Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bates Motel: Season 1

 

Bates Motel is partially a prequel to and partially a reboot of the Psycho franchise, which started with the iconic 1960s Horror film by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins. The series ran for five seasons on A&E from 2013 to 2017, with the 10-episode first season airing in the spring of 2013. The main cast members in season 1 include Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot, Olivia Cooke, and Nicola Peltz. The recurring and supporting cast includes Nestor Carbonell, Mike Vogel, Keegan Connor Tracy, and Jere Burns. The series tells the story of a young Norman Bates (played by Highmore), who moves with his mother, Norma (played by Farmiga), from Arizona to White Pine Bay, Oregon, where she has purchased a property with a house and hotel out of Bankruptcy after the death of Norman's father. Throughout the season, we learn more about Norma and Norman's past, Norman's mental health issues (which, if you have seen the movie and any of the sequels, you already know about), and that the town and its residents have many secrets.

The blu-ray set is a two-disc set. The A/V quality is excellent, and the episodes look and sound great in HD. The bonus content includes deleted scenes on both discs (about 20 minutes on the first disc and a little under 10 minutes on the second) and a 45-minute interview/Q&A session with some cast members and two of the series' creators. 

The first season is very good. Because it is set in the modern day rather than being a pure prequel to the original film, the writers and cast members have more creative license to tell their own story. While there are certainly elements of Perkins' Norman Bates in Freddie Highmore's performance, he does not try to copy Perkins. Farmiga is outstanding as Norma, playing her as a mix of concerned, overprotected, and creepy when it comes to her relationship with Norman, and combative with almost everyone else. Thieriot is wonderful in his role, which is a bit of a spoiler, so I will not reveal it here, as is Cooke, who plays a friend and classmate of Norman's at his new school and works for Norma at the hotel. Ultimately, it is a great first season that is well-written and very well-acted. The writers do a great job not revealing too much about the various storylines, yet still revealing enough to satisfy the viewers. The series draws inspiration from shows like Twin Peaks and The Killing, so if you were a fan of either of those shows, and/or a fan of any of the films, this is absolutely worth watching.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Erin Brockovich

 

Erin Brockovich is a 2000 fictionalized biographical film about the legal assistant who helped build the toxic-tort case against Pacific Gas and Electric for groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California. It was directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, and Marg Helgenberger in the main roles, and includes Cherry Jones, T.J. Thyne, and Tracey Walter in supporting roles. Brockovich and the attorney she worked for, Ed Masry, also have cameo appearances in the film.

In it, Roberts plays Erin Brockovich, an unemployed single mother who is injured in a car accident. She is referred to attorney Ed Masry (played by Finney), who assures her that he expects to win her case at trial. After a loss at trial, Erin shows up at his law firm and talks him into giving her a job. She begins working on a real estate case in which the owners of a power plant are offering to purchase a family's house in Hinkley, California. Brockovich discovers that the city's water is contaminated with toxic Chromium being used at the plant.

The 4k set is a two-disc set containing a UHD disc and a standard blu-ray disc. Both discs contain the same content. The A/V quality of the UHD disc is very good. I would not call either the audio or video transfer reference-quality, but for a film that is dialogue-heavy and does not use computer-generated effects, it looks and sounds great, especially on a large screen with a good sound system. All bonus content is included on the UHD disc and carries over from the original Blu-Ray release. That includes deleted scenes that can be played with or without Soderbergh's commentary, a short interview with the real Erin Brockovich, a making-of featurette featuring interviews with cast members, as well as Brockovich and Ed Masry, the theatrical trailer, and two featurettes centered on the 100th anniversary of Universal Studios.

The film is well-written and very well-acted. It is arguably Roberts' best movie and role, and she absolutely deserved the Academy Award for best actress. It mixed humor and drama very effectively and balanced showing Erin Brockovich's complicated personal life with her devotion to the people she was trying to help. There is a lot of swearing, including a lot of sexual humor, but no nudity. The film is a fictionalized docu-drama. The film mostly stayed true to actual events, but some things were changed or added to the story for dramatic effect. Ultimately, it is a great film that is absolutely worth watching and adding to a physical media collection. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Frasier: Season 7

 

The 24-episode seventh season of Frasier aired during the 1999/2000 TV season. All of the main cast members returned for this season. The character of Bulldog was once again made a recurring character, so Dan Butler made fewer appearances this season than in the past couple of seasons. The guest cast this season includes Rita Wilson, Jane Adams, Marg Helgenberger, Jean Smart, Robert Loggia, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Anthony LaPaglia. There were fewer guest callers this season, as the show's focus was mostly outside the radio station. Gloria Estefan was the most recognizable caller this season. Bebe Neuwirth and Trevor Einhorn also reprised their roles as Lilith and Frederick in a great Thanksgiving episode. 

As of this writing, the Blu-Rays are only available in a complete series set. In the set, each season is packaged in its own keep case, and the seventh season has three discs. There are no bonus features on the seventh-season discs, but the episodes can be played with English captions. The individual seasons are available on DVD, and season 7 is a four-disc set with no bonus material.

The show remains very funny in season seven, with many laugh-out-loud moments. It continues to mix story-of-the-week procedural storylines with longer serial arcs. This season, the main serial arc involves Daphne's impending wedding to Simon, and the ongoing teasing of Niles and Daphne getting together. The writers keep finding ways to keep the characters apart; however, the season-ending scene takes a huge leap forward in advancing their storyline. David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves continue to be outstanding in their roles as Niles and Daphne, but all the characters are given great material this season, and all of the primary characters get at least one episode centered around them. Ultimately, if you have enjoyed the series up to this point, season 7 is well worth watching.

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: It's a Man's World

 

It's a Man's World, released in 2012, is Anastacia's fifth studio album. It is a collection of 10 cover songs sung by male rock artists. The songs include covers of The Foo Fighters' "Best of You", Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine", Oasis' "Wonderwall", and Aerosmith's "Dream On". The physical CD was only released overseas, so you'll have to pay for an import if you want the actual CD. The album can be streamed in the US and includes a bonus track where she covers Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun". The CD liner includes the lyrics and production notes for each track, a few pictures of Anastacia, and a "Thank You" page. Anastacia does a great job covering all the songs on the album. She stays true to the original tracks and does not heavily adapt their arrangements. That said, she incorporates her own sound and style into each one so they are not just carbon copies of the original songs. Ultimately, if you are a fan of her prior albums, especially the more rock-oriented tracks on her prior albums, this is absolutely worth checking out. 

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Emily the Criminal

 

Emily the Criminal is a 2022 crime drama written and directed by John Patton Ford. It stars Aubrey Plaza and Theo Rossi. The supporting cast includes Megalyn Echikunwoke, Jonathan Avigdori, Bernardo Badillo, and Gina Gershon. In it, Plaza plays a woman named Emily who works as an independent contractor delivering food for a catering company, while barely making ends meet. Her coworker connects her with a "dummy shopper" service that runs a fraudulent credit card ring, promising $200 for an hour of work. After making a purchase without getting busted, she is offered the chance to return the next day to make a riskier purchase and earn $2000. She ends up getting sucked in deeper with the group, while falling for one of the leaders (played by Rossi), and soon finds herself in over her head.

