DVD/TV Series Review: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Season 2

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from season 1, but no major spoilers from the second season+++

The 22-episode second season of Lois and Clark aired during the 1994/1995 TV season. In my opinion, this is the best season of the series and definitely the high point after which the show started to decline. It picks up down the line from the events of the first season finale in which Lex had jumped off his building, and Clark told Lois he just wanted to remain friends. Of course, even though John Shea had left as a series regular, Lex still had a presence in the storylines. Several episodes involve him and introduce new characters, such as his ex-wife, played by Emma Samms, and his doctor, played by Denise Crosby. There was more cast turnover, with Michael Landes leaving the show and Jimmy and Justin Whalen taking over that role. I don't think Whalen did a bad job, but I preferred Landes.

This season also introduced new characters such as The Prankster (played by the wonderful Bronson Pinchot) and Professor Emil Hamilton (played by John Pleshette). One of the season's best episodes involves H.G. Wells and a fugitive from the future named Tempus, who knows that Clark is Superman and involves a trip to the past to save Superman as a baby. There is also an incredible slate of recognizable guest stars, including Raquel Welch, Sherman Hemsley playing the Toymaster, Isabel Sanford as his assistant, Cindy Williams, Peter Scolari, Melora Hardin, and the great Bruce Campbell. The season ends on a massive cliffhanger that sets up season three.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. The extras include a commentary track on the episode "Season's Greedings" by Dean Cain (who also wrote the episode), a making-of featurette on the making of season two, and a featurette about the series' fans. So, there is a good amount of material if you like watching the bonus features. The season is very good, even with the cast departures like Landes, Shea, and Tracy Scoggins. To me, Hatcher really carries the show as Lois, even more than Clark/Superman does. Lane Smith is great in almost every scene, and K Callan and Eddie Jones are wonderful as Clark's Earth parents. So, if you are a fan of the Superman story, this is definitely worth watching.

DVD/TV Series Review: The Good Fight: Season Five

 

The Good Fight is, of course, the spin-off of the series "The Good Wife" but is pretty far removed from the parent series. This season starts with tying up the prior season's storylines with the episode titled "Previously On" which shows how the events of 2021, including Covid, the election, and the attack on the capital, affected the characters, including a great long-haul Covid storyline involving Jay that makes him hallucinate throughout the season. It also provides a proper sendoff for Cush Jumbo and Delroy Lindo, both of whom intended to leave the show after season 4, but came back for the premiere since the prior season was cut short by the pandemic.

The main serial story arc this season involves a fake court run out of a copy shop, run by Mandy Pakankin's character "Judge" Hal Whackner. Marissa (who somehow goes to and graduates law school in a year) ends up becoming his court clerk (and tries cases in front of him). It is an amusing, but totally unrealistic storyline that gets silly by the end of the season. Another new addition to the cast is Charmaine Bingwa, who plays a first-year associate named Carmen Moyo, who ends up being the only lawyer one of the firm's sketchier clients will work with. This also allowed for a couple of appearances by Wallace Shawn in his role as Charles Lester, the fixer for bad guys. Unfortunately, there was no Princess Bride reunion between Shawn and Patinkin. The show does continue the STR Laurie conglomerate storyline, but John Larroquette left the show and his role was taken over by David Lee (played by Zach Grenier, the other carryover from The Good Wife) who is always great.

For those who get the DVD set, it is pretty bare-bones. The ten episodes are spread over three discs. There are deleted scenes for some of the episodes, but not all of them. There is not an extras menu on any of the discs, so if you want to watch the deleted scenes you have to go onto the menu for each individual episode. If you use the "play all" function, you will not see which episodes have deleted scenes available.

