st, 2011
"Sketch comedy, what is it? What is required? The first thing that is needed is a premise."
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 25th, 2011
"In the world's highest mountains are roads only the best can survive. It's a whole new challenge for the top ice road truckers. They're taking on the world's deadliest roads to prove there's no route they can't conquer, and no load they can't haul..."
The Ice Road Truckers are back, but it's not the haul roads of Canada or Alaska they'll be facing this time. They've been taken to India where they'll haul cargo across the Himalayan mountains in trucks of wooden cabins and a third the horsepower they're used to. And, the worse danger isn't even the sheer cliffs or unpredictable landslides. It's the other cars. If you think they drive like maniacs where you live, you haven't seen anything yet. One of the drivers will get into two accidents before he even gets to the mountain.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 25th, 2011
"I'm Brad Meltzer. I've spent my life collecting stories. The best include signs, symbols and coded messages that are hidden in plain sight. Some have become the basis for my novels. But I've only scratched the surface of what's out there, and now History has given me the resources to investigate the rest. This is Decoded."
What if I told you there was an author out there who was known for writing novels that include historical conspiracies, secret societies and buried treasures, and that this author has found a way to parlay his moderate writing success into a television series for History?
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 3rd, 2011
"In the beginning there was darkness. And then bang, giving birth to an endless expanding existence of time, space, and matter. Now, see further than we've ever imagined. Beyond the limits of our existence. In a place we call The Universe."
The History series lasted for five seasons. The show used modern space photography, computer-generated images, and demonstrations along with respected scientists to explore the various aspects of our universe. While more time is spent in our own back yard exploring our solar system, the series did take us to the outer reaches of space, going back about 13 billion years. That's as far as we're able to see. The show was narrated by Erik Thompson. Of course, there is plenty of narration by the scientists.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 3rd, 2011
Ever since the second National Treasure film came out, there has been speculation that there might really be a Book Of Secrets that is passed down from president to president, perhaps since Washington himself. It is true that each president does traditionally leave a sealed note to his predecessor on the desk in the Oval Office. Still, there is no documentation that a special book exists, but then again there hardly would be, would there?
If you are expecting this special to talk about the existence of such a book, you are in for a disappointment. In fact, the title is quite misleading and obviously intended to take advantage of the film buzz. Instead, this special talks about the kinds of things that might/would be in such a book, if it existed. The show really talks about the office of the presidency and some of the traditions and precautions that are taken for the holder of the office. There's a lot of talk about the security details made for the office. You get a look at the "football", which is the briefcase that follows the president everywhere he goes. It contains emergency protocols and the launch codes for our nuclear arsenal. The episode explores secret societies like the Masons and Skull & Bones which have produced a large number of presidents as well as other powerful positions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on April 27th, 2011
Hi there, true believers. Take a walk with me today as we go inside the world of super humans. Humans that have powers far beyond average homo-sapiens. Can you control electricity or perhaps possess the strength of several men? Whether you answer yes or whether your eyes go ablaze in wonderment, you might just be interested in Stan Lee’s Superhumans. Season one awaits, let us proceed.
Stan Lee besides being a personal hero of mine is the creator of Marvel Comics. He has created such amazing heroes as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the Incredible Hulk. But Stan doesn’t think that these super-heroes exist only in the pages of a comic book or on a movie screen. He knows that there are living human beings out there in the world today that possess super natural powers.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 25th, 2011
Highway to Heaven was a television series that ran from 1984-1989. Jonathan Smith (Michael Landon) is an angel on a mission from God or “the boss”. After quickly finding employment as a handyman, Smith teams up with the ex-cop Mark Gordon (Victor French) to solve problems and help people with their everyday struggles. This series has plenty of sentimentality, spirituality, nostalgia, and unintentional comedy. As a newcomer to the series, I found myself unable to look away.
Michael Landon has an undeniable charisma. I am too young to have seen Bonanza or Little House on the Prairie. However, from watching this series I found myself struck by his screen presence. The camera remains fixed on his face during the majority of scenes and audiences are drawn in. Highway to Heaven is constantly delivering a message; the show looks at the human condition and questions why we operate the way we do. The delivery can sometimes be implausible. For example, during a physical altercation, Smith begins quoting scripture to the wrong doers. This blatant attempt at focusing on religion as the message can easily turn viewers off. However, within the realm of this show, audiences are able to give it some leeway.