Day 78 of CE was the Recharge workout again. Nothing new to report on this one. I decided that my next workout regime is going to be a hybrid of Power-90 and Chaleane. I am going to do a month of the 1-2 workouts, then the CE Push Phase lifting with the Power-90 1-2 cardio, and then a month of the 3-4 workouts. I am going to add Recharge into the mix as a yoga workout to work my way up to P90X's hour and a half of Yoga.
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Monday, May 23, 2022
DVD/TV Series Review: Family Guy Volume 6
Volume Six of Family Guy is still at the point where the DVDs had episodes from two different seasons. In this case, Volume Six has the last five episodes of season five, then starts with the second episode of season six (the first episode of the season was the Star Wars spoof/homage, Blue Harvest, which was released separately on DVD), with episodes 2-8 of season six. Needless to say, it is hard to keep straight and something that they even joked about in the show. This volume contains the 100th episode of the series, Stewie Kills Lois, in which Stewie is actually successful (seemingly at least) at taking out Lois which was a huge theme for the show in the first couple of seasons.
The DVD does have a ton of extras. There is a commentary track on every episode, and this was released at a time when Seth McFarlane still participated in the commentary tracks and he is on almost every one of them. Then there are deleted scenes, a couple of featurettes on the 100th episode, a favorite scenes featurette, and a Family Guy Live segment that is basically a live table read.
At this point in the show, it had found its formula and stuck to it. It is mainly a story of the week but it does do callbacks from time to time. The humor does not change much, but it was around the 5th season that the series was clearly far less edgy than it was when it first aired. Realistically, it had been watered down from the time it came back after the initial cancelation. So, I cannot say that everyone who loved the show in seasons 1-3 are necessarily going to love the show at this point, but I still think it has enough funny moments to be worth watching.
The DVD does have a ton of extras. There is a commentary track on every episode, and this was released at a time when Seth McFarlane still participated in the commentary tracks and he is on almost every one of them. Then there are deleted scenes, a couple of featurettes on the 100th episode, a favorite scenes featurette, and a Family Guy Live segment that is basically a live table read.
At this point in the show, it had found its formula and stuck to it. It is mainly a story of the week but it does do callbacks from time to time. The humor does not change much, but it was around the 5th season that the series was clearly far less edgy than it was when it first aired. Realistically, it had been watered down from the time it came back after the initial cancelation. So, I cannot say that everyone who loved the show in seasons 1-3 are necessarily going to love the show at this point, but I still think it has enough funny moments to be worth watching.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: The Bourne Legacy
This movie was a mostly failed attempt to expand the Bourne universe beyond Matt Damon's character when Damon did not want to return for another movie. Of course, Damon eventually came back to the character and the spin-off was pretty much relegated to the dust bin of history.
The Bourne Legacy takes place at the same time as the previous film, The Bourne Ultimatum. Jeremey Renner stars as Aaron Cross who is a member of a black ops program called Operation Outcome whose subjects are genetically enhanced. Cross is stationed in a remote outpost in Alaska, and after the Treadstone operation is burned by Bourne, the government starts eliminating all traces of it and Operation Outcome, which means trying to take Cross out. Of course, that does not go to plan and what follows from there is pretty similar to the prior installments of the franchise.
Opinions on the quality of the movie seem to vary a lot. I think it was pretty good, but not great. It kept faithful to the original movies, yet was not totally derivative. That said, the chases and the whole feel of the government trying to track down a rogue agent were very much the same as the prior movies. It did have a great cast including Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, and Oscar Isaac, and had clips of Damon, Albert Finney, and Joan Allen.
The movie looks and sounds very good in the HD format and there are a lot of extras. Those include a commentary track on the movies by the directors and members of the production crew. Then there are deleted scenes and several featurettes that run from just under two minutes to almost eight minutes. All in all, about an hour's worth of extras (give or take) separate from the commentary track.
Overall, the movie was a good attempt at expanding the Bourne Universe. I think Renner, Weisz, and Norton did a good job as the leads and would have liked to have seen additional movies with their involvement, even with Cross and Bourne teaming up. Chances are, that is not going to come to pass and this is going to be a one-off movie, even if Damon decides to do another movie after "Jason Bourne" which is becoming more unlikely as time goes by.
The Bourne Legacy takes place at the same time as the previous film, The Bourne Ultimatum. Jeremey Renner stars as Aaron Cross who is a member of a black ops program called Operation Outcome whose subjects are genetically enhanced. Cross is stationed in a remote outpost in Alaska, and after the Treadstone operation is burned by Bourne, the government starts eliminating all traces of it and Operation Outcome, which means trying to take Cross out. Of course, that does not go to plan and what follows from there is pretty similar to the prior installments of the franchise.
Opinions on the quality of the movie seem to vary a lot. I think it was pretty good, but not great. It kept faithful to the original movies, yet was not totally derivative. That said, the chases and the whole feel of the government trying to track down a rogue agent were very much the same as the prior movies. It did have a great cast including Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, and Oscar Isaac, and had clips of Damon, Albert Finney, and Joan Allen.
The movie looks and sounds very good in the HD format and there are a lot of extras. Those include a commentary track on the movies by the directors and members of the production crew. Then there are deleted scenes and several featurettes that run from just under two minutes to almost eight minutes. All in all, about an hour's worth of extras (give or take) separate from the commentary track.
Overall, the movie was a good attempt at expanding the Bourne Universe. I think Renner, Weisz, and Norton did a good job as the leads and would have liked to have seen additional movies with their involvement, even with Cross and Bourne teaming up. Chances are, that is not going to come to pass and this is going to be a one-off movie, even if Damon decides to do another movie after "Jason Bourne" which is becoming more unlikely as time goes by.
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 77
Day 77 of CE was the last Lean Circuit 1 workout. I actually (finally) managed to hit the 12 rep max on most of the exercises. And, my balance on some of the exercises performed on one leg is getting better. It was still very challenging but definitely gets easier by the final week.
