Battlestar Galactica S4 Pt 2: DVD Review
Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Part 2
Starring: Tricia Helfer, James Callis, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie
Bamber
Rating: Restricted to Over 13
Universal Home Video
After four seasons of tumultuous acclaim and critical praise, the updated
version of Battlestar Galactica comes to an end.
Trouble is, how do you end a show which has been such a part of the
blogosphere and sci-fi world for so long?
Well the answer it appears is in a slightly disappointing manner. (But to be
fair, it was never going to satisfy everyone)
The final ten episodes wrap up the saga - after the last surviving humans
found what they believed was earth and discovered it was ravaged by nuclear
radiation, they set back out - along with their foes and uneasy allies, The
Cylons - to find somewhere new to call home.
However, the psychological toll of nearing ultimate destruction and failing
to locate what was believed to be Earth sees the survivors ripped apart by civil
unrest as they all try to come to terms with uncertain times.
Can they find a place to call home and reconcile with their arch nemeses?
This 4 disc final season set of BSG had a lot of the weight of expectation
and the hope of the resolution of the show's mythology on its shoulders.
As with many shows of this genre, it's never going to satisfy the hard core
fans - although in fairness, these last 10 wrap up some of the threads which
have been dangling since the start of Series 1 (who is the fifth Cylon? What
exactly is the deal with Starbuck?) - and some of them are tidied up neatly
while others are left without definitive resolution.
The only major disappointment with this clutch of episodes is how exactly
they choose to end it - I guess there's some kind of poetic justice that the
fate of the human race depends on a hybrid of a human and Cylon - but an awful
out of nowhere kidnapping seems to have been shoehorned into the plot to help it
finish.
That said - as a fan of the original series, it's very cool to see old school
Cylons battling new school Cylons.
And for a series with a long term plan, this has stayed true throughout and
never changed what its creators wanted for it.
Where I think BSG will be remembered is in its look and feel - all of the
characters have a weariness about them and a humanity which has seeped through
the writing all through out - as a show in its entirety it developed deep themes
about man, gods, fate, destiny and saw them through to the bitter end.
It will be frakking missed.
Extras: Unrated version of episode A Disquiet Follows My
Soul, A sneak peek at Caprica (the show's prequel), Video blogs, a doco
Rating: 7/10
Saturday, 29 August 2009
The Counterfeiters: DVD Review
The Counterfeiters: DVD Review
The Counterfeiters
Madman Entertainment
Rating: R13
Based on the true story of the largest counterfeiting ring (Operation Bernhard) set up by the Nazis in 1942, The Counterfeiters is a horrifyingly tense tale.
It centres around the story of Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch, who after being arrested by the Germans is thrown into a concentration camp.
The former counterfeiter extraordinaire is coerced into helping them create fake US and UK money which would have been used to flood the British and American economies and bring them to their knees.
But Sorowitsch finds his life complicated by moral obligations to his fellow prisoners and work mates - as well as being given the personal challenge of creating a perfect copy of the US dollar - a currency he's never been able to perfect as a counterfeiter.
The problem is the moment the Counterfeiters manage to succeed, they'll be wiped out as their usefulness will have expired.
And so begins a cat and mouse game between both sides - but as the pressure builds, the stakes become ever higher&.
The Counterfeiters is a truly engrossing and horrific film - as any war time film is wont to be.
There are real contrasts within - from the opening moments where Sorowitsch loses all his money at a casino to the terrifying lows of being given shoes which don't fit properly and former prisoner's clothes when he's put in the concentration camp, to moments where the prisoners realize they have to co-operate or they'll be killed - either by the guards or by the other prisoners who're jealous of the relative luxury the workers live in.
A tense and deeply taut thriller, The Counterfeiters is compelling viewing.
Extras :- Interview with Adolf Burger (whose memoir formed the film)
- Adolf Burger artifacts
- Interview with actor Karl Markovics (Salomon Sorowitsch)
- Interview with director Stefan Ruzowitzky
- Theatrical trailer
Rating 8/10
The Counterfeiters
Madman Entertainment
Rating: R13
Based on the true story of the largest counterfeiting ring (Operation Bernhard) set up by the Nazis in 1942, The Counterfeiters is a horrifyingly tense tale.
It centres around the story of Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch, who after being arrested by the Germans is thrown into a concentration camp.
The former counterfeiter extraordinaire is coerced into helping them create fake US and UK money which would have been used to flood the British and American economies and bring them to their knees.
But Sorowitsch finds his life complicated by moral obligations to his fellow prisoners and work mates - as well as being given the personal challenge of creating a perfect copy of the US dollar - a currency he's never been able to perfect as a counterfeiter.
