Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Smallville Season 7

 

The 20-episode seventh season of Smallville aired during the 2007/2008 TV season and was the start of the show hanging on too long. The season was mostly good but definitely had its ups and downs. There were some "freak of the week" episodes here and there, but mostly, the season involved multiple intertwined storylines that spanned throughout the season, the biggest being Project Veritas, which was a group consisting of The Queens, Lionel Luthor, Virgil Swan, and the Teagues, all of whom knew that an alien was being sent to earth and set up a secret society to keep him safe. Of course, this all created numerous plot holes from the prior seasons, but it was a way to set Lex and Clark on a collision course. The other big storyline was Lana trying to get revenge on Lex after having faked her death and trying to pin the murder on him.

There would be more cast turnover this year, with Annette O'Toole leaving the series as a series regular at the end of Season 6. Her character became a federal senator and moved to Washington, DC. Aaron Ashmore was promoted to a series regular as Jimmy Olson, Justin Hartley continued as a recurring character playing Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, James Marsters recurred in his role as Brainiac, and Phil Morris recurred as Martian Manhunter. The big addition to the cast was Laura Vandervoort, playing Kara Zor-El, otherwise known as Clark's cousin Supergirl. This would also be the final season for both Michael Rosenbaum and Kristen Kreuk as well as showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. This season's notable guest stars included Dean Cain (the last live-action Superman/Clark Kent before Tom Welling), Christina Milian, Mark McClure (who played Jimmy Olson in the original movies), Sam Jones reprising his role as Pete, Aaron Douglas (of Battlestar Galactica playing a different role than his role in season 1), and Helen Slater, who was the first to play Supergirl in live action in the early 1980s movie. And, in keeping with the show's tradition, this year's visiting band was One Republic.

The Blu-Ray set is a six-disc set. The series continues to look and sound great in HD. The extras include commentary tracks on a couple of episodes, deleted scenes for most episodes, an animated feature on Supergirl, very similar to the one on Green Arrow in the extras for season 6, and a roundtable discussion with some of the different actors who played Jimmy Olson, including Aaron Ashmore, Mark McClure, Sam Huntington (who played Jimmy in the 2006 movie Superman Returns), and Jack Larson. Basically, all the actors who played Jimmy in live-action except for Michael Landes and Justin Whalin, who played Jimmy on Lois and Clark.

Overall, the season was good, with some great moments. But this was really the first season that it felt like the show was hanging on too long. It helped that some of the storylines got wrapped up, and the show definitely was set up to go in a new direction after the events of the season finale. The writing and acting were very good with both Michael Rosenbaum and Allison Mack shining in their portrayals of Lex and Chloe, respectively. I always thought Mack would go on to be a star after Smallville and definitely would not have pegged her for joining a cult. The show had really changed from the early seasons by this point, so if you were a die-hard fan of the first couple of seasons I cannot guarantee that you would like this one as much. But, generally, I would say if you have liked the show up to this point, you will probably like it this season.

DVD/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 11

 

++++Warning this will contain spoilerish material from prior seasons, but no major giveaways from season 11++++

The 22-episode penultimate season of Bones aired during the 2015/2016 TV season. It takes the show back to its case-of-the-week roots and reduces the serial arcs spanning multiple episodes. Unlike the previous seasons with Pelant being an antagonist throughout the season, the story arcs involved the various character's relationships with each other more than an overarching "big bad". The only hint of that this season was a two-episode arc about a killer turning his victims into puppets, which has a tie back to earlier seasons and sets up a cliffhanger going into Season 12.

The character of Aubry continues to be incorporated into the group dynamic, not as a replacement for Sweets but as filling some of the roles as a partner for the team after Sweet's death last season. There is an accident midway through the season that affects many of the characters because of the aftermath which I think was done very well. There is also more of Booth and Brennan's family life woven into the show. The season starts off with a couple episodes of mystery involving a disappearance, and there is an excellent cross-over episode with the main characters from Sleepy Hollow about midway through the season.