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 76
Day 76 was the Recharge workout again. Hamstring flexibility is improving again. I could actually get down into a crouch (finally) not just kind of bending my knees in the forward fold moves in the beginning. It is kind of hard to tell that it does that much when you are doing it since the workout only lasts 22 minutes, but doing it twice a week for the better part of three months has definitely helped.
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises
This is the third and final movie in the Nolan Batman trilogy. The movie is set years down the line from the events of The Dark Knight. Batman has essentially disappeared and Bruce Wayne has become a crippled shut-in, hobbled by injuries from years as Batman. Of course, those two things do not seem to correlate as (seemingly) nobody has any idea who Batman is. However, Gordon who knows (and carries with him an admission) of Batman's innocence in the killings that Two-Face committed, is not exactly looking to track Batman down. When a new threat in the form of Bane (played by Tom Hardy, who got absolutely jacked for the movie) emerges and threatens the city, Bruce must yet again don the cape and cowl. The movie also includes Catwoman/Selena Kyle, played wonderfully by Anne Hathaway, but much differently than how Michelle Pfeiffer played the role in Batman Returns.
There are a ton of Blu-Ray extras. There is a screen app integration that is kind of like a picture-in-picture track that can be played with the movie that acts kind of like a commentary track and kind of like a behind-the-scenes look at making the film. But it is very clunky to use. On the second Blu-Ray disc, which just has extras, there is a feature on ending the trilogy that is split into three main parts, each part having several individual sections. All of the material is very interesting and well worth watching, and in total is probably as long (or longer) in running time than the movie itself.
Overall, the trilogy was wrapped up very well. The ending was a bit forced for me, and takes a lot of suspension of disbelief, beyond what you already have to have for a movie like this. It was very well-acted and had tie-ins to the first movie. Caine's role as Alfred and Freeman's role as Fox was reduced in this movie, but Oldman did a great job playing a guilt-riddled Jim Gordon. I know that some people felt the reveal at the end of who was working with Bane was forced but did not mind it. While it was not, in my opinion, as good as The Dark Knight, I think it provided a fitting end to the trilogy and is definitely worth the pickup on Blu-Ray (or on 4K UHD now that it is available in that format).
There are a ton of Blu-Ray extras. There is a screen app integration that is kind of like a picture-in-picture track that can be played with the movie that acts kind of like a commentary track and kind of like a behind-the-scenes look at making the film. But it is very clunky to use. On the second Blu-Ray disc, which just has extras, there is a feature on ending the trilogy that is split into three main parts, each part having several individual sections. All of the material is very interesting and well worth watching, and in total is probably as long (or longer) in running time than the movie itself.
Overall, the trilogy was wrapped up very well. The ending was a bit forced for me, and takes a lot of suspension of disbelief, beyond what you already have to have for a movie like this. It was very well-acted and had tie-ins to the first movie. Caine's role as Alfred and Freeman's role as Fox was reduced in this movie, but Oldman did a great job playing a guilt-riddled Jim Gordon. I know that some people felt the reveal at the end of who was working with Bane was forced but did not mind it. While it was not, in my opinion, as good as The Dark Knight, I think it provided a fitting end to the trilogy and is definitely worth the pickup on Blu-Ray (or on 4K UHD now that it is available in that format).
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Bound (1996)
Bound is a mid-1990s erotic thriller written and directed by the Wachowskis, before they made The Matrix. It is kind of an independent darling movie that stars Gina Gershon as Corky, an ex-con hired to renovate an apartment in an upscale apartment building, and Jennifer Tilly as Violet, the girlfriend of a money-launderer for the mob named Ceasar (played by Joe Pantoliano). The first part of the movie basically builds the sexual tension between Tilly and Gershon, and then the second part involves the two trying to steal a bunch of money from Ceasar (and hence the mob). The movie was fairly controversial when it was released mainly due to the sex scene between Tilly and Gershon, which would not be a big deal at all today.
The Blu-Ray itself is very bare-bones. It just has the two versions of the movie (the R-Rated cut and the unrated cut (which shows a bit more of the main sex scene). There are no extras like the commentary track and featurettes that were released on older DVD editions of the movie.
Overall, the movie is good, but not great. It is definitely predictable in parts and aside from the fact that the two main characters were women, there was nothing all that unique about the story. It does have a mix of drama and suspense with a bit of humor mixed in. The acting was okay. Pantoliano really carries the heavy acting load in the movie, as Tilly pretty much did the breathy thing she does in every movie (and had her tits pushed up to her chin most of the time), and while Gershon did a good job with her role, hers was not written all that well. I would not describe the movie as a must-see, but it is worth watching if you are looking for something in the dramatic thriller genre.
4kUHD/Movie Review: Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel is a much better movie than it gets credit for. The movie is set in 1995 and serves as an origin story not only for Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, but also for Fury, to some extent Coulson, and the entire Avenger initiative. At the beginning of the movie, we see Danvers (played by Brie Larson) already with her powers believing herself to be a member of the Kree race and fighting a war with a race of beings called the Skrulls, whom she believed had her memory erased. After a battle with the Skrulls, she ends up on Earth and meets Nick Fury, played of course by Samuel L. Jackson, who was de-aged using CGI, who is at that time just a grunt SHEILD officer. Then the movie is about Carol regaining her memory and figuring out how powerful she really is. The rest of the cast is rounded out by Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace (making a cameo appearance as Ronan), Annette Bening, and Clark Gregg (who is also de-aged using CGI).
If you watch the MCU movies in chronological order, this one is the second movie in the sequence after the first Captain America. If you watch them in release order, it was the twenty-first movie and the one that comes just before Avengers Endgame. In some ways, the storyline makes more sense if you watch them chronologically, but on the other hand, this movie was really meant to be a flashback after the storyline and characters were established to see how everything started. So, watching it second without all the other movies to set it up I do think takes something away from it. Plus, the mid-credits scene only makes sense if you have seen Infinity War first, and without seeing Guardians of the Galaxy, Ronan does not have as much gravitas as he is intended to have.
