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Showing posts with label Blu-ray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blu-ray. Show all posts

Saturday, March 5, 2011

The Office: Season Six

It took me a while to start watching The Office when it began to air.  I saw an episode every so often and I knew who the main characters were.  I didn’t start really watching the show until it was in syndication.  After that, I decided that I enjoyed the show enough to pick up the DVD sets.  I picked up The Office: Season Six when I found it on sale.

Since this is the sixth season of The Office, the characters are very well developed and situations have been established.  The show is a bit different since it is set up like a documentary film crew is filming the employees of a fictional paper company.  I don’t remember ever hearing why a film crew was filming them.  It is stretching believability a bit that they would still be filming after so long, but it does give the show an interesting set up.  The show is funny, though it is a sort of twisted humor that some people won’t appreciate.

The main development in the sixth season of The Office, at least for me, is that Pam and Jim get married.  I like that they are happily married and I loved the wedding episode.  It had just the right blend of sweet moments and goofy stuff.  I know that some people have complained that the show isn’t as good since Jim and Pam got together, but I don’t agree with that at all.  I don’t think that a couple has to be kept apart to keep a show entertaining.  I’ve stopped watching shows in the past because of that nonsense, so I’m glad it isn’t happening here.

The Office: Season Six is available on DVD and Blu-ray.  I picked up the DVD.  I really don’t like the case.  Two discs are stored on a panel, with one slightly on top of the other one.  To make matters worse, the edge of the disc that goes on the bottom has to go under the thing that holds the top disc.  This has become my least favorite DVD case because of that.  I hope this crappy design isn’t used on future sets of the show. 

The Office: Season Six has a decent amount of extras.  The show does deleted scenes wonderfully well.  They aren’t just random bits that don’t seem to fit with what is in the finished episodes.  Instead, they add to them and help to embellish them.  The deleted scenes are pretty entertaining.  The bloopers are funny and last a decent amount of time.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Office: Season Six and think the DVD or Blu-ray set is worth picking up for fans of the show.  I think the series is still entertaining and worth watching.

I did get a review of The Office: Season Six posted on Epinions.

The Office: Season Six

Monday, January 17, 2011

True Grit (1969)

I can’t remember for sure now, but I think I saw the 1969 version of True Grit years ago.  After seeing and enjoying the new version of the movie, I ended up watching the 1969 version again.

The plot for True Grit is fairly simple even though a few complications pop up.  There is a tiny bit of mystery tied to what is going on.  Some suspense does turn up in a few scenes without making the movie suspenseful overall.  Action is in a couple of scenes, mostly from some shootings that happen.  Those parts do add a bit of violence to what is going on.  The violence is slightly more extreme in one scene, though it isn’t that graphic overall.  I could have done without the snake that turns up later in the movie.

True Grit (1969) is based on the book of the same name by Charles Portis.  The 2010 version of the movie is based on the same book.  Both movies tell the same main story, though there are a few minor changes here and there.  Mattie, while still important to what is going on, ends up having a slightly smaller part in this version. 

The characters are still very entertaining, though they are slightly different.  Rooster is still more likely to shoot someone than arrest them and he likes to drink a lot.  His drunken antics do add some humor to a few scenes.  Those humorous moments do help to lighten the mood a bit.  I do like John Wayne in the part.  Mattie is still very determined to get things done, though I like her better in the 2010 version of the movie.  La Boeuf and Rooster still have issues and conflicts.   The cast is very good in their parts. 

True Grit (1969) has been released on DVD a few times and was recently released on Blu-ray.  I know there are some new special features on the Blu-ray since I looked at it in the store, but I can’t remember what those features are.  The DVD that I watched doesn’t have any extras.

True Grit (1969) is an entertaining movie that has held up well.  Fans of westerns or who enjoyed the new version of the movie should check it out.

I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.

True Grit (1969)


Thursday, January 13, 2011

Sherlock - Season One

Sherlock Holmes is a very popular character.  In the last few years, I have started to pick up more movies featuring the character.  I have also picked up a collection of the stories.  When I heard about Sherlock, a new show from England featuring the character in modern times, I was intrigued.  I eventually decided to pick up the first season on Blu-ray.

Sherlock is based on the stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, though they are updated to work in modern times.  I think that does add an interesting element to the series.  The first episode of the series does seem to be based on the one story featuring Sherlock that I’ve read.  Sherlock still relies on his observation skills and deduction ability, but he also uses modern things like computers, cell phones, and the internet.  John Watson is also around, helping on the cases.  He does end up doing some odd jobs for Sherlock, but he isn’t a bumbling idiot like the character has been portrayed in other movies.  John is writing about the cases on a blog. 

