Day 22 marked the fourth and final week of the Burn Phase. So, this was the last Burn Circuit 1 workout in this round of CE. The workout went really well. I was able to hit the 12 rep max on all but two of the exercises and I was able to do the entire "extreme" set of push-ups at the very end on my toes. It was tough and I REALLY wanted to go to my knees for the last one, but I pushed through and got myself back up on that last rep. Barely, but I did. So, I am definitely making some strength gains in this portion of the program.
Monday, March 28, 2022
DVD/TV Series Review: The Bionic Woman Volume One
This series is the 2007 reboot of the 1976 series of the same name. It starred Michelle Ryan as Jamie Sommers a bartender who is taking care of her younger sister Becca (played by Lucy Hale). When she is involved in a nearly fatal car accident, Jamie is saved by her boyfriend who implants cybernetic devices that basically turn her into a superhuman. She reluctantly becomes an agent for a shadowy organization called The Berkut Group, headed by a man named Jonas Bledsoe(played by Miguel Ferrer).
As people may remember, this show got a ton of hype before it debut, to the detriment of shows like Chuck (which was a better show). It fell victim to a couple of issues, the fact that it (like most shows of its ilk) took some time to find its footing, and when it did, it ran headlong into the writers strike that ended every show prematurely that year, and it ended up being canceled after just eight episodes. The show definitely had a lot of potential but was not around long enough to realize that potential. It was a procedural case-of-the-week show that had a larger story arc that was playing out throughout the season that involved Battlestar Galactica's, Katee Sackhoff. The show had a good cast, that included not only those I mentioned but also Will Yun Lee (who would go on to have roles on the rebooted Hawaii Five-0 and currently stars on The Good Doctor) and Molly Price. Ryan did a great job in the main role and even had a chance to break out her real English accent.
For those who get the DVD set (it was never released on Blu-Ray, which is not all that surprising) the eight episodes are spread over two discs. The extras include a commentary track on the pilot episode, a few behind-the-scenes featurettes, and cast profiles. I decent amount of material for those who like watching the extras.
Overall, the series was good but did not have a chance to really show how good it could be. If you get invested in it you will probably end up disappointed because there is no real conclusion to the series, and it leaves a lot unresolved. So really, the only reason to pick this up is if you are a fan of any of the actors or you watched the series when it aired and want the DVD for your collection.
As people may remember, this show got a ton of hype before it debut, to the detriment of shows like Chuck (which was a better show). It fell victim to a couple of issues, the fact that it (like most shows of its ilk) took some time to find its footing, and when it did, it ran headlong into the writers strike that ended every show prematurely that year, and it ended up being canceled after just eight episodes. The show definitely had a lot of potential but was not around long enough to realize that potential. It was a procedural case-of-the-week show that had a larger story arc that was playing out throughout the season that involved Battlestar Galactica's, Katee Sackhoff. The show had a good cast, that included not only those I mentioned but also Will Yun Lee (who would go on to have roles on the rebooted Hawaii Five-0 and currently stars on The Good Doctor) and Molly Price. Ryan did a great job in the main role and even had a chance to break out her real English accent.
For those who get the DVD set (it was never released on Blu-Ray, which is not all that surprising) the eight episodes are spread over two discs. The extras include a commentary track on the pilot episode, a few behind-the-scenes featurettes, and cast profiles. I decent amount of material for those who like watching the extras.
Overall, the series was good but did not have a chance to really show how good it could be. If you get invested in it you will probably end up disappointed because there is no real conclusion to the series, and it leaves a lot unresolved. So really, the only reason to pick this up is if you are a fan of any of the actors or you watched the series when it aired and want the DVD for your collection.
DVD/TV Series Review: Bitten - The Complete Series
Bitten was a TV series that aired in the US on the Syfy channel. It starred Laura Vandervoort, probably best known for playing Supergirl on Smallville, as Elena Michaels, a photographer living in Toronto, who is secretly the only female werewolf in existence. She is estranged from her pack but gets called back when the pack is threatened by a group of "mutts" (werewolves with no pack allegiance), which puts her "normal" life in danger. The show was adapted from a series of novels, that I have never read, so I am not sure how faithfully the show sticks to the source material.
The show has a bit of a "Twilight" feel, with generally better writing, and without the high-school romance. There is some love-triangle stuff going on, but it is not as dumb as Twilight could get sometimes. The show definitely pushed the boundaries of what could be shown on basic cable in terms of violence, nudity, and sex. The DVDs actually have more nudity than the US broadcast did because most of the butt shots (mostly from the males on the show, but also quite a few from Laura Vandervoort) got edited out on the US broadcasts. The series is made up of relatively unknown actors (at least here in the US) which included Greyson Holt, Steve Lund, Greg Bryk, Michael Xavier, and Genelle Williams.