The blu-ray release is very bare-bones. There are no bonus features, just the movie itself. The A/V quality is good, but since this is a lower-budget independent film, it did not get the type of transfer that a massive summer blockbuster does. That said, A/V quality is fine for a film that does not rely on CGI effects. 

The movie is good. It is well-acted and mostly well-written, although parts of the movie are a bit predictable. Plaza definitely shows her acting range with this part. Of course, she is most well-known for playing a very dry comedic role on Parks and Recreation, but she absolutely has dramatic acting chops and uses them well in this role. Ultimately, if you are a fan of independent dramas and/or are a fan of Aubrey Plaza, this is absolutely worth checking out. 

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Avatar: Fire and Ash (Steelbook)

 

Fire and Ash, released in 2025, is the third in what will now be at least five films in James Cameron's epic story of humans versus aliens set on the fictional moon, Pandora. For this installment, Cameron returns both as a co-writer, co-producer, and director. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang all return from the first two films, as do Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, and CCH Pounder (although their roles are much smaller in this film). Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Jermine Clement, Jamie Flatters, Bailey Bass, and Filip Geljo all reprise their roles from the second film. The primary additions to the cast for this movie include Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis, who play leaders of two newly introduced Na'vi clans. 

This film expands the plot of the second movie. In the bonus material, Cameron indicates that he originally envisioned a trilogy of films, but as the story evolved and expanded, they needed to split the second and third movies into two films, so (at least as of now, there will be five films. While the first two films focused on the RDA and the Na'vi, this film introduces a new warring Na'vi tribe, the Mangkwan, who also fight the Omaticaya and Metkayina clans. This movie has more character development and focuses a bit less on the symbiotic nature of the Na'vi with other life on the moon and on the moon itself (although that theme is still present). Much of this movie deals with the fallout from the events that ended the second film, and many of the relationships among the characters are fractured (at least to some extent). 

The steelbook release is a 4-disc set, including a UHD disc and two standard Blu-Ray discs. The UHD disc and the first standard Blu-Ray just contain the movie. The second standard Blu-Ray disc contains all the bonus content. Each disc has its own tab inside the case, so no discs need to be stacked on top of each other. The A/V quality of the UHD disc is outstanding (basically reference-quality for both audio and video), as you would expect with these films. The franchise continues to be on the cutting edge of motion-capture animation and computer-generated effects, so the Na'vi look less and less like animated characters, and the live-action and CGI blends pretty seamlessly. It is especially good if you have a large screen and a Dolby Atmos surround system. The bonus content includes a 13-part making-of documentary, which can be played all at once (and runs just under three hours) or individually by chapter. It features interviews with various members of the cast and crew, and walks through all aspects of the movie's production. Then, there is a 20-minute tribute to producer Jon Landau, who passed away in 2024, both theatrical trailers, the music video for the film's theme song, Dream as One, sung by Miley Cyrus, and RDA orientation videos that are supposedly shown to RDA personnel before they are sent to Pandora. The set also comes with a code to redeem a digital copy of the movie. Chances are, if the studio follows the same trend as with the first two films, there will be an expanded edition released later in the year with more bonus content and a longer runtime. So, you will have to decide whether you want to get this now or wait for a subsequent release. 

The movie is entertaining, but it is a bit long, and some of the content feels duplicative of the first two movies. You again get a huge final battle between the RDA and the Na'vi, and another huge fight between Jake and Quaritch (this time both as Na'vi). This one does not end on a cliffhanger, and there is no mid- or end-credits scene setting anything up for the next film. It definitely feels like the middle portion of a larger story, and you definitely need to see the first two films to follow what is going on in this one. You really have to look at these movies in a similar way to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films: not everything will be told until the final movie. Ultimately, if you liked the first two films, you will probably enjoy this one.

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Heavy Rotation

 

Heavy Rotation is the fourth studio album by Anastacia. It was released in 2008, and, depending on which version you have, contains 11 or 12 tracks. The UK and Australian editions contain a bonus track titled "Beautiful Messed Up World." This album has more slow ballads and ballad-like tracks than her previous albums, which primarily featured up-tempo dance tracks. This one does have some up-tempo tracks as well, but overall, the album showcases more of her vocal ability and range.  Like her prior albums, this one blends genres like rock, R&B, funk, soul, and pop. The CD liner contains the lyrics and production notes for all the songs, several pictures of Anastacia, and thank yous on the final page. 

While the album was not a huge hit here in the US, it contains many good tracks that are worthy of inclusion on a playlist, such as All Fall Down, Never Love Again, and You'll Be Fine. Ultimately, it is probably her best overall album (at the time of its release) and is definitely worth listening to. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bewitched: The Complete Series – 60th Anniversary Special Edition

 

Bewitched is a sitcom that aired for eight seasons beginning in 1964 and running until 1972. It was created by Sol Saks and produced by Harry Ackerman (and, in effect, by William Asher (who also directed several episodes) and his wife and series star, Elizabeth Montgomery). Along with Montgomery, the main cast included Dick York (for the first five seasons), Dick Sargent (for the final three seasons), Agnes Moorehead, David White, and Erin Murphy (from season three onward). The supporting cast included George Tobias, Alice Pierce, Sandra Gould, Irene Vernon, Kasey Rodgers, Marion Lorne, Maurice Evans, Mabel Albertson, Paul Lynde, Bernard Fox, and Alice Ghostley. It also featured several guest stars, some of whom would go on to larger roles on other shows, such as Adam West and James Doohan, and others who would appear in several different roles on the show, such as Parley Baer, Bernie Koppel, and Dick Wilson. Willie Mays, Tommy Boyce, and Bobby Hart also played themselves in guest-starring roles. 

In the series, Montgomery plays a witch named Samantha who falls in love with a mortal man named Darrin Stephens (initially played by York, then by Sargent after York left the series due to a back injury). Darrin wants to live a normal, middle-class life and objects to Samantha's use of magic. Samantha's relatives object to her marriage to a mortal and constantly interfere in their lives, using various spells on Darrin (especially Samantha's mother, Endora, played by Moorehead). The series is mostly a story-of-the-week procedural, with a handful of longer story arcs every so often. Most episodes involve Darrin making a snarky comment to one of Samantha's relatives, who then casts a spell on him, making his day miserable and making him look foolish until he apologizes. 

