DOCTOR WHO-NEW SERIES 1 TV DVD REVIEW

I was very skeptical when I heard that after 16 years, they were going to relaunch Doctor Who again. It was tried briefly in 1996 with the TV movie but did not take for it being too “Americanized” by critics. The BBC took the new show on and instead of being filmed in England as it always has been; it is being filmed in Cardiff, Wales! Christopher Eccleston stars as the Ninth Doctor and his companion for his adventures is Billie Piper as Rose Tyler. There are 13 episodes at 45 minutes each as opposed to the traditional 25 minutes 4 to 6 part stories. My personal favorite stories from this season are-“Dalek”, “Father’s Day”, “The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances” and The Parting of the Ways”. This set has quite a few extras such as Interviews with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper and audio commentaries on all 13 episodes by the cast and crew, Featurettes and trailers.

VIDEO

The video quality is quite good being filmed on Digibeta! Excellent quality. There is also a Play All feature for every disc.


Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also able to hear it in 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound.

Disc 1- 1. “Rose” (44:12)
2. “End of the World”-with Zoe Wanamaker (44:45)
3. “The Unquiet Dead” (44:49)

Disc 2- 1. “Aliens Of London” (45:02)
2. “World War Three” (42:57)
3. “Dalek” (45:19)

Disc 3- 1. “The Long Game”-with Simon Pegg (44:28)
2. “Father’s Day” (42:56)
3. “The Empty Child” (41:46)
4. “The Doctor Dances” (42:51)

Disc 4-1. “Boom Town” (43:19)
2. “Bad Wolf” (42:51)
3. “The Parting Of The Ways” (45:31)

Disc 5- Doctor Who Confidential-Cut Down Versions
1. “Bring Back The Doctor”-(11:56)
2. “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly”-(11:06)
3. “Tardis Tales”-(11:03)
4. “I Get A Sidekick Out of You”-(10:48)
5. “Why On Earth”-(13:03)
6. “Dalek”-(10:45)
7. “The Dark Side”-(11:29)
8. “Time Trouble”-(12:46)
9. “Special Effects”-(14:03)
10. “Weird Science” –(13:11)
11. “Unsung Heroes and Violent Death” –(12:31)
12. “The World Of Who” –(13:19)
13. “The Last Battle”-(09:32)
14. “Backstage ATC Headlights (09:18)


Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentaries on all 3 episodes on this disc
BBC Breakfast interview with Christopher Eccleston (11:43)
Destroying the Lair (03:24)
Making of Doctor Who with Russell T Davies. (15:33)
Waking the Dead- (18:09)
Laying Ghosts”-(08:24)
Launch Trailers –(02:45) pm
Storyboard of Opening Sequence (0:48)


Disc 2: Audio Commentaries on All 3 Episodes
Deconstructing Big Ben (04:51)
On Set with Billie Piper (19:03)
Trailers- (1:02)

Disc 3: Audio Commentaries on all 4 Episodes
Mike Turner’s Mocks of Balloons (05:32)

Disc 4: Audio Commentaries on all 3 Episodes
Designing Doctor Who (20:50)
The Adventures of Captain Jack (08:30)
Trailers- (02:27)

Disc 5: Backstage At Christmas: Behind The Scenes footage from the Christmas Invasion


Verdict

A very good start to the new incarnation of Doctor Who. Get it for your collection!


Rating; *****!

LOVE AMERICAN STYLE-SEASON 1 VOLUME 1 TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Paramount about “Love American Style” Season 1 Volume 1- This season One, Volume One collection boasts an unprecedented lineup of celebrity guest stars in 12 episodes on 3 discs who will keep you roaring with laughter from start to finish.

I grew up watching “Love American Style” when it was first shown briefly and then watched it when it was in syndication. The show was an anthology of comedic short stories with an ever changing cast all to do with “Love” in one way or another. In one story, which is not in this volume, is the pilot to the legendary TV series “Happy Days”! Also between stories are very quick vignettes that play like a “Laugh-In” sketch which at times, were funnier than the stories themselves! There are lots of noticeable names that graced the show as well as newcomers to the world of entertainment, such as Jane Wyatt, Estelle Winwood, Gary Lockwood, Bill Bixby, Sid Casear, Peter Palmer and Regis Philbin to name a few as well as a very young Lesley Warren and Harrison Ford! This volume is considered a “Vanilla” release meaning there are no extras except the episodes being unedited.