Overall, the show is one that you will either love or you will hate, probably depending on your political leanings. Unlike what some people seem to think, the show did not "go political" it was always political and has always been critical of the former guy. Although the show does portray conservative characters, including Diane's (Christine Baranski) husband, played by Gary Cole, and Michael Boatman's character Julius. But, the writers and producers most definitely have a liberal bent. The show is a combination of drama and comedy, but mostly very dark comedy. Because it streams on Paramount Plus there is a lot of swearing, including f-bombs. There is some sexual content, but it is not too over the top. There was one pretty hilarious bare butt shot, however, but that was the extent of the nudity. So, it is definitely not going to appeal to everyone. There has been a lot of cast turnover, with three main characters from the start of the show now gone. I'd say, in general, if you were a fan of the prior seasons, unless you were really invested in one of the characters who are no longer on the show, you will probably like this one. But, if you did not like the prior seasons, nothing about this season is likely to change your mind.

 

Circuits 1 Chapter 4 (Techniques of Circuit Analysis Matrix Math, Node Voltage, Mesh Current, Source Transformation, Thevenin and Norton Equivalent, and Superposition) Notes and Examples

 Here are the links to the Chapter 4 materials:

Link to lecture notes

Link to book notes part 1

Link to book notes part 2

Link to book notes part 3

Link to homework problems

Circuits 1: Chapter 3 (Simple Resistive Circuits Parallel and Serial Connections, Voltage and Current Divider, and Delta-to-Wye Equivalent) Notes and Examples

 Here are the links to my notes and homework problems for the Chapter 3 material.

Link to Book Notes

Link to Class Notes

Link to Homework Problems

Product Review: Lavish Home Storage Bench Ottoman Large Folding Tufted Foot Rest Organizer with Removable Bin

 

I purchased this to put in front of my couch to use as a footrest and to store blankets that I would otherwise have draped over the couch. The pros are that there is no assembly required, you just unfold it, put the insert in the bottom and it is ready to go. There is also a small basket (that also unfolds and has a bottom insert for stability) that you can put inside it which is great for holding remotes or any other small items you that can easily get lost in couch cushions. It is also very sturdy. While I would not sit on it for hours, you can easily sit on it to put your shoes on or something like that and it does not feel like it would collapse under you.

The only con is that there is definitely an "industrial" smell to it when it is open. You do not really smell it when it is closed (at least I cannot smell it when the lid is on it), but it could definitely irritate some people. So, overall, if you are looking for a reasonably priced storage ottoman that does not have to be assembled, this is a very good option.

DVD/TV Series Review: Hart of Dixie: Season 2

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the first season, but no major spoilers from season two.+++

Hart of Dixie is a serial prime time soap-opera set in the fictional small town of Bluebell Alabama. Season one focused on the fish-out-of-water storyline with Rachel Bilson's character Zoe Hart, leaving NY and taking over her father's portion of a medical practice that he shared with Tim Mattheson's character, Brick Breeland, and trying to assimilate to life in a small southern town. Season two picks up immediately after the events that ended the first season, with George calling off the wedding to Lemon Breeland and walking out on her because of his feelings for Zoe. The repercussions of this event ripple through the entire season and result in major shifts in character arcs as Lemon has to grow on her own without George (and Jamie King does a great job this season), and Zoe having to decide between George and Wade, as well as continuing to acclimate to the town. In another side arc, Lavon's ex played by Golden Brooks returns to town and decides to run against him for mayor.

The show continues to be a good blend of comedy and drama. Because it is a prime-time soap it can get sappy and a bit much with all the various love triangles going on. That said, it is pretty well-written and very well-acted. The only disappointing thing about the DVD release is that it has no extras, just the episodes, so it is basically a MOD release. But, the second season of the show aired just when physical releases for TV series were getting scaled way back, so the fact that it got any physical media release is nice. If you were a fan of the first season, I definitely recommend season two.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Fast & Furious 6

 

The "Fast" movies are definitely in the category of you know what you get. They are faced-paced action movies, with totally unrealistic plots and over-the-top stunts that are set (mostly) around crazy car chases. If you are expecting great writing or acting you are out of luck, although Ludacris and Tyreese do form a pretty good comedy pair. It has torched the idea of needing to suspend your disbelief and into the territory of just going with it and not thinking too hard about it.

