Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 66

Day 66 consisted of the 645 cardio in the morning and the stretch routine from Lift 4 in the evening. Both went fine. There was really nothing notable about either routine, good or bad.  

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 65

Day 65 started week 2 of the Lean Phase in CE. I did the 645 cardio routine in the morning and then LC1 in the evening. The cast turns over a bit in the Lean Circuit. Donna is back doing the modified workout with the bands, and three new cast members, Dan, Julie, and Bethany, replace Skip (thank god), Janelle, and Laly. They are all in great shape and never seem to be dogging it through the exercises. I used the same weight this week for all the exercises as I did last week. But I was able to do more push-ups on my toes this week. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 64

On Day 64, I did the 645 cardio workout, followed by the CE ab workout in the morning and CE's Recharge routine in the evening. Recharge is kind of the perfect yoga routine if you get bored during Yoga (which I definitely do sometimes), as it is only about a half-hour long. I am still not as flexible as I would like, but I am still improving.

Book Review: Star Wars Character Encyclopedia (2019)

 

If you have any of the other Star Wars encyclopedias, this one is par for the course in terms of what you get. Each character receives a 1-page description, which includes a combination of biographical information and pictures. Not every character in the canon material is included, just characters that have appeared in the movies (updated through the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story). It does not contain any characters from the animated series or the canon novels (like Thrawan, Ezra Bridger, Ashoka, etc.) or any of the new characters that will be in The Rise of Skywalker. Nor does it include much detail about any character, even the "main" characters from any of the trilogies. It is nowhere near as comprehensive as the Han Solo devoted book published earlier this year. Unlike that one, I would not call it a "must get" book, but for those who collect some, or all, of the new books that get put out, it makes a nice addition to any collection as long as you know what to expect.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Krypton Season 2

 

The ten-episode second season of Krypton aired during the summer of 2019. It tied up the Dru-Zod storyline while furthering the Brainiac storyline, which ended on another massive cliffhanger. Unfortunately, the series was canceled after the second season aired, so the cliffhanger will never be resolved, which ultimately makes the season unsatisfying. The season picks up six months after the end of season 1, with Seg portrayed as dead and General Zod ruling over Krypton. Seg manages to find his way out of the Phantom Zone and back to Krypton, with a pit-stop to Brainiac's homeworld along the way. Then, the bulk of the season involves wresting back control of Krypton from General Zod, with Brainiac continuing to wreak havoc along the way.

This season introduces Lobo (played by Emmett Scanlan) as a new character and incorporates more of Doomsday (who was teased at the end of Season 1). The Doomsday storyline includes a back-story for him, showing why the blood of a Zod and an El was needed to release him from the containment. There are also expanded roles for characters like Kem and Nyssa from their more supporting season one roles. The season finale was definitely setting up a third season that would have included more of Lobo and revolved heavily around Nyssa and Seg.

The Blu-Ray set is a two-disc set. The A/V quality is excellent, and the show looks and sounds great in the HD format. The extras are lighter than what was included for the season one release. There is a 38-minute feature on the DC villains, which was also included as an extra on the other DC show DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and then a very short feature specific to the series called Saving Superman. It would have been nice if they had included something in which the showrunners laid out what the plan for season three would have been if they had a chance to make it, but unfortunately, nothing like that is included.

Overall, the season was very good but incomplete because Sy-Fy pulled the rug out from under the show and canceled it after the season was completed. It was an original show that was not tied into the "Arrowverse" shows (although Cameron Cauffe was apparently approached to have a cameo in the Crisis on Infinite Earths mega cross-over, but could not appear due to scheduling), and told a great story. With the proviso that it leaves the fate of a major character up in the air and is likely to never be resolved, it is definitely worth checking out.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: IT: Chapter Two

 

IT: Chapter Two is the 2019 sequel to 2017's IT. It is the second part of the adaptation of Stephen King's novel IT. In this movie, the adult versions of the children who vanquished IT/Pennywise in the first movie are introduced into the story. The film stars Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, and Bill Skarsgard, reprising his role as Pennywise from the first movie. 

This movie is a double-edged sword because it allows for using well-known actors (Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, etc.) and more violent and gory imagery than in the first movie. Still, it is (in my opinion) the weaker part of the story. This is partly because they have to reintroduce and develop the characters as adults and essentially have them go through the same horrors with Pennywise until they do (mostly) the same thing in the final confrontation with him as they did as kids. That said, the movie does add new elements, so it is not just a total carbon copy of the first movie. It is also great to see the young actors alongside their older counterparts in different scenes. Bill Skarsgaard delivers another wonderful performance as Pennywise, this time with part of it being done via motion capture, as used in movies like Lord of the Rings, Avatar, the new Star Wars movies, etc. Steven King also has a cameo as the mean shopowner Bill repurchases his bike from.

The 4K set is a three-disc set with a UHD disc and two regular Blu-Ray discs. The movie looks and sounds excellent in UHD. The UHD disc just has the film and the commentary track if you want to listen to it. Then, there are two regular blu-ray discs, one with just the movie and one with all the extras (over an hour's worth). Those include chapters 1 and 2 of making-of and behind-the-scenes material, the first either taking a lot from or reusing the same feature that was an extra on the release for the first movie and the second new for the second movie. They are the longest of the bonus material. Then, there are a few shorter features. A very good amount for those who still like getting the physical disc releases.

While I cannot say everyone will love the movie, it did a good job of wrapping up the story. Of course, it is much different than the TV miniseries done in the 1990s, and even with a nearly three-hour running time, it still could not incorporate everything from the book. It is worth checking out if you can accept those things about it.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Krypton Season 1

 

Krypton was a series set on Superman's home planet, set around his grandfather Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe), who has to choose between two paths. One that will result in the destruction of the planet and thus restore Superman's legacy or prevent the chain of events that will lead to the destruction of Krypton and change the future. The ten-episode first season aired on the Syfy network in the spring of 2018. The series starred the aforementioned Cuffe, Georgina Campbell, Shaun Sipos, Elliot Cowan, Ann Ogbomo, Aaron Pierre, Wallis Day, Blake Ritson, Ian McElhinney, Colin Salmon, and Hannah Waddingham. It was one of the few DC Superhero series at the time that was not airing on The CW and not tied into the "Arrowverse." However, there were whispers of Cameron Cuffe appearing in the Crisis on Infinite Earth mega-event, but it did not happen because of a scheduling conflict.

