DVD/TV Series Review: Smallville Season 1

 

Smallville is a superhero show that lasted ten seasons from 2001 to 2011. The 21-episode first season aired during the 2001/2002 TV season and starred Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Kristen Kruek, Eric Johnson, Sam Jones III, Allison Mack, Annette O'Toole, John Glover, and John Schneider. It is a show about Clark Kent's teenage years in Smallville, long before he becomes Superman, while he is discovering his powers.  Welling plays Clark Kent, and Kreuk plays his high school crush, Lana Lang. Rosenbaum plays Lex Luthor, Johnson plays Whitney, Lana's boyfriend, Sam Jones III plays Pete, Clark's sidekick and best friend, and Mack plays Chole Sullivan, Clark's friend, and editor of the school newspaper who keeps tabs on all the weird stuff that goes on in Smallville. Schieder and Annette O'Toole play Clark's parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent. Of course, O'Toole has ties to the franchise, having played Lana Lang in Superman III opposite Christopher Reeve).

The pilot starts with Clark's ship crash landing, but the twist is that it occurs as a part of a metro shower in which the remnants of Krypton fall to earth and decimate the town. It also spreads meteor rocks (aka Kryptonite) all over Smallville, which is basically the cause of all the weird happenings in the town since that day. The first season is about establishing the characters and Clark's role as a protector. It was basically him going against a Kryptonite-powered "freak of the week," but there was a larger arc involving Clark and Lex. Lex has been banished to Smallville to run a Luther Corp fertilizer plant by his father Lionel (played by John Glover) after Lex has been in too much trouble in Metropolis. In this version, Lex and Clark are friends, with Lex being an "older brother" type of influence on Clark, who also believes that Clark is hiding something.

In addition to the main ensemble cast, the show boasts a host of guest stars, including many who would go on to be quite famous before they made it big. Some recognizable guest stars in the first season include Lizzy Caplan, Amy Adams, Tony Todd, Kelly Brook, Azura Skye, Shawn Ashmore, Evangeline Lilly, and Adam Brody. Fans of the Battlestar Galactica remake will also recognize Aaron Douglas and fans of The Wonder Years will recognize Dan Lauria, the dad from that show.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. The extras include commentary tracks on the pilot and second episodes of the season from the show's creators, deleted scenes on those two episodes, and an interactive tour of Smallville showing the main locations in the show. It is not an extensive amount of extras, but what was included is good.

Overall, the show is well-written and acted, especially given how many unknown actors made up the main cast. In my opinion, Michael Rosenbaum did the best job of all the live-action Lex Luthors, having a balance of wanting to be a good person but being so ambitious he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. So, he does not just have to play an evil mastermind like Hackman in the movies, John Shea in Lois and Clark, and even Jon Cryer in Supergirl has to play. Allison Mack also did a great job as Chloe, making her post-Smallville life even sadder because she had the potential to have a great career based on her work on the show, especially in later seasons. While those two really stood out to me, the entire cast does a great job. Welling plays a young Clark well, doing a similar balance that Lex does, but in his case, he has to balance wanting to use his abilities to help people against wanting to have a normal life and be a normal kid.

It can be argued that this show launched the "Arrowverse" currently playing on the CW. Of course, there have been many live-action superhero shows from the 1950s (Superman), 1960s (Batman), 1970s (Wonder Woman), and 1990s (Flash and Lois and Clark). But unlike Smallville, which had a 10-season run, most of those shows only lasted a few seasons (at most). Had Smallville not been as successful as it was (given on a smaller network, the WB, which eventually became the CW), Arrow would not have been made. The Arrowverse should really be called the Smallvilleverse. While you do not get the whole Superman effect (there was a strict "no-tights, no-flights" policy that the showrunners stuck to for most of the show's duration (especially in the early seasons), so Clark is not flying around the town in a cape. The show also sports a great early 2000s soundtrack.

If you are a fan of the current Arrowverse group of shows, this is a must-watch. Likewise, if you are a fan of the Superman mythology overall, it gives a good backstory that is really only glossed over in the movies. I definitely recommend it.

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 66

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 65

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 64

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

Book Review: Star Wars Character Encyclopedia (2019)

 

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

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Krypton Season 2

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Krypton Season 1

 

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

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

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

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 63

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 62

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 61

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 60

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 59

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 58

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

DVD/TV Series Review: Blindspot Season 5

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 56

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 55

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 54

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

Book Review: Star Wars: Master & Apprentice

 

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

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

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

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Babylon

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Workout Update: 645 Cardio/Chalean Extreme Day 53

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