The movie is set sometime after the events of the fifth movie with the team having received amnesty for their various crimes by helping out Hobbs (The Rock) in Rio. When Hobbs and his partner Riley Hicks (played by Gina Carano) investigate the destruction of a Russian military convoy by a crew led by former British SAS Major and special ops soldier Owen Shaw (played by Luke Evans), Hobbs recruits Dom to track them down using evidence that Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is alive. What follows is lots of explosions, fighting, car chases, and what you would expect. Of course, there are plot twists, and the movie continues to be set before the events of Tokyo Drift so that Han can keep being included (with jokes about getting to Tokyo at some point).

For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great in HD. The movie uses a blend of CGI and practical effects and they basically look seamless. The extras include c commentary track on the movie with director Justin Lin, several making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, and deleted scenes. They all total to just under two hours' worth of extras. You also get the extended edition and theatrical version of the movie. Nothing is really changed in the extended edition, and the additions are "blink and you will miss them" quick. So, very minimal.

Overall, the movie is a fun action film that is meant to be a turn off your brain and enjoy it kind of thing. The movies in the franchise have become a tongue-in-cheek action-fest and really do not try to be anything more than that. Obviously, some people love the movies others hate them, and this is probably not going to change your mind about them regardless of which category you fall into.

DVD/TV Series Review: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Season 1

 

Lois and Clark was an attempt in the mid-1990s to revive the Superman character on network television on a major broadcast network (ABC). The 22-episode first season aired during the 1993/1994 TV season. It starred Dean Cain as Clark Kent and Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane and launched both careers. The first season was an origin story for Clark's transition to Superman, beginning with Clark coming to Metropolis and trying to get a shot at The Daily Planet. The show does mix out the story as it is in the comics and was seen in the movies, for example, not using the fortress of solitude or having Clark "trained" by Jor-EL. The first season does establish Lex as the main villain (played wonderfully by John Shea). It has a great supporting cast, including Lane Smith as an Elvis-loving Perry White, Eddie Jones as Jonathan Kent, K Callan as Martha Kent, Michael Landes as Jimmy Olsen, and Tracy Scoggins as Catherine "Cat" Grant. Landes does a great job as Jimmy, and Tracy Scoggins steals nearly every scene she is in.

The season is a blend of a case-of-the-week procedural with a serial arc (basically involving Superman and Lex and who will "win" both in terms of whether Luther will be brought to justice but Lois' love. Of course, Lois is clueless as to who Clark really is, but she fawns after Superman. The season builds perfectly to what is a two-part season finale. It does not end on a cliffhanger, probably because John Shea left the show as a series regular after season one.

The extras include a commentary track on the pilot episode, a making-of documentary, a featurette on the visual effects, and a conversation with Cain and Hatcher. So, while not a ton of extras, it is still a good amount for the people who like watching the bonus material. It is weird that now years later, Dean Cain has turned out to be a right-wing nutjob (although usually not as big an asshole as some of the celebrity right-wing nutjobs are), and Terri Hatcher has a reputation for being awful to people because neither gave off that kind of vibe in their Lois and Clark days. 

Overall, the show is terrific, with some great moments. Teri Hater is absolutely great as Lois (I actually preferred her take on the character over Margot Kidder's), but the writing and acting all around are excellent. The special effects were good for the time, thanks to the larger budget. This was, however, pre-matrix and the big CGI revolution that came after that, so the effects can be cheesy sometimes. The show also got a great slate of guest stars, including Ben Vereen, Elliot Gould, David Warner, Penn Jillette, and Phyllis Coates, who played Lois in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men and during Season 1 of The Adventures of Superman television series.

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 37

Day 37 was Burn it Off again. This had mixed results. I did get tired in spots and had to pause a couple of times, but I think that was because I was able to push harder during portions of the workout than I had before. So I was working harder but getting more worn out. So, overall, I think that was positive. 