This is a complete series released in 2025 to commemorate the series' 60th Anniversary. It is a 22-disc set. The packaging is not great. The discs are packaged in a large keep case (which requires the discs to be stacked on top of each other) that can be held in a decorative outer slip box. As of this writing, the individual seasons are only available on DVD. There are multi-season bundles on Blu-Ray, and this complete series set. The bonus features are exclusive to this release. The A/V quality is good, but some episodes definitely look better than others. The first two seasons are in black-and-white (as they aired), and the rest are in color. The bonus content is mostly audio commentaries on select episodes. Each commentary features historian (and Elizabeth Montgomery biographer) Herbie J. Pilato and a surviving cast member (usually one of the guest-starring children) or a surviving crew member.  Dick York's son appears on some of the commentary tracks to offer perspective on what he remembers about his father's time on the series. On the final disc, there is a half-hour documentary about the series, hosted by Pilato, featuring interviews with some of the people who appeared on the commentary tracks. Finally, there is a booklet written by Pilato that provides information about the series, the people who starred in or appeared in it, and an episode guide. Unfortunately, Murphy, who is the only living main cast member, does not appear on any of the commentary tracks or in the documentary.   

The series is good but dated. Some of the things that occurred on the show (like the roles of men and women, casual smoking, etc.) would never be included in a series (especially a sitcom) made today. Other things about the series were very progressive for its time. The show used the witch-mortal relationship as a metaphor for real-world social issues of the time, such as civil rights and women's rights. The series also featured several black guest stars and extras and had an episode that directly tackled racism. People who are big on continuity in a TV series will probably get frustrated while binge-watching it, as the writers often recycled storylines and used many of the same guest stars in different roles. Ultimately, while it is not without its flaws, the series is good and will definitely be a blast from the past for those old enough to have watched it when it originally aired or in reruns. Some of the humor in the show is very different from what you see on modern sitcoms, but even so, there are some very funny moments, even if the show may not have younger audiences laughing out loud regularly. So, if you are a fan of older TV series, this is absolutely worth picking up. 

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Pieces of A Dream

 

Pieces of a Dream, released in 2005, is partly a greatest-hits compilation album by Anastacia and partly a new release (at the time). It has 17 tracks in total and includes singles from her first three studio albums, four new songs recorded for this album, and a megamix of her biggest hits up to that point. The CD liner includes lyrics and production notes, as well as one picture of Anastacia. Like her other albums up to this point, this blends different genres, including soul, pop, and R&B, mixing slower ballads with upbeat dance tracks. Even though she hit the scene in the early 2000s, Anastacia was older than many of the female pop stars of the time, and only achieved modest popularity in the US. She was always more popular overseas than in the US, and this album was no exception. Ultimately, if you liked her first few albums, you will probably enjoy this one. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bewitched: Season 8

 

The 26-episode 8th and final season of Bewitched aired during the 1971/1972 TV season. All the main cast members, including Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead, and David White, returned for the final season. Erin Murphy appeared in most episodes as Tabitha, and the combination of twins David and Greg Lawrence played Adam, the Stephens' son. Some of the "regular" recurring cast members who have appeared throughout the series (Alice Ghostley, Bernard Fox, and Maurice Evans) do appear during the season; however, characters like Abner, Gladys Kravitz, and Uncle Arthur do not. The guest stars this season include Julie Newmar (in a role that is a funny nod to her Catwoman character in the Batman TV series), Peter Lawford, and Al Molinaro, and actors such as Bernie Koppel, Parley Baer, and Charles Lane (who have all appeared in various roles throughout the series) make appearances. 

As with season 7, the episodes at the beginning of the season are set on location, this time in Europe. The show retains the story-of-the-week format with the usual hijinks (sometimes characters going into the past, sometimes bringing a historical figure into the present, etc.) occurring. The writers definitely recycle storylines this season, and it seems the show's budget was reduced, as the effects are not as good as in past years.

As of this writing, the Blu-Rays are only available as a complete series release or bundled seasons. The individual seasons are only available on DVD. The 8th season episodes are on the final two discs. There are episode commentaries on three of the season's episodes, each featuring Bewitched historian and Elizabeth Montgomery biographer Hebie J. Pilato and usually one of the cast members who appeared in the particular episode (which was usually one of the younger guest cast members). On the final disc, there is a half-hour documentary entitled Behind the Magic, which features Pilato, Dick York's son, one of the twins who played Adam, and a couple of guest stars who were children when the series aired. The bonus content was made specifically for the Blu-Ray release and is not available on the DVD releases.

By the 8th season, the show had become stale, and ratings were down because the network kept moving its time slot around. The network was willing to pick up the show for three more seasons; however, Montgomery was ready to move on, and it was not picked up. The downside is that the series never received a proper finale, as the cancellation decision was not made until after the season ended, so the final episode just felt like any other episode. Ultimately, the season was not as good as prior seasons. That said, there are still some good moments, and the show continued to use the witch-mortal stories as a metaphor for issues like women's and civil rights. So, if you liked the prior seasons, this one is worth checking out to see how the series ends. 

Blu-Ray/TV series review: Frasier: Season 6

 

The 24-episode sixth season of Frasier aired during the 1998/1999 TV season. All of the primary cast members return for the sixth season, as do several of the "regular" recurring cast members. The notable guest stars this season include Teri Hatcher, Amy Brenneman, Eva Marie Saint, Virginia Madsen, Christine Baranski, and Piper Laurie. This season would also mark early roles for Timothy Omundson (who would later star in the great series, Psych) and Erika Christenson. This season's tie to the parent series Cheers includes a guest appearance by Woody Harrelson, returning to the franchise as Woody Boyd, who contacts Frasier during a trip to Seattle. The guest callers this season include Ron Howard, William H. Macey, Phil Donahue, Beverly D'Angelo, Gillian Anderson, and Yo-Yo Ma. 

This season, the series continues to blend the story-of-the-week procedural format with longer story arcs. The beginning of the season centers on the fallout from the radio station employees being fired at the end of season five, as everyone tries to find new jobs. It is not spoiling anything to say that the radio station eventually switches back to the old format and everyone gets their job back, but the writers do a good job of drawing out the storyline for a handful of episodes. The other big storyline this season involves Niles and the still-unseen Maris finalizing their divorce, and the writers were still teasing a Niles-and-Daphne romance. 

The Blu-ray set is, as of this writing, still only available as a complete series release, with individual seasons available only on DVD. In the blu-ray set, the season is a three-disc set packaged in its own keep case. The DVD set is a four-disc set. There are no bonus features this season, but the episodes can be played with English captions. The A/V quality of the blu-ray is very good. While it did not get a "reference quality" HD transfer, the blu-rays are a significant upgrade from the DVDs. 

The show continues to be very funny this season, with many laugh-out-loud moments. As he has for most of the series, David Hyde Pierce steals nearly every scene he is in as Niles, but all of the cast members have great moments throughout the season. Christine Baranski's episode was one of the best of the season, as she made a great foil for Fraiser, dispensing "tough love" advice to callers. Ultimately, if you liked the first five seasons, the sixth season is absolutely worth watching. 