While I do think an argument can be made that Bones has hung on a bit too long (and given Fox's penchant for yanking shows, I am kind of surprised it lasted as long as it has) I think the writers and actors do a good job with the characters and stories. The cast seems to have very good chemistry with each other, so fans can stay invested in the people on the show, which I think has always made the show work as well as it does. It did find a formula that works for it and has stuck to it, so you know what you are getting with it.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. As has been the case with the past couple of seasons, it is only available on DVD. There are not as many extras as in previous seasons, just a few deleted scenes and a gag reel. That is what knocks the release down a star for me.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Barbie

 

Barbie is a 2023 comedy written and directed by Greta Gerwig starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Robbie (who was also a producer) stars as Barbie (or "stereotypical Barbie"), the perfect blonde version of Barbie, and Gosling plays that version of Ken. There are also the different versions of Barbie and Ken who are played by actors such as Emma Mackey, Simu Liu, Hari Nef, Issa Rae, Alexandra Shipp, Nicola Coughlan, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ritu Arya, Dua Lipa, and John Cena. Michael Cera plays Allen (the only version of the other male doll in the Barbie world), and Helen Mirren is the narrator. Rhea Perlman plays Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie. America Ferrera plays Gloria, an employee of Mattel, and Ariana Greenblatt plays her moody teenage daughter, Sasha. The main cast is rounded out by Will Ferrell, who plays the CEO of Mattel, and Kate McKinnon, who plays "Weird Barbie," who is the version of Barbie who has been played too hard. 

The main storyline is that Robbie's Barbie starts to not be perfect anymore and has to go from Barbieland into the real world to find the person who is playing with her (whose emotions she is beginning to feel). Ken ends up going with her and finds that the real world is ruled by men. When he returns to Barbieland, the Kens take over, and Barbie, Gloria, and Sasha have to get Barbieland back to the way it was. 

The 4K release is a single-disc release, just containing the UHD disc. Unlike most 4K releases, this does not have a regular Blu-Ray. There are just under an hour's worth of extras consisting of several behind-the-scenes featurettes on everything from the casting to the costume designs. This is a much different movie than people may expect. Yes, it is a comedy (sometimes a dark comedy). Still, it gets very dramatic and makes a point about the roles of men and women in society, relationships, growing up, and the like, all in an absurdly funny storyline. There is a hilarious battle between the various Kens at the end of the movie that starts out as a battle on the beach with volleyballs and tennis rackets and turns into a dance battle. It is well-written and very well-acted. The writers hilariously break the fourth wall a couple of times and include some great jokes about Barbie and Ken's lack of genitals. All of the actors are great in their various roles, but Gosling steals every scene he is in. It is a movie that absolutely should not have worked as well as it does, but is it great and is absolutely worth watching.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Smallville Season 6

 

The 22-episode sixth season of Smallville aired during the 2006/2007 TV season. It starts off pretty much the moment season five ended, with Clark trapped in the Phantom Zone, Zod inhabiting Lex's body, and the computer virus released by Brainiac causing chaos everywhere (including downing the jet Lois and Martha were on). Of course, Clark manages to get out of the Phantom Zone and in the process, releases many of its inhabitants who wreak havoc on Earth, and one of the big storylines of the season is Clark hunting down the various "zoners." The other large storylines involve a Lex-Lana-Clark love triangle, Lex's continued turn toward evil, and the return of Oliver Queen (whose disappearance was shown in the newspaper Lionel was reading at the beginning of the pilot episode) as The Green Arrow, played by Justin Hartley. The show also adds the character of Jimmy Olsen as a recurring character played by Aaron Ashmore, whose brother Shawn, of course, played one of the "meteor freaks" in the first couple of seasons, as well as introduces the character of John Jones, played by Phil Morris, who would have a larger role in the later seasons. The notable guest stars this season were Lynda Carter, Tori Spelling, Bow Wow (having dropped the Lil' at that point), and WWF wrestlers Dave Bautista, Kane, Ashley Massaro, capitalizing on the popularity of the WWF in the 2000s.