For those who get the 4k set, the movie looks and sounds great in the UHD format. The UHD disc just has the movie itself, and then all the other extras are on the regular Blu-Ray disc. There are about 25 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes, about 10 minutes of deleted scenes, a short gag reel, and then a commentary track on the movie by the directors. What was included was okay, but it definitely does not has as many extras as some of the other movies received.
As I said above, the movie is better than it gets credit for, and a lot of the shit it gets is undeserved. It has a good mix of action and humor, with bits of drama mixed in as well. Larson and Jackson have great chemistry and really seem to enjoy working together, and the supporting cast all did a great job no matter how large or small their role is. The beginning of the movie also had great dedication to Stan Lee who passed away after the movie was shot but before it was released. And, it features a great 1990s soundtrack which will definitely give anyone who grew up in the 90s a major jolt of nostalgia. It does go a bit overboard on the girl-power thing in a couple of spots, but I don't think it is worth getting apoplectic over like some of the reviewers seem to. Those who think Larson's acting was wooden do not get that the character was written the way she played her, and why the character was written the way it was. Nor do they appreciate the dry humor, which Larson nails perfectly. While I would not say it was the best of the MCU movies, it is also do not think that it is the worst. Of course, that is totally subjective and there is a wide range of opinions on the quality. I definitely recommend it.
If you watch the MCU movies in chronological order, this one is the second movie in the sequence after the first Captain America. If you watch them in release order, it was the twenty-first movie and the one that comes just before Avengers Endgame. In some ways, the storyline makes more sense if you watch them chronologically, but on the other hand, this movie was really meant to be a flashback after the storyline and characters were established to see how everything started. So, watching it second without all the other movies to set it up I do think takes something away from it. Plus, the mid-credits scene only makes sense if you have seen Infinity War first, and without seeing Guardians of the Galaxy, Ronan does not have as much gravitas as he is intended to have.
For those who get the 4k set, the movie looks and sounds great in the UHD format. The UHD disc just has the movie itself, and then all the other extras are on the regular Blu-Ray disc. There are about 25 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes, about 10 minutes of deleted scenes, a short gag reel, and then a commentary track on the movie by the directors. What was included was okay, but it definitely does not has as many extras as some of the other movies received.
As I said above, the movie is better than it gets credit for, and a lot of the shit it gets is undeserved. It has a good mix of action and humor, with bits of drama mixed in as well. Larson and Jackson have great chemistry and really seem to enjoy working together, and the supporting cast all did a great job no matter how large or small their role is. The beginning of the movie also had great dedication to Stan Lee who passed away after the movie was shot but before it was released. And, it features a great 1990s soundtrack which will definitely give anyone who grew up in the 90s a major jolt of nostalgia. It does go a bit overboard on the girl-power thing in a couple of spots, but I don't think it is worth getting apoplectic over like some of the reviewers seem to. Those who think Larson's acting was wooden do not get that the character was written the way she played her, and why the character was written the way it was. Nor do they appreciate the dry humor, which Larson nails perfectly. While I would not say it was the best of the MCU movies, it is also do not think that it is the worst. Of course, that is totally subjective and there is a wide range of opinions on the quality. I definitely recommend it.
Book Review: The Dark Knight Rises Novelization
This is the novelization of the final installment in the Nolan Batman Trilogy. It follows the screenplay almost word-for-word and does not really add anything that significantly alters the story. Unlike books that are written first and then adapted to a movie, in which a ton of material ends up being cut out, what you get in the movie is pretty much what you get in the book, with only minor variations. So, if you liked, or loved the movie, you will probably like the book. Personally, I would have liked it if the author would have fleshed a bit more of the story out (especially the ending), but otherwise it is a fine novelization.
DVD/TV Series Review: FBI Season One
Going into the 2018-2019 TV season, FBI was the newest entry into the slate of shows that have been created and produced by Dick Wolf, which includes the long-running Law and Order franchise and the Chicago-based franchise of shows. The series is set in the New York criminal division of the FBI and stars Missy Peregrym (from the great but short-lived series Life as We Know It, the movie Stick It, and her guest-starring and recurring roles on shows like Heroes, Tru Calling, and Smallville) as field agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Omar Adom "O. A." Zidan, Maggie's partner, Sela Ward as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Dana Mosier (in a role that was recast after the pilot episode), Jeremy Sisto as assistant SAC Jubal Valentine, and Ebonée Noel as Kristen Chazal, who is a special agent and intelligence analyst.
The show is mostly a case-of-the-week procedural. Each show begins with some kind of murder, explosion, kidnapping, etc., that the team has to solve by the end of the episode. There is a storyline involving Maggie's deceased husband that becomes more involved as the season goes on, but otherwise, the focus of the show is just the weekly cases. The show does manage to do character development without giving much of a glimpse into the personal lives of the characters. This is definitely a hard thing to pull off and pretty much sank the show Chicago Justice, also created and produced by Wolf. Even though we rarely see the characters outside of their jobs, the writers do give a glimpse into who they are that the audience can get invested in them, and the action and suspense are enough to keep people coming back.
As far as the DVD set goes, as far as I can tell, the show has only been released on DVD in Europe, meaning the discs are Region 2 locked and will not play on US DVD and Blu-Ray players. So, you must have a region-free or a Region 2 player in order to watch the DVDs. They are basically a MOD set that just has the episodes. No extras, but they are closed captioned. So, if you prefer physical media to streaming and are willing to pay a bit more because the discs are imports, they are out there. Otherwise, you may just want to stream the show, especially if you are one who only gets the physical discs when there are a lot of extras and bonus features.
Overall, the season is good. It is well-written and acted, despite having a cast with actors who are either relatively new or had mostly been character actors. Ward definitely brought gravitas to the show as she was by far the most experienced member of the cast which was needed because while Peregrym and Sisto both had main roles in other shows, neither of them were major stars going into the show. It also has a backdoor pilot episode (much like Chicago PD got during season one of Chicago Fire) for the spin-off series FBI Most Wanted. So, if you are a fan of law-enforcement procedural shows this is definitely worth checking out.