Book Review: The Gunslinger (Dark Tower #1)

 

The Gunslinger, originally published in 1982, is the first in the series of 8 novels in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It was revised and updated in 2003 to add material that fleshed out and strengthened the novel's storyline. It is hard to describe the exact genre of the story as it mixes dark fantasy, sci-fi, horror, western, and dystopian themes. King took inspiration for the story from The Lord of the Rings, the Arthurian legends, and westerns starring Clint Eastwood. In it, the main character is a member of a knightly order known as gunslingers named Roland Deschain. He lives in a world in a parallel universe, similar to the Old West, yet incorporating magical and supernatural elements. In the novel, Roland is chasing a mysterious figure known as "the man in black" while searching for a structure known as The Dark Tower.

The paperback version of the expanded edition is just under 240 pages. Even though it has a relatively low page count, it is a bit slow to read and can be hard to follow at times. The reader is just dropped into a story without much initial setup. Roland is traveling through a desert, meeting various characters along the way. There are hints of multiple universes, but the book does not really explore that aspect. Ultimately, this very much feels like it is setting up a larger story. If this were the only book in the series, it would not be a must-read. Just an okay fantasy novel. However, as the story very much expands and evolves, if you are a fan of fantasy, horror, westerns, and dystopian novels, it is worth reading. 

Book Review: How to be More Tree

 

How to be More Tree, published in 2019, is a short self-help/advice book written by Liz Marvin and illustrated by Annie Davidson. The hardcover version is 125 pages long, segmented into two pages, with one page of the two-page combination having an illustration of some variety of tree, and the other page having a quote such as "beginnings are always small" and "find your happy place" and a paragraph about how the particular tree's behavior applies to the quote. It is very easy to read because there is only text on every other page, and the text is very short. It can easily be finished in a couple of hours or less, depending on how quickly you read and how much time you have. Ultimately, while I would not say it falls into the category of a life-changing self-help book, it provides good advice and interesting information about various types of trees.

Book Review: The Life We Bury

 

The Life We Bury, published in 2014, is a crime/mystery/suspense novel, and the first book by lawyer-turned-author Allen Eskens. The plot is set in Minnesota, where Eskens went to school and practiced law, so if you are familiar with the state, you will recognize many of the locations he mentions. The story involves a college student named Joe Talbert, who has to write a biography for a college English assignment. He ends up interviewing a man named Carl Iverson, who spent 30 years in prison for murdering his teenage neighbor back in 1980 (which he claims he did not commit), and was medically paroled to a nursing home because of terminal cancer. Talbert begins to suspect that Iverson is telling the truth and, with the help of his neighbor Lilah Nash, sets out to try to get the investigation into the murder reopened. 

The novel is 300 pages long and the physical book was only released in paperback. While the murder investigation is the main plotline of the novel, there are several side plots, mostly centered on the lives of Talbert and Nash, and on fleshing out Iverson's life before he was arrested for murder. The story is very engaging, and the story flows very well. Eskens does a good job of making the legal parts of the story accurate without bogging it down with legalese. He includes just enough legal concepts to explain things while making it easy for non-lawyers to follow. He also does a very good job navigating between the various storylines and blending drama and suspense with some action and romance. Ultimately, it is a book with a very engaging story that makes it hard to put down. It is absolutely worth reading for anyone who is a fan of crime mysteries. 

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Edge of Tomorrow

 

Edge of Tomorrow (sometimes billed as Live, Die, Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow) is a 2014 sci-fi/action film directed by Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, and Bill Paxton. The supporting cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Noah Taylor, Kick Gurry, Charlotte Riley, and Franz Drameh. The movie is partly a war film, almost reimagining World War II as a battle against an alien race, called Mimics, and partly a futuristic action film. Most of the movie's events are set in 2020, which, at the time the movie was made, was six years in the future. 

The premise is that the mimics, which operate as a hive collective, landed on Earth in 2015 and took over most of Europe. The world's nations band together to fight them. Cruise plays a public relations officer, Major William Cage, who is ordered by Gleeson's character, General Brigham, to cover the planned invasion of France from the front line. When Cage tries to blackmail the general, he is arrested, tranquilized, demoted to the rank of Private, and sent to join the invasion infantry under the command of Paxton's character, Master Sergeant Farell. During the battle, Cage kills a mimic while dying in the process as he is covered in the Mimic's blood. Cage then discovers that he can reset and relive the day every time he dies. Blunt plays Sergeant Rita Vrataski, who Cage learns once had the same ability, and the two form a plan to kill the "brain" controlling the mimics.

The 4k release is a two-disc set containing a UHD disc and a standard Blu-Ray disc. The UHD disc just contains the film itself, and all the bonus content is included on the standard Blu-Ray. The A/V quality of the UHD disc is outstanding. The movie looks and sounds great in UHD, especially if you have a large screen and a 7.1 Dolby Atmos sound system. The standard Blu-Ray contains a little over an hour's worth of content. The most extensive extra is a making-of documentary that runs about 43 minutes and features interviews with Liman and various cast and crew members. Then, there is an "adrenaline cut" of the beach invasion scene, a making-of featurette on the beach invasion scene, featurettes on the weapons and creatures, and about seven minutes of deleted scenes. There are also some previews that play before the main screen loads. 

The movie is a good action film that, despite being a big-budget release, did not feel cookie-cutter. It was mostly well-written (though some parts of the plot could have been cut) and well-acted. It has a nice blend of action, humor, and even some drama. Regardless of what you may think of Cruise in his personal life, he does a great job in almost all of his roles and dedicates himself to the movies he does. Blunt is a great co-lead, and the supporting cast members all do a good job in their respective roles. While the movie relies heavily on CGI, they used as many practical effects as they could, and the CGI that is there looks seamless. Ultimately, if you are a fan of sci-fi and/or action films, this is absolutely worth checking out and adding to a physical media collection. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bewitched Season 7

 

The penultimate 7th season of Bewitched aired during the 1970/1971 TV season.  This season was shorter than past seasons, having just 28 episodes. All the main cast members (Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead, and David White) returned, as did several of the major recurring and supporting cast members, including Erin Murphy, George Tobias, Sandra Gould, Alice Ghostley, Mabel Albertson, Paul Lynde, and Bernard Fox. Guest stars this season included Cesar Romero and Parley Baer. The show mostly retained the story-of-the-week procedural format, but the first 8 episodes were set in modern-day and 17th-century Salem (and filmed partially on location in Salem, Massachusetts). The most notable episode of the season was the Christmas episode titled Sisters at Heart, which was created from a story written by students at a Los Angeles high school, and was the first episode to directly tackle the subjects of racism and prejudice (although the series had always used the marriage of Samantha and Darrin as a metaphor to comment on those subjects). 

As of this writing, the individual seasons are only available on DVD, and the blu-ray set is only available as a complete series release. In that set, the seventh season episodes are on discs 19 and 20. The A/V quality is very good, but in a couple of episodes, the video quality is significantly lower for part of the episode (most likely due to the condition of the original film). There are two commentary tracks on the Christmas episode and one on episode 24, each including Herbie Pilato. Notably missing on the Blu-Ray is the introduction to, and season's greetings message at the end of, the Christmas episode filmed by Montgomery, which are included on the DVD release. 

