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Whoever writes for CSI: Miami is my hero. Who else could craft an actor David Caruso? Nobody, that’s who. With such grace he continually removes and reapplies his shades and delivers one-line zingers. It’s hard to describe the amazingness that is David Caruso. In fact, I may just let him do the explaining. And let me tell you it looks like a drive by…. Miami style. --Kelsey
This is a bittersweet time of year. Sweet, because there are lots of new episodes of great TV to watch (from Battlestar Galactica to Top Chef); bitter because for every piece of good news about renewals comes either word of a cancelation ... or, something almost as bad, silence, or a plea to "watch Show X while you can!" Last year, it was Jericho and New Amsterdam in this boat. This year, well, here's my list of shows I want to see for another season:
1. Privileged. The CW renewed Supernatural, Gossip Girl, the new 90210, even Smallville (what is this, season 20?). But there's no word yet on Privileged, starring the ever-so-charming Joanna Garcia (shades of Amy Adams). A pal of mine considers it addictive but "fast-forward" TV, meaning that she jumps through the Very Special Moments. I think it's a rich-kid show with heart, not exactly Gilmore Girls, but close enough to be worthy. Check out the season (series?) finale here.
2. Sarah Connor Chronicles. Really, you should be watching. This show continues to take the Terminator mythology into bold and very human territory, and Lena Headey (300, Imagine Me & You) has made the title role her own. She doesn't have Linda Hamilton's biceps, but her acting muscles are better-developed. Check out this episode, where Bionicles make a creepy cameo.
3. Life. I was burned out on police procedurals. Then I got a look at this show, the story of a cop imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, then freed, then unraveling the conspiracy that could have broken him. The show has dialed back the Zen-isms a bit, trading them for literal and metaphorical bullets to the heart. Check out the midseason cliff-hanger.
These aren't the only shows that appear done for. Here's one list, including The Unit and other series a lot of you are watching. What shows do you want to see more of? -- Stephanie Reid-Simons, Amazon Video On Demand
What it is: Ah, it's the inauguration of Barack Obama. Okay, here are more details. This DVD captures the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of The United States. ABC News presents highlights of the entire day's coverage anchored by Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos. While this commemorative DVD includes many highlights of the day's events, it also includes the following exclusive special features:
Barbara Walters' exclusive 11/08 interview with The Obamas
President Elect Obama's Election Night Victory Speech
Bob Woodruff exclusive January 19th interview with Michelle Obama
The Oaths of Office of the past 9 Presidents, from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush
Why it is significant: This DVD captures a defining moment in the history of the United States of America. And, if you weren't one of the lucky millions of spectators to witness this moment first hand, you can experience again and again the events of this momentous day with this historic DVD. It would be near impossible to avoid speaking of politics when speaking of, ah, politics but this inauguration for many was the actualization of the hopes for a majority of American voters. For many, Obama's inauguration was the reality that the change that many had hoped for was really happening. Watch as Barack Obama is sworn in as the first African American President of the United States.
--Craig
The new Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) movie is coming out this summer - the trailer was just released and I'm so excited to actually want to see a movie starring Adam Sandler again. It feels like it's been a really long time. --Kira
What it is: The Blu-ray version of the 1995 mini series adapted from Jane Austen's best selling novel, Pride and Prejudice. Set in the 19th century English countryside, Pride and Prejudice is a romantic comedy featuring the rebellious Elizabeth Bennet. Her independent nature threatens the future of her family as she struggles with the role that society has chosen for her (and for all women at that time). With lavish costumes, stately manors, and the beautiful English countryside; Pride and Prejudice is as much a work of art as a work of literature. Finally, fans will be rewarded with the Blu-ray version which brings the novel to life as it was meant to be seen.