The problem is the moment the Counterfeiters manage to succeed, they'll be wiped out as their usefulness will have expired.
And so begins a cat and mouse game between both sides - but as the pressure builds, the stakes become ever higher&.
The Counterfeiters is a truly engrossing and horrific film - as any war time film is wont to be.
There are real contrasts within - from the opening moments where Sorowitsch loses all his money at a casino to the terrifying lows of being given shoes which don't fit properly and former prisoner's clothes when he's put in the concentration camp, to moments where the prisoners realize they have to co-operate or they'll be killed - either by the guards or by the other prisoners who're jealous of the relative luxury the workers live in.
A tense and deeply taut thriller, The Counterfeiters is compelling viewing.
Extras :- Interview with Adolf Burger (whose memoir formed the film)
- Adolf Burger artifacts
- Interview with actor Karl Markovics (Salomon Sorowitsch)
- Interview with director Stefan Ruzowitzky
- Theatrical trailer
Rating 8/10
Departures: Movie Review
Departures: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kimiko Yo, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Takashi Sasano
Director: Yojiro Takita
It won the Academy Award in 2009 for Best Foreign Language Film and has resonated with many during its screenings at The New Zealand International Film Festival this year.
Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is by trade a cellist in a Tokyo orchestra, complete with wife and generally happy lifestyle.
Until one day without any warning, the orchestra is dissolved and Kobayashi finds himself in need of employment.
He answers an ad in the paper for helping with "assisting departures" (which it turns out is helping prepare the dead and departed for encoffinment.)
With no other prospects Kobayashi takes the position - and starts to lie to his family about what he does.
But the strain of what he does starts to take its toll on those around him - while Daigo has no qualms about finding his job, there are those who urge him to quit such a disgraceful career.
It's easy to see why Departures took him the Oscar - it has everything that an Award winning film needs - from an emotional journey for the central character which will resound with the audience to lushly shot scenery.
There's also a lot of poignancy in Daigo's job - dealing with death on a daily basis and the stigma and taboo attached to it in Japanese culture, Daigo is torn between a job he's clearly good at and a society which frowns on the public acknowledgement of the effect of death.
And yet in places, to be honest, it feels a little manipulative as the viewer is taken on Daigo's journey and the ultimate resolution of his plight - it's an interesting tale but it seems to be designed to tug at your heart strings throughout with the plot following an overly unsubtle approach - and scenes of Daigo playing his cello at suitably odd moments.
That said, when the end comes round, it's an effective pay off to the emotional investment you've put in over the last two hours.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kimiko Yo, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Takashi Sasano
Director: Yojiro Takita
It won the Academy Award in 2009 for Best Foreign Language Film and has resonated with many during its screenings at The New Zealand International Film Festival this year.
Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is by trade a cellist in a Tokyo orchestra, complete with wife and generally happy lifestyle.
Until one day without any warning, the orchestra is dissolved and Kobayashi finds himself in need of employment.
He answers an ad in the paper for helping with "assisting departures" (which it turns out is helping prepare the dead and departed for encoffinment.)
With no other prospects Kobayashi takes the position - and starts to lie to his family about what he does.
But the strain of what he does starts to take its toll on those around him - while Daigo has no qualms about finding his job, there are those who urge him to quit such a disgraceful career.
It's easy to see why Departures took him the Oscar - it has everything that an Award winning film needs - from an emotional journey for the central character which will resound with the audience to lushly shot scenery.
There's also a lot of poignancy in Daigo's job - dealing with death on a daily basis and the stigma and taboo attached to it in Japanese culture, Daigo is torn between a job he's clearly good at and a society which frowns on the public acknowledgement of the effect of death.
And yet in places, to be honest, it feels a little manipulative as the viewer is taken on Daigo's journey and the ultimate resolution of his plight - it's an interesting tale but it seems to be designed to tug at your heart strings throughout with the plot following an overly unsubtle approach - and scenes of Daigo playing his cello at suitably odd moments.
That said, when the end comes round, it's an effective pay off to the emotional investment you've put in over the last two hours.
Friday, 28 August 2009
Fast and Furious: DVD Review
Fast and Furious: DVD Review
Fast And Furious
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster
Rating: M
Universal Home Video
The fourth outing the Fast and the Furious franchise sees the original team which launched this cars and crime saga reunited.
By bringing back the original parts (see what the filmmakers did there) it was hoped that it would ignite the box office - which it duly did.
When a crime brings back fugitive ex con Dom Toretto (the ever monotonic Vin Diesel) finds himself once again pitted against agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker)
But in a twist, the pair have to unite forces to take on a common enemy - and both realize the only way to get revenge is behind the wheel.