The series was definitely getting a bit stale by this point in its run. This season would mark the final appearances by Lynde, Tobias, and Gould, and the writers were using recycled storylines in some episodes. That said, there are several good episodes and funny moments during the season. Ultimately, it is not the best season of the series, but it is still worth checking out. 

Book Review: Dragonlance Lost Histories Vol II: The Irda

 

The Irda, published in 1995, is the second volume in the Dragonlance Lost Histories series. The series tells the origins of the various races on Krynn, the mythical world established in the Chronicles novels back in the mid-1980s. This one tells the story of the Irda, a race of Ogres who were not corrupted by evil into the creatures described in the Chronicles and Legends novels. The Irda are a group of Ogres who left the clan system the species had lived in, which had become corrupted by greed and lust for power. 

The book was only published as a mass-market paperback. The book is 312 pages long. The first 301 pages comprise the Irda story, and the rest contain the first chapter of the novel Dragons of the Summer Flame, which continued the storylines from the Chronicles and Legends trilogies. The book has a good mix of action and dramatic elements. There are also some romantic elements, but those are not really at the forefront of the story. I would describe the story as okay, but if it had included more of what was spelled out on the back cover, specifically the corruption of the Ogres by Takhisis, it would have been better. Ultimately, the story is okay, but it is not one of the novels in the Dragonlance universe that I would categorize as a must-read.  

Book Review: Star Wars: The Acolyte: Wayseeker

 

Wayseeker, published in 2025, is a novel by Justina Ireland set approximately 160 years before the Battle of Yavin between the end of Phase 3 of the High Republic (after the Nihil were defeated) and the short-lived but underrated series The Acolyte. The novel is centered around the characters Vernestra Rwoh and Indara (the Jedi played by Carrie-Anne Moss in the series). In it, Vernestra is an older Jedi master and Wayseeker (a Jedi who operates independently of the Jedi Council) who has been exploring the Outer Rim. She is called back to Coruscant for a mission that a Republic Senator has personally requested her to participate in. After Vernestra ignores the order to return, the council sends Indara, who is a young Jedi knight who has been working in the archives after a traumatic experience during a mission, to track Vernestra down and bring her back to Coruscant. Vernestra and Indara then set out to uncover ties between the Senator and a gang smuggling weapons that have not been seen in the Republic for years, while trying to overcome their personality clashes. 

The hardcover version of the book is 284 pages long. It reads fairly quickly, especially if you have read the novels set during the High Republic. Ireland does a good job explaining Vernestra's personality shift from when she was a young Jedi during the Nihil conflict and when she appeared in The Acolyte. She mostly appeared in the young-adult and junior novels set during the High Republic, but was one of the most intriguing characters, and almost the polar opposite of how she was portrayed in the TV series. While the book does not entirely fill in that gap of time, it does help explain why she was so different as she got older. Ultimately, while it is not one of my must-reads in the new canon, it is a good novel worth checking out.   

Product Review: EZYA Heavy Duty Carabiner Clips

 

This is a good pair of inexpensive carabiner clips that can be used for hanging things, attaching to a keychain, or the like. Personally, I used them to hang a couple of solar-powered lamps from hooks on my front porch. Because the solar collector is on top of the lamps and the hanging strap doesn't lower them all that low, I used these to increase clearance between the top of the lamps and the porch overhang, so the solar collectors get more sunlight. They work well for that, and really anything else you would need a sturdy carabiner clip for. Ultimately, if you are looking for a good set of clips but do not need a lot of them, this is a good option.  

Book Review: World Book Encyclopedia of Science: Space

 

This is one of the nine volumes of the World Book Encyclopedia of Science, first published in 2014 and updated in 2019. I have the 2019 version of the set. The volume on space is just under 250 pages. The entries include things such as the history of some famous constellations and stars, the more famous deep-sky objects, and all the planets. It also includes biographies of famous scientists who contributed to the advancement of Astronomy and Astrophysics, as well as some of the most famous Astronauts throughout history. Everything is in alphabetical order, with some entries getting 1-2 paragraphs of write-up, and others receiving multiple pages. 

If you are a fan of Astronomy and have read many books on the subject, you will probably know a lot of the information contained in this volume. It does, however, include information on some of the more recent NASA missions, such as the New Horizons mission to Pluto, which some people may not be as familiar with. And, while it is not overly technical, it does contain some technical information and includes information that you may not know, even if you have read several space-related books. It also includes a couple of how-to projects, such as how to make a mobile of the solar system, how to make a home-made planetarium that you can project using a flashlight, etc. It is written in a way that kids about 10 years old and up can understand it, but it can still be informative for adults. The set is out of print now, but if you can find a copy, it is worth reading. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 90

 Day 90, which is actually the second-to-last day of the program, so I did the second core synergistics workout. Normally, this would be on Tuesday and Friday, but I mixed the workouts up this week, so I had to do the two routines I hate the most three days in a row. Oh, well. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 89

 Day 89 was yoga. Still hated it, but I got through it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 88

On day 88, I did core synergistics. This, behind the yoga routine, is my least favorite workout in the program. Unlike what Tony Horton tries to say in the video intro, it is not anything that is remotely fundamental to the program. It is just a bunch of weird push-up variations, mixed with different cardio exercises, and some high-volume weight exercises, all of which require you to keep your core tight. But, if you are lifting with proper form, you would be doing that anyway. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 87

On day 87, I did x-stretch. It went well, and unlike the yoga routine, I love this one. It felt good to get it in. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 86

Day 86 was the start of the final week, which is the recovery week. I did the Kenpo routine today, mainly because I had just done yoga a couple of days ago, and did not want to do that again so soon.

Workout Update: P90X Day 85

Day 85 was a rest day going into the final recovery week of the program. I did the 645 cardio routine in the evening, again to get some movement in, but that was it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 84

Day 84 was yoga. I feel like my flexibility and mobility have plateaued a bit, as my range of motion has not really improved since last week. But, it is kind of hard for me to tell during the yoga routine because it has never been easy for me to do.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 83

 Day 83 was the final Legs and Back workout. I was again able to get in a couple more assisted pull-up reps, but kept the weight for the weighted portions the same.

Workout Update: P90X Day 82

 Day 82 was Kenpo. It was fine. Nothing to really write home about. The workouts are definitely getting super repetitive and boring at this point, so it is a slog to get through them. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 81

Day 81 was the final back and biceps workout. This is still probably my favorite lifting workout in the program (aside from the corn-cob pull-ups), but I was even able to get a couple more assisted reps with those. So, overall, a decent workout.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 80

Day 80 was the final plyometrics workout of the routine. I must admit by this point, I am pretty much slacking in the program, so I did not go balls to the wall during this. But I got through it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 79

Day 79 was the final Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps workout of the program. There was no big change from the last time I did the workout to speak of.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 78

 Day 78 was a rest day, but I did the 645 cardio routine in the evening just to get some activity in. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 77

Day 77 was Yoga. I still cannot stand the routine, but I can tell that my flexibility is improving incrementally.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 76

Day 76 was Legs and Back. I again was able to get a couple more reps on some of the pull-up exercises, but the amount of weight I used for the weighted exercises stayed the same.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 75

Day 75 was the Kenpo workout again. It went okay, but I did it later in the evening than I intended, so I did not get a ton of sleep during the night because I was still kind of wired from the workout.