VIDEO

I don’t think the episodes are Digitally Remastered but the film prints are quite crisp and in very good shape. The episodes are approx 51 mins each and are shown in Airdate order.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is also in Mono. Very strong sound.


Disc 1- Episode 1 (50:56)
1. “Love and a Couple of Couples”-with Yvonne Craig
2. “Love and the Hustler”-with Flip Wilson
3. “Love and the Pill”-with Jane Wyatt

Episode 2 (50:57)
1. “Love and the Living Doll”-with Estelle Winwood and Arte Johnson
2. “Love and the Letter”-with Robert Clay
3. “Love and the Joker”-with Larry Storch
4. “Love and the Unlikely Couple”-with Barbara Rhoades

Episode 3 (50:55)
1. “Love and the Phone Booth”-with Dwayne Hickman
2. “Love and the Doorknob”-with Gary Lockwood and Stephanie Powers

Episode 4 (50:56)
1. “Love and the Legal Agreement”-with Bill Bixby and Denny Miller
2. “Love and the Militant”-with Barry Nelson
3. “Love and Who?”-with Sid Caesar

Disc 2- Episode 5 (51:55)
1. “Love and the Modern Wife”-with Bob Crane and Angelique Pettyjohn
2. “Love and the Phonies”-with Richard Deacon and Phyllis Diller
4. “Love and the Single Couple”

Episode 11 (52:02)
1. “Love and the Dating Computer”-with Broderick Crawford
2. “Love and the Busy Husband”
3. “Love and the Watchdog”-with Patsy Kelly

Episode 7 (51:54)
1. “Love and Take Me Along”-with Ozzie Harriet and Harriet Nelson
2. “Love and the Advice”-with Tina Louise and Avery Schreiber
3. “Love and the Geisha”-with Carolyn Jones and Red Buttons

Episode 13 (51:56)
1. “Love and the Burglar”-with Noel Harrison and Judy Crane
2. “Love and the Roommate”-with John Beck and Ted Bessell
3. “Love and the Wild Party”-with Peter Palmer and Robert Reed

Disc 3- Episode 14 (51:41)
1. “Love and the Big Leap”-with Rich Little and Jessica Walter
2. “Love and the Good Deal”-with Hans Conreid, Norman Fell and Jane Wyatt
3. “Love and the Former Marriage”-with Harrison Ford and Carl Betz

Episode 6 (51:54)
1. “Love and Mother”-with Morey Amsterdam and Tom Smothers
2. “Love and the Dummies”-with Scatman Crothers
3. “Love and the Athlete”-with Marty Allen
4. “Love and the Shower”-with Carl Ballentine and Joe Flynn

Episode 9 (51:54)
1. “Love and the Mountain Cabin”-with Peter Marshall, Leslie Parrish
2. “Love and the Divorce Sale”-with Andrew Prine, Lesley Warren
3. “Love and the Comedy Team”-with Jack Carter and Regis Philbin

Episode 17 (51:54)
1. “Love and the Positive Man”-with Hamilton Camp
2. “Love and the Other Love”-with David Hedison
3. “Love and the Bachelor”-with Ann Southern


Extras


Disc 1- None

Disc 2- None

Disc 3-None


Verdict

My only question is, I wonder the logic of some series being put out as full seasons or complete series and for others, volumes in between seasons. I am sure there is a very good reason for it.


Rating: ****!

DAVINCI'S INQUEST SEASON 2-TV DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Da Vinci’s Inquest Season 2: Combining the intricate realism of Law & Order with the high-tech forensics of CSI, Da Vinci’s Inquest has a social and moral resonance that makes it truly unique. In this complete season, you’ll see why Da Vinci’s Inquest has earned international acclaim and devoted fans.

The continuing stories of Dominic Davinci are in this next set of 13 episodes from the award winning series ‘Davinci’s Inquest”. In this season sees the genius of Davinci’s red light district and safe injection site for sex workers and drug addicts and other stories include a story about bodies turning up in the backyard of a senior boarding house. This series has won countless awards including the Gemini award for Best Dramatic Series for nearly all the seasons it was on the air as well as Best Performer in a Series for Nicolas Campbell. This set also includes an interview with series creator Chris Haddock and a photo gallery, a Chris Haddock Bio and Cast Filmographies.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! All discs have a Play All feature. All episodes are approx 47 minutes each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono.