One of the big themes of the first season was Krypton’s class system. The planet was being led basically by a combination of the Church (by the Voice of Rao) and the Military (Led by members of the Houses of Zod and Vex). The arrival of Brainiac (played by Blake Ritson) throws the leadership in disarray. The House of El is ostracized, and Seg is trying to redeem his family’s honor, protect the ones he loves, and save the planet. The series also introduces the time-traveler from Earth, Adam Strange (played by Shaun Sipos), who warns Seg of the threat to his grandson.

The Blu-Ray set is a two-disc set. It does have extras, including deleted scenes, making-of features, and a part of the comic-con panel with Cameron Cuffe and the showrunners. There is a decent amount of material if you like the extras. And the show looks and sounds great in HD.

Overall, the show is very good. Because it is on basic cable, it can get away with more violence and swearing than other DC shows. There are some sexual situations, but no outright nudity. So, it is definitely a more adult show. The supporting cast is solid and includes unknown actors and actresses like Wallis Day and Georgina Campbell, as well as recognizable character actors like Colin Salon and Elliot Cowan. The writing and acting are both very strong, and the season ends on a big cliffhanger going into season two. If you are a fan of the other DC shows, it is definitely worth checking out.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 63

On Day 63, I just did the Burn it Off workout from CE. I was helping my mom over at her new place and did not have enough time to do the doubles workout. Burn it Off went fine. There is nothing new to report from the last time I did it. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 62

Day 62 was 645 cardio in the morning and LC3 in the evening. In LC3, the upper-body exercises are chest and back and you again combine them with a lower-body exercise like squats or do them in a plank position so you are constantly using your core. I did have to drop the amount of weight I used for the same upper body exercises in the Push circuit because of having to do more reps and because you are doing them while being off balance or having to hold a plank position. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 61

On day 61, I did the 645 cardio routine in the morning and Burn Intervals from CE in the evening. Both workouts went fine. It is so nice to listen to Skip once a week instead of four times, like in the Push Phase.  

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

 

Hobbs and Shaw is an action/adventure film from 2019 starring Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, and Elza Gonzalez. It also features appearances by Roman Reigns, Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, and Kevin Hart. It is an ancillary story that may or may not be tied in with the larger Fast & Furious franchise. The basic story is that Hobbs and Shaw are recruited by the CIA to team up to recover a virus that an organization with a mysterious "Director" who has some kind of past with Shaw is trying to unleash. It also brings Shaw's sister (played by Vanessa Kirby) into the mix, and she does a great job playing off the chemistry between Statham and Johnson. The main point of the movie is the three of them have to team up, all while Hobbs and Shaw try to one-up each other (as seen in the trailer) and stop Idris Elba's character, who is basically an enforcer for "The Director."

The tone and feel of the movie are a bit like the Fast & Furious movies, with over-the-top stunts, fights, and chase sequences. The acting is better than what has been in the other movies, but it is never going to win an Oscar. The cinematography is wonderful, especially at the end when they are in Samoa. And, there are a couple of hilarious cameos by Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart.

The 4K set is a two-disc set with a UHD disc and a regular Blu-Ray disc. The movie looks and sounds great in the UHD format. There is well over an hour's worth of bonus material, including an alternate opening and deleted scenes. And, the bonus material is included on the UHD disc, not just on the regular blu ray that is also included in the set.

Overall, this is a movie that you know what you will get. It is action-heavy, with a blend of humor and a bit of drama. It, like the other F&F movies, is a bit tongue-in-cheek and does not take itself too seriously, aside from the family vibe that the other movies have. If you like the other movies, while I cannot guarantee you will like this one given that none of the other characters show up or are even hinted at in this one, chances are good you will find this one enjoyable even if you do not love it. It is definitely worth a couple hours if you are in the mood for an action movie.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Jay & Silent Bob Reboot

 

Jay & Silent Bob Reboot is a 2019 comedy starring Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, and Harley Quinn Smith. The supporting roles include Askewverse regulars such as Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Schwalbach, Joey Lauren Adams, Justin Long, Jason Lee, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Biggs, James Van Der Beek, and Rosario Dawson, and very recognizable actors such as Melissa Benoist, Craig Robinson, Joe Manganiello, Diedrich Bader, Val Kilmer, Tommy Chong, Molly Shannon, Fred Armisen, Adam Brody, and Dan Folger (among others). The movie is mostly a nod to the fans and prior movies. It is definitely not as good as Smith's other films, especially Clerks, Chasing Amy, Mallrats, and Dogma. It is partly a spoof of reboots and remakes and partly an homage to the Askewverse movies that came before it. It contains a lot of inside jokes about the actors (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have some good one-liners about their careers) and Smith himself (including a great nepotism joke delivered by his daughter, one of the stars of the movie).

Clearly, Smith did not make the movie to be an award winner or even a great cult classic like some of his others have become. When this came out, it was totally up in the air whether Clerks 3 was ever going to be made (until Jeff Anderson had a change of heart), it was possible that this was going to wrap up the Askewview universe of movies. Obviously, all of the "main" actors and actresses he casts are getting older and Smith had a heart attack, even if more are made, there are certainly not going to be many more. So, if you take it for what it is, and do not expect it to be more than it is, then it is enjoyable with a few laugh-out-loud moments. But, if you expect it to be as good as the best movies Smith has made, you will definitely be disappointed.

For those who get the blu-ray, the extras include a gag reel, which is pretty similar to what is shown in the end credits, cast interviews, and a hair reel. What was included was fine, but it is definitely not a ton of bonus material. Subject to what I said above, if you are a fan of the Jay and Silent Bob movies and accept it for what it is, you will probably enjoy it.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 60

For Day 60, I did 645 cardio in the morning and LC2 in the evening. The upper body exercises in this workout are all shoulder-focused exercises, and they are again paired with lower body exercises. The workout is very challenging, especially since my shoulders are not my strongest body part. In this workout you are not as off balance as in the LC1 workout, but you still have to keep your core tight throughout the entire workout.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 59

Day 59 was the rest day in CE. So, I did the 645 cardio workout in the evening. I did not do the Lift 4 stretching workout which I do kind of regret, but the day was just busy for me.  

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 58

Day 58 started week 1 of the Lean Phase in CE. Of course, I did 645 cardio in the morning and then LC1 in the evening. In the lean circuit workouts, you again do combination exercises, combining an upper-body exercise with a lower-body exercise. The difference between this phase and the burn phase is that you are often doing things off balance (for example, doing bicep curls and leg curls simultaneously), so you have to keep your core tight in every exercise. In LC1, the upper body exercises are bicep and tricep exercises, and then you are doing squats with calf raises, hamstring curls, and the like for the lower body exercises.  The goal in this phase is to max out between 10 and 12 reps, which (at least for me) meant dropping the amount of weight I was using for many exercises down. This is definitely not my favorite phase of the CE program in terms of the exercises, but I am glad to not have to listen to Skip in every single workout. 