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 36

Day 36 was the Push Circuit 1 workout again. This time I was able to hit the 8 rep max easily on a couple of exercises, but for most of the moves, I will be using the same weight next week. This is mainly to keep my back safe given that I am lifting 35-40 lbs on some of the moves. Since I have had issues with my back before, I do not want to bite off more than I can chew.

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 35

Day 35 was the Recharge workout. I can definitely tell that my flexibility is getting better, gradually. It is not where I would like it to be, but each time I do the routine I can get lower in the crouches and the run lunges. 

Circuits 1: Chapter 2 (Circuit Elements Interconnections, Ideal Voltage and Current Sources, Independent and Dependent Sources, Ideal Resistors, Ohm’s Law, KVL and KCL) Notes and Example Problems

Here are the links to the notes for the Chapter 2 material: Link to Book Notes Link to lecture notes Link to Homework Problems

Circuits 1: Chapter1 (Introduction, SI Units, Sign Convention, Voltage, Current, and Power) Notes and Example Problems

Here are my notes for Chapter I of my Circuits Analysis Class; Chapter 1: Introduction, SI Units, Sign Convention, Voltage, Current, and Power Link to book notes Link to class notes Link to homework problems

Study Guide Review: Electric Circuits Problem Solver (Problem Solvers Solution Guides) Revised, Subsequent Edition

 

This is a guide that I would describe more as a book of problems to help you do your homework or give you additional examples than it is a guide that will directly teach you the material. It is geared toward the first couple of semesters of circuits, although, depending on how your school divides up material, may also be helpful in some other classes, but the bulk of it deals with the stuff you will see in Circuits I and II, like the various methods of circuits analysis for both AC and DC circuits. So, if you get stuck on a problem, chances are you can find an example in this to help.

The couple of issues that it has is, the diagrams are not the greatest and it is not always easy to follow how they are reducing the circuit. Also, there are errors, sometimes minor and sometimes not, and they are not always easy to spot, especially when you are just learning the material. So, on the whole, I think it is helpful, but there are things you have to watch out for, and I would definitely pair it with something like the Schaum's outline of basic circuit analysis that is geared more toward teaching the concepts than they are just being a problems repository.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Justified: Season 4 Blu-Ray

 

+++Warning, this contains minor spoilerish material from prior seasons, but no major giveaways from the fourth season.+++

The big serial plot point for season four is a mystery that is clearly based on the real-life DB Cooper case that was never solved. In this version, a guy named Drew Thomson jumped out of a plane with a defective parachute and a bunch of drugs. Raylan, while searching his father's house, comes to learn that the official version of events may not be true, and has to try to get the truth out of Arlo. The other big arc this year is Boyd's criminal empire expanding, and Ava (played by Joelle Carter) going all-in on being bad, basically running a prostitution ring for Boyd. Her character has probably developed the most over the course of the four seasons from where she was in the pilot to what she has become, and Carter does a great job with the character. There are a couple of good cast additions this season, including the wonderful Patton Oswalt who plays "Constable Bob" who is a volunteer cop whom everyone thinks is a joke, and Ron Eldard as Colton "Colt" Rhodes who is an old friend of Boyd's.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the series looks and sounds great in the HD format as it has from season one. The bonus material is spread across the three discs. There are a few shorter (7-10 minutes) behind-the-scenes and character features, and a short gag reel. Then, there are a couple of longer features, one specific to the season finale that runs about 14 minutes and one on the second to the last episode of the season that runs about 40 minutes. So, if you like watching the bonus material, you have some but not as much as in prior seasons.