The show is mostly a case-of-the-week procedural. Each show begins with some kind of murder, explosion, kidnapping, etc., that the team has to solve by the end of the episode. There is a storyline involving Maggie's deceased husband that becomes more involved as the season goes on, but otherwise, the focus of the show is just the weekly cases. The show does manage to do character development without giving much of a glimpse into the personal lives of the characters. This is definitely a hard thing to pull off and pretty much sank the show Chicago Justice, also created and produced by Wolf. Even though we rarely see the characters outside of their jobs, the writers do give a glimpse into who they are that the audience can get invested in them, and the action and suspense are enough to keep people coming back.
As far as the DVD set goes, as far as I can tell, the show has only been released on DVD in Europe, meaning the discs are Region 2 locked and will not play on US DVD and Blu-Ray players. So, you must have a region-free or a Region 2 player in order to watch the DVDs. They are basically a MOD set that just has the episodes. No extras, but they are closed captioned. So, if you prefer physical media to streaming and are willing to pay a bit more because the discs are imports, they are out there. Otherwise, you may just want to stream the show, especially if you are one who only gets the physical discs when there are a lot of extras and bonus features.
Overall, the season is good. It is well-written and acted, despite having a cast with actors who are either relatively new or had mostly been character actors. Ward definitely brought gravitas to the show as she was by far the most experienced member of the cast which was needed because while Peregrym and Sisto both had main roles in other shows, neither of them were major stars going into the show. It also has a backdoor pilot episode (much like Chicago PD got during season one of Chicago Fire) for the spin-off series FBI Most Wanted. So, if you are a fan of law-enforcement procedural shows this is definitely worth checking out.
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 75
Day 75 was the Burn it Off workout again. Overall I felt it went okay, despite having little motivation to work out this evening. I most definitely dogged it on a couple of the exercises, but I got it done.
Friday, May 20, 2022
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Clone
Clone, which was also released under the name Womb, is a different, and frankly kind of weird movie starring Eva Green (the first Bond Girl in the Daniel Craig Bond movie Casino Royale and the star of the series Penny Dreadful) and Matt Smith (from Doctor Who).
The plot of the movie is not overly complicated. Green and Smith play Rebecca and Thomas, a young couple in love. When he is killed in an accident, she decides to use his DNA to create a cloned embryo and carry him to term and raise the clone as her child. Then the movie basically spans a twenty-year time frame as the clone grows up and yet Rebecca never ages.
I will not say anything more to avoid spoiling the movie for those who have not seen it. I will say that while not everything in the movie made a lot of sense, and it could be slowly paced in spots (which is something for a movie that is just over an hour and a half long), Green does a great acting job. There are times in the movie when there is not a lot of dialogue and Green pretty much carries the movie via her facial expressions. It most definitely has the feel of a small-budget independent movie, but it is mostly well-written, and very well acted. I do think it could have spent a bit more time on Thomas and Rebecca's relationship before his death and which would have provided a bit more depth to the end of the movie.
The movie looks very good on Blu-Ray, with great cinematography of the locations in Germany. There are not much in the way of extras, just a few trailers, no making-of or behind-the-scenes material. I have not seen the movie streaming on any of the major streaming services, however, so if you want it the DVD or Blu-Ray is probably your best bet.
The plot of the movie is not overly complicated. Green and Smith play Rebecca and Thomas, a young couple in love. When he is killed in an accident, she decides to use his DNA to create a cloned embryo and carry him to term and raise the clone as her child. Then the movie basically spans a twenty-year time frame as the clone grows up and yet Rebecca never ages.
I will not say anything more to avoid spoiling the movie for those who have not seen it. I will say that while not everything in the movie made a lot of sense, and it could be slowly paced in spots (which is something for a movie that is just over an hour and a half long), Green does a great acting job. There are times in the movie when there is not a lot of dialogue and Green pretty much carries the movie via her facial expressions. It most definitely has the feel of a small-budget independent movie, but it is mostly well-written, and very well acted. I do think it could have spent a bit more time on Thomas and Rebecca's relationship before his death and which would have provided a bit more depth to the end of the movie.
The movie looks very good on Blu-Ray, with great cinematography of the locations in Germany. There are not much in the way of extras, just a few trailers, no making-of or behind-the-scenes material. I have not seen the movie streaming on any of the major streaming services, however, so if you want it the DVD or Blu-Ray is probably your best bet.
Textbook Review: Concepts of Fitness And Wellness: A Comprehensive Lifestyle Approach
This is a book that the vast majority of people will get because it is required for a class (likely an introductory exercise science class). It is not really something you would pick up because you are looking for a home exercise or nutrition program. Although, it does have some workout tips/advice in it and gives some basic nutritional principles. It is very easy to read and understand and does not overwhelm the readers with so much information that you feel like you are drinking through a firehose.
DVD/Movie Review: Ghostbusters 2
The original Ghostbusters, made in 1984 is widely considered to be one of the greatest comedies of all time. The second movie is set five years after the first movie, to match up with a 1989 release date, to reveal that the Ghostbusters did not exactly become heroes after saving the city. They were left with a massive cleanup bill, they did not get any clients, and were relegated to appearing at kid's birthday parties, running a bookstore, and in the case of Venkman, hosting a crazy talk show. It is revealed that Dana broke up with Venkman, got married, and then divorced, and is raising a baby as a single mother while working at a museum restoring artwork. Of course, a new evil threat awakens to threaten not only the team, but the city and the world, and the Ghostbusters get pressed back into service.
The movie is definitely not as good as the original. That said, it is not as bad as some make it out to be. There are definitely some corny parts to it (like Bobby Brown's cameo), and most of Peter MacNicol's role, but it does keep a lot of the same humor and charm of the first movie. It brings back the entire cast including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis (giving the last two more expanded roles than they had in the first movie).
For those who get the stand-alone DVD that was released in 2006, the only extras are the inclusion of a couple of episodes of the Ghostbusters animated series. Nothing specific to the movie itself. Of course, it is now available in Blu-Ray and in 4kUHD, so those may have better extras, but on the DVD release, there was nothing to write home about.