DVD/TV Series Review: Blindspot Season 5

 

The 11-episode fifth and final season of Blindspot aired during the summer of 2020. It was brought back for the limited run to tie up the remaining storyline, namely to resolve the cliffhanger, allow the team to clear their names and take down Madeline, and secondarily to get the show to an even 100 episodes. The season initially picks up immediately before the drone strike on the safe house and the aftermath. I will not spoil the aftermath, but needless to say, the team does not come out unscathed. Then, what seems to be the requisite time jump occurs, and we find that the team has been scattered and comes back together when yet another tattoo clue draws them out. From then on, it is a cat-and-mouse game between the team and Madaline for the rest of the season.

All of the major characters/actors return, to some extent, for the season. Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie Alexander, Rob Brown, Audrey Esparza, Ennis Esmer, and Ashley Johnson all do excellent jobs in their roles, especially the last two. I will not spoil how things play out, but some of the highlights of the season are learning Patterson's first name, more Bill Nye as Patterson's father, and cameos from most of the various characters who have appeared throughout the series run (mainly in the series finale) with the one notable exception being Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The series finale presents fans with two different endings without ever identifying which was the real ending, leaving things open to interpretation, which was a very novel way to end the series.

The DVD set is a three-disc set. It is a very bare-bones MOD DVD release. There are English captions but no extras at all, just the episodes. It would have been nice to get some behind-the-scenes material or commentary tracks like those included in the Blu-Ray releases for the first couple of seasons or to get a MOD Blu-Ray release to at least get the episodes in HD. Still, the reality is that the show was not popular enough to garner a Blu-Ray release now that physical media (especially for TV series) is going the way of the dodo bird. So, really, the only reason to get the DVD set is if you have purchased the prior seasons and want it to have a complete collection. Otherwise, you are much better off streaming it.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: John Wick Chapter 2

 

John Wick: Chapter 2 is the 2017 sequel to 2014's unexpected hit, John Wick. It stars Keanu Reeves as the titular John Wick. It includes, in supporting roles, Common, Laurence Fishburne, Ricardo Scamaricio, Ruby Rose, Lance Reddick, Peter Stormare, Franco Nero, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, and Claudia Gerini. It is titled "Chapter 2" because it continues the story from the first movie. It starts with Wick getting his car back from the brother of the mobster he killed at the end of the first movie. Then it takes a turn that is reminiscent of the line in Godfather Part III, "just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in," when another member of the group tries to cash in a favor that Wick owes him. Of course, everything goes sideways (ending up with Wick's house burned down), and mayhem ensues.

The movie continues the over-the-top violence of the first movie, with lots of martial arts ("gun-fu," as Reeves calls it) and car chases. Laurence Fishburne has a great extended cameo in the movie, in scenes that make not-so-subtle winks and nods to the Matrix movies. Ruby Rose is the badass female character who has a great fight scene with Wick at the end of the film in a sequence that overall has a very Enter The Dragon feel to it. The movie ends in a way that sets up the next one, not quite a cliffhanger, but more like setting up what comes next and leaving the fate of some characters up in the air.

The 4K set is a two-disc set with a UHD disc and a regular Blu-Ray disc. The movie looks and sounds excellent in the UHD format. While there is not a ton of CGI, it does have some great visuals. There are a decent amount of bonus features, including about 45 minutes or so of behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes, the trailer, and a commentary track by Reeves and the movie's director, Chad Stahelski. All the bonus features are on the UHD disc, so you do not have to switch to the regular blu-ray to watch them. Like the first movie, it does not try to be anything more than a violent, fun, and sometimes funny action movie. It does not take itself too seriously, but it does not try to be campy and stupid either (which movies like this can quickly become). Ultimately, if you like the first movie, then you will like this one. On the other hand, if you did not like the first one, there is likely nothing in this one that will appeal to you.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 56

On Day 56, I did 645 cardio in the morning, followed by the ab workout, and then the Recharge routine from CE in the evening. I was pretty tired that day so I would not say that I had the best workouts of my life, but I got them done. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 55

On Day 55, I did the Burn it Off workout from CE in the afternoon and did the 645 cardio workout in the morning (but a low-impact version). Both of the workouts went well, although I am still skipping the burpees in the Burn it Off workout and swapping them with 1-2-3 Heismans from Insanity. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 54

Day 54 was 645 cardio in the morning and PC3 from CE in the evening. I was able to increase the amount of weight for every exercise in the PC3 workout from last week. In week 1 of the Push Phase, in PC3, my weights ranged from 17.5 lbs to 30 lbs. This week, they ranged from 25 lbs to 32.5 lbs. So, my strength increased significantly for the exercises in this workout. 

Book Review: Star Wars: Master & Apprentice

 

Master and Apprentice is an adult canon novel by Claudia Gray, published in 2019. It is a very good story set before Episode I, telling of a mission involving Qui-Gon and a seventeen-year-old Obi-Wan. The Chancellor, who held the position before Vallorum, sends the two to act as the Republic's representatives in negotiations to open a hyperspace lane. The book is a bit of action and mystery, with some political maneuvering mixed in.

The main themes of the book are definitely Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's rocky relationship which was hinted at a bit in The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon's considering an invitation to join the Jedi Council, and at the very end of the book, a further indication that "The rule of two" was more a suggestion than a hard and fast rule.

Overall, the book presents a good ancillary story to the "Skywalker Saga", is a fairly easy read (it is just over 300 pages, but the chapters are kept relatively short), and it provides more character development that the movies could not give. Chances are most people considering getting this collect all the novels and will get this regardless of reviews. If however, you are one that gets some, but not all, of the novels, this one is definitely worth the time to read.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Babylon

 

Babylon is a 2022 movie about Hollywood in the 1920s starring Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li in the main roles. It also has a large ensemble supporting cast, including P.J. Byrne, Lukas Haas, Olivia Hamilton, Katherine Waterston, Tobey Maguire (who was also one of the producers), Flea, Eric Robert, Ethan Suplee, Samara Weaving, and Olivia Wille (among others). In it, Pitt plays Jack Conrad, the biggest silent-film star of the time, and Robbie plays Nellie LaRoy, an aspiring actress who gets her big break into silent films when she is seen dancing at a lavish party at the beginning of the film. Calva plays a gopher for the studio who eventually becomes a studio executive after Jack takes him under his wing. Li plays Lady Fay, a cabaret singer who also writes title cards for the silent movies, and Adepo plays a Jazz trumpeter named Sidney Palmer.