Overall, the series continues to be written very well, and the acting is top-notch. The show does a good job balancing the large ensemble cast so that all the characters (and actors) get something even though Olyphant, Goggins, and Carter do most of the heavy lifting. I think it was wise of the show to mix the plot up from the "big bad" format that the first few seasons used, and have a few separate storylines that all crossed over with each other at some point. It made the show feel fresh and not just a recycled version of the prior seasons. It is still violent and does have some sex (and as much nudity as is allowed on basic cable) and some swearing (basically everything but f-bombs). So, if that turns you off to a show you should skip it, and it is definitely not for younger kids. But, if you are a fan of well-acted crime dramas, then this is a great one, with the proviso that it is a good idea to watch the prior seasons first. The series will not be as good if you try to jump into it in the middle.

Study Guide Review: 3,000 Solved Problems In Chemistry (Schaum's Outlines) 1st Edition

 

This is a very good resource to help you get through the two semesters of a college-level General Chemistry course. It will also help in a high school chemistry course, or an intro to chemistry course. It has problems from all of the main topics you would be exposed to in one of those classes, including an intro to Organic Chemistry and Nuclear Chemistry which you tend to get toward the end of the second semester of General Chemistry if you have to take it.

Keep in mind this is a problems guide. It is not meant to be, nor is it good for, actually trying to learn the fundamental concepts. It does have some very bare-bones explanatory material, but it is not as extensive as you would see in the chapter text of a textbook or in supplements that are geared more to teaching the theory. But, this will give you examples of nearly every possible type of problem you will be exposed to either as a homework problem or on an exam or quiz. So, if you get stuck on homework you will very likely find an analogous problem in this guide that can help you out. So, you are in the unfortunate position of having a teacher you do not understand and cannot follow the explanations and examples in a textbook very easily, this is a good resource to use.

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

 

The third season of Justified continues to expand the criminal world in Harlan with Boyd basically returning to his criminal ways with the void left by the takedown of the Bennett clan, and the introduction of Ellstin Limehouse (played by Mykelti Williamson) who is basically the criminal leader of Noble's Holler, which is where (seemingly) a good chunk of the black population in the area lives, and Robert Quarles (played by the great professional character bad guy Neal McDonough) who is an Oxycontin dealer looking to get cheap oxy in Kentucky. The serial arcs really involve the old adage "there is no honor among thieves" with the bad guys basically trying to get one over on each other, and Raylan getting caught in the middle. There are also arcs about Raylan's personal life which intertwine with the other arcs. While there are definitely side stories this season, the show has pretty much abandoned any pretense of being a procedural show with stand-alone episodes. You pretty much have to watch them all in order to understand what is going on in any subsequent episode.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the A/V quality continues to be very good. Even though the show is not very effects-heavy, the fact that the colors and the scenery really pop in the HD format is worth getting the Blu-Ray versus DVD. The extras, which are spread across all the discs, include commentary tracks on many (but not all) episodes, deleted scenes and outtakes, a few making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes that range from about nine minutes to about twenty minutes, and an almost half-hour-long conversation between Olyphant and Goggins. So, there is a lot there if you like the bonus material.

Overall, the series continues to be well-written and acted. I still think the smaller slate of episodes per season (13 this season) works to tell the story yet leaves the audience wanting more because they are not stretching things out to fill a 22-24 episode season. If you are a fan of the first two seasons, then you will probably be a fan of this one as well.

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 34

Day 34 was the second Burn it Off workout of the week. It went a little better than the first one; I did not have to pause at all in the workout, but because my back was a bit sore there were a couple of times I switched out the regular moves for running in place or the 1-2-3 Heisman from Insanity. Overall, however, it went pretty well.

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 33

Day 33 was the Push Circuit 3 workout. I found that the weights I used were pretty much spot-on as I could not hit the 8 rep max for all but one exercise. This is the workout in the push phase that alternates between chest and back moves and then throws in a few lower-body moves (basically some variation on lunges).

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 32

Day 32 was the first Burn Intervals workout from CE in the hybrid workout. It was a bit harder than the last time I had done it, but not too hard. Skip still annoys the shit out of me, but I am pretty good at ignoring him responding to every word Chalene says. I did have to pause a couple of times during the workout but never had to completely stop before the transition to the next exercise.