The episodes in Sherlock each feature a different case that he works on.  By the last episode - there are only three in the first season - things from the first case are mentioned again.  The mysteries are interesting and done well.  Suspense does turn up in various scenes, including the final scene of the last episode of the season.  I have read that a second season is planned.  I’m sure I’ll add it to my collection once it is released to own since I enjoyed the first season so much.

Sherlock originally aired on BBC.  I knew it was a BBC show when I ordered it, so I did expect the season to be short.  I just didn’t expect it to only be three episodes.  They are 90 minutes long though.  While it would be nice if there were more episodes in the season, they are all very interesting and entertaining.  The characters are a lot like they have been in movies, though they are each tweaked a bit.  I like that John is more of a partner than comic relief. 

Sherlock - Season One is available on DVD and Blu-ray.  Since it was only a few dollars more than the DVD, I decided to get the Blu-ray.  The first two episodes are on one disc and the last episode as well as a few extras are on the second disc.  The extras, which are focused on the making of the show, are interesting and worth watching.

Sherlock is a great show that deserves to be seen.  Fans of the character should definitely give it a chance.  Sherlock - Season One is a good choice for fans of the show.

I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.

Sherlock - Season One

Sunday, October 3, 2010

I've Gone High Def

I watch a lot of stuff on television and also watch a lot of movies on DVD.  I don’t know a lot about the newer televisions, but I did know that I eventually wanted one, especially after my mother and step-father got an LCD television a few years ago and I had the chance to watch things on it. 

I started looking at the televisions more in the spring of this year.  Even though I didn’t know - and still don’t know - a lot about the televisions, I knew that I wanted to get a 1080p one if I was going to spend the money on one.  I kept looking and I ended up getting a Vizio 32 inch LCD television.  I didn’t need a new television, but since I had the extra money at the time, I decided to splurge.  I also decided to get a Blu-ray player, something else I didn’t really need, but I had been wanting. 

I’ve had the new television and Blu-ray player for several months and I’m very happy with them.  Everything looks wonderful on the television.  I’m still amazed at times how good things look.  I do watch DVDs with the Blu-ray player, but I have started getting some Blu-rays.  Some older DVDs that I’ve watched look better played on the Blu-ray player.  I have picked up a few movies on Blu-ray that I already had on DVD, and so far, I’ve been happy with the ones I’ve doubled dipped on.  North by Northwest is absolutely amazing on Blu-ray.  That is a must own Blu-ray for fans of the movie.

I do think getting a high definition television and Blu-ray player is well worth it for people who love movies.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sherlock Holmes - DVD Release

I first saw Sherlock Holmes in the theater.  I loved the movie so I decided to pick up the movie on DVD when it came out. I picked up the Blu-ray that also has a DVD copy of the movie.

I think I've seen some other movies featuring Sherlock Holmes, but I can't remember much of anything from them.  I think the story for this version is original, though I don't know for sure that it wasn't in one of the short stories or books.  I think the story works very well and is interesting and entertaining.  There is a decent amount of action throughout the movie without things getting too violent.  There is some comedy too, usually in how Sherlock and Watson interact or react to certain things.  The cast, especially Robert Downey Jr. is wonderful.

I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.

Sherlock Holmes

Monday, March 15, 2010

House Bunny

When House Bunny came out in theaters, I was only slightly interested in seeing it eventually.  My interest wasn't great enough to warrant heading to the theater and forking over cash.  Not that long ago, I spotted the DVD fairly cheap and I almost picked it up, but something stopped me.  Now that I've seen the movie, thanks to one of the Encore channels I get, I'm very glad I didn't give into the momentary urge to get the DVD.

The plot has a tiny bit of potential that quickly goes no where fast while Anna Faris prances around barely dressed most of the time.  She does get naked at one point, though she is only shown from behind.  The role does show off a sexier side of Faris.  Sexual remarks are made and a few things shown are very suggestive, but there aren't any actual sex scenes.  Faris's character is sort of likable, but she is so stupid that she becomes irritating.  The jokes fall flat most of the time and things just aren't that entertaining or interesting.  I was watching the clock waiting for it to end.  

House Bunny isn't the worst movie I've seen, but it is far from the best.  Fans of Anna Faris may find something to enjoy about the movie, but I wouldn't count on it.  The movie is available to rent and own on DVD and Blu-ray.  It has been turning up on the Encore movie channels and it could be an On Demand option with some cable and satellite providers. 

I did post a longer review of House Bunny on Epinions.