I will not go into too much of the storylines to avoid spoiling the few people who may not have seen the series yet. The only hints that I will give are that there continues to be more cast turnover as Annette O'Toole would leave the show as a series regular after this season, and the show sets up her exit storyline about 2/3 of the way through the season. Overall, the show moves more and more away from the setting of Smallville to Metropolis, with the Daily Planet becoming more of a base of operations for Clark and Chloe.

The Blu-Ray set is a four-disc set. The A/V quality is very good, and the show looks and sounds excellent in the high-definition format. The extras include deleted scenes for most episodes, a feature on the character of Green Arrow, a series of very rough animated episodes detailing Oliver's turn into Green Arrow, and comic sequences that extended some of the storylines. A decent amount for those who like going through the bonus features. The only quirky thing about the Blu-Ray release is that there is no real episode menu that allows you to select the episodes one-by-one. The first episode on each disc starts playing once the disc loads and if you hit the menu button it just takes you to the screen with the bonus material. But, if you stop before watching all the episodes on the disc, it will allow you to pick up where you left off, even in the middle of an episode.

Overall, the season is very good. It is definitely a season that transitions from some of the old storylines to set up new ones. All of the actors do a great job with their characters, and the writers do a great job balancing the storylines for the large ensemble cast. Each of the main cast members gets at least one stand-out episode. Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling both take a turn at directing episodes this season. Allison Mack is yet again great in her role as Chole (again making the craziness that her personal life turned into after the series ended all the more baffling and sad), and Erica Durance does a great job making Lois her own. In fact, of all the versions of Lois that have been in live-action, hers has arguably been the best of them. The only storyline that I did not really care for was the Clark-Lana-Lex love triangle, but thankfully that was resolved by the end of the season. It is definitely worth picking up.

DVD/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 10

 

++++WARNING: This will contain spoilers from the previous season and hints, but no major giveaways from this season. If you have not seen season 9 avoid the first paragraph++++

The 22-episode tenth season of Bones aired during the 2014/2015 TV season. This season shakes the show up a lot. The first handful of episodes is spent tying up the "conspiracy" storyline that ended season 9 with Booth in handcuffs. They do not draw out the story too long and end up wrapping it up within the first couple of episodes in a somewhat anti-climatic end (at least, in my opinion). Of course, as most know, there is a major death early on as a part of that story, which affects the characters throughout the remainder of the season. This season also includes the 200th episode, which was directed by David Boreanaz and imagines the team in 1950s Hollywood.

The show keeps the case of the week format tied together with larger overall arcs. The big theme for the season is the various character relationships (especially Booth and Brennan) and the next step the various characters are taking. There is a new addition to the team in the form of a new FBI agent, James Aubrey, played by John Boyd. While introducing new characters in a long-running established show is always tricky, Boyd seemed to have good chemistry with the rest of the cast, and his character was well-written, so the integration was pretty smooth. Especially after he finds his footing with the character. Toward the end of the season, there is a tie back to the Pelant storyline and the money he stole from Hodgins, and a post-death Pelant threat that may or may not tie into season 11. The team is definitely left in a state of flux at the end of the season, but not with as big a cliffhanger as season 9 ended on.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. It does include some extras, but not as much as in the prior season's physical media releases. The extras include deleted scenes for select episodes. A making of feature on the series' 200th episode, a gag reel, and a feature on the character that was killed off. It's not a ton of material, but it's good for what is there. My only real complaint is that the show stopped being released on Blu-ray after season 8 (which is more due to the studio than the show's quality). If that is a big deal to you, streaming may be how you want to go, but otherwise, we are just stuck with DVD.

DVD/TV Series Review: Smallville Season 5

 

The 22-episode fifth season of Smallville aired during the 2005/2006 TV season. This season was a turning point for the show. Of course, the "kids" graduated high school at the end of season four, so this season really saw the transition to more adult storylines. There was more cast turnover with Jensen Ackles leaving for the show Supernatural and Erica Durance coming on as a series regular, playing Lois Lane, and James Marsters (best known for his role as Spike on Buffy and Angel) joining as the major recurring character of the season. Ackles' character was ignored in the season premiere, with the audience just leaving to assume he died in the meteor strike.

