TRANSFORMERS:ARMADA SEASON 1 PART 1 DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Rhino about Transformers: Armada Season 1 Part 1: For millions of years, the brutal civil war consuming Planet Cyberton has been locked in an uneasy truce. But all that changes the moment a young earthling named Rad stumbles upon the long-lost Mini-Cons and innocently reawakens them. For everyone involved, the epic adventures of the Transformers have only just begun!

Transformers: Armada premiered in 2004 in syndication. The show was not considered “Canon” in, as much it had nothing to do with the original Transformers. The show was criticized for being too simple and not multi-dimensional. Personally, I really liked this show and thought it was well put together. Transformers: Armada is set up in 4 story “arcs” which this set has the first 2 story arcs. The show was originally written and produced in Japan with English translation, which sometimes did not match what they said. Kids were featured mostly in this series with the Transformers at times taking a back seat to what was going on. This set consists of the first 26 episodes and is a “Vanilla” version with no extras. However the animated menus are quite neat!

VIDEO

The video quality is great! Each episode runs approx 24 minutes.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. The DVD’s are in mono as well.

Disc 1- 1. “First Encounter”
2. “Metamorphosis”
3. “Base”
4. “Comrade”
5. “Soldier”
6. “Jungle”
7. “Carnival”

Disc 2- 1. “Palace”
2. “Confrontation”
3. “Underground”
4. “Ruin”
5. “Prehistory”
6. “Swoop”
7. “Overmatch”

Disc 3- 1. “Gale”
2. “Credulous”
3. “Conspiracy”
4. “Trust”
5. “Vacation”
6. “Reinforcement”
7. “Decisive Battle

Disc 4-1. “Vow”
2. “Rebellion”
3. “Chase”
4. “Tactician”
5. “Link Up

Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: None

Verdict

A new wave of Transformers has arrived! This set will get you ready for Transformers: The Movie coming out on July 4th.

Rating; *****!

TRANSFORMERS:ARMADA SEASON 1 PART 2

A blurb from Rhino about Transformers: Armada Season 1 Part 2: In this thrilling conclusion to the hit TV series Transformers Armada, Optimus Prime, his Autobots, and their human friends step up the fight against Megatron and his Decepticons for control of the powerful Mini-Cons. The action comes fast and furious in this unforgettable chapter of the Transformers saga.

Transformers: Armada Season 1 Part 2 covers the last 2 story arcs of the series and by far the more interesting ones. The last 12 episodes were called “The Unicron Battles” The Autobots and the Decepticons join forces against the gigantic Transformer Unicron to finally defeat him. This set consists of the last 26 episodes and features a rather cute special feature where by a push of a button you can transform the Autobots and Decepticons in the shapes they make when they “transform”. The animated menus are the same as the first set.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! Each episode runs approx 24 minutes. There is a Play All Feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. The DVD’s are in mono as well.

Disc 1- 1. “Detection”
2. “Awakening”
3. “Desperate”
4. “Runaway”
5. “Past” Part 1
6. “Past” Part 2
7. “Sacrifice”

Disc 2- 1. “Regeneration”
2. “Rescue”
3. “Mars”
4. “Crack”
5. “Threaten”
6. “Crisis”
7. “Remorse”

Disc 3- 1. “Depart”
2. “Miracle”
3. “Puppet”
4. “Uprising”
5. “Dash”
6. “Drift”
7. “Portent”

Disc 4-1. “Cramp”
2. “Alliance”
3. “Union”
4. “Origin”
5. “Mortal Combat”

Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: Interactive Transformations-Animations. Changes from Transformer to Vehicles

Verdict

A really good series comes to a conclusion. Be sure to pick this set up!

Rating; *****!

IRONSIDE SEASON 1 TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Shout Factory about “Ironside Season 1”- In March 1966, NBC broke new ground in television programming by using a world premiere, feature-length movie as the preview of a potential new series called Ironside. The response was overwhelming. From 1967 to 1975, Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) celebrated his second major television hit. Set in the turbulent 60s, Ironside confronted the hottest issues of its time-Civil Rights, drugs, hippies and rock “n” roll-and gave television its first disabled hero.