The first season is really about the pack versus Mutts (werewolves that do not belong to a pack that are forced to move around and never put down roots). The second season is basically a wolf versus witches theme, with magic being introduced into the series, and the third season has a pack vs. pack theme. The set is just the DVD released for the three seasons packaged together, and the extras as just what was included in the individual season releases. There are no special bonus features that just come with the complete series set. Each season has some deleted scenes and at least one behind-the-scenes featurette. The second season also has a 45-minute portion of the NY Comic-Con panel, and an episode of an aftershow that aired in Canada.
Overall, the series is good, but a bit predictable. It is definitely not a family-friendly show as there is a lot of violence, some swearing, and a lot of sexual content (and as much nudity as they could get away with). The sexual content decreases with each season, but the violence is prevalent the entire way through (and it does get quite bloody). The series is well-written and acted. It was adapted from a set of books, but I have never read them so I am not sure how faithful the show was to the books. I would say that if you are a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, it is worth checking out, whether you stream it or pick up the DVDs. Note, that the first season is available on Blu-Ray, but at least in the US seasons, two and three, and the complete series are only available on DVD.
The show has a bit of a "Twilight" feel, with generally better writing, and without the high-school romance. There is some love-triangle stuff going on, but it is not as dumb as Twilight could get sometimes. The show definitely pushed the boundaries of what could be shown on basic cable in terms of violence, nudity, and sex. The DVDs actually have more nudity than the US broadcast did because most of the butt shots (mostly from the males on the show, but also quite a few from Laura Vandervoort) got edited out on the US broadcasts. The series is made up of relatively unknown actors (at least here in the US) which included Greyson Holt, Steve Lund, Greg Bryk, Michael Xavier, and Genelle Williams.
The first season is really about the pack versus Mutts (werewolves that do not belong to a pack that are forced to move around and never put down roots). The second season is basically a wolf versus witches theme, with magic being introduced into the series, and the third season has a pack vs. pack theme. The set is just the DVD released for the three seasons packaged together, and the extras as just what was included in the individual season releases. There are no special bonus features that just come with the complete series set. Each season has some deleted scenes and at least one behind-the-scenes featurette. The second season also has a 45-minute portion of the NY Comic-Con panel, and an episode of an aftershow that aired in Canada.
Overall, the series is good, but a bit predictable. It is definitely not a family-friendly show as there is a lot of violence, some swearing, and a lot of sexual content (and as much nudity as they could get away with). The sexual content decreases with each season, but the violence is prevalent the entire way through (and it does get quite bloody). The series is well-written and acted. It was adapted from a set of books, but I have never read them so I am not sure how faithful the show was to the books. I would say that if you are a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, it is worth checking out, whether you stream it or pick up the DVDs. Note, that the first season is available on Blu-Ray, but at least in the US seasons, two and three, and the complete series are only available on DVD.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: 17 Again
17 again is a comedy that many people may avoid because of the presence of Zac Efron, who up to that point had mostly just done the High School Musical series. That would be a huge mistake as it is actually a very good comedy. The premise is that a guy named Mike O'Donnell (played as an adult by Matthew Perry and as a teenager by Efron), basically going through a mid-life crisis (losing his job and going through a divorce). Wishing to relive his glory years as a high-school basketball player he is turned into his 17-year old self while still living in the present day. He discovers that he has to fix things with his family in order to become an adult again.
The movie has a great supporting cast including Leslie Mann as Mike's ex-wife Scarlett, Michelle Trachtenberg (probably best known for her time on Buffy at that point) as his daughter Maggie, who of course falls for him when he is a teenager, Thomas Lennon as his best friend, Ned, Jim Gaffigan as the high school basketball coach, and Melora Hardin as the high school principal. Everyone in the cast did a great job in their roles, but Efron really showed that he had the acting chops to go between the comedic scenes and the more dramatic ones with ease, and he proved he could do more than just look good.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds good in the HD format. It is not really heaving on special effects that make it a must-see in HD, but it the cinematography looks very good. For extras, the most extensive is about 16 minutes of deleted scenes, then there are a handful of behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes that range from about 3 minutes to about 12 minutes in length.
Overall, the movie is good. It is a pretty wholesome comedy (although there is some swearing and a bit of sexual innuendo, really nothing more than that), which also adds in some touching elements. The easy comparison to make is with the movie Big with a bit of Its a Wonderful Life mixed in. While it is not as good as either of those movies, it was clearly inspired by them, yet manages to be its own story and does not try to copy either of those. It is a pretty simple formula that works. Efron, Mann, and Lennon have great chemistry, and all of the scenes with two or more of them interacting were great. It is definitely not one of the best comedies of all time, but it is worth checking out if you are looking for a pretty light-hearted comedy that can be watched with the family.