Overall, the movie is good, but as I said above, not as good as the original movie. Even so, it does have a good, uplifting, message and even with some of the eye rolling moments, it is still worth watching.
The movie is definitely not as good as the original. That said, it is not as bad as some make it out to be. There are definitely some corny parts to it (like Bobby Brown's cameo), and most of Peter MacNicol's role, but it does keep a lot of the same humor and charm of the first movie. It brings back the entire cast including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis (giving the last two more expanded roles than they had in the first movie).
For those who get the stand-alone DVD that was released in 2006, the only extras are the inclusion of a couple of episodes of the Ghostbusters animated series. Nothing specific to the movie itself. Of course, it is now available in Blu-Ray and in 4kUHD, so those may have better extras, but on the DVD release, there was nothing to write home about.
Overall, the movie is good, but as I said above, not as good as the original movie. Even so, it does have a good, uplifting, message and even with some of the eye rolling moments, it is still worth watching.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Gremlins 2: The New Batch
This is, of course, the sequel to Gremlins, the 1980s movie that was a combination of horror movie and comedy. It brings back stars, Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates as well as Howie Mandel voicing Gizmo and Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph, and Keye Luke reprising their roles from the first film. It also adds cast members like Robert Picardo, John Glover, John Astin, and Christopher Lee, as well as has cameos by Hulk Hogan and film critic Leonard Maltin. The premise of this movie is that Gizmo is subjected to being a lab rat by a billionaire in NY. Billy and Kate, who conveniently happen to be working in the same building in which he is being experimented on, manage to rescue Gizmo, but he gets wet of course causing him to spawn Gremlins who take over the building.
The movie is much campier than the first one, which itself was not without campiness. It is pretty much a straight comedy with a bunch of comedic violence, but the Gremlins are not a sinister murderous threat in this movie as they are a threat to damage property. The Gremlins are really the stars of the movie (Gizmo is not as major a character as he was in the first movie), and there are a lot more of them in this movie than there was in the first.
The extras all carry over from the DVD. Those include a commentary track by the writer, director, and Galligan, in which they admit that the movie is a totally unnecessary sequel. Then there are some deleted scenes, a gag reel, and the trailer (along with a couple of smaller, minor extras). The A/V quality is okay, but it did not get a great video restoration that some older movies get when released on Blu-Ray.
Overall, the movie tends to garner mixed opinions. Some people like it more than the original movie and some, like me, think it is okay but was not really needed. The overall plot was kind of dumb, but the plot of the first movie took a lot of suspension of disbelief too. But to me, this went beyond that and was a far more typical 80s comedy than the first movie was. I liked it far more when I was a little kid watching it than I like it as an adult.
The movie is much campier than the first one, which itself was not without campiness. It is pretty much a straight comedy with a bunch of comedic violence, but the Gremlins are not a sinister murderous threat in this movie as they are a threat to damage property. The Gremlins are really the stars of the movie (Gizmo is not as major a character as he was in the first movie), and there are a lot more of them in this movie than there was in the first.
The extras all carry over from the DVD. Those include a commentary track by the writer, director, and Galligan, in which they admit that the movie is a totally unnecessary sequel. Then there are some deleted scenes, a gag reel, and the trailer (along with a couple of smaller, minor extras). The A/V quality is okay, but it did not get a great video restoration that some older movies get when released on Blu-Ray.
Overall, the movie tends to garner mixed opinions. Some people like it more than the original movie and some, like me, think it is okay but was not really needed. The overall plot was kind of dumb, but the plot of the first movie took a lot of suspension of disbelief too. But to me, this went beyond that and was a far more typical 80s comedy than the first movie was. I liked it far more when I was a little kid watching it than I like it as an adult.
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 74
Day 74 of CE was Lean Circuit 3 again. As has been the case with the other workouts this week, I felt this was the best of this particular workout that I have had so far. It is still a challenging workout for sure, but parts of it are getting easier. I do think that most people will have to do a couple of rounds of CE before this workout is very easy for them unless they are already in really great shape.
Thursday, May 19, 2022
DVD/TV Series Review: Chicago Fire Season 2
Season two of Chicago Fire follows the procedural story-of-the-week format but also interweaves several story arcs that span through at least a portion of the season. At the beginning of the season, Casey is involved in a storyline with the widow of the firefighter killed in the pilot episode, and trying to help her care for her children, and Severide beings investigating a series of arsons that fit a disturbing pattern. Molly's bar is one of the big "b stories" that run throughout the season with Hermann, Dawson, Joe, and Otis struggling to keep it afloat. This is also the first season with an official crossover with Chicago PD, which began its first season as an official spin-off of Fire. Of course, some of the characters from PD were introduced in season one of the Fire, and there was even a backdoor pilot episode for PD toward the end of season one, but this season had the first official two-part episode with PD that had a plotline that was clearly a twist on a combination of the Boston Marathon bombing and the Oklahoma City bombing. The season ends on a massive cliffhanger with nearly every character in peril during a warehouse fire.
For those who get the DVD set, the extras are pretty much the same as with the season one release. Each episode gets a behind-the-scenes featurette. Most of them run for 2-3 minutes and some are a bit longer. The pilot episode of Chicago PD and the second part of the two-show crossover are included, and then there is a web series entitled "I am a firefighter" featuring mostly the "b characters".
Overall, the show is well-written and acted, and has a good mix of action and drama with some humor (not exactly comedy) mixed in as well. The characters continue to be developed well and the large ensemble cast is juggled fairly well (although the cast is clearly broken into main characters and supporting characters). If you liked season one, then there is a good chance you will like this one as well. On the other hand, if the first season did not do much for you (or you straight up did not like it), then this season is probably not going to change your mind about the show.
For those who get the DVD set, the extras are pretty much the same as with the season one release. Each episode gets a behind-the-scenes featurette. Most of them run for 2-3 minutes and some are a bit longer. The pilot episode of Chicago PD and the second part of the two-show crossover are included, and then there is a web series entitled "I am a firefighter" featuring mostly the "b characters".