Ironside, the long running crime drama starring Raymond Burr premiered in 1967 and lasted 8 seasons. Perry Mason had just ended its 9-year run and Burr switched networks and again was upholding the law this time from a wheelchair! Ironside was a great series and it is wonderful that is finally on DVD. All 28 episodes from the first season including the feature-length pilot are on this set. This show was also a springboard for actors and actresses that have gone on to bigger things such as Harrison Ford, Jack Lord, Bruce Lee, Susan Saint James and Marion Ross to name a few. The information on this set does not show that the episodes are Digitally Remastered but the film prints are superb! Shout Factory has done a great job with this DVD set!


VIDEO

The video quality is superb! It seems that the episodes are not digitally remastered; however the video quality is excellent. There is a Play All feature.


Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also Mono on this set.

Disc 1- 1. “Ironside-World Premiere” (pilot) with Wally Cox and Kim Darby
2. “Message From Beyond” with James Gregory and Madlyn Rhue
3. “The Leaf In The Forest” with John Larch and John Rubinstein

Disc 2- 1. “Dead Man’s Tale” with Jack Lord and Ben Wright
2. “Eat, Drink and be Buried” with Lee Grant and Richard Anderson
3. “The Taker” with Mark Richman and Robert Alda
4. “An Inside Job” with John Saxon and Norman Fell

Disc 3- 1. “Tagged For Murder” with Bruce Lee and Jack Kelley
2. “Let My Brother Go” with Ivan Dixon
3. “Light At The End Of The Journey” with Robert Reed
4. “The Monster Of Comus Towers” with Warren Stevens and David Hartman

Disc 4-1. “The Man Who Believed” with Guy Stockwell and Barbara Rhoades
2. “A Very Cool Hot Car” with Victor Joy
3. “The Past Is Prologue” with Harrison Ford and John Hoyt
4. “Girl In The Night” with Susan Saint James and Oscar Beregi

Disc 5- 1. “The Fourteenth Runner” with Steve Ihnat, Ed Asner and Ingrid Pitt
2. “Force Of Arms” with Harold J Stone
3. “Memory Of An Ice Cream Stick” with Francine York
4. “To Kill A Cop” with Pernell Roberts and Ruta Lee

Disc 6- 1. “The Lonely Hostage” with Robert Lansing
2. “The Challenge” with Sue Ane Langdon
3. “All In A Day’s Work” with Jeanette Nolan and Walter Burke
4. “Something For Nothing” with James Farentino and Susan Saint James

Disc 7- 1. “Barbara Who” with Vera Miles and Marion Ross
2. “Perfect Crime”
3. “Officer Bobby” with Nancy Malone, Jeanne Cooper and Paul Carr

Disc 8- 1. “Trip To Hashbury” with William Windom and Cliff Osmond
2. “Due Process Of Law” with Dwayne Hickman and David Carradine
3. “Return Of The Hero” with Gary Collins and Gavin Macleod


Extras

Disc 1-8 : None


Verdict

I really enjoyed this set! The picture and audio quality are great! My only sticking point about the set is that there are not any extras. Perhaps on future season sets, there could be a documentary or interviews with the surviving cast members, etc. I can’t wait for Set 2!


Rating; *****!

JASON OF STAR COMMAND COMPLETE SERIES TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from BCI-Eclipse-Entertainment Rights about Jason Of Star Command: The Complete Series:” Working from within a secretive section of Space Academy, a daring soldier of fortune named Jason joins with his friends to combat the sinister forces that conspire to dominate the stars. Jason is aided on his missions by Commander Carnavin and Stone, computer expert Nicole, strong alien Samantha, eccentric scientist Dr EJ Parsafoot, and two robots, Peepo and the portable W1K1. Together they face the evil machinations of Dragos-the self proclaimed “Master of the Cosmos”-and his alien minions aboard the Dragonship.

As I said about Space Academy, Finally! Jason Of Star Command is available on DVD! Along with Space Academy, JOSC was a perfect bookend for Filmation. Again, BCI Eclipse-Entertainment Rights have done a fantastic job with this set! The show ran in 1979-1980 for 28 episodes. The Special effects were done by the same people who did the effects for Space Academy with a few new people. This set is packed full of extras including audio commentaries on two episodes an over a half-hour documentary with Jason himself, Craig Litter and Drago-Sid Haig reminiscing about the show. Lots of promo photos and behind the scenes photos with interview clips, Easter Eggs, and people with DVD players can access all the scripts from the series in pdf format! I can’t say enough about this set!