Workout Update: P90X Day 74

Day 74 was the last Shoulders and Arms workout of the program. No big changes or advancements from the last time I did the workout.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 73

Day 73 was plyometrics. I was a bit tired during the workout so I did not go all out, but I made it through.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 72

Day 72 was the last Chest and Back workout. It went very well, as I was able to increase the number of assisted pull-ups for almost every pull-up variation, and added a rep or 2 to my push-up total. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 71

Day 71 was the rest day. I did do the 645 cardio routine in the evening just so I could get some movement in during the day, and since we had nice weather, I did go on a couple of longer walks.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 70

Day 70 was the legs and back workout. I used the same weight for all the weighted exercises, and I got a few more pull-ups in.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 69

 On day 69, I did the yoga routine. I am still skipping through portions of it until I get to the point where I can do the portions I can do, well, before I start incorporating the harder elements. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 68

Day 68 was the back and biceps workout. Again, nothing was all that different from the last time I did the workout, but my pull-up numbers increased a bit.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 67

On day 67, I did Kenpo, again switching the workout order. It went well, and I can tell my stamina is getting better, and my speed is getting better when doing the workout. However, I still have a long way to get where I want to be with the workout being as easy as it was for me years ago. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 66

On day 66, I did the chest, shoulders, and triceps workout. There were no huge changes from the last time I did the workout, but I was able to do another couple of corn-cob pull-ups (still assisted) than I did the last time.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 65

On day 65, which was the start of week 2 of Phase 3, I decided to change things up a bit and reorder the workouts. So, instead of starting with Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps, I started with Plyometrics. It went well, and I could tell that my body was not expecting the mix-up in workouts.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: From Dusk Till Dawn

 

From Dusk Till Dawn is a 1996 film that blends the action, crime-drama, and monster genres. It was directed by Robert Rodriguez and stars George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino (who also wrote the screenplay), Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Ernest Liu, and Salma Hayek (in her second major film role). The supporting cast includes Cheech Marin (who plays three different roles), John Saxon, Danny Trejo, Fred Williamson, Tom Savini, and Kelly Preston. In it, Clooney and Tarantino play criminal brothers who have recently robbed a bank and taken one of the tellers hostage. They end up taking a family (Keitel, Lewis, and Liu) hostage and force Keitel, who plays a former minister named Jacob Fuller (who has lost his faith after his wife's death), to Mexico in the family's RV. Seth (Clooney's character) assures Jacob that his family will be safe after they meet the brother's contact the following morning at a strip club in Mexico that is open from dusk till dawn. It turns out the strip club is run by vampires who steal from truckers and bikers who frequent the club. 

The blu-ray release is a single-disc release with no bonus content. The A/V transfer is okay, but not outstanding. If you have a large screen and a good sound system, the movie will look and sound very good, even if the HD transfer is not of the highest quality.

The movie falls into the category of good, but not great. It was made just before the big advancement in CGI effects and technology (basically before the first Matrix film and the subsequent Star Wars and Harry Potter films revolutionized movie effects), so some of the effects are extremely fake-looking and cheesy. It is absolutely not family-friendly as it has a lot of violence, swearing, and some nudity. It is well-written and well-acted, and Hayek looks stunning in her bikini scene and takes over the movie at one point despite the limited screen time she gets. While it is not really a comedy, it does have some funny moments, such as Cheech Marin showing up throughout the film in different roles. Ultimately, if you are a fan of action films and shoot-em-up monster movies, you will probably like this one. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Frasier: Season 5

 

The 24-episode fifth season of Frasier aired during the 1997/1998 TV season. All members of the main cast/series regulars returned for the season, as did recurring cast members such as Edward Hibbert (who plays Gil Chesterson) and Marsha Mason (who plays Sherry). Bebe Neuwirth also reprised her role as Lilith in a hilarious episode later in the season. The notable guest stars this season included Sela Ward, Lisa Edelstein, Larry King, and Leslie Stahl. There were fewer radio station segments this season, so there were fewer celebrity callers, but those who did appear included Cindy Crawford, John Waters, Rob Reiner, Halle Berry, and John McEnroe.

As of this writing, the individual seasons are available only on DVD in a four-disc set. The Blu-Rays are available in a complete series release, with each season packaged in its own keep case. The fifth season set is a three-disc set on blu-ray. The A/V quality of the blu-rays is excellent and absolutely a step-up in quality from the DVD release. There are no bonus features this season, but the episodes can be played with or without English captions. 

The show remained primarily a story-of-the-week procedural, but there were some ongoing storylines throughout the season, including the ongoing saga of Niles and Maris's marriage, hints of Niles and Daphne getting together, and a pregnancy storyline for Roz. This season also included the series' 100th episode, with a storyline in which Frasier celebrated 1000 episodes of his radio show. The show continues to be very funny in season five, with many laugh-out-loud moments. The episode in which Lilith returns was hilarious, with standout performances by David Hyde Pierce and Bebe Neuwirth. The Niles-Maris storyline is finally resolved this season, and the season ends on a significant cliffhanger going into season six. While some elements of the series are very dated by today's standards, it remained well-written and well-acted, and if you liked the first four seasons, this one is worth watching.

CD/Music Review: Anastacia (self-titled)

 

This is the 2004 self-titled album by Anastacia. It is her third studio album and mixes elements of pop, soul, rock, and R&B. It was not released on physical media in the US  but is available on CD as an import. The album did very well overseas, topping the charts in Germany and the UK. The album has 12 tracks in all. Most of them fall into more of a power-rock category. There are not many ballads or slower songs. The standout tracks, in my opinion, are Left Alone Outside and Sick and Tired. The CD liner includes track listings with lyrics and liner notes, several pictures of Anastacia, and a thank-you note on the final page. The album is good. It has many good tracks, but it definitely has some weaker tracks mixed in. Ultimately, if you liked or loved her first two albums, you will probably like this one as well. 

Magazine Review: Maxim: June 2000

 

Maxim is a magazine created in 1999 to compete with Playboy, without the nudity. The June 2000 issue was its 30th issue, when the magazine was arguably at its height (and before it was sold off to the MAGA nutcase who currently owns and publishes it). The pictorials in this issue were centered on the women who starred in various WB shows, including Brittany Daniel, Charisma Carpenter, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Katie Holmes, Paula Devicq, and Jessica Biel. Most of the actresses had a single pic and a short bio and in the cases of Daniel and Devicq, short interviews. The main pictorial featured Katherine Heigl, who was starring in her breakout role on the series Roswell. Hers had the most pictures (including an incredible sideboob shot) and included a more lengthy interview. The other notable pictorial and write-up (unrelated to the WB actresses) featured Angelina Jolie, who was in the midst of her wild days as a young adult. 