Disc 1- 1. “A Cinderella Story” Pt 1
2. “A Cinderella Story” Pt 2
3. “The Hanged Man”
4. “Tommy’s on the Corner”

Disc 2- 5. “His Wife”
6. “Sister’s Light”
7. “A Nice Home in the Country”

Disc 3- 8. “Blues In A Minor”
9. “The Looking Glass”
10. “The Lottery”

Disc 4-11. “Bang Like That”
12. “Fantasy”
13. “Reality”


Extras

Disc 1: Interview with Creator Chris Haddock (05:10)
Photo Gallery (20) pictures
Chris Haddock Biography
Cast Fimographies

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: None


Verdict

One of the better crime shows from the North Country! Season 3 will hopefully be out soon.


Rating; ****!

DAVINCI'S INQUEST SEASON 1-TV DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Da Vinci’s Inquest Season 1: A richly talented ensemble cast joins award-winning actor Nicholas Campbell in this critically acclaimed crime series. With this complete first season comprising 13 thrilling episodes, you can savor the delicately nuance drama of Da Vinci’s Inquest from the very beginning.

Da vinci’s Inquest is a Canadian Drama Series in the vein of Quincy ME and CSI about a Coroner in Vancouver, British Columbia. The show stars Nicolas Campbell as Dominic Davinci, a crusading Doctor who seeks the justice in the cases that he investigated. This set includes the first 13 episodes of the series. What I like about this show is the plots and problems that they deal with and the style of the show is not your typical flashy CSI style but straight storytelling. The series ran from 1998 to 2005. Also in this set are a trailer for the series and Cast Filmographies.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! All discs have a Play All feature. All episodes are approx 47 minutes each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono.

Disc 1- 1. “Little Sister” Pt 1
2. “Little Sister” Pt 2
3. “Little Sister” Pt 3
4. “The Quality of Mercy”

Disc 2- 5. “Known to the Ministry”
6. “We All Fall Down”
7. “The Stranger Inside”

Disc 3- 8. “Gabriel”
9. “The Most Dangerous Time”
10. “The Bridge”

Disc 4-11. “Final Chapter”
12. “The Hunt”
13. “The Capture”

Extras

Disc 1: Trailer for series-(02:17)
Cast Filmographies

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: None


Verdict

Defiantly a cross between CSI and Quincy M.E. Very stylish and made before CSI. Season 2 should be just as good!


Rating; ****!

DAY ONE-TV MOVIE DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Acorn Media about Day One: This Emmy-winning historically accurate tells the complex and moving story of the Manhattan Project. Racing against the Nazi war machine and enduring intense military and political pressure, allied scientists wrestle with the challenge of creating the ultimate weapon.

Day One is a historically accurate, TV drama shown in 1989 that shows the story behind the development of the atomic bomb in WWII that was eventually used on the Japanese in 1945. This movie was based on the non-fiction book written by Peter Wyden and produced by Aaron Spelling for CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame. The movie also featured an all-star cast including Brian Dennehy, Michael Tucker, Hume Cronyn, Hal Holbrook, Barnard Hughes, David Ogden Stiers and in one of his first roles, Tony Shalhoub (Monk). This disc also includes Cast Filmographies.

VIDEO

The video quality is fair due to the original condition of the film when it was gotten by Acorn Media. Not fault of theirs! The TV Movie 140 minutes long.

Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. “Day One”-Movie

Extras

Disc 1: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Verdict

A well-done production about the Atomic Bomb. Also well acted. I would recommend it!


Rating: ****!

DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC-SURVIVAL TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from BBC Warner about Doctor Who-Survival: The Doctor takes Ace back to her hometown of Perivale, only to find that something is very, very wrong. Many of Ace’s old friends and neighbors have disappeared while domestic pets become victims of unseen killers. Will the hunter become the hunted when only the fittest survive?

Survival was the last story from the Original run of the series. Not necessary a fitting end to a series, but not a bad story either. Starring Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace, they face the Cheetah People and the last story to feature Anthony Ainley as the Master, well sort of. Ainley was not asked to return as the Master in the 1996 TV movie but was asked to film links for a new computer game called “Destiny of the Doctors”. This would be the absolute last time that he would play the Master. This 2-disc set is jam-packed full of extras! There were so much that they had to use a second disc with deleted and extended scenes, bloopers and 3 documentaries on the making of Survival and beyond with an audio commentary with McCoy, Aldred and Andrew Cartmel with an optional commentary for episode 3 by a fan who won a Dr Who competition and much more.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! The performance was done on videotape. The total story is performance is 72 minutes long.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also available in 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound.