VIDEO

The video quality is fantastic! Digitally remastered from the original negatives. The picture quality is crystal clear and the episodes are uncut. There is also a Play All feature on each disc. First season episodes are approx 11 minutes long. Second season episodes are approx 23 minutes long.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. The audio is also Mono here but is very clear.

Disc 1- 1. “Attack of the Dragonship”*
2. “Prisoner From Dragos”
3. “Escape From Dragos”
4. “A Cry For Help”
5. “Wiki To The Rescue”
6. “Planet Of The Lost”
7. “Marooned In Time”
8. “Attack Of The Dragons”
9. “Peepo’s Last Chance”
10. “The Disappearing Man”*
11. “The Haunted Planet” with Julie Newmar
12. “Escape From Kesh” with Julie Newmar
13. “Return Of The Creature”
14. “Peepo On Trial”
15. “The Trojan Horse”
16. “The Victory Of Star Command”

Disc 2- 1. “Mission To The Stars”
2. “Frozen In Space”
3. “Web Of The Star Witch” with Francine York
4. “Beyond The Stars” *
5. “Secret Of The Ancients”
6. “The Power Of The Star Disk”
7. “Through The Stargate”
8. “Face To Face”

Disc 3- 1. “Phantom Force”
2. “Little Girl Lost” with Francine York
3. “Mim’s Secret” with Francine York
4. “Battle For Freedom”

Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary on the episode-“Attack Of The Dragonship” and “The Disappearing Man”

Disc 2: Audio Commentary on the episode-“Beyond The Stars”

Disc 3: Adventures Of Jason Of Star Command Documentary (31:04)
Special Effects Demo Reel (06:33)
Promotional Gallery (24 Pictures)
Behind the scenes photos (20 pictures)
Cast reunion photos (5 pictures)
Spaceship Photos (25 pictures)
Style Guide (10 pictures)
Easter Eggs
DVD-Rom Feature- 27 scripts Complete in pdf format.

Verdict

If you’re a fan of the show or remember it back when, go and buy this set! The picture and audio quality are superb. The extras are more than enough for you to enjoy and not to disappoint!

Rating; *****!

MISSION:MAGIC COMPLETE SERIES TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Entertainment Rights about “Mission: Magic: Music, Adventure, Comedy and Enchantment all mix together in the beloved 1973 animated series MISSION: MAGIC! Your school was never like this! Miss Tickle is a teacher with secret magical powers, and she leads her six favorite students on amazing adventures to alternate worlds, distant lands, and even the far future. There, the diverse young members of her Adventurer’s club-Vinnie, Socks, Franklin, Carol, Kim and Harve-are aided on their adventures by none other than singing superstar Rick Springfield!

Mission: Magic premiered on ABC in 1973. I remember watching this show on Saturday mornings. In some ways it reminded me of an Archies show because of the animation. Watching this show again I caught something that totally went right over my head back then. The show from time to time would play on words. The teachers name is Miss Tickle (Mystical). The series also dealt with going to different times and dimensions that were a little more grown-up for a Saturday morning audience. That’s what I liked about it. Rick Springfield sang one to two songs every episode of the series a lot like the Groovie Ghoulies. Mission: Magic lasted 16 episodes and they have been digitally remastered for this set. This set also includes interviews with Lou Scheimer, and Erika Scheimer voice talent on the show. There is also a 30-minute documentary on Filmation and a model sheet and cel gallery.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! The episodes were digitally remastered. The episodes are presented in production order. There is also a Play All feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is also in Mono.


Disc 1- Side A
1. “The Land Of Backwards” -songs “You’d Better Think Twice About It”
2. “Modran” -songs “Catch Me”
3. “Dissonia”-songs “Love Is The Key”
4. “Land Of Hyde And Goseek”-songs “If We Help One Another”
5. “The City Inside The Earth”-songs “Yes I Am”

Disc 1- Side B
6. “2600 AD”-songs “You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover”
7. “Something Fishy”-songs “Free And Easy”
8. “Giant Steppes”-songs “You Can Really Do It”
9. “Statue Of Limitations”-songs “What Am I Going To Do”
10. “Will The Real Rick Springfield Please Stand Up”-songs “Its Driving Me Crazy” and “Row Your Boat”

Disc 2-Side A
11. “Doctor Astro’”-songs “We’re Gonna Have A Good Time”
12. “Doctor Daguerrotype”-songs “On The Other Side”
13. “Nephren”-songs “I Know That Its Magic”
14. “Modran Returns”-songs “If We Help One Another”
15. “Horse Feathers” –songs “Welcome To The Rodeo” and “Sing Me A Song”