Some of the articles featured in this edition included one about New Mexico's most notorious serial killer, David Parker Ray, an interview with Dave Grohl, and the usual sex-themed articles in which women were interviewed about things such as penis size and their willingness to engage in various fantasy play during sex. There is also an article profiling various young millionaires and how they made their money, and another about the popular convertibles of the time. Some of the ads were quite hilarious. There were tons of cigarette ads, one for a smart grill, and one promoting the release of the movie Fight Club, available for VHS and DVD rental. Ultimately, you have to take Maxim for what it was (especially back then). It definitely was written to appeal to the frat boy crowd in their late teens and early 20s. Some of the material is definitely cringe-worthy 25-plus years later (as of this writing), but some of the more serious material in it holds up well. 

Book Review: The Tales of Guy de Maupassant (Easton Press Edition)

 

The Tales of Guy de Maupassant is a collection of short stories written by Guy de Maupassant during the 1800s. None of the stories are connected, so it feels very choppy to read them all in one sitting. The topics vary from romance to crime. Some of them are definitely better than others. The best story in the collection, in my opinion, is the one titled "Diary of a Madman," which is about a judge who is revealed to be a serial killer when his diary is discovered after his death. 

The Easton Press version of the book is leatherbound and is just under 475 pages long. It also includes an introduction by the Easton Press editors that extends the length a bit. There are some illustrations throughout the book, but not an excessive amount. The book is included in Easton Press' "100 Greatest Books Ever Written" collection. While I would not go so far as to say it should have been included in that collection, it is interesting to read, especially if you like reading stories from the 19th century. 

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

 

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a 2023 film directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Daisy Head, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, and Justice Smith. The supporting cast includes Bradley Cooper and Rege-Jean Page. Goldstein and Daley also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Gillo. It is, of course, based on the role-playing game and is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. 

In it, Pine plays a bard named Edgin "Ed" Davis, who was in an order of peacekeepers until his wife was killed by disciples of a wizard that he arrested. He then becomes a thief, teaming up with a barbarian named Helga (played by Rodriguez), a sorcerer named Simon (played by Smith), and a con artist named Fitzwilliam (played by Grant). Ed and Helga are caught during a robbery and are imprisoned for 2 years. After escaping, Ed tries to track down Fitzwilliam and his daughter, Kira, whom Fitzwilliam has been caring for. Daisy Head plays Sofina, a red wizard, working for Fitzwilliam. 

The 4K release is a single-disc release. The UHD disc contains the movie and all the bonus content. The A/V quality is outstanding, and the movie looks and sounds wonderful in UHD, especially on a large screen with a good sound system.  The bonus material includes about an hour of content, including a making-of featurette, featurettes on the heroes and villains, a gag reel, and about ten minutes of deleted scenes. 

I would classify the movie as good (and better than the other live-action D&D movies that have come before), but not great. It has a decent mix of action and humor, and the effects are outstanding. The humor can be a bit much, a bit corny, and a bit cheesy at times, but the writers do stay pretty faithful to the setting. Ultimately, if you are a fan of fantasy films, you will probably find this one enjoyable and worth watching. If, however, you are holding out for something like the Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends series, this is definitely not it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 64

Day 64 was a rest day, but I did get in a little extra cardio (the 645 cardio workout) in the evening.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 63

Day 63 was yoga, which I had swapped out during the week. I again skipped past the parts that still give me trouble, but I can tell that my flexibility and mobility are getting better in the parts that I do. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 62

 Day 62 was legs and back. I used the same amount of weight for all of the weighted exercises, aside for the toe-roll iso lunges, which I bumped up from 12 to 15 lbs (and felt the difference). And I was able to get more reps on the pull-ups (again using the chair assist). 

Workout Update: P90X Day 61

On Day 61, I again swapped out yoga for kenpo. Nothing new to report about Kenpo. It was fine, nothing much different than the last time.

Workout Update: P90X Day 60

 Day 60 was the shoulders and arms workout. It went well, and I was able to bump the amount of weight that I used on a couple of the exercises up just a bit. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 59

Day 59 was plyometrics. I did not feel as tired during this one as I did after the first recovery week. I was able to jump back into it pretty well.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 58

Day 58 was the beginning of Phase 3, the last block of P90X. This is the block that you do Chest and Back and Shoulders and Arms for weeks 9 and 11 (1 and 3 of the block) and Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps, and Back and Biceps in weeks 10 and 12 (2 and 4 of the block). So, today was going back to Chest and Back. I was able to do more (assisted) pull-ups, but the push-up numbers were not all that different than the last time I did the workout. 

Book Review: Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001

 

Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001, first published in 2002, is a collection of stories of people who either survived the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, had loved ones killed in the attack, or helped in the aftermath of the attacks. Some of the stories are very well known if you have watched any of the 9/11 documentaries made over the years, and some are lesser-known. They were created from interviews conducted by authors Mitchell Fink and Lois Mathias with the people involved. All of the stories are at least a page long, and some stretch for a few pages. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 300 pages. The authors did an excellent job of conveying the emotions of the people who participated in interviews, which, given that the book was published in January of 2002, just a few months after the attacks, were quite raw. Most of the stories are from people who were in New York, either during the attacks or helping with the search-and-rescue efforts. The authors did, however, interview some people who were at the Pentagon and interviewed some of the family members of passengers on Flight 93. Ultimately, it is a very emotional read that provides a lot of detail about things that were not apparent from watching the TV coverage (for those who are old enough to have done so that day) or from the documentaries. It is absolutely worth reading. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bewitched: Season 6

 

The 30-episode 6th season of Bewitched aired during the 1969/1970 TV season. This season saw the largest cast shakeup, with Dick Sargent taking over the role of Darrin following Dick York's exit after season 5 due to a long-term back injury. David White was promoted to a series regular and added to the opening credits, and Alice Ghostley (who played a guest role in season 2) joined the cast in a new recurring role as Esmeralda, a part-time housekeeper/babysitter who is a witch with spotty powers (much like Aunt Clara). Elizabeth Montgomery returned (albeit begrudgingly) as Samantha (and occasionally Serena), Erin Murphy returned as Tabitha, and Agnes Moorehead returned as Endora. The guest stars this season included NFL star Deacon Jones, Bernie Koppell (who appeared as several different characters), Danny Bonaduce, J. Edward McKinley (who also made multiple appearances as different characters), and Jay Robinson (who also made multiple appearances). Bernard Fox, Maurice Evans, George Tobias, Sandra Gould, and Paul Lynde also made appearances in their recurring roles.  

The blu-rays are, as of this writing, only available in the complete series set, and the 6th season episodes span three discs. The epsisodes can be played with English captions, but the only bonus feature is a commentary track on the season premiere by Herbie Pilato and Johnny Whitaker (who guest-starred in the first episode of the season). The DVD set is a four-disc set. 