The show pays off on the prior season's storyline, showing the Fortress of Solitude payoff to the whole story of the cave and the key from Clark's ship, continues to work toward Smallville's version of the Justice League, with Aquaman making an appearance this season, and sets up the next major "big bad". And, of course, this is the season that Chole finally knows about Clark, although she is not the only person who has discovered Clark's secret. This season also sees the first major cast member departing and being written off (the second if you really considered Pete Ross to be a major character, I personally viewed the character as more of a high-school buddy/ sidekick of Clark as opposed to a major character). The 12th episode of the season also marked the show's 100th episode, and it marked a major turning point for the season and the series.

The DVD set is a six-disc set with the bonus features and episodes spread across the discs. The extras include deleted scenes for most episodes, commentary tracks on a couple of episodes, including the much-panned (even by the showrunners) "vampire" themed episode, and a thirty-minute behind-the-scenes feature on making the 100th episode. A decent amount of extras for those who like watching them.

Overall, the season is very good. There are some great and not-so-great episodes (see the aforementioned vampire-themed episode). Apparently, the network wanted the show to do more themed episodes during the season, and the vampire episode was one and pretty much a dud, while the Chrismas episode, which did a version of It's a Wonderful Life for Lex, was great. I would say that chances are if you enjoyed the prior seasons, you will likely enjoy this one. If you did not like the prior seasons, you may or may not like this one. It just depends on what you did not like about the prior seasons. If you were not a big fan of the "freak of the week" episodes from the first few seasons, those took a big step back this season. The show was much more about the large, intertwined story arcs. If however, you were not a fan of the main characters, then you will still probably not like the show this season.

DVD/Movie Review: Bones: Season 9

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the previous seasons and hints, but no major giveaways from season 9.+++


The 24-episode ninth season of Bones aired during the 2013/2014 TV season. It is a formulaic show, for sure, but after a rough first couple of seasons, it found the formula that works and the actors and characters that make it work. If you have followed the show at all and have liked it, then chances are you will like the 9th season. It follows the story of the week format but with story arcs tied in along the way.

The major arc of the past season plus, Pelant vs the team is brought to a conclusion this season. The season begins with Booth sticking to having taken back his acceptance of Brennan's proposal because of Pelant's threat and the tension it is causing not only between the two of them, but the entire team. Once that storyline is resolved there is a major murder and corruption storyline that keeps popping up throughout the season and winds up with the cliffhanger going into season 10.

We again see the rotating interns throughout the season, but with Clark being hired on at the Jeffersonian in the anthropology department ostensibly as Brennan's equal, making room for a new intern along the regular crop we have seen the past 4 or 5 seasons.

As I said above, if you were a fan of past seasons (and did not get bored with the show), then this season will not disappoint you. If you have never liked the show, then this season is probably not going to do anything to get you to like it. Certainly, an argument can be made for it getting stale and using the same format repeatedly, but the story arcs woven into the mystery of the week format keep the show interesting enough.

As for the DVDs, the DVD set is a six-disc set with extras and episodes spread across the discs. The extras include commentary on select episodes, deleted scenes, portions of the comic-con panel, and a gag reel. My only gripe is that after having 5 seasons of blu ray releases the studio has gone to a DVD-only release. Hence my knocking it down a star.

DVD/TV Series Review: Smallville Season 4

 

The 22-episode fourth season of Smallville aired during the 2004/2005 TV season. It begins months after the ending of season three when Lionel (seemingly) executed a Godfather-Like plan to get revenge on everyone who put him in jail. The season starts with Clark still missing, Lex going after an ancient stone (which becomes increasingly important throughout the season), Lana in China with a new love interest (played by new series regular Jensen Ackles), and Chole presumed dead. Of course, Clark returns in the first episode, but as Kal-El and meets the newly arrived Lois Lane (played by Erica Durance) who was teased in season three, who ends up coming to Smallville to investigate Chole's death.