Disc 2-Side B
16. “A Light Mystery” –songs “Starlight, Starbright”


Extras

Disc 1- None

Disc 2- Spotlight Interview with Lou Scheimer (03:28)
Spotlight Interview with Erika Scheimer (04:48)
Documentary-Magic Of Filmation (32:36)
Model Sheet (2 pictures)
Cel Gallery (3 pictures)
DVD Rom-Scripts to all 16 episodes in PDF format

Verdict

A well written animated series that I really liked. And if you a Rick Springfield fan, then it’s the best of both worlds! A very good choice for your collection!



Rating: *****!

DINOSAURS-SEASONS 3 & 4 TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Disney about Dinosaurs Seasons3 and Season 4: The brainosauraus of Jim Henson, the award-winning comedy series brings state-of-the-art puppetry and audio animatronics to the screen-and a whole new meaning to the words “family fun”.

From 1991 to 1994 on ABC TV, a very innovative and well-written series premiered called “Dinosaurs” from the great mind of Jim Henson. The show was about a family of Dinosaurs living at home with different social issues they went through and solved. The show is almost a cross between “The Flintstones” and “The Honeymooners”! The show at the time had state of the art puppetry that was already pioneered by Henson and something sort of new to him, Audio Animatronics. It took up to three people to work the life size puppets plus the voice talent. Some of the voice talent when on to bigger things such as Jason Alexander, and Richard Picardo. The series starred the voices of Stuart Pankin as Earl Sinclair and Jessica Walter as his wife Fran. Also in the cast where Sally Struthers as their daughter Charlene, Sherman Hemsley as Earl’s boss B.P Richfield and Michael McKean doing a host of other voices. This set which is the final 2 seasons has a host of extras including audio commentaries on two episodes with the shows creators, two featurettes one called “I’m the Baby, Gotta Love Me!” and “Creatures with a Cause: The Issue of Dinosaurs” about the final episode of the series. The last 7 episodes did not air which are on the fourth disc with a few more tidbits. To watch these shows properly, watch the episode “Changing Nature” last. That episode is the final episode of the series and it is on Disc 3. I did enjoy watching this show when it was on and it is great to watch them again without any worries of commercials.

VIDEO

The film quality is great! The series has been remastered from its original negatives. Each episode runs approx 23 minutes. There is also a Play All feature on each disc.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. The DVD’s are in mono as well.

Disc 1- 1. “Nature Calls” with-Sally Kellerman, Richard Simmons*
2. “Baby Talk” with-None
3. “Network Genius” with-Jason Alexander, Richard Picardo
4. “The Discovery” with-None
5. “Little Boy Boo” with-None
6. “Germ Warfare” with-Dan Castellaneta
7. “Hungry For Love” with- Wendie Jo Sperber
8. “License To Parent” with- None
9. “Charlene’s Flatworld” with- Robert Picardo, John Glover

Disc 2- 1. “Wilderness Weekend” with-None
2. “The Son Also Rises” with-Robert Picardo
3. “Getting to Know You” with-None
4. “Green Card” with-Joe Flaherty
5. “Out Of The Frying Pan” with-Jason Alexander
6. “Steroids To Heaven” with-None
7. “Honey, I Miss The Kids” with-None
8. “Swamp Music” with-None
9. “Dirty Dancin’” with- Conchata Ferrell
10. “If You Were A Tree” with-David Warner

Disc 3- 1. “We Are Not Alone” with-Jason Alexander
2. “Charlene And Her Amazing Humans” with-Jeffrey Tambor
3. “The Clip Show II” with-Paxton Whitehead
4. “Monster Under The Bed” with-None
5. “Earl, Don’t Be A Hero” with-None
6. “The Greatest Story Ever Sold” with- Tim Curry
7. “Driving Miss Ethyl” with-None
8. “Earl’s Big Jackpot” with- Tim Curry
9. “Terrible Twos” with-John Glover
10. “Changing Nature” with-None

Disc 4-1. “Into The Woods” with-None*
2. “Scent Of A Reptile” with-None
3. “Working Girl” with-Joe Flaherty
4. “Variations On A Theme Park” with-None
5. “Life In The Faust Lane” with-Tim Curry
6. “Earl & Pearl” with-None
7. “Georgie Must Die” with-Tim Curry, Ed Asner

Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: I’m The Baby, Gotta Love Me (05:46)
Creatures With A Cause-The Issue Of Dinosaurs (09:19)

Verdict

One of the best family series to come out of the 90’s. Disney has done a great job with this set and I would wholeheartedly recommend this set to buy!