Blu-Ray/TV Movie Review: Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe

 

If you are a fan of the TV series Burn Notice, you will know that the character of Sam Axe, a retired Navy Seal played wonderfully by Bruce Campbell, has a ton of stories about things that he has done in his past. This was a tv movie (directed by the star of Burn Notice, Jeffrey Donovan) that tells one of those stories. It is not really an origin story for Sam, per-se, but we do get the origin of the alias Sam often uses in the show, Chuck Finnley. It is mostly a story that is told with tongue firmly planted in cheek and is not really meant to be realistic or accurate. There are a lot of plot holes and things that would not occur in real life (really much like the parent show itself) but if you are good at suspending disbelief, it is fine.

The A/V quality of the Blu-Ray disc is very good, much better than the couple of seasons of Burn Notice that were released on Blu-Ray, which did not get a good transfer at all. The extras include a very good commentary track on the movie with Bruce Campbell, Jeffrey Donovan, and the creator of Burn Notice, Matt Nix. Then, there is a fun faux-making-of-featurette called The Fall of Jeffrey Donovan. Then there is a portion of the 2010 Comic-Con panel and a couple of deleted scenes. If you are not a fan of Burn Notice then this is not going to do anything for you. If you are, it is a good, fun, and kind of silly Sam-centric story that is worth checking out.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Thor

 

Thor is, if you are watching the MCU movies in release order, the fourth movie released after Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man 2. If you are watching the movies in chronological order, it is the sixth coming after Captain America, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and The Incredible Hulk. It tells the origin story of Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) and his brother Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston). The movie actually opens on Earth where an astrophysicist named Jane Foster (played by Natalie Portman) and Dr. Salvig (played by Stellan Skarsgard) are tracking astronomical anomalies (along with their work-study student worker Darcy, played wonderfully by Kat Dennings who steals nearly every scene she is in) hits Thor with their van when Thor is exiled from Asgard. Then the movie flashes back to show what led up to Thor's banishment, and when the movie comes back to Earth, what we get is in part a fish-out-of-water story, in part a love story, and in part a story of a superpowered frat boy becoming a hero.

For those who get the 4K Blu-Ray set, there are two discs, a UHD disc with just the movie itself, and then a regular Blu-Ray disc with the special features. The movie looks very good and sounds great. People who are true videophiles who really pay attention to grain and black levels probably will not find the video quality as good as it is for the later movies, but most people will find it a step up from the Blu-Ray, especially with the Asgard colors and the New Mexico landscape. The extras are all ported over from the initial DVD/Blu-Ray release, and include a great commentary track on the movie with director Kenneth Branagh and then there are several behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes that range from a couple of minutes to just under twenty minutes. Then, there is a Marvel one-shot that sets up the end scene of The Incredible Hulk and how Tony Stark was selected to go visit General Ross, the theatrical trailers, and a trailer for the new Avengers Animated movie. There is also a short look at the Avengers movie which was in production at the time Thor was released.

Overall, the movie is really good. It has a great blend of comedy, action, and drama, with a little bit of romance between Thor and Jane, mixed in (but that is kept on the backburner for the most part and does not get too over the top). The supporting cast, including Anthony Hopkins, Renee Ruso, Idris Elba, Ray Stevenson, Jamie Alexander, and Colm Feore is great, and the movie expanded the role of Clark Gregg's Phil Coulson even more than it was expanded in Iron Man 2. The post-credits scene (this was in the days when there was not both a mid-credits and post-credits scene) set up both Captain America (which was the next movie in release order) and the storyline of The Avengers. Hemsworth did a great job in the role and got absolutely jacked for it, really looking the part of a god-like hero. It is definitely a movie worth watching and the 4k disc is worth the upgrade.