The season continues to interweave the story of the week episodes within the larger themes of the season, mainly being the story involving three stones with Kryptonian symbols on them. The series continues to get a strong lineup of guest stars including Michael Ironside, Eric Johnson (reprising his role as Whitney in a flashback), Peyton List, Cobie Smulders, Jane Seymour (who has a major recurring role), Sarah Carter (reprising her role as a powered love interest for Clark, and Chris Carmack who guest-starred in an episode which to sharp-eyed observers from MN used the Twin Cities skyline as a backdrop. The show also brought in Margot Kidder, who of course played Lois in the movies, for appearances in a couple of episodes. Her appearance in the first episode was supposed to be done by Christopher Reeve, who had a scheduling conflict during filming and then passed away early into the airing of the season. His death was written into one of the episodes with the character of Virgil Swann dying off-screen leaving a last message for Clark. And, for early 2000s music fans, the band Lifehouse, whose songs appeared more than once on the show, played the senior prom.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. The extras included for this season's release are similar to what was on the DVD sets for the first few seasons. There are commentary tracks on select episodes, deleted scenes for most episodes, a feature on Lois Lane, which included all the living actresses who had played Lois, except for Teri Hatcher, and a feature on the writers of the show and the process they go through to write an episode. A good amount for those who like to go through the extras.

Overall, the series continued to be very strong, weaving in elements of the Superman Mythos, yet keeping its own spin on things. Characters advanced, especially Lex and Chole, and the show managed to weave in a decent amount of humor (mostly in the Lois-Clark interactions). The show also moved away from the high school element with really only a few episodes really focused on the school at all. The show also got around the loose "no tights, no flights" rule again, this time more creatively than the first couple of times. Clark's secret was also discovered by more people, some who conveniently forgot others who unknown to Clark do not. There was a great Lex centric episode that really displayed Michael Rosenbaum's acting chops, and Allison Mack continued to shine as Chole all throughout the season (again making her post-Smallville life even more sad because she should have been able to use her role on the show to springboard to much more). The finale sets up the next season's "big-bad" and again leaves characters in some Jeopardy. Overall, if you were a fan of the first few seasons, this one is definitely worth checking out.

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

 

The 24-episode 8th season of Bones aired during the 2012/2013 TV season. It picks up down the line from the events that ended the seventh season, with Brennan on the run and the main antagonist, Pelant (played by Andrew Leeds) in custody but still making trouble for the team. The cliffhanger that ended season 7 is  resolved quickly in Season 8 so Brennan can come back to the team. Pelant, however, keeps coming back throughout the season to make the lives of the team hell. The show continues blending case-of-the-week procedural stories with the longer story arcs. This season also includes some episodes that were intended to air during season 7, but were cut due to the reduced number of episodes that resulted from Emily Deschanel's pregnancy. All the main cast members and primary recurring cast members return for this season. New recurring cast members this season include Danielle Panabaker (who would go on to star in the series Flash), Joanna Cassidy, Scott Lowell, and Danny Woodburn.

The show has kept the rotating interns that stemmed from the one story line from the show whose outcome I did not like, and that was having Zach written off the show. The show does a good job of actually giving them more to do that just being Brennan's sidekicks and it seems like the show is going to stick with that format for the foreseeable future. Aside from the stretches that the show makes with reality which you either accept or not, the only thing that was completely unrealistic from this season was about Hodgins money. You have to suspend your disbelief for what happens initially, but I personally think the directon the show takes the aftermath is just dumb. The rest of the season really revolves around Booth and Brennan as a couple, and as parents. I think that part of the story is well written and has done a good job of not making the relationship stale which is always the danger in bringing lead characters into a relationship.

The Blu-Ray set is a five-disc set with the episodes and bonus features spread across the five discs. The extras include deleted scenes, commentary on some episodes, an "Ask Bones" feature where cast members answer questions submitted by fans, a short ultimate fan segment, and a gag reel. Not a ton of extras but enough there if you do like going through that material. Also, the blu rays allow you to play it in season mode, so you can stop at any point and pick back up where you left off.