The 4K set is a two-disc set with a UHD disc and a regular Blu-Ray disc. The UHD disc just includes the movie, and the regular Blu-Ray disc has the movie and the bonus features. The movie's A/V quality is outstanding. It was shot on film to recreate the look of older Hollywood films, but it looks and sounds great in the UHD format. The extras include a half-hour-long making-of featurette featuring interviews with the cast and crew, about ten minutes of deleted and extended scenes, and a couple of shorter featurettes about the movie's costumes and score. All totaled, the bonus features run about 45 minutes. 

Ultimately, the movie is very good. It starts as a dark comedy and turns into a dark drama by the end. One of the movie's central themes is the transition from the silent movie era to the "talkies," and how adding sound to movies was challenging for the studios and the actors, and how the transition ended some careers and caused others to flourish. The other central theme is the excess of the Roaring 20s, especially in Hollywood. The storyline spans several decades, starting in the 20s and ending in 1952, but most of the movie is set in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It also deals with racism and homophobia. It is absolutely not a family-friendly film, as there is a lot of swearing, drug use, nudity, sex, and smoking throughout. The movie is very long, lasting just over three hours, but does not really drag. It is funny at times, sad at times, and downright weird at others. It is well-written and very well-acted and is absolutely worth watching.

4K-UHD/Movie Review: Avatar: The Way of Water (Three-Disc Edition)

 

Avatar: The Way of Water is the 2022 sequel to 2009's massive and groundbreaking hit, Avatar. It is again written and directed by James Cameron. In it, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana reprise their roles as Jake Sully and Neytiri. The rest of the cast includes Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Trinity Bliss, Bailey Bass, Jack Champion, Flip Geljo, Jamie Flatters, Scarlett Fernandez, and Edie Falco. Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, CCH Pounder, and Dileep Rao, who all appeared in the first movie, also appear in this one. It would give away too much to reveal exactly how their characters appeared. Still, it is not spoiling anything to say that some of the appearances are very short cameos (e.g., through video footage), and others are more substantial.

The movie is set sixteen years after the events of the first movie and sees the return of the "sky people," aka the Resources Development Administration (RDA), to Pandora. Their mission is to colonize Pandora but to do so, they realize they will have to take out Jake. We learn that Jake and Neytiri have a family. When their family is attacked, they flee the forest and take refuge with a Na'vi clan called the Metkayin, who live next to the ocean and have a symbiotic relationship with the sea-dwelling creatures. We also learn that the Metkayin have a different physiology and a completely different way of life than the forest-dwelling clans. Of course, they cannot stay hidden forever, and another epic battle with the sky people ensues.

There are a couple of different versions of the 4K sets. This one is a three-disc version with a UHD disc and two regular Blu-Ray discs. The UHD disc and the first regular Blu-Ray disc contain the movie, while the second regular Blu-Ray disc has all of the bonus features. The most extensive bonus feature is a series of making-of featurettes that can be played together or individually, totaling almost three hours. The behind-the-scenes material covers the new characters, the returning characters, the casting process, the advances made to the motion capture technology, the stunt work, and more. Then, there is a music video and some promotional spots for the movie. So, this set has well over three hours of bonus content. There is a four-disc set that includes a second bonus disc, and that one has over eight hours of bonus features. It sucks that there are two different 4K releases, but if you want all of the bonus content, you need to pay attention to what 4K set you are purchasing. They did a similar 4K release for the first Avatar movie, but the difference is that the upgraded set for the original movie also had the expanded edition of the movie, whereas, for the sequel, both sets just have the theatrical release (which is on its own over three hours long). 

Ultimately, this is a good sequel. It touches on many of the same themes as the original movie and expands the world of Pandora beyond what we saw in the first film. The acting and writing are very good, and the motion capture and CGI technology have advanced so much and look so good that it is almost hard to tell what is practical and what is computer-generated. The A/V quality is top-notch, and the video and sound are reference-quality. If you enjoyed the first movie, this is absolutely worth watching.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 53

On day 53, I did 645 cardio in the morning and the Burn Intervals workout from CE in the evening. Both workouts went well. Of course, I did a lower-impact version of the 645 workout since I was also doing HIIT exercises in the evening. I am looking forward to the Lean Circuit if for no other reason than it will mean Skip is only in one workout per week instead of four. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 52

Day 52 was 645 cardio in the morning and the PC2 workout from CE in the evening. I was finally able to increase the amount of weight I was using for all of the exercises from what I did last week, event the shoulder exercises. I actually did make progress on the shoulder exercises this month, but it definitely did not feel like it for most of the Push Circuit.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 51

Day 51 was the off day in CE so I did the 645 cardio workout and the Lift 4 stretching routine in the evening. Both of them went fine, but I can definitely tell that I am not as flexible as I was when I was doing the foam rolling routines daily. So, I think when I do my next workout I am going to try to work that in more.  

Book Review: We're Not Leaving: 9/11 Responders Tell Their Stories of Courage, Sacrifice, and Renewal

 

We're Not Leaving is a book about the responders of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, published in 2011 in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the attacks. It is a collection of oral histories in which the author, Benjamin Luft, presents edited versions of the experiences of people who responded to the towers being hit by the planes and those who participated in the rescue and recovery/cleanup operation afterward. 

The softcover version of the book is just under 300 pages. Once you start, it is both hard to read and hard to put down. It is one of the most harrowing and emotional books about 9/11 that I have read. The emotion that the people being interviewed conveyed was palpable, and for many, it had not faded even after nearly a decade. The book is solely devoted to the responders in New York. It does not include interviews with responders at The Pentagon or in Shanksville, PA. Ultimately, it is a must-read book that conveys the horrors and the heroism of 9/11 and the days and months after as the city tried to recover from the attack and the devastation that resulted from it.  

Book Review: Ultimate Star Wars: The Definitive Guide to the Star Wars Universe

 

This is the most complete, up-to-date (at least for now) Star Wars encyclopedia out there. It is comprehensively updated with character, technology, and vehicle profiles for every character, weapon, or other piece of technology and vehicle that has appeared in a movie or one of the animated series like Clone Wars, Rebels, or Resistance. There are small hints that will tie into The Rise of Skywalker, but nothing that would be a major spoiler.

Every character gets at least a paragraph of text in the character section. The main and/or major characters get at least a page if not two, and the most important characters also have a timeline that outlines their lives up to the point we last see that character, whether because they died or their story will continue on. Some character bios are fleshed out with material from the novels (e.g., Quinlan Voss), so this touches on all aspects of the canon material (including the Battlefront II video game).