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 31

Day 31 was the Push Circuit 2 workout from CE. This one is mostly shoulder-focused for the upper body moves and then has some lunges and deadlifts for the lower-body moves. I managed to hit the 8 rep max for all of the moves. A couple of them just barely so I will use the same weight next week, and a couple of them easily, so the weight on those will be increased. This workout really solidified the fact that I have gained quite a bit of strength in the past month. 

4k-UHD/Movie Box Set Review: The Godfather Trilogy

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the movies. I assume most people reading this have already seen the movies, so if you have not and care about spoilers, you have been warned.++++

This is the latest and probably the last, restoration that The Godfather series of films is likely to ever get, given the age of the movie and the fact that physical media is being phased out. My guess is that anyone interested in getting the set has seen the movies multiple times, so this will have minor spoilers in it. Of course, this is the trilogy of three movies, two of which are definitely iconic and one that is pretty divisive, that tells of the rise and fall of the fictional Corleone crime family. There are a couple of different sets, one that just has the discs (which is the one I have) and one that comes with a commemorative book. The set I have has four folding cases that have the UHD discs (one for each movie) and one for the older versions of Part III and the bonus disc, which is a regular Blu-Ray disc and contains all of the special features.

The first disc is The Godfather Part I (set between 1945 and 1955), which starred Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duval, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Diane Keaton, and Al Pachino. That movie basically tells the story of an aging Don (played by Brando) and the war between the "five families" (the various heads of the NY mafia) that is set off by Vito Corleone's refusal to expand his family into the drug trade. At the end of the ten-year period depicted in the movie, his son Michael (Pachino) who initially wants nothing to do with the family business has taken over and proven himself to be as or even more ruthless than his father.

The second disc contains The Godfather: Part II (set in 1958-1959) sees the Corleone family headquartered in Lake Tahoe, and set to take over pretty much all the casinos in Nevada (despite Michael's insistence in the first movie that the family would be completely legitimate in five years). The movie jumps back and forth between the story of Vito's rise to power (starring Robert De Niro taking the role of Vito in his early 30s) and a plot to take out Michael, similar to the plot to take out Brando's Vito in the first movie. The intertwining of the father-son storyline is done very well, and the end of the movie again displays Michael's ruthless nature as he wipes out all his enemies.

The third disc contains the recently reconfigured Part III, which is titled The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, which is set (mostly) in 1979, and details the final days of Michael as a gangster as he tries to finally get the family out of the life. He keeps getting pulled in however by another plot to take him out and his hot-headed nephew's (Vincent; Sonny's illegitimate son with the fugly bridesmaid in the original movie; played by Andy Garcia) desire for revenge. This version of the movie basically changes the beginning, so the plot involving the church and the real estate corporation is introduced first (which is an alternate scene in the original "Coppola restoration" that was released a handful of years ago on Blu-Ray, and then has an alternate version of Michael's letter to the kids (I think in large part so that the shot of the Twin Towers could be removed from the opening sequence) inviting them to the party. Then some of the scenes are extended a bit and the ending is changed so we do not see Michael's literal death, and it has a more metaphorical meaning. The movie still has the same story and has the same issues the original cut had, mostly the fact that a 19-year-old Sofia Coppola (who did not want to be in the movie in the first place) was cast after the actress that was likely to be offered the role was killed and Wynona Ryder backed out, to play a mid-twenties, Mary. And, even more than Sofia's acting (which was not great) was the horrible writing for her character that made a mid-twenties woman sound like a teenage girl pining after her first love.

The fourth disc (also a UHD disc) has both the theatrical version and the 1991 re-release version of Part III (which are nearly identical aside from a couple of scenes including the one in which Al and Connie give Vincent the go-ahead to take Zaza out. All of the versions of Part III really focus on Michael's guilt over the things he has done, especially having Fredo killed, and his attempt to seek redemption. Part III is definitely not as good as parts I or II, regardless of which version you watch. I do not think there was a huge need to see Michael's literal death in 1997 like we do in the theatrical and 1991 versions, but seeing him die alone to end the series is as the culmination of all his mistakes did make a powerful point. But, just knowing he ends up alone makes that point. None of the versions of Part III is as bad as those who shit on it make it seem, but I think anything they did with the story would have been hard-pressed to match the first two movies. 