Overall, the show is well-written and acted, and has a good mix of action and drama with some humor (not exactly comedy) mixed in as well. The characters continue to be developed well and the large ensemble cast is juggled fairly well (although the cast is clearly broken into main characters and supporting characters). If you liked season one, then there is a good chance you will like this one as well. On the other hand, if the first season did not do much for you (or you straight up did not like it), then this season is probably not going to change your mind about the show.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Prometheus
When this movie was announced a lot of fans of the Alien franchise of movies (at least those that came before the whole Alien vs. Predator thing) thought that they were finally getting a direct prequel to Ridley Scott's original Alien movie. Without spoiling anything too much, that is definitely NOT what this movie is. The movie is set in 2093, several years after a star map is discovered by scientists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) that hints at the origin of human life as created by "The Engineers", a race of superhuman aliens. Peter Weyland (played by Guy Pierce), the elderly CEO of Weyland Corporation (the same corporation from the original movies), funds an expedition, aboard the scientific vessel Prometheus, to follow the map to the distant moon LV-223 (which is not the same moon from the movie Alien). The ship's crew travels in stasis while the android David (played by Michael Fassbender) monitors their voyage. When the ship arrives at the moon, mission director Meredith Vickers (played by Charlize Theron) lays out the mission to find the Engineers and not to make contact without her permission.
The movie is what I would call hit and miss. Some things worked well, others require massive leaps in logic, beyond the typical suspension of disbelief that Sci-Fi movies often require. Plus, the characters make some deeply stupid decisions throughout the movie. Like B-level horror movie stupid decisions. That said, the visuals are absolutely stunning in HD, and Fassbender and Rapace deliver great performances. I like that the Engineers were not really totally fleshed out and we did not learn everything about them in this movie.
The extras include two different commentary tracks on the movie; one features director Ridley Scott, while the other features co-writers John Spaihts and Damon Lindelof. Then there are just under forty minutes of deleted, extended, and alternate scenes that allow the option to play commentary by editor Pietro Scalia and VFX supervisor Richard Stammers. Then there is a collection of Internet Promo Clips that run just under twenty minutes called The Peter Weyland Files which reveal a few interesting character moments and fleshes out the story a bit.
I would say if you go into this movie wanting a direct prequel to Alien you will be very disappointed. If you look at it as a movie that is introducing the "world" of the Alien franchise and clearly setting up additional movies to come after it that will (hopefully) eventually lead to a direct prequel to Alien, then I think it can be enjoyable, even if it is not as good as the original movie or the sequel Aliens. It is definitely as good, or better than the other sequels, however. So, I recommend it if you set your expectations accordingly.
The movie is what I would call hit and miss. Some things worked well, others require massive leaps in logic, beyond the typical suspension of disbelief that Sci-Fi movies often require. Plus, the characters make some deeply stupid decisions throughout the movie. Like B-level horror movie stupid decisions. That said, the visuals are absolutely stunning in HD, and Fassbender and Rapace deliver great performances. I like that the Engineers were not really totally fleshed out and we did not learn everything about them in this movie.
The extras include two different commentary tracks on the movie; one features director Ridley Scott, while the other features co-writers John Spaihts and Damon Lindelof. Then there are just under forty minutes of deleted, extended, and alternate scenes that allow the option to play commentary by editor Pietro Scalia and VFX supervisor Richard Stammers. Then there is a collection of Internet Promo Clips that run just under twenty minutes called The Peter Weyland Files which reveal a few interesting character moments and fleshes out the story a bit.
I would say if you go into this movie wanting a direct prequel to Alien you will be very disappointed. If you look at it as a movie that is introducing the "world" of the Alien franchise and clearly setting up additional movies to come after it that will (hopefully) eventually lead to a direct prequel to Alien, then I think it can be enjoyable, even if it is not as good as the original movie or the sequel Aliens. It is definitely as good, or better than the other sequels, however. So, I recommend it if you set your expectations accordingly.
Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Game of Thrones Season 2
The second season of Game of Thrones is basically an adaptation of the second novel, A Clash of Kings, about the start of the civil war to rule Westeros. After the death of Ned Stark ordered by Joffery, Robb takes on the title of King of the North and vows to kill the boy king who was installed after the death of Robert in season one. Robert's brother Stannis also throws in his claim to the throne and there is ultimately a war between the five "kings" that are making a claim to the throne. Meanwhile, Jon is with the Night's watch outside the wall facing a threat from the wildlings and a more sinister threat that starts to rise up, and Daenerys is in Essos with three newborn dragons trying to find allies and resources to help her return to Westeros and restore the Targaryens to the throne. The season ends not really on a cliffhanger, but a threat that will essentially threaten to make the who wins the war totally irrelevant.
The A/V quality of the Blu-Ray set is awesome, and there is a ton of extras. There are commentary tracks on every episode. The commentaries rotate using cast members, writers, directors, crew members, and even George RR Martin. Some episodes have two different commentary tracks. Sophie Turner is pretty hilarious in the commentary track she participates in. There is also an in-episode guide that you can play when watching any of the episodes that goes a lot more in-depth into the story and the history of Westeros than can be shown in the episodes. There are also character profiles, behind-the-scenes features, and a roundtable discussion between the series creators and some of the cast members. So, if you like watching the extras, there is a lot there.
Overall, the season is strong. The ensemble cast is still large (although the number of characters is pared way down from the book), but all the characters are given substantial material to work with. It is a very adult show with a lot of swearing, sex, and nudity. It continues to be well-written and well-acted and is a must see for any fan of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre.
The A/V quality of the Blu-Ray set is awesome, and there is a ton of extras. There are commentary tracks on every episode. The commentaries rotate using cast members, writers, directors, crew members, and even George RR Martin. Some episodes have two different commentary tracks. Sophie Turner is pretty hilarious in the commentary track she participates in. There is also an in-episode guide that you can play when watching any of the episodes that goes a lot more in-depth into the story and the history of Westeros than can be shown in the episodes. There are also character profiles, behind-the-scenes features, and a roundtable discussion between the series creators and some of the cast members. So, if you like watching the extras, there is a lot there.