There is also some behind-the-scenes material that shows concept art, storyboards from the movies, and behind-the-scenes set photographs. Those appear at the end of each section of the book and have a couple pages of material.

Whether this falls into the " must-have " category is really subjective. It is a great "coffee table" reference book that most people will not sit down and read cover-to-cover. It will also very likely be updated as more movies and TV series are released. Even though the Skywalker Saga is ending with the next film, there will still be a ton of new material both on the Disney Plus platform and movies outside the Skywalker storyline released over the next decade. So this will be out of date at some point (as are any encyclopedias that have come before this one). Also, if you are just a casual Star Wars fan, you may find this overkill. But this is an excellent pickup for anyone who is a die-hard fan and has watched all the movies and TV series, read all the novels, etc.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 50

Day 50 started the final week of the Push Phase in CE. I did the 645 cardio workout in the morning and PC1 in the evening. I was again able to increase the amount of weight I used for a few of the exercises. I have been able to raise the amount of weight I used in the first week of the Push Phase by at least 2 lbs and was able to increase some by 5lbs over the course of the month.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 49

 Day 49 was the 645 cardio workout, followed immediately by the CE ab routine. Then in the evening I did the Recharge workout from CE. Nothing much to report from any of the workout routines. They were pretty much all the same as the last time I did them. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 48

On Day 48, I did the Burn it Off routine from CE. I did not do the 645 cardio workout since I was a bit tired. I cannot say that this was the best workout ever, but I got it done.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Blindspot Season 4

 

The 22-episode fourth season of Blindspot aired during the 2018/2019 TV season. It does another shakeup of the show now that the threat of Sandstorm is (mostly) over. The season picks up shortly after the events of season three, with Remi back, Weller just out of the hospital, and Zapata missing. It is hard to not say too much and not give too much of the season away. As you can imagine, the team is ultimately back together by the end of the season, but I will not spoil how they get to that point. The season ends (again) on a massive cliffhanger that has the team (again) in danger, courtesy of the season's big bad, played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

The show has to, and again does a good job of, juggling the large ensemble cast, all while giving more expanded roles to Zapata (Audrey Esparza), Patterson (Ashley Johnson), and Rich DotCom (Ennis Esmer who has finally been promoted to series regular). Given that the show started with a big mystery to resolve, and has actually resolved it (which is usually the death knell for those kinds of shows) it has managed to remain compelling and interesting. The writing and acting are very good throughout the season, setting up what looks to be a strong final season.

The Blu-Ray set is a four-disc set. It is an MOD set, so it just includes the episodes. There are no extras of any kind. However, you get captions and a true play-all feature that allows you to pick up where you leave off, even if you stop in the middle of an episode. But, if you only get discs when there are a ton of extras, then you should stick with streaming this unless you have the prior seasons on disc and want it for a collection.

Book Review: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate

 

A Crash of Fate is a young-adult Star Wars canon novel published in 2019 and written by Zoraida Cordova. It is not part of the main storyline (not part of the Skywalker saga). Thus, it tells a story about characters who live tangentially in the Star Wars universe but are not the main characters or part of the main storylines of the movies, TV shows, or novels involving those characters. It is set on the planet of Batuu, which has been referenced in the Clone Wars and Rebels series, as well as multiple books. The main characters are two childhood friends, Izzy and Jules, who have a crush on each other as kids when Izzy's parents take her away without warning. Thirteen years later, between the events of The Force Awakens/The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, she returns to Batuu as a smuggler to be unwittingly reunited with Jules who remained on Batuu as a farmer.

The story is, in part, a love story and in part an adventure involving The Black Spire, smugglers, and the First Order and Resistance acting in the background. It is basically a one-off story that does not really tie into the larger "Skywalker Saga" (i.e., the events of the movies). Even though it is a young-adult novel, it is enjoyable enough for adults too. The love story part of the book is not too sappy (for the most part), and it has some twists to it. The book is just over 300 pages, but it reads fairly quickly with a reasonable amount of characters to keep track of, and the chapters are fairly short (about 20 pages or less per chapter, with some only a couple of pages). So, depending on how fast you read, and how much time you have to do so, you can get through it fairly fast. While it is not a must-read novel, it is enjoyable and worth checking out for those who get some, but not all, of the novels.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 47

On Day 47, I did the 645 cardio routine and PC3 from CE. In PC3, I increased the amount of weight for all of the exercises except for two. I think I made the most progress in this workout from the first week than I did in the other two Push Circuit workouts this week. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 46

On day 46, I did a low-impact version of the 645 cardio routine in the morning and CE's Burn Intervals routine in the evening. Both of the workouts went okay, but I am still modifying some of the exercises in the interval workout.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 45

On day 45, I did the 645 cardio routine in the morning and PC2 from CE in the evening. I was able to increase the weight for some of the exercises, including a couple of the shoulder exercises. However, for most of the shoulder exercises, I used the same amount of weight as I did last week. Overall, both workouts went well.

DVD/TV Series Review: ALF: The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)

 

ALF: The Complete Seris is a DVD box set containing the live-action sitcom Alf, which aired for four seasons on NBC from 1986 to 1990, and the two animated Saturday morning cartoons that were spun off of the main series: Alf: The Animated Series and Alf Tales. The live-action series was created by Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco about an alien from the planet Melmac named Gordon Shumway (but always called ALF, short for alien life form), whose ship drifted in space for a year after his planet blew up and then crashed into the garage of a family in Los Angeles. Fusco created the character of ALF, voiced him in the series, and acted as the puppeteer. The series also starred Max Wright, Anne Schedeen, Andrea Elson, and Benji Gregory in the leading roles as the Tanner family members with whom ALF lives. John Lamatta and Liz Sheridan play the most prominent supporting characters in the series, Tanner's neighbors, Trevor and Raquel Ochmonek. The Animated Series aired from 1987 to 1989 and was a story-of-the-week cartoon about ALF's life on Melmac. Alf Tales aired from 1988 to 1990 and spoofed Fairy Tales such as Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, etc., often infusing them with pop-culture references such as movie references like The Godfather or 80s personalities like Sigfried and Roy and Johnny Carson. 