Disc 1- 1. “Survival”-with Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Anthony Ainley (72 mins)
Part One (24:16)
Part Two (24:14)
Part Three (24:22)

Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary by Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Andrew Cartmel
Fan Commentary on Episode 3
Isolated Music
Cat Flap-Pt 1 (28:05)-Documentary
Cat Flap-Pt 2 (33:56)-Documentary
Deleted and Extended scenes (09:17)
Outtakes (16:25)
Continuities (03:04)
Photo Gallery (54) pictures
Radio Times Listing on DVD Rom
Production text notes

Disc 2: Endgame (44:18)-a what if Dr Who Continuation
Search for Science (19:19)-Children’s program
Little Girl Lost (16:33)-A look back at Ace
Destiny of the Doctors (13:49)-Anthony Ainley as the Master, one more time!



Verdict

A very nice 2-disc set to close the original series after 26 years. Another Dr Who sighting. In 1985 at a convention in Miami, Florida, I also met Anthony Ainley while he was being an MC at the costume contest there. Go out and get it!


Rating: ****!

BENNY HILL-THE COMPLETE MEGASET DVD REVIEW

A blurb from A & E Home Video about “Benny Hill-The Complete Megaset” Never aired in the US in full-length form, this complete collection of the Thames episode of The Benny Hill Show.

Ah, Benny Hill! What can I say about him…Comic Genius! The Benny Hill Show ran for 20 years from 1969 to 1989 for a total of 58 50-minute shows that were produced roughly 3 to 5 a year. He had done over 585 sketches with some of his most famous roles with the likes of Fred Scuttle, Chow Mein, A Clown and Tex Cymbal to name a few.

What is show and humor Politically Incorrect? Yes, but for its time, it was generally accepted. Toward the end of the shows run, it became not accepted and the show was eventually cancelled. In all of the sketches that he did about 5% of them was Benny chasing the women, but for the remaining 95% of the time HE was being chased or rejected by the women. That seems to be the misconception for a lot of people that he is the "Dirty Old Man". Was he a comic genius? I think so because he comedy and his timing were excellent! Some of the sketches and his humor fell flat, but so do quite a lot of the Saturday Night Live shows! Benny Hill once visited the home of Charlie Chaplin-THE comic Genius and in his TV room on a very long shelf, there were an entire row of videotapes with the words Benny Hill on them. For THE comic genius to consider Benny to be a comic genius is a high honor indeed!

This megaset includes all 58 episodes with all of the sketches and songs he did along with two documentaries about him and a rare 30 minute short called “Eddie In August” and 3 Interview shorts with the Hill’s Angels dancers reminiscing about the times on the show. For time constraints I will not be able to list every thing on every episode. What I will do is list the most well known sketches and how long each show ran. In the near future, I will list all of the sketches and songs on the show in a different section of the site.

VIDEO

The video quality is very good! All episodes are shot on videotape with filmed outdoor shots.


Audio

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

Disc 1- Show # 1-Ye Olde Wishing Well, Sound Delay Interview (52:19)
Show # 2- The Short Happy Life Of Maurice Dribble (50:58)
Show # 3-Tommy Tupper in Tupper Time (50:30)
Show # 4- The Hitchhiker, Rouge Nudist, Sound Of Frankenstein (51:26)


Disc 2- Show # 5- Underworld Water of Jacques Custard, Chow Mein (50:42)
Show # 6- A Tribute to the Lower Tidmarsh Volunteer Fire Brigade (48:17)
Show # 7- Crime Doesn’t Pay and Top of the Pops (51:22)
Show # 8- Undercover Sanitary Inspector, Revered Gray (47:56)

Disc 3- Show # 9- French For Starters, Chow Mein & Cookie (50:24)
Show # 10- Chow Mein: At Home with Henry McGee (50:22)
Show # 11- The Dimpton Drinking Club & The Great Pretender (50:08)

Disc 4- Show # 12- Pierre De Tierre, Chow Mein At Customs (50:31)
Show # 13- Undercover Nazis, Chow Mein Meets Nicolas Parsons (51:08)
Show # 14- Woodstick and Autumn Fashion Parade (50:51)
Show # 15- Christmas Booze Up and Yackanory (49:27)