The series continues to mostly be a story-of-the-week procedural sitcom. Some elements (such as Samantha's pregnancy) spanned multiple episodes, but for the most part, the episodes are stand-alone. The writers do recycle storylines every so often, and as mentioned above, some of the same guest stars play totally different characters in different episodes. Interestingly, the writers did not address the fact that Darrin looked totally different after recasting the role, even though it would have been easy to explain with a spell gone awry that could not be reversed. The series was getting a bit stale by this point in its run. Montgomery had to be coerced to return (and given a significant raise in the process). Even so, there were definitely some funny moments, and it remained well-acted. Sargent did a good job making the role of Darrin his own, incorporating some of what Dick York did with the character without being a carbon copy of York. Ultimately, if you liked the prior seasons of the series, this one is worth checking out. 

Book Review: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a 2015 novel by George R.R. Martin set in the Game of Thrones universe. The events occur approximately 100 years before those depicted in the Song of Ice and Fire novels and the Game of Thrones TV series. The story involves a low-born "hedge knight" named Duncan (nicknamed Dunk), who goes by Ser Duncan the Tall, who was knighted by the knight for whom he squired. He looks to make a living competing in various tournaments. While traveling to a tournament, a small boy who calls himself Egg, whom Dunk mistakes for a stable boy at a local inn, asks to be his squire. Dunk ends up begrudgingly taking on Egg, who is definitely not a lowly stableboy, as his squire, and traveling through Westeros and getting into all manner of trouble.

The hardcover version of the book is just over 350 pages. I found that it reads much quicker than the Song of Ice and Fire novels, as there are far fewer characters and the book does not jump between storylines. The book actually has three different stories, with time jumps between each of them. While it does not have as much action or sex as the GoT novels, it is still entertaining. Martin does a great job of focusing the story on the relationship between Dunk and Egg, who have an older-brother-younger-brother dynamic. Of course, everyone wants Martin to actually finish the GoT series, and he received a lot of criticism for going off on side tangents with stories like this. However, if you are a fan of the series (regardless of what you think of Martin's writing pace), you will probably like this one. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 57

Day 57 was a rest day, and I did not do any workout and just enjoyed the off day. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 56

Day 56 was the second yoga workout of the week. Nothing new to say about this one, it is still way too long and has too much in it and I definitely fast forwarded through parts of it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 55

Day 55 was the second core synergistics workout of the week. I still can't stand this workout and think it is mostly a waste of time, but I got through it.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 54

Day 54 was x-stretch. As I have said before, I like this routine much better than the yoga routine. Again, I could tell my flexibility and range of motion are improving.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 53

Day 53 was Kenpo. It went well, and I am getting faster and able to better keep up with the cast members. While I am not as good as I was when I was actively in taekwondo, I am improving.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 52

Day 52 was yoga. I again only did a portion of the routine, skipping past the parts that I hate doing or still cannot do well. The parts that I did tackle are getting better as my flexibility and range of motion is improving. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 51

Day 51 was the beginning of the recovery week. I did core synergistics even though this was supposed to be Yoga. I did not pay attention to the calendar. Overall, it went pretty much the same as the last time, however I was able to do a few more of the push-up variations. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 50

 Day 50 was a rest day, but I did the stretch routine to get ready for recovery week. 

Book Review: Denied Access (Mitch Rapp Series #24)

 

Denied Access, published in 2025, is the 24th book in the prolific Mitch Rapp series of novels created by Vince Flynn. It is the second book written by Don Bentley, after he took over the series from Kyle Mills, who continued the series after Flynn's death. If you read the books in chronological order, it is now the third in the series, creating a trilogy of novels (along with American Assassin and Kill Shot) detailing Rapp's early days after joining the CIA. The events in the novel (save for the prologue) are set in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In it, Rapp finds himself caught in a conflict between the American and Russian Intelligence services, focused on protecting Greta, whose life has been threatened in the process. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 400 pages long. It reads fairly quickly, and Bentley mirrors Flynn's overall style and tone for the characters while making the story his own. Because this is set during Rapp's early days, characters like Thomas Stansfield and Stan Hurley are heavily featured, and we learn more about Irene's career in the agency. Obviously, as Bentley indicates in the Author's Note, we will never know where Vince Flynn would have taken the story after the novel Kill Shot, had he continued young Rapp's story, but Bentley does a great job concluding that portion of the story. Ultimately, if you are a fan of the series, this is worth reading.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: 13 Going on 30

 

13 Going on 30 is a 2004 romantic comedy directed by Gary Winick and starring Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, and Andy Serkis. The supporting cast includes Christa B. Allen, Alexandra Kyle, Sean Marquette, Kathy Baker, Renee Olstead, Samuel Ball, Phil Reeves, and Marcia DeBonis. It also includes Jim Gaffigan, Kiersten Warren, Brie Larson, and Ashley Benson in very minor bit parts. It starts in 1987 with a girl named Jenna Rink (Allen) turning 13. She is a nerdy kid whose best friend is her next-door neighbor Matt (Marquette), who is also nerdy and has a huge crush on Jenna. She desperately wants to be part of the popular group of girls at her school, nicknamed The Six Chicks, led by the most popular girl, Lucy/"Tom-Tom" (Kyle). Jenna ends up wishing that she were "thirty, flirty, and thriving" and, through the magic of movies, wakes up in 2004 as a 30-year-old (played by Garner) in New York City. The last thing she remembers is being humiliated by the Six Chicks at her birthday party, with no memory of the intervening 17 years. She ends up tracking down Matt (played by Ruffalo) and enlists his help to figure out what happened, discovering that she does not like who she ultimately grew up to be.

The Blu-Ray is a single-disc release. The A/V quality is very good, with an outstanding HD video transfer and very good 5.1 channel audio transfer. The bonus content includes two commentary tracks on the film: a director's commentary by Winick and a producer's commentary by two of the film's producers, Gina Matthews and Susan Arnold. Then there are just under a half hour's worth of deleted scenees, a couple of making-of featurettes, a featurette on 80s fashion, a featurette in which the cast members discuss their awkward teenage years, and two music videos (Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" and Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl," both of which are featured in the movie). Finally, there are trailers for three other films, but not the trailer for 13 Going on 30 itself. 

The movie is a fun and pretty innocent romantic comedy. It is to millennials what the movie "Big" was to Gen-Xers. The best way I can describe the movie is that it is what you would get if you mixed Big with the other huge 2004 comedy, "Mean Girls." Garner, who was still in her run as a TV action star playing Sidney Bristow on Alias, proved that she has great comedic acting skills. She totally made you buy that she was a clueless and innocent 13-year-old in the body of a smoking hot 30-year-old. Greer (who plays the adult version of Lucy) was great in her role, and Ruffalo was perfect for the part of the adult version of Matt. It is not a raunchy comedy by any means; there are some sex jokes and a couple of swear words thrown in, but it is definitely appropriate for a PG-13 audience, and can be enjoyed by adults (especially those who were in middle school or high school in the late 80s/early 90s). There are several laugh-out-loud moments, and the film features a wonderful 1980s soundtrack. While parts of it are a bit corny, it does hold up well even after 20-plus years. It is absolutely worth watching.