The DVD set is a 24-disc set. The final disc is a bonus disc that contains a series retrospective featuring interviews with Fusco and Patchett, the 1996 TV movie Project ALF, which resolved the cliffhanger that the parent series ended on, and a handful of episodes from the series with Patchett and Fusco (mostly in character as ALF) commentating on the episodes as bubbles with facts about the series or jokes pop up on the screen. Overall, this is a nice box set, especially for people who were kids in the 1980s watching the show when it aired. The live-action series is the best of everything included in this set. It was mainly wholesome and family-friendly, but occasionally, it would sneak a more adult joke in. The series had quite a few recognizable character actors from the 1980s who appeared, along with a couple of well-known guest stars like Ed McMahon and David Odgen Stiers. The only drawback is that the series ended on a massive cliffhanger. If you watch the bonus material, you will discover that NBC had not decided on the series' fate as the fourth season ended. The producers agreed with NBC that they would end the season on a cliffhanger, and if the series was not renewed for a fifth season, they would make a TV movie to wrap up the story. Unfortunately, NBC backed out of that agreement, so the ending went unresolved until 1996 when ABC agreed to do the TV movie Project ALF.

While it was a decent ending to the story, it did not include any of the cast members from the main series, so it was not a proper series finale. The two animated series were fine but were definitely geared 100% for kids, so they are not as enjoyable for adults. Ultimately, ALF was a fun show. If you lived through the 1980s, it will be a nostalgic blast from the past. One thing some may enjoy is that there are a couple of shots taken at donald t***p, proving that the orange genital wart was just as big a joke back then as he is now. Of course, Americans would be stupid enough to elect an idiot who was a punchline for 80s sitcoms and cartoons as President. The show is dated and a bit cheesy but holds up well and is worth the time to watch.

DVD/TV Movie Review: Project ALF

 

Project ALF is a 1996 TV movie starring Paul Fusco, William O'Leary, Miguel Ferrer, Jensen Daggett, Scott Michael Campbell, John Schuck, Liz Coke, and Martin Sheen. There are also some great cameo and extended cameo appearances by recognizable actors such as Ray Walston, Ed Begley Jr., and Charles Robinson. It serves as a finale to the series ALF, which ran from 1986 to 1990 but ended on a massive cliffhanger with ALF being caught by the Alien Task Force when he was on his way to rendezvous with the ship coming to pick him up. In the movie, the government is trying to decide what to do with ALF. A general (played by Sheen) secretly plans to kill ALF, and two Air Force scientists (played by Daggett and O'Leary) help ALF escape.

The DVD is very bare-bones, just including the movie itself. When the fourth season of ALF was coming to an end, NBC had not decided whether to renew the show for a fifth season. There was, however, a tacit agreement between the network and the producers that they would end the season on a cliffhanger, and if the show was not renewed, NBC would allow them to make a TV movie to resolve the cliffhanger. However, NBC canceled the show and backed out of the agreement to produce a movie, so it was not until ABC approached the producers years later that they could finally get a TV movie to wrap the storyline up. Thus, we get Project ALF. 

It is an okay wrap-up to the series, but because so many years had passed since the series's end, aside from Fusco (who voiced ALF and controlled the puppet), none of the other actors from the series appeared. The Tanner family was written out as having gone into the witness protection program and were living in Iceland. The movie has a slightly different feel than the TV show, but the character of ALF remains mostly the same, and thus, the brand of humor does, too. While it would have been nice if the actors from the TV show had been involved so that the series could get a proper finale, the movie, while a little cheesy, does wrap up on a good note. So, if you were a fan of the show, this is definitely worth the time to watch.   

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 44

Day 44 was the off day in CE, so I just did a high-impact version of 645 cardio in the evening. Again, I could tell that the range of motion on the squat jumps (both the 645 version and the P90X version) is getting much better.  

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 43

Day 43 started week 3 of the Push Phase in CE. Of course, I did the 645 cardio routine in the morning and then PC1 in the evening. I was again able to increase the amount of weight I used for most of the exercises. In this workout, the weight ranges I used went from 15 lbs to 30 lbs. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 42

Day 42 was 645 cardio, followed immediately by the CE ab workout. Then, I did the Recharge routine from CE later in the day.  Each of the routines went fine. My flexibility has not really improved all that much during this time, but I think that is also partly because I have not been incorporating the foam rolling and stretching from Lift 4 as I intended. 

Book Review: Dune Messiah (Dune #16)

 

Dune Messiah is the second book in Frank Herbert's original Dune Trilogy (and the second book in publication order). It is the 16th book in the saga of novels if you read them chronologically. It was first published in 1968, and this deluxe edition, which features an introduction by Frank's son, Brian, and new artwork, was published in 2023. The story jumps nine years after the events that ended the original novel. Paul is now the Emperor, having conquered hundreds of worlds, and his warriors have killed billions of people in his name. This book deals with the backlash against Paul's rule, with the remaining members of the various political houses he conquered plotting against him.

The hardcover version of the book is short at just under 270 pages. Even though it is short, it does take some time to get through as it jumps between a few different storylines and introduces a handful of new characters. It very much has the feel and tone of the middle part of a trilogy. It does advance the overall storyline, but there are stretches where not much seems to be happening. If you just compare it against the original novel, it is definitely not as good, especially not as good as the last third of the original novel. But, in the context of it setting up another book, it makes more sense and is worth reading.

Book Review: Star Wars: Queen's Shadow

 

Queen's Shadow is one of the "ancillary" canon novels in the Star Wars universe. It was written by one of the regular Star Wars authors, E.K. Johnston, and published in 2019. As many of the young adult novels are, it is adjacent to the main storyline (which is printed in the front of the Del-ray series of novels) but is still considered part of the official canon, as everything put out under the Disney flagship is.

The bulk of the story is set between Episodes I and II as Padme transitioned from Queen of Naboo to a senator. It has much of the political tone of the Phantom Menace, which may turn off some people, but it also incorporates the relationship between Padme and the handmaidens and how they switch out for one another depending on the situation they find themselves in, and the great lengths and planning they go to in order to pull the switches off. Palpatine makes a couple of appearances both in his role as Chancellor and as Darth Sidious, as does Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, setting up their alliance which, of course, eventually spawns the Rebel Alliance.

For me, the best part of the novel is actually the epilogue, set just after the events of Episode III, with the "main" handmaiden, Sabe, vowing to find out what really happened to Padme. This definitely sets up material for another novel set during the early days of the Empire.

Overall, the novel is a pretty easy read, especially if you are a fast reader. While it is a young adult novel, it is one that people of all ages can enjoy. It does a good job adding to, and filling in, the period between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones which has been lacking in material since the novels written before the Disney buyout of Lucasfilm were relegated to Legends status. I definitely recommend it.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 41

For Day 41 I just did the Burn it Off workout in the late afternoon. It went fine and I was able to go a bit harder on the exercises now that my cardio fitness is improving. I am still not doing the burpees since I want to lose at least 10 lbs so they get easier and are not as hard on my joints.  