It's clear watching Fast and Furious that a new franchise is being relaunched - from the opening scene where Dom and his gang hijack fuel tankers, you're thrown straight into the high octane action - and a series of spectacular stunts (as well as slow mo explosions).
The film itself doesn't really concern itself too much with dialogue - which is just as well as Diesel seems to limit most of his acting to guttural muttering and glowering from time to time. Walker lends himself to sullen and sulky as the agent trying to bring down the bad guys and get Toretto brought to justice - and he just manages to pull off the moral conflict he feels.
But the real star of this film is the stunts.
Coupled with the racing scenes, this has really seen the production values bumped well above what they used to be.
The opening scene is quite a nailbiter and thrusts you slap bang into the middle of Torreto's world - I can understand why this film was such a hit in the States (and its ambiguous ending lends itself perfectly to a potential - and inevitable - sequel)
Fast and Furious will be loved by those who enjoy the high octane world of cars, stunts and girls - it ticks all the right boxes for its core demographic. And the extras are reasonable for a one disc release, covering the usual ground of behind the scenes.
Anyone else outside the genre may be simply dazzled by some of the eye popping stunt racing - but feeling a little hollow when it comes to the actual story.
Extras: Available in a 1 disc or 2 disc set; the 1 disc has commentary from director Justin Lee, Driving school with Vin Diesel, Gag Reel and filming in Mexico
Rating: 6/10
Fast And Furious
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster
Rating: M
Universal Home Video
The fourth outing the Fast and the Furious franchise sees the original team which launched this cars and crime saga reunited.
By bringing back the original parts (see what the filmmakers did there) it was hoped that it would ignite the box office - which it duly did.
When a crime brings back fugitive ex con Dom Toretto (the ever monotonic Vin Diesel) finds himself once again pitted against agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker)
But in a twist, the pair have to unite forces to take on a common enemy - and both realize the only way to get revenge is behind the wheel.
It's clear watching Fast and Furious that a new franchise is being relaunched - from the opening scene where Dom and his gang hijack fuel tankers, you're thrown straight into the high octane action - and a series of spectacular stunts (as well as slow mo explosions).
The film itself doesn't really concern itself too much with dialogue - which is just as well as Diesel seems to limit most of his acting to guttural muttering and glowering from time to time. Walker lends himself to sullen and sulky as the agent trying to bring down the bad guys and get Toretto brought to justice - and he just manages to pull off the moral conflict he feels.
But the real star of this film is the stunts.
Coupled with the racing scenes, this has really seen the production values bumped well above what they used to be.
The opening scene is quite a nailbiter and thrusts you slap bang into the middle of Torreto's world - I can understand why this film was such a hit in the States (and its ambiguous ending lends itself perfectly to a potential - and inevitable - sequel)
Fast and Furious will be loved by those who enjoy the high octane world of cars, stunts and girls - it ticks all the right boxes for its core demographic. And the extras are reasonable for a one disc release, covering the usual ground of behind the scenes.
Anyone else outside the genre may be simply dazzled by some of the eye popping stunt racing - but feeling a little hollow when it comes to the actual story.
Extras: Available in a 1 disc or 2 disc set; the 1 disc has commentary from director Justin Lee, Driving school with Vin Diesel, Gag Reel and filming in Mexico
Rating: 6/10
Thursday, 27 August 2009
24: Redemption: DVD Review
24: Redemption: DVD Review
24: Redemption
20th Century Fox/ RoadshowRating: M
Bridging the gap between Day 6 and Day 7, 24: Redemption sees Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer thrown back into the action - despite his attempts to stay out of the terrorism game which has cost him so dearly.
At the end of Day 6, Jack was left a broken man after finding his family involved in a plot against the US Government.
As 24: Redemption opens, Bauer is in the African nation of Sangala, working as a missionary and wanted by the US government for questioning over his torture methods of dealing with suspects.
However, Bauer's quest for inner peace is torn apart when a ruthless warlord begins drafting innocent children into his army.
Against that backdrop, a new female US president Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) is being sworn into the White House - and pretty soon, as the situation in Africa escalates, it becomes clear to the President elect that this will form the first crisis of her new reign.
24: Redemption follows the tradition of prequels for the TV series - although this is the first full length film to be released (all the other prequels have been just moments long)
It also comes hot on the heels of a season which was critically panned and badly received by fans who felt Day 6's threats and personal connections to Jack Bauer reached an all time low.
Couple that in with the writer's strike in America which stopped Day 7 (the seventh series) from being filmed, and it's clear those involved had a lot to prove.