Chances are by now you know how you feel about Bones. If you have liked the show up to this point you will likely still enjoy this season. If you don't like it, this season will not do anything to change your mind because it really follows the same formula as it has the past few years. I think the stories are still compelling and interesting enough to keep the show fun to watch. It does a good job of blending the case of the week stories with the ongoing story arcs.

DVD/TV Series Review: Smallville Season 3

 

The 22-episode third season of Smallville aired during the 2003/2004 TV season. Season three picks up a few months after the events of the season two finale, in which Clark puts on the Red Kryptonite ring and speeds away from Smallville on his dad's motorcycle. We find out that he is living in Metropolis, financing a lavish lifestyle by knocking over ATM machines and the occasional bank. This brings him into conflict with a local gangster named Morgan Edge (played by Rutger Hauer), who has ties to Lionel Luther. Obviously, Clark ends up coming back to Smallville due to a deal between Jonathan and Jor-El (voiced by Terrance Stamp). The rest of the season focuses on Clark trying to protect his secret (mainly from Lionel and Lex) and resisting Jor-El's plans for him. The occasional "freak of the week" episode is mixed in during the season, but not as many as in the first couple of seasons.

The season again hosts a bevy of notable guest stars, including the aforementioned Rutger Hauer, as well as Jesse Metcalf, the returning Shawn Ashmore and Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Ian Somerhalder (who has a recurring role, mostly involving Lana), Missy Peregrym, Martin Cummins, Megan Ory, Sarah Carter, and a very young Adrienne Palicki. Christopher Reeve also makes what would be his last appearance as Virgil Swan. And, for those who were relatively young during the show's original run, most will appreciate the early 2000s soundtrack that the series boasts.

Overall, the series is clearly transitioning from the "high school" life of the characters (which ultimately is good given that Tom Welling was about 27 during the filming of the third season, 10 years older than Clark was on the show) to the early adult life of the characters. This season would see the first of the main cast turnover, with Sam Jones leaving at the end of the season. Really, his character is the only one that had very little to do and almost no development during the season. And, since the gig as Clark's sidekick was pretty played out, it was probably the right time for him to move on. The series gets a bit darker this season and closer in tone to today's DC series. The acting and writing are top-notch, and the special effects improved.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. For extras, there are commentary tracks on select episodes, with Michael Rosenbaum and Allison Mack being the standout contributors from the cast, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and volume 2 of The Chole Chronicles, which is part live-action and part comic book stills, going through a side story not seen in the show, and adding a bit to one of the episodes. As good as Mack is it still amazes me how her life spiraled after the show ended because looking at how much she contributed to the show and the extras, and how good she was at all of them, she was, of all the main cast members, the one who could be predicted to have a great post-Smallville career.

While I cannot say that the show will appeal to everyone if you are a fan of the Superman mythos or superhero shows or movies in general, it is definitely worth checking out. The extras are good enough that picking up the physical discs makes it worth it (for those who prefer physical media).

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

 

The 13-episode seventh season of Bones aired during the 2011/2012 TV season. The season was cut short because of Emily Deschanel's real-life pregnancy. Her pregnancy was written into the show, with the character of Brennan giving birth in the latter portion of the season. The show continued to mix the case-of-the-week procedural format with a serial storyline. This season, the serial arc involves a tech genius as the season's main antagonist in a storyline that also involves the Pelant storyline from prior seasons. The season ends on a large cliffhanger to set up the 8th season.

The Blu-Ray set is a three-disc set. There are a handful of bonus features, including a commentary track on the episode "The Past in the Present," deleted scenes from a couple of episodes, a gag reel, and some behind-the-scenes material. What was included was okay, but it definitely does not have as much bonus content as the physical media releases for the prior seasons received. The show continues to be strong, following the format that has worked for it since the second season, where it found its footing. The storylines continue to be interesting, and the cast members seem to have very good chemistry with one another. The show has a good blend of drama and humor, and the writers do a good job of giving the large ensemble cast good material to work with. So, if you liked the prior seasons, this one is worth the time to watch.