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 40

Day 40 was 645 cardio in the morning and PC3 from CE in the evening. I was able to increase the amount of weight for nearly all of the exercises in the workout by either 2.5 lbs or 5 lbs. I still used 30 lbs for the bench press and 25 lbs for the single-leg sumo squats as I did last week, but I was able to increase the amount of weight I was using for everything else.  

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 39

Day 39 consisted of 645 cardio in the morning and Burn Intervals from CE in the evening. Both workouts went well, and as I stated in my last post, I can tell that my cardio fitness is improving, and I am slowly getting better range of motion. I still swap out some of the exercises that I am not all that fond of for ones from other workouts, but I still try to maintain the same intensity level as the people in the workout (aside from Skip who not only is annoying the whole time, but dogs it on some of the exercises despite his yelling TEN! when Chalene asks how hard people are going to go). 

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Spiderman: Far from Home

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from Homecoming and Endgame, but no major Far From Home giveaways.+++

Spiderman: Far From Home is one of the 2019 films in the massive MCU slate of movies. It stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marissa Tomei, and Jon Favreau (reprising their roles as Peter Parker, MJ, Ned, May, and Happy). It also features MCU alumni Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders (in smaller roles) and brings in Jake Gyllenhaal as the film's antagonist, Quentin Beck/Mysterio. It picks up months after Endgame when the world knows Iron Man, Black Widow, and Vision (and thinks Captain America) are all dead. The snap is referred to in the movie as "the blip" because the people who were snapped out of existence came back to the same place they were instantaneously, as far as they were concerned. May (who, of course, learned Peter's secret at the end of Homecoming) and Peter are using his identity as Spiderman for charitable fundraising, and he is getting ready to go on a summer trip to Europe with his class and has an entire plan to tell MJ how he feels about her. In the process, Peter gets sucked into a mission from Nick Fury involving the character Mysterio, played by Jake Gyllenhall. I will not say too much about the movie itself to keep from giving too much away, even though the trailer gave away a lot, both with footage that ended up in the film and footage that was cut. However, I will say it strikes a good balance between mourning Endgame's events and the first movie's comedic elements. The writing and acting were again great, and it sets up a lot of what is to come.

The 4K set is a two-disc set that includes a UHD disc and a regular Blu-Ray disc. The AV quality of the movie in UHD is wonderful, and it looks and sounds great as you would expect. The extras include previews that play after the disc loads before the main menu pops up. There are some different previews on the 4k disc vs. the regular blu-ray disc, which has all the other extras on it. Then there are deleted/alternate scenes, a gag reel, and multiple behind-the-scenes and making-of clips. It amounts to a little over an hour's worth of material. Overall, it is an excellent continuation of the MCU storyline. Thankfully, the spat between Sony and Disney was resolved so Spiderman stays in the MCU because the movie was clearly setting up a direction for the character which would have had to be scrapped if Marvel lost the rights again. I definitely recommend it.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Jumanji: The Next Level

 

Jumanji: The Next Level is a 2019 action/comedy starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas, Madison Iseman, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, and Ser'Darius Blain from the original movie. Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Rory McCann, and Danny Glover join the cast for this movie. It is a direct sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which was partly a sequel and partly a reboot of the 1995 Robin Williams movie Jumani. It begins after a time jump when Spencer is in college in NY in a long-distance relationship with Martha, but feeling depressed and cut off from the group of friends. He returns home for Christmas break to find that his grandfather Eddie, played by Danny DeVito is staying in his room while recovering from hip surgery. It is not giving away anything to say he ends up in the game and the rest of the group goes back in to get him out, with unexpected consequences. One of which (again not giving anything away) is that Eddie and his frienemy Milo (played by Danny Glover) also end up in the game.

All of the main cast of characters who appear in the game, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Nick Jonas all appear. But, this time The Rock and Kevin Hart have to play DeVito and Glover's characters (to hilarious results) and Jack Black has to play Fridge. There are also new characters in the game, including Rory McCann (The Hound from Game Of Thrones, and one of the few outside pro wrestling who can make The Rock look small) playing the big-bad, Jurgen The Brutal, and Awkwafina. Colin Hanks also reprises his role, in a larger role than he had in the first movie (but not much).

The 4K set is a two-disc set containing a UHD disc (with the movie) and a regular Blu-Ray disc (with the movie and the bonus content). The film looks and sounds excellent in the UHD format. The UHD disc includes previews that play after the disc loads and the movie itself. The extras on the regular blu-ray disc include approximately an hour's worth of making-of and behind-the-scenes material, a gag reel, and the same previews as on the UHD disc. A good amount of extras, especially since fewer extras are being included on the physical disc releases these days.

Overall, the movie uses the same formula as the first, a blend of comedy, action, and a bit of drama. Yes, there is quite a bit of bad language and some off-color jokes. So, if you would be driven nuts by that, this is not for you. From what I remember, the first movie was not exactly squeaky clean either, but this is definitely not a movie for young kids like the original 1995 movie. The Rock and Kevin Hart are awesome playing old geezers, and once Awkwafina shows up, she steals every scene she is in. A mid-credits scene clearly sets up a third movie, that will definitely take things in a different direction. While I cannot say that everyone will like the movie, but if you were a fan of the 2017 movie, this is definitely worth checking out.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 38

Day 38 was PC2 in the evening and 645 cardio in the morning. Like the PC1 workout this week, I was able to increase the amount of weight I used for some of the exercises (mainly the lower-body exercises). Since the upper-body exercises in the workout are primarily shoulder exercises, I did not bump up the weight I used on those.  

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 37

Day 37 was the rest day in CE so I did 645 cardio in the morning and then the stretching routine from Lift 4 in the evening. I can tell that my cardio fitness is getting better, as is my range of motion when doing squatting and crouching HIIT exercises. I am not back to where I was when I was in my best physical condition  (When I first did the original Insanity routine years ago), but I am improving.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 36

Day 36 started week 2 of the Push phase in CE. So, I did 645 cardio in the morning, doing the higher-impact exercises than I did on the HIIT days in CE, and then did PC1 in the evening. I was able to increase the amount of weight I used for most of the exercises in the workout, bumping up 2.5 lbs on five of the exercises by either using the microplates or the SelectTech weights. The few exercises that I did use the same amount of weight that I used last week, I hit the 8 rep max, so will be increasing the weight I use for those exercises next week. 

Book Review: Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Spark of the Resistance

 

Spark of the Resistance is a 2019 Star Wars story by Justina Ireland. It is a short, one-off, young-adult story set between the events of The Last Jedi (a few months after the battle of Crait) and The Rise of Skywalker. While out on a supply run, Rey, Poe, and Rose receive a distress call from a planet called Minfar. They discover The First Order is enslaving the locals and helping to fight them off.