Overall, the season is strong. The ensemble cast is still large (although the number of characters is pared way down from the book), but all the characters are given substantial material to work with. It is a very adult show with a lot of swearing, sex, and nudity. It continues to be well-written and well-acted and is a must see for any fan of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre.
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 73
Day 73 of CE was the burn intervals workout. This one was very good. I had a lot more energy than I have had the past couple of times I have done the workout (I think in large part to getting a decent amount of sleep last night) and was generally able to push harder. I am still in the process of deciding what I want to do for the next workout. I am thinking of either trying one that I have not done before, now that I have access to them all through BeachBody on demand, or doing a hybrid program by picking workouts from various programs. I will update once I figure that out.
TV Series Postmortem: Dexter: New Blood (Spoilers)
Dexter: New Blood was a limited series event that brought back the popular show Dexter to basically retcon its original series ending. This time, the series creator, Clyde Phillips, who had exited the original series by the time it wrapped up, came up with the concept for the series and was highly involved in its development.
+++Spolers after this point ++++
The original series ended with Dexter shipping Harrison off with Hannah as she fled the country because he was very close to getting caught. He managed to steal Deb's body from the hospital and raced out to sea, dumping her and then driving his boat into the hurricane that was hitting Miami. He manages to survive and ends up in Oregon as the series fades to black. When New Blood picks up, Dexter is living under a fake name (Jim Lindsey) and living in upstate New York in the fictitious town of Iron Lake. Harrison manages to track him down and in the end, his girlfriend, who happens to be the police chief of Iron Lake, discovers who he really is, including that he was the Bay Harbor Butcher, and contacts Bautista to tell him Dexter is still alive. Bautista leaves Miami to come to Iron Lake, but Dexter escapes from jail, killing one of the deputies at which point Harrison confronts Dexter and ends up killing him.
A lot of people went apeshit over the fact that Dexter died at the end of the series, mainly because it was Harrison that killed him. I am okay with the fact that Dexter died, but I would have much preferred Bautista to be more involved (actually get there and confront Dexter) and possibly be the one to end up shooting him (hopefully after he learned that Deb killed LaGuerta to protect Dexter's secret). I think Dexter needed to face consequences more directly tied to the original series than he ever received. My preferred ending, which would have allowed for another season of the show, would be for Dexter to be caught and extradited to Miami where he would go on trial, but then need to assist the cops in solving another serial killer case (in a Hannibal Lecter-like role in Silence of the Lambs). Then he could either be executed or killed when he tries to escape, or something along those lines. I think that kind of ending would have been more satisfying to long-term fans of the series. Although, I do think some fans would never accept Dexter facing any real consequences and would want him to always keep getting away.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Product Review: Wacom Bamboo Connect Pen Tablet
This is a tablet that connects to a computer via USB and allows you, through programs such as OneNote or Paint, to freestyle draw. It is much easier than using a mouse as the pen allows for far more precision and control. While it does not quite feel like writing on paper, once you get used to it, it is not that much different. I definitely recommend it if you want a less expensive option than something like a Surface or an iPad and the Apple pencil.
Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: The Incredible Hulk: The Complete Series
This is the Blu-Ray set of the five seasons of The Incredible Hulk series that starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno (and in theory, but not always in practice, Jack Colvin) that ran from 1977 to 1982. It was created by Kenneth Johnson, who created series like the original Bionic Woman, the Six Million Dollar Man, and the original V series, among others. The hook of this series is that it was not a straight comic book adaptation that involved the military trying to resurrect the super-soldier program and had Hulk fighting both the military and supervillains. Instead, the premise was that David Banner (played by Bixby) is a scientist trying to understand the potential for superhuman strength when under stress because he was not able to tap into that kind of strength to save his wife after a car accident. He ends up dosing himself with a massive amount of gamma radiation which does not kill him but instead turns him into a huge green creature that is dubbed "The Hulk" (played by Ferrigno) by a reporter named Jack McGee (played by Colvin) who sees the creature and then makes it his life pursuit to capture the creature. The series then involves David moving from town-to-town trying to find a way to get rid of the creature and avoid being exposed by McGee. Along the way, he seems to find the one person in town (usually a damsel in distress) that needs protecting from the worst person in town.
The series definitely feels like it is set in the 1970s and early 1980s, in terms of the look of the film that the show was shot on, the clothing, and the dialogue. There are definitely things that they were able to do in the show back then that would never fly today, yet many of the themes are timeless and could easily be made today with some slight updating. One big difference between the show and the superhero shows of today is that it was never big on continuity, using the same guest stars to play totally different roles throughout the series run. For example, Gerald McRaney played three different characters in the first three seasons. It did include a lot of recognizable character actors as well as actors who would become A or B list actors (like Kim Catrall, Markie Post, and Ernie Hudson) in roles very early in their careers.
The extras mostly carryover from the DVD sets. The only things that are missing are some of the promos for the three TV movies that were made after the series ended, which are also not a part of this set. There are some DVD collections that include the last three tv movies, but this does not have those. The crown jewel of the extras are the commentary tracks by Kenneth Johnson on the various two-part episodes that he directed. The man either kept copious notes that he worked off of, or he has a photographic memory, because he could rattle off days of the week that things were filmed on, as well as the CVs of nearly every cast and crew member before and after the series ended. He also gave a lot of insight into what working with Bixby and Ferrigno was like, and provided a lot of insider details that may not have been well known (like Ferrigno was not the first choice to play The Hulk) and described the tricks they used to make Ferrigno look bigger than he was, for example, using special lenses, filming him from below, etc. The other extras include a gag reel that basically is about seven minutes of Bixby swearing and a couple of retrospective documentaries on making the series that include interviews with Johnson and the writers. Again, all carryovers from the DVD releases. The A/V quality of the set is an upgrade from the DVDs but it did not get a high-quality restoration like some movies and shows get, so it may not be worth the upgrade for some people who already own the DVDs.