Disc 5- Show # 16- Chow Mein: At Home with Henry McGee II, Jackie Wright’s Holiday (50:42)
Show # 17- The Deputy and The Dalton Abbott Railway Choir (48:33)
Show # 18- Spot Black and Band At The Park (50:16)
Show # 19- The Great British Dancing Finals (50:28)

Disc 6- Show # 20- Film Time and The Minstrel Boy (48:35)
Show # 21- Coalpits and Short Unhappy Life of Ted Tingle (48:52)

Disc 7- Show # 22- Beach of Waikiki and A Long Dry Summer (50:17)
Show # 23- The Art Of Rolf Harris and J Arthur Mein (51:19)
Show # 24- The Stamp Collector ad Tex Cymbal: Golden Boy (49:23)
Show # 25- Jack & Jill and Sports Day (50:16)

Disc 8- Show # 26-Strangers in the Night and Transistor Radio (49:57)
Show # 27-Murder on the Oregon Express (50:58)
Show # 28- Getting to know you and Supersonic (50:01)
Show # 29- Sun Awards-The New Avengers and Bionic Baby (49:09)

Disc 9- Show # 30- Villain of the Year and Scouts and Guides Fete (49:37)
Show # 31- Husky and Starch, Casanova and Deep In My Heart (49:41)

Disc 10-1 Show # 32-Digger Blue Private Eye and The Widow (51:28)
Show # 33- Telephone Exchange and Friday Night Fever (50:50)
Show # 34- Leprechaun TV and Wondergran Meets Dracula (50:33)
Show # 35- Carmen, O’Jack and The Race (49:35)

Disc 11- Show # 36- The Scarlet Pimple and Women’s Lib TV (50:53)
Show # 37- The Medieval Jester and The Fudpuckers (50:11)
Show # 38- The Tree Musketeers (51:32)


Disc 12- 1. Show # 39- Michael Caine and Wondergran Meets Dr Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde (51:13)
2. Show # 40- Channel Surfing and Undercover Sanitary Inspector (50:26)
3. Show # 41- Big Poppa and Man Wanted (50:45)

Disc 13- Show # 42- School Teacher and the Monte Carbolic Show (50:44)
Show # 43- The Video Machine and Cops & Robbers (50:38)
Show # 44- Me & My Shadow and Super Teech (50:47)

Disc 14- Show # 45- Holiday and Saucy Boy (50:09)
Show #46- Scuttlevision and Club Bizarre (51:38)
Show #47- The Vagabond and the Hot Shoe Show (50:15)

Disc 15 Show #48- School Teacher, Brand Names and the B-Team (51:06)
Show # 49- Foe Ever Love and School Mistress (51:17)
Show #50- The Weather Hut and Dibbles Health Fun (50:15)

Disc 16 Show #51- The Love Ship, The Bucket and The Handyman (50:40)
Show # 52- Living the Dream and European TV (51:12)
Show # 53- The New York Slob and Cagney and Lacy (50:53)

Disc 17- Show # 54- Brooklyn Benny and The Halitosis Kid (50:42)
Show # 55- Bronco Benny and Joggers (50:36)
Show # 56- The Birthday Party and The Crook Report (50:39)

Disc 18- Show # 57- Heroes Through the Ages Chow Mein-Home Catering (50:36)
Show 58- Pepy’s Diary, The Good Guys and Gone Fishing (50:35)


Extras

Disc 1- None

Disc 2- None

Disc 3- Documentary-Benny Hill-The World’s Favorite Clown (52:11)
Benny Hill Trivia Quiz # 1

Disc 4- None

Disc 5- None

Disc 6- Biography-A & E-Humor and Controversary-Benny Hill (45:14)
Benny Hill Trivia Games # 2

Disc 7- None

Disc 8- None

Disc 9- Rare Short-“Eddie In August” (25:07)
Benny Hill Trivia Games # 3

Disc 10- None

Disc 11- None

Disc 12- Interviews-I was a Hill’s Angel- (16:06)
Benny Hill Trivia Games # 4

Disc 13- None

Disc 14- None

Disc 15- Hills Angels-Off The Record (11:57)
Benny Hill Trivia Games # 5

Disc 16- None

Disc 17- None

Disc 18-Hill’s Angels in Conversation (10:04)
Benny Hill Trivia Games # 6

Verdict

If you are a fan of Benny Hill, you’ve got to get this set! By all means, it is well worth the price!


Rating; *****!