This is a novel that is ancillary to the "main" storyline novels but is still considered canon, like everything that gets put out under the Star Wars banner post-Disney's buyout of Lucasfilm. It is a short book, just over a couple hundred pages, and an easy read. The story is pretty basic, which is not all that surprising given that it is a children's novel, but it is enjoyable enough for adults. It does not really have any obvious tie-ins to The Rise of Skywalker but does give readers a bit of an idea of what the characters were up to between the movies.

Chances are, if you collect the books, you are going to get this. If you get just some of the novels and not others, I would not say it is a must-read, but it is enjoyable.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Blindspot: Season 3

 

++++Warning, this will contain spoilers from prior seasons, but no major giveaways from this season++++

The 22-episode third season of Blindspot aired during the 2017/2018 TV season. It starts by revisiting the time jump that ended season two. The first couple of episodes fill in the gaps of what happened to the team during the nearly two-year time jump, and then the rest of the season is about the team (the same people, but with a different dynamic after the time jump) trying to take down Roman (Luke Mitchell), who has an agenda of his own aside from just getting back at Jane/Remi that plays throughout the season. All of the main cast members, Sullivan Stapleton, Jamie Alexander, Rob Brown, Audrey Esparza, Ashley Johnson, and Mitchell return as series regulars. Ennis Esmer has a larger recurring role as Rich Dotcom, and Mary Stuart Masterson joins as another recurring character.

The Blu-Ray set is a four-disc MOD set. Unlike some MOD DVD and blu-ray sets it has subtitles and extras. The latter include deleted scenes for most of the episodes, a 6+ min gag reel, and a 4 min behind the scenes with Audry Esparza highlighting her character, Zapata. Good for what is there, but not a ton. It may or may not be worth the extra cost to you. Chances are if you got the discs for seasons 1 and 2 you will want this one to have a complete collection. But if you only get discs when there is a lot of bonus material, then you may just want to stream it. One benefit to the MOD discs, however, is that there is a true play-all mode that allows you to pick up where you left off. Even in the middle of the episodes. That is not something that the "regular" Warner Brothers and Fox blu-ray sets do not.

The season is a bit uneven. It really tries to get its footing as a show after playing out the time jump. Some parts of the story work better than others, but where it really hooked me is the end, doing basically another couple of cliffhangers which really set up season four to potentially be the best season yet. It mostly has a long serial arc that builds throughout the season, but does have some self-contained episodes that are more like what you see in procedural dramas. It is well-written and acted with a good blend of action, drama, suspense, and humor. Even though it takes a while for the season to really pick up, it is absolutely worth the time to watch.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 35

Day 35 was 645 cardio followed immediately by CE's ab workout in the early afternoon and then Recharge in the evening. Nothing major to report about any of the workouts today. They were all pretty much the same as the last time I did them. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 34

Day 34 was Burn it Off in CE. I have still been helping my mom out a lot and spent a good portion of the day at her place, so I did not do two workouts today, just the one. I mostly like Burn it Off because it is short, but there are a couple of exercises (like the burpees) that I swap out for other things depending on my energy level that day.  

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 33

Day 33 was Push Circuit 3 in CE and 645 cardio. In PC3, the upper-body exercises are focused on the chest and back, and then, of course, you do some squats and lunges to work out the lower body.  The amount of weight I used in this workout ranged from 17.5 lbs (for the reverse grip rows) to 30 lbs for the bench press. I think I will be using my microplates a lot for this workout to add 2.5 lbs of resistance because I found that the weight selection was pretty good, and even for the exercises I could make it to 8 reps on, I did not get to 8 easily on anything except the long arm pullovers (which I used 20 lbs on). I will be bumping the amount of weight on that one up to 25 lbs next week.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 32

Day 32 was burn intervals in CE and a low-impact version of 645 cardio in the morning. Both workouts went fine. There is really nothing to report from either workout (aside from the fact that Skip still irritates the hell out of me). He is in nearly every workout this month, so it will be like nails on a chalkboard listening to him the whole month. 

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 31

Day 31 was Push Circuit 2 in CE and 645 cardio in the morning. Like PC1, PC2 has you doing both upper and lower-body exercises, but they are on their own in this workout. You alternate doing a shoulder exercise (e.g., shoulder presses or delt raises) and a lower-body exercise (some version of a squat or lunge). I used 12 lb weights for most of the shoulder exercises and 15 lbs for most of the lower-body exercises, but I quickly found that I could easily do 8 reps on some of those, so I will be increasing the amount of weight I use next week.

DVD/TV Series Review: Animal Kingdom Season 4

 

The 13-episode fourth season of Animal Kingdom aired during the summer of 2019. It does a lot to both tie up loose ends and advance the story forward. Some of the storylines are closed out in ways that you may not expect, and others are set up going into the final two seasons of the show. The fourth season is all about the continued friction between the characters, especially after Baz is killed. Pope is still the only one who knows that Smurf had Baz killed, and Mia has so far managed to keep J in the dark about the fact that she pulled the trigger. Mia and J definitely start to distrust each other more as the season goes on, and their relationship is anything but solid. There is also a power struggle between Pope and J for who will take over when Smurf is out of the picture. For her part, Smurf continues to stir up trouble between everyone. Things are also complicated by Julia's old friend (and Pope's old flame of sorts) played by Emily Deschanel (best known for her role on Bones, which is a 180-degree difference from this role) who is freshly out of prison and manages to weasel into the Cody's affairs. The show also manages to provide more of Smurf's backstory through the use of flashbacks to the 1970s, with young Smurf being played by Lelia George, who does a great job making the character her own yet channeling Barkin's version of the character so well at times you can totally buy that they are the same person. It gives glimpses into how Smurf ended up the way she did, yet still leaves a lot open to be told of Smurf's life.

The DVD set is a three-disc set. It is a very basic MOD release. It does have English captions, but there are no extras to speak of. So, the only reason to get it is to add to your existing collection if you purchased the first two seasons on Blu-Ray and the third season on DVD. Otherwise, you are not missing anything just streaming it.

Overall, the season is very good. There is still a lot of violence, sex, and drug use depicted on the show, and it pushed the bounds of what can be shown on basic cable. But, that has been the case since season one, so it is nothing new for the show. The acting and writing are very good, and I think the show benefits from having shorter seasons as it is able to tell a concise story without having to drag things out to fill in 22 or 23 episodes. If you have been a fan of the series up to this point, you will probably like this season as well. On the other hand, if you did not like the prior seasons all that much, this one is probably not going to make you change your mind about the show.