The events still unfold in real time (this time over 2 hours) but 24 Redemption suffers from a condensed timeline.
Whereas the show's plotting allows the storylines to breathe over the course of 24 episodes, 24: Redemption suffers by comparison as it races to get it all in over 2 hours.
Granted, there are still some of the thrills and absurdities you've come to expect of the show, but a lot of this telemovie feels like a set up for the new season (which was probably inevitable) with new characters being introduced and new threats unveiled.
Extras:
- The Making of 24: Redemption
- Blood Never Dry
- Child soldiers in Africa
- 24 Season 6 in four minutes
- 24 Season 7 sneak peek
- Deleted scenes
Rating 6/10
24: Redemption
20th Century Fox/ RoadshowRating: M
Bridging the gap between Day 6 and Day 7, 24: Redemption sees Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer thrown back into the action - despite his attempts to stay out of the terrorism game which has cost him so dearly.
At the end of Day 6, Jack was left a broken man after finding his family involved in a plot against the US Government.
As 24: Redemption opens, Bauer is in the African nation of Sangala, working as a missionary and wanted by the US government for questioning over his torture methods of dealing with suspects.
However, Bauer's quest for inner peace is torn apart when a ruthless warlord begins drafting innocent children into his army.
Against that backdrop, a new female US president Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) is being sworn into the White House - and pretty soon, as the situation in Africa escalates, it becomes clear to the President elect that this will form the first crisis of her new reign.
24: Redemption follows the tradition of prequels for the TV series - although this is the first full length film to be released (all the other prequels have been just moments long)
It also comes hot on the heels of a season which was critically panned and badly received by fans who felt Day 6's threats and personal connections to Jack Bauer reached an all time low.
Couple that in with the writer's strike in America which stopped Day 7 (the seventh series) from being filmed, and it's clear those involved had a lot to prove.
The events still unfold in real time (this time over 2 hours) but 24 Redemption suffers from a condensed timeline.
Whereas the show's plotting allows the storylines to breathe over the course of 24 episodes, 24: Redemption suffers by comparison as it races to get it all in over 2 hours.
Granted, there are still some of the thrills and absurdities you've come to expect of the show, but a lot of this telemovie feels like a set up for the new season (which was probably inevitable) with new characters being introduced and new threats unveiled.
Extras:
- The Making of 24: Redemption
- Blood Never Dry
- Child soldiers in Africa
- 24 Season 6 in four minutes
- 24 Season 7 sneak peek
- Deleted scenes
Rating 6/10
Boosh Special Edition: DVD Review
Boosh Special Edition: DVD Review
Boosh Special Edition
Starring: Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding
Roadshow Entertainment/ BBC
Rating M
Collecting together the three television series and a wealth of extras, over a seven disc set, Boosh Special Edition is perhaps the most definitive collection the fans could want.
The comedy sees the collected escapades of Vince Noir (Noel Fielding) and Howard Moon (Julian Barratt) as they negotiate the slightly strange, incredibly surreal world they live in.
In Series 1, they're a pair of inept zookeepers at the Zooniverse - during their time there, they end up looking for a missing diamond in the Arctic, trying to get out of limbo and generally trying to get out of countless scrapes.
Series 2 and 3 see the duo move away from the Zooniverse Universe (yes I do realize how this all sounds when it's written down) as they shared a flat with a shaman and worked in a shop.
It's an absurdist comedy to be frank - and while the first series is very, very funny - if you're prepared to let it all go with the madness and surreal nature of it all, the final two don't see them reach the dizzying heights of everything that's gone before.
That said, this is a gorgeous set with a seventh disc containing a whole raft of extras.
But the one glaring omission which would have made this perfect is the live show which has been released on DVD over here.
However, with over 14 hours of entertainment, this set is one for the fans to treasure.
Extras: An absolutely definitive collection (far too numerous to list here but including Q&As, cinema trailers, outtakes) There's around 150 minutes of stuff exclusive to this collection including the unreleased "A Journey Through Time and Space" documentary where Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt tell the story behind The Mighty Boosh in their own words; Noel's very own illustrations grace the out-of-this world packaging, booklet and collector's cards are enclosed in the collection
Rating 7/10
Boosh Special Edition
Starring: Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding
Roadshow Entertainment/ BBC
Rating M
Collecting together the three television series and a wealth of extras, over a seven disc set, Boosh Special Edition is perhaps the most definitive collection the fans could want.
The comedy sees the collected escapades of Vince Noir (Noel Fielding) and Howard Moon (Julian Barratt) as they negotiate the slightly strange, incredibly surreal world they live in.