Rating; *****!

VISIONS OF SCOTLAND-DOCUMENTARY DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Visions Of Scotland- A Stunning tour of its ancient cities and heather-clad hills! See bonny Scotland, as you never could, even on the most lavish tour.

The newest documentary in the “Visions Of” series is the “Visions Of Scotland”! I have a personal interest in this particular view of Scotland. My grandmother was born at the turn of the last century (1907 to be exact) in a small fishing village call Lossiemouth at the upper tip of Scotland. I have never been there but my Father-In Law went there and sent back pictures. Scotland is rich with history and it castles and this program sure shows that! Again filmed by Roy Hammond, the views and countryside is absolutely breathtaking!! This disc like the one on England has bonus footage as well. In fact, it has 6 more minutes of footage than the other one. Acorn Media has done a wonderful job with the packaging and DVD authoring of these discs.

VIDEO

The video quality is fantastic! The documentary is done on videotape but is stunning! Excellent quality. The documentary runs approx 88 mins


Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also Mono on this set.

Disc 1- 1. Opening, Selkirk, Edinburgh
2. Dunfermline, St. Andrews, Perth, Dundee
3. Scone Palace, Grampian Mountains
4. Highlands, Loch Ness, Inverness
5. Craoghhaven, Isle of Mull, Oban
6. Inveraray, Loch Lomond, Stirling
7. Doune, Glasgow
8. Central Valley
9. Credits

Extras

Disc 1: Bonus footage not shown on TV (25:16)

Verdict

I really loved this program! Buying this program would perfectly book end the Visions of England and make a great gift for any anglophile! Fantastic!


Rating; *****!

VISIONS OF ENGLAND-DOCUMENTARY DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Visions Of England- See the natural beauty and man-made wonders of England from a stunning vantage point! A helicopter-mounted camera surveys this land of history and mysteries, literature and fairy tales, castles and conquerors.

I had first seen this documentary on PBS a year or two ago and was totally mesmerized and in awe of this aerial view of England! It is a wonderful idea and job that photographer Roy Hammond did with simply filming from the underbelly of a helicopter and pointing out the countryside and cites of England while being wonderfully narrated by Franca Barchiesi. What I personally enjoy about the program is its eclectic soundtrack and with easy, nice pans and swoops over the countryside that many places in England you would never see. The disc also has 19 minutes of bonus footage not seen on TV which gives you even more depth to this country. It is also filmed in Widescreen that gives you a movie theater feel.

VIDEO

The video quality is stunning! The documentary is done on video but looks fabulous! It is also in Widescreen. The documentary runs approx with bonus footage 94 minutes.


Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also Mono on this disc.

Disc 1- 1. Opening, Dover, Martello Tower, Town of Battle, Bodiam Castle

2. Eastbourne, Palace Pier, Royal Pavilion, Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House, Southampton, Salisbury Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral, Stonehenge

3. Stourhead, Uffington White Horse, Hadrian’s Wall, Fountains Abbey, Bempton Cliffs, Flamborough Lighthouse, Hunber Bridge, York, Castle Howard

4. Blackpool, Liverpool, Queen Square, Severn Road Bridge, Exmoor National Park, Dunster Castle, Cheddar, Wells Cathedral, Bath

5. Newmarket, Cotswolds, Cambridge, Kings College, Stratford-upon-Avon, Royal Shakespeare Theater, Blenheim Palace, Oxford, London

6. Thames River, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Marble Arch, British Museum, Admiralty Arch, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Baker Street

7. Price Albert Memorial, Royal Albert Hall, Covent Garden, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Kew Gardens, Regent’s Park, Tower Bridge, Tower Of London, Globe Theatre, Westminster Abbey, Harrods

8. Royal Naval College, Royal Observatory, Thames Flood Barrier, Canterbury, Channel Tunnel

9. Credits



Extras

Disc 1: 19 minutes of bonus footage that was not shown on PBS.

Verdict

What a wonderful DVD this is! I cannot say enough about this program. Please buy and experience the other DVDs in the “Visions Of” series. You’ll be glad you did!


Rating; *****!