DVD

The Trailer Park Boys are household names in Canada; the central characters even more than the show itself. The mockumentary TV series has been a cult sensation since its inception in 2001, right through its seven seasons and two feature films. Here is the introduction to Ricky, Julian, Bubbles and other charmers from the Sunnyvale Trailer Park.

As was the case for my two previous Madeline reviews (https://upcomingdiscs.com/2010/07/20/madelines-great-adventures/ plus https://upcomingdiscs.com/2010/09/21/madelines-halloween-other-spooky-tales/#more-13938) there is little more I could say about the general premise of Madeline. But as I slowly become a connoisseur of this particular character (as this website feels I should be, it seems) I have a few more insights brought on by this Christmas themed edition.

Grace, California is the kind of “small” town that all the young people wish to escape. Why? I suppose it is because they have ambitions for “greater” things. What are their ambitions while they have to stay? To be as catty and backstabbing as possible while living out a teen soap opera existence. Such is the groundwork for Seven Deadly Sins, a two-part mini-series created for the Lifetime network and based on a series of books of the same name. On this DVD the two parts are merged into a monstrous movie (clocking in at over 3 hours).

Three couples are meeting for a trip out to the country to have an old fashioned, American orgy. What instigated said orgy is mostly a mystery, as is what truly keeps them motivated to go through with it. Needless to say, most of them are in it for reasons beyond being carefree and their ulterior motives and inner demons will only spoil the party.

Written by Diane Tillis

I’ve come to learn that you either love the 1997 – 2002 American drama-comedy series Ally McBeal, or you loathe it.

For its time, Ally McBeal was an unusual show. It mixed comedy, drama, law, and a unisex bathroom to create a quirky television series. Ally McBeal is unapologetic for representing the insane, ridiculous, and crazy situations the characters get into, and how they get out of them. It focuses on the romantic and personal lives of several characters who work in a Boston law firm.

A hitman is getting into his senior years; a notable luxury for someone in his line of work. To feel more secure, he plans to pull off one last job before calling it quits. In order for this film to have an interesting plot something surely must go wrong, and it does. Now reunited with his son, who is aspiring to learn from dear ole (estranged) dad and elevate himself in the crime world, Charlie Valentine hopes to settles things in one way or another.

Robert Mutt feels like a hopeless loser and tries to “off” himself (several times). Even in death, he is a failure and finds himself in a mental asylum. Upon receiving some experimental treatment from a new therapist, his confidence is (seemingly) restored and he sets back out into the real world to become a real “somebody.”

Written by Diane Tillis

Jumping Jellybeans! Scooby Doo deserves mention in any article that discusses the best and most-loved animated television series in history.

Scooby Doo has been chronicled in several different media from live-action films, direct-to-DVD films, and the popular 1969 animated series. The earliest material from 1969 – 1970 tends to be the more highly regarded season of the series to date. If you are like me and grew up watching reruns of these episodes on Saturday mornings, the earliest material is also the most loved of the series.

In 2004 DOG the Bounty Hunter first took to the airwaves. On the surface it looked like yet another one of those reality cop shows where camera guys followed the men in blue as they took down the bad guys. Dog wasn't a cop; in fact he'd spent a part of his life on the other side of the law. Still, he was decked out in a Kevlar vest with a badge hanging from a chain around his neck. The cameras followed him around as he kicked in doors and stalked his criminal prey. But this isn't really quite your typical reality cop show.

For me, I’ve never understood the fascination behind zombies unless it involves Milla Jovovich (See Resident Evil). They are undead, lumber around, make strange noises and have a primal urge to eat brains. So, admittedly I saw Colin in my review pile and mostly shrugged. Another zombie movie, *twirl finger*. However, after reading the back jacket, I realized this one had something more: it was told from the zombie’s point of view.