In Series 1, they're a pair of inept zookeepers at the Zooniverse - during their time there, they end up looking for a missing diamond in the Arctic, trying to get out of limbo and generally trying to get out of countless scrapes.
Series 2 and 3 see the duo move away from the Zooniverse Universe (yes I do realize how this all sounds when it's written down) as they shared a flat with a shaman and worked in a shop.
It's an absurdist comedy to be frank - and while the first series is very, very funny - if you're prepared to let it all go with the madness and surreal nature of it all, the final two don't see them reach the dizzying heights of everything that's gone before.
That said, this is a gorgeous set with a seventh disc containing a whole raft of extras.
But the one glaring omission which would have made this perfect is the live show which has been released on DVD over here.
However, with over 14 hours of entertainment, this set is one for the fans to treasure.
Extras: An absolutely definitive collection (far too numerous to list here but including Q&As, cinema trailers, outtakes) There's around 150 minutes of stuff exclusive to this collection including the unreleased "A Journey Through Time and Space" documentary where Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt tell the story behind The Mighty Boosh in their own words; Noel's very own illustrations grace the out-of-this world packaging, booklet and collector's cards are enclosed in the collection
Rating 7/10
Dr Who: Image of The Fendahl: DVD Review
Dr Who: Image of The Fendahl: DVD Review
Doctor Who - Image of The Fendahl
Starring: Tom Baker, Louise Jameson
Roadshow Entertainment/ BBC
Rating PG
As the new series of the TimeLord continues to grow in strength and audience numbers, the BBC continues to release serials from the classic series which ran non stop from 1963 to 1989 before its revival for the 21st century.
This one from 1977 sees fan's favourite Tom Baker, he of the toothy grin and multi coloured scarf, confronted by the eerie goings on at Fetch Priory.
There, a band of scientists have discovered an ancient human skull - and it's being used by Professor Fendelman in his Time Scanner experiments.
However, as the archaeologists continue to probe deeper into the skull's history, a chain of events is set in motion which could see the end of mankind (again - will we never learn) unless the good Doctor intervenes.
Sometimes, even the most passionate of fans find it difficult to defend the cause - and unfortunately Image of The Fendahl is not of the finest serials from the show's pantheon of entries which scared so many generations silly back when special effects were nothing more than an odd looking creature painted in a funny colour.
The 4 part series is nothing to write home about - there are some interesting performances from the supporting cast (including various members of Coronation Street and Eastenders before they made it big) but all in all, the story bears an uncanny resemblance to the Quatermass and The Pit Stories.
However, it's the extras which make these monthly releases of interest - this time with some stunning restoration and some genuinely informative Production notes (and amusing commentary from the ever eccentric Tom Baker), this disc is rescued from oblivion.
Just.
Extras: Commentary - With actors Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, Wanda Ventham and Edward Arthur. After Image - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. Deleted & Extended Scenes, Trailers; Photo Gallery, Coming Soon, Easter Egg, Radio Times Listings, Programme subtitles and Subtitle Production Notes
Rating 5/10
Doctor Who - Image of The Fendahl
Starring: Tom Baker, Louise Jameson
Roadshow Entertainment/ BBC
Rating PG
As the new series of the TimeLord continues to grow in strength and audience numbers, the BBC continues to release serials from the classic series which ran non stop from 1963 to 1989 before its revival for the 21st century.
This one from 1977 sees fan's favourite Tom Baker, he of the toothy grin and multi coloured scarf, confronted by the eerie goings on at Fetch Priory.
There, a band of scientists have discovered an ancient human skull - and it's being used by Professor Fendelman in his Time Scanner experiments.
However, as the archaeologists continue to probe deeper into the skull's history, a chain of events is set in motion which could see the end of mankind (again - will we never learn) unless the good Doctor intervenes.
Sometimes, even the most passionate of fans find it difficult to defend the cause - and unfortunately Image of The Fendahl is not of the finest serials from the show's pantheon of entries which scared so many generations silly back when special effects were nothing more than an odd looking creature painted in a funny colour.
The 4 part series is nothing to write home about - there are some interesting performances from the supporting cast (including various members of Coronation Street and Eastenders before they made it big) but all in all, the story bears an uncanny resemblance to the Quatermass and The Pit Stories.
However, it's the extras which make these monthly releases of interest - this time with some stunning restoration and some genuinely informative Production notes (and amusing commentary from the ever eccentric Tom Baker), this disc is rescued from oblivion.
Just.
Extras: Commentary - With actors Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, Wanda Ventham and Edward Arthur. After Image - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. Deleted & Extended Scenes, Trailers; Photo Gallery, Coming Soon, Easter Egg, Radio Times Listings, Programme subtitles and Subtitle Production Notes
Rating 5/10
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