The movie has a great supporting cast including Leslie Mann as Mike's ex-wife Scarlett, Michelle Trachtenberg (probably best known for her time on Buffy at that point) as his daughter Maggie, who of course falls for him when he is a teenager, Thomas Lennon as his best friend, Ned, Jim Gaffigan as the high school basketball coach, and Melora Hardin as the high school principal. Everyone in the cast did a great job in their roles, but Efron really showed that he had the acting chops to go between the comedic scenes and the more dramatic ones with ease, and he proved he could do more than just look good.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds good in the HD format. It is not really heaving on special effects that make it a must-see in HD, but it the cinematography looks very good. For extras, the most extensive is about 16 minutes of deleted scenes, then there are a handful of behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes that range from about 3 minutes to about 12 minutes in length.
Overall, the movie is good. It is a pretty wholesome comedy (although there is some swearing and a bit of sexual innuendo, really nothing more than that), which also adds in some touching elements. The easy comparison to make is with the movie Big with a bit of Its a Wonderful Life mixed in. While it is not as good as either of those movies, it was clearly inspired by them, yet manages to be its own story and does not try to copy either of those. It is a pretty simple formula that works. Efron, Mann, and Lennon have great chemistry, and all of the scenes with two or more of them interacting were great. It is definitely not one of the best comedies of all time, but it is worth checking out if you are looking for a pretty light-hearted comedy that can be watched with the family.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: 2010 - The Year We Make Contact
2010 is the follow-up to the classic film directed by Stanley Kubrick, 2001. It was made during the cold war, so it capitalized on the US vs. Russia conflict of that time. The premise is that both the US and Russia are preparing missions to go to Jupiter to investigate what happened to the Discovery spacecraft, during its failed 2001 mission. When it is learned that the Discovery is going to crash into Jupiter's moon Io, a team of Americans, including Dr. Haywood (played in a recast role by Roy Scheider (replacing William Sylvester)) who was the Earth-based head of the original Discovery mission, the Discovery ship designer Walter Curnow (played by John Lithgow), and the programmer of the HAL 9000 (which seemingly went crazy in 2001), Dr. Chandra, played by Bob Balaban. The movie also stars Helen Mirren as the commander of the Russian ship and includes the nearly ageless Keir Dullea and Douglas Rain reprising their roles as Dave and the voice of HAL from the first movie.
The movie was made during the height of both the cold war and the tail end of the space race, and both of those themes are prevalent throughout. The movie pays homage to but has a much different feel than 2001. That is due in large part because it was made about sixteen years after the original film, but also because the director Peter Hyams did not try to copy Kubrick's style and tone. Personally, I like this movie more than I do 2001, both when I was a kid and as an adult. There is a lot more suspense that is mixed throughout the movie, not just packed in at the end. And, since it has a much shorter running time, it does not feel like it goes on and on as 2001 does.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, it does not really have any extras. Just the movie. The A/V quality is okay, but it definitely did not get a major restoration, certainly not approaching anything like what 2001 received with its 4k UHD transfer. That said, I have never seen the movie on any of the major streaming services, so if you want to watch it physical discs seem to be the easiest way to do so.
Overall, the movie presents a good conclusion to the story. It explains the events from the first movie and gives audiences a hopeful ending. There were other books written that continued the story from here, but it is unlikely that they will ever be adapted into a movie after all this time. I think most people who will consider getting this will be people who either saw it in the theater or on TV back in the 80s. But, if you are one who only recently discovered the movie 2001 and are trying to decide whether to get this, I would say it is worth watching. I cannot guarantee you will like it as much as 2001 (assuming you liked or loved that one), but I think it is worth watching just to get the entire story. And, if you were lukewarm to the original movie, this is definitely worth giving a chance to because, as I said above, it does have a much different feel than the first movie did.
The movie was made during the height of both the cold war and the tail end of the space race, and both of those themes are prevalent throughout. The movie pays homage to but has a much different feel than 2001. That is due in large part because it was made about sixteen years after the original film, but also because the director Peter Hyams did not try to copy Kubrick's style and tone. Personally, I like this movie more than I do 2001, both when I was a kid and as an adult. There is a lot more suspense that is mixed throughout the movie, not just packed in at the end. And, since it has a much shorter running time, it does not feel like it goes on and on as 2001 does.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, it does not really have any extras. Just the movie. The A/V quality is okay, but it definitely did not get a major restoration, certainly not approaching anything like what 2001 received with its 4k UHD transfer. That said, I have never seen the movie on any of the major streaming services, so if you want to watch it physical discs seem to be the easiest way to do so.
Overall, the movie presents a good conclusion to the story. It explains the events from the first movie and gives audiences a hopeful ending. There were other books written that continued the story from here, but it is unlikely that they will ever be adapted into a movie after all this time. I think most people who will consider getting this will be people who either saw it in the theater or on TV back in the 80s. But, if you are one who only recently discovered the movie 2001 and are trying to decide whether to get this, I would say it is worth watching. I cannot guarantee you will like it as much as 2001 (assuming you liked or loved that one), but I think it is worth watching just to get the entire story. And, if you were lukewarm to the original movie, this is definitely worth giving a chance to because, as I said above, it does have a much different feel than the first movie did.
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