Overall, the series is good but dated. Some of the storylines and themes hold up well even 40+ years down the line, and others do not. It could be very, very cheesy at times, and at other times was very well written and acted. My big complaint about the entire series is that Jack Colvin was very underused. So much so that it was almost criminal. He was a very good actor and there were many episodes that he did not appear in, or appeared for all of a minute. He could have been included a lot more. Also, the series ended very abruptly with a truncated fifth season that consisted of seven stand-alone episodes that were filmed at the end of the fourth season in case a possible writer or director strike that was looming between 1981 and 1982 came to pass, and there were episodes to run at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, the show was canceled between the fourth and fifth season, so those episodes which did nothing to give the series a proper ending were all that were aired. Johnson lobbied for and failed to get, an additional six episodes to get a half-season run and give the show a proper series finale. That never came to pass and the series ended with an okay episode, but nothing worthy of being a series finale.
The series definitely feels like it is set in the 1970s and early 1980s, in terms of the look of the film that the show was shot on, the clothing, and the dialogue. There are definitely things that they were able to do in the show back then that would never fly today, yet many of the themes are timeless and could easily be made today with some slight updating. One big difference between the show and the superhero shows of today is that it was never big on continuity, using the same guest stars to play totally different roles throughout the series run. For example, Gerald McRaney played three different characters in the first three seasons. It did include a lot of recognizable character actors as well as actors who would become A or B list actors (like Kim Catrall, Markie Post, and Ernie Hudson) in roles very early in their careers.
The extras mostly carryover from the DVD sets. The only things that are missing are some of the promos for the three TV movies that were made after the series ended, which are also not a part of this set. There are some DVD collections that include the last three tv movies, but this does not have those. The crown jewel of the extras are the commentary tracks by Kenneth Johnson on the various two-part episodes that he directed. The man either kept copious notes that he worked off of, or he has a photographic memory, because he could rattle off days of the week that things were filmed on, as well as the CVs of nearly every cast and crew member before and after the series ended. He also gave a lot of insight into what working with Bixby and Ferrigno was like, and provided a lot of insider details that may not have been well known (like Ferrigno was not the first choice to play The Hulk) and described the tricks they used to make Ferrigno look bigger than he was, for example, using special lenses, filming him from below, etc. The other extras include a gag reel that basically is about seven minutes of Bixby swearing and a couple of retrospective documentaries on making the series that include interviews with Johnson and the writers. Again, all carryovers from the DVD releases. The A/V quality of the set is an upgrade from the DVDs but it did not get a high-quality restoration like some movies and shows get, so it may not be worth the upgrade for some people who already own the DVDs.
Overall, the series is good but dated. Some of the storylines and themes hold up well even 40+ years down the line, and others do not. It could be very, very cheesy at times, and at other times was very well written and acted. My big complaint about the entire series is that Jack Colvin was very underused. So much so that it was almost criminal. He was a very good actor and there were many episodes that he did not appear in, or appeared for all of a minute. He could have been included a lot more. Also, the series ended very abruptly with a truncated fifth season that consisted of seven stand-alone episodes that were filmed at the end of the fourth season in case a possible writer or director strike that was looming between 1981 and 1982 came to pass, and there were episodes to run at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, the show was canceled between the fourth and fifth season, so those episodes which did nothing to give the series a proper ending were all that were aired. Johnson lobbied for and failed to get, an additional six episodes to get a half-season run and give the show a proper series finale. That never came to pass and the series ended with an okay episode, but nothing worthy of being a series finale.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Gross Anatomy
Gross Anatomy is a 1980s medical school drama, something like what The Paper Chase was to law school. The movie stars Matthew Modine as Joe Slovak, a smart student who does "good enough" to get into med school, but does not reach his full potential, basically because of his attitude and unwillingness to apply himself, Christine Lahti, as Dr. Rachel Woodruff, one of the professors at the medical school Joe is accepted to, and one of the teachers of the class Gross Anatomy, and Daphnie Zuniga as Laurie Rorbach, another med student and potential love interest for Joe (because of course there had to be a love story component).
The movie is set around the first-year med school experience, namely through the Gross Anatomy class in which the students have to dissect a human cadaver over the course of the year. There are several conflicts in the movie, one of the main ones between Lathi's character and Modine's character as she tries to push him to live up to his full potential and he chafes under her strict rules. It also deals with the pressure of med school and the desire to succeed at all costs, drug use, work-life balance, and the like. It also has some plot twists along the way that make for a good story.
The A/V quality of the Blu-Ray is good. It did not get an extremely high-quality transfer. Whether there are any extras depends on whether you get the regular edition (which has no extras just the movie) or the special edition (which has a commentary track by the director and trailers). I have the regular edition with just the movie, which I think is fine.
Overall, the movie is a good late 80s drama. It is well-written and well-acted. Some of it is definitely formulaic, but it is not totally cookie-cutter either. Chances are most people who are thinking of getting this watched it on TV growing up. If you are in that camp, I would say that the movie holds up pretty well even over thirty years later.
The movie is set around the first-year med school experience, namely through the Gross Anatomy class in which the students have to dissect a human cadaver over the course of the year. There are several conflicts in the movie, one of the main ones between Lathi's character and Modine's character as she tries to push him to live up to his full potential and he chafes under her strict rules. It also deals with the pressure of med school and the desire to succeed at all costs, drug use, work-life balance, and the like. It also has some plot twists along the way that make for a good story.
The A/V quality of the Blu-Ray is good. It did not get an extremely high-quality transfer. Whether there are any extras depends on whether you get the regular edition (which has no extras just the movie) or the special edition (which has a commentary track by the director and trailers). I have the regular edition with just the movie, which I think is fine.
Overall, the movie is a good late 80s drama. It is well-written and well-acted. Some of it is definitely formulaic, but it is not totally cookie-cutter either. Chances are most people who are thinking of getting this watched it on TV growing up. If you are in that camp, I would say that the movie holds up pretty well even over thirty years later.
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 72
Day 72 of CE was the Lean Circuit 2 workout again. I was able to hit the 12 rep max on a couple of the exercises, but it was still very challenging given that my shoulders are not my strong point. I was able to do the plank rows all on my toes and hit the 12 rep max, so that is progress.
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