 

DVD/TV Series Review: Smallville Season 2

 

The 23-episode second season of Smallville aired during the 2002/2003 TV season. It picks up immediately after the events of the season one finale, with Clark obviously saving Lana from the tornado and then showing the aftermath of the tornado's damage and the threat to Clark from the reporter who found out his secret. Lana becomes suspicious of Clark and how he saved her but does not remember the exact details. After that, the show jumps forward in time a few months to the start of the new school year and continues on from there. In season two, there are some "freak of the week" episodes, but the majority of the season involves character-developing arcs that extend and intertwine throughout the season. Most of the cast is brought back, except Eric Johnson. The character of Whitney is mostly written out of the series, but Johnson does make an appearance during the season. The main "addition" to the cast is elevating John Glover (Lionel Luther) to a series regular. All of the characters get some amount of a story arc to give them depth, with Clark's arc being the largest. Clark's powers continue to develop, and his powers are less secret this season. As was the case in season one, there are several notable and recognizable guest stars, including Sean Ferris, Maggie Lawson, Martin Cummins, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Emanuelle Vaugier, Lizzy Caplan (reprising her season one role), Zachery Ty Bryan, and of course, the most notable, Christopher Reeve, who for many was their first Superman.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. The extras include deleted scenes for select episodes, a gag reel, two commentary tracks on the Red Kryptonite episode (one with the showrunners and one with Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Kristen Kreuk, and one of the writers), and a commentary track with the showrunners on the episode that Christopher Reeve appeared. There is also a feature on the Superman mythology and multiple short featurettes under the heading "The Chole Chronicles," which basically features Chole investigating/interviewing background characters.

Overall, the season is a solid follow-up to season one. All the actors are more seasoned and the show shifted slightly away from the weekly high-school drama. There is the obligatory love triangle story between Chole, Clark, and Lana, with the writers trying to stretch out getting any characters into an actual relationship as much as possible. Allison Mack continued to do a great job as Chole, which makes her post-Smallville life even crazier as she should have gone on to have a much longer career after the show ended. Sam Jones is given a bit more to do other than just being Clark's sidekick, and Jonathan and Martha are given more extensive storylines, which are independent of just raising Clark. Michael Rosenbaum continues to shine as a version of Lex, who is somewhere between a loyal friend who wants to be a good person and the evil mastermind he is destined to become. Ultimately, I would say that if you liked season one, you will likely like (or love) this season even more. If you were a bit lukewarm to season one, the second season improved on the first season enough that it is worth sticking with the show.

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

 

The 23-episode sixth season of Bones aired during the 2010/2011 TV season. All the main cast members returned for this season, and the show continued with its format as a case-of-the-week procedural mixed with serial arcs. This season's main serial arc involves a sniper named Jacob Broadsky, who starts going after the team. This season also ties up the "gravedigger" storyline, with Deirdre Lovejoy making another appearance as Heather Taffet. 

The Blu-Ray set is a four-disc set, which includes some bonus material. The extras for this release include commentary tracks on a couple of episodes, a featurette on the episode "The Blackout in the Blizzard," a featurette on the special effects, extended versions of two episodes, a gag reel, and the pilot episode of the series, The Killing.  This season includes several notable guest stars, including Michael Clarke Duncan, Saffron Burrows, and Geoff Stults, who led a spin-off series called "The Finder" that only received a 13-episode run that aired during Bones' 7th season. Ryan O'Neal also appeared as Brennan's father, Max and Billy Gibbons made another appearance as Angela's father. Arnold Vosloo (from the Mummy movies) had a significant recurring role, and all the rotating interns appeared regularly. Ultimately, the series follows the format that has made it successful. Since the show uses mainly procedural storylines, you don't necessarily have to watch the prior seasons to follow what happens in a particular episode. Still, it does help to see the character development in the earlier seasons, and some of the episodes will make more sense. If you liked the prior seasons, this is worth watching. 

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.