The fifth disc has all the special features. There are several features that specifically discuss the restoration process for the 4k-UHD discs. It is interesting to see the comparison between the various home video releases over the years and how the UHD quality blows even the last Blu-Ray restoration out of the water. The rest of the extras are the legacy features that were put together for the original DVD and Blu-Ray releases. So, there are hours of bonus material a lot of it very interesting, including the behind-the-scenes feature that was made about the time Part III was filmed in which Francis Coppola discusses the fight with Paramount's executives to get the first movie made. Apparently, the Paramount executives did not want Brando cast at all (presumably because Brando was a pretty notorious pain in the ass by that point) and wanted anyone but Pachino to play Michael. It was very interesting to hear how Coppola fought to make the movie he wanted to make and was followed by a "backup" director when making the first movie who was ready to step in if he was fired. 

Really, the only thing that you do not get with this set is the commentary track on Part III that was included in the original DVD release (I cannot remember if that set also had commentary tracks on Parts I and II, but if so, those are not included either), or the cut of the movie in which Part I and Part II are put in chronological order. Some people think watching it that way is almost blasphemous. As one who has seen both chronological cuts on VHS years ago (there is one with just Parts I and II, and one with Parts I-III, and each has different scenes included in them) I think they are worth watching, but it tells a slightly different story. The chronological cut is more about the rise and fall of the family overall while watching the theatrical versions show the rise and fall of Michael as contrasted with the fall and rise of Vito. 

At any rate, this set has nearly everything about the movies that you could possibly want. The A/V quality of the 4k restoration is wonderful. The colors pop more than ever and the contrasts with the black background in the really dark scenes look as good as it ever has on any home-video release. So, even if you have purchased the VHS, DVD, and/or Blu-Ray sets. this is worth the double, triple, or quadruple dip.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Justified: Season 2

 

+++Warning, this contains a minor season one spoiler, but no significant giveaways from season two+++

Season two of Justified continues to be a combination of a story or case-of-the-week show with the Marshal's tracking down some fugitive or the like, which is a self-contained story, and a serial that has one or more major story arcs that stretch throughout the season. It picks up right where season one ended with Boyd and Raylan teaming up to deal with the team from Miami who took out Bo and are trying to get to Raylan for killing the mobster in the pilot. That arc is wrapped up in the first episode, then the big story arc the rest of the season involves the Bennet clan, from the county neighboring Harlan County and led by the great character actress Margo Martindale (who is recognizable from many movie and TV series, including The Americans). She basically runs a criminal enterprise with her kids Dickie (played by another great character actor Jeremy Davies), Coover (played by Brad William Henke), and the Bennett Police Chief Doyle (played by Joseph Lyle Taylor) that she is trying to turn legitimate. Kaitlyn Dever was also cast as a recurring character named Loretta McCready whose role increases as the series goes on. The Bennets and the Crowders basically feud the entire season, and Raylan ends up in the middle.

For those who get the Blu-Ray, the show looks and sounds great, and again, like season one, has a lot of great cinematography shots that really pop in HD. The extras are spread out across all of the discs and include about ten minutes of deleted scenes, a couple of making-of featurettes that total about 45 minutes between them, a short gag reel, and a discussion between the showrunners and Elmore Leonard, the author whose stories the series was adapted from. So, if you like watching the extras there is a decent amount there for you.

Overall, the series continues to be very good. I do think that this is a show that is helped by having the smaller run of episodes as helps things flow well and leaves the audience wanting more. The writing and acting continue to be top-notch with all of the characters continuing to evolve and the show does a good job balancing a large ensemble cast event though Raylan and Boyd are clearly the main characters so Olyphant and Goggins get most of the screen time. If you were a fan of season one, this is definitely worth watching.