Why it's significant: Arguably the best Jane Austen novel adaptation, Pride and Prejudice is not only significant because it paved the way for the Jane Austen adaptations to follow, or because it is an important historical drama, but also because it shows us that the improvements that we have always hoped for in film restoration are finally here. The Blu-ray version is not just a simple transfer to High Definition from the television show or from later DVD releases, instead technicians went back to the original 16mm film and restored it frame by frame. This painstaking process gives us the best version of Pride and Prejudice to date. In this case, a picture speaks a thousand words so see for yourself:
Blu-ray (Top) vs. Old Version (Bottom):
--Amanda
What is it: NFL Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers Champions (Amazon Exclusive) [Blu-ray] highlights all of the thrilling moments of Super Bowl XLIII and the Steelers' 2008 season from Opening Day to Super Bowl XLIII. On February 1st, 2009 the Pittsburgh Steelers became the first franchise in NFL history to win their sixth Super Bowl led by second-year head coach Mike Tomlin. NFL Films tells their story with all the season highlights, along with exclusive
sideline and locker room sound from Pittsburgh’s record-setting season in perfect HD clarity.
Why it's Significant: For the first time ever you can watch one of the most exciting Super Bowls in high definition, exclusively sold at Amazon.com. Relive all the memorable moments, from James Harrison completing the longest scoring play in Super Bowl history to Ben Roethlisberger's winning pass to Santonio Holmes. This Blu-ray is also packed with bonus content including, HD Gamecast of the 4th Quarter of Week 14 game against The Cowboys- just as it sounds, the Fox broadcast of the 4th quarter is presented in HD without commercial interruption. Celebrate all the action and get beyond the field with the Super Bowl XLIII Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Sara Lange
What it is: In 1986, Lucasfilm and Universal Pictures produced this movie, starring Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins, and, as the voice of Howard, Chip Zien. In the film, a scientific experiment unknowingly brings extraterrestrial life forms
to the Earth through a laser beam. First is the cigar smoking drake
Howard from the duck's planet. A few kids try to keep him from the
greedy scientists and help him back to his planet. But then a much less
friendly being arrives through the beam--an evil alien called the Dark Overlord of the Universe, who is intent on destroying the Earth.
Why it's significant: Believe-it-or-not, this 1986 classic has never been on DVD until now. This was another one of those First to Know™ movies that Amazon.com customers have been begging to have released for years, and now the thousands of them can feel that satisfaction...as they sit back and watch one of the creepiest doll/puppet/kids?/duck/Sci-Fi movies of all time. George Lucas has brought us a lot of weird stuff, and if Jar Jar didn't make you wonder--Howard will. I'm not gonna lie, though. I loved this movie as a kid, and it gave me and my friends nightmares. Oh Howard. How we've missed you. --Jordan
What it is: Academy Award nominee Mike Leigh, delivers the delightfully fresh and
cheerful comedy Happy-Go-Lucky. Free-spirited and effervescent, Poppy
is a schoolteacher whose unstoppable optimism guides her life. Bubbling
forth with giggles, laughter and jokes, life's a bowl of cherries even
when she comes across a few pits. Whether it's a cranky driving teacher
or a fiery flamenco instructor, Poppy embraces life on the sunny side
of the street. It's a joyous, feel-good film you'll find irresistible.
Why It's Significant:
Because Sally Hawkins won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture -Movie or Comedy this year and she was so moved by the honor that she could barely get through her speech. It was so sweet that Emma Thompson even offered to get on stage and help her. Happy-Go-Lucky is a nice change of pace, an unusually happy main character who keeps running into obstacles in life and yet seems to maintain her optimism despite it all. The film didn't get as much buzz as it may have deserved in the states while in theaters so it is worth checking out on DVD. Check out the clip below of Sally Hawkins where she reflects on what she learned from her character Poppy.
Amazon.com Review: Mike Leigh has made a career out of unusual films--who else would make a biopic about Gilbert & Sullivan?--but Happy-Go-Lucky
may be his most unusual yet: A movie about a woman who is almost
compulsively cheerful. Poppy (Sally Hawkins, star of the 2007
miniseries of Persuasion) may at first seem like the most
annoying human being alive. She can't help but try to get a smile from
someone who's ignoring her. When her bicycle gets stolen, she shrugs it
off and decides to learn how to drive, which leads her to form a
strange sparring relationship with her frustrated driving instructor,
Scott (Eddie Marsan). Meanwhile, she takes flamenco lessons, visits
with her squabbling family, tries to help a troubled boy at the school
where she teaches, and encounters a homeless man--but this bland
catalogue of events doesn't capture how Poppy's relentless optimism
acts as a rorschach test to the people around her, reflecting back
their worst or best feelings about themselves. Poppy, whose natural
impulse is to empathize, discovers she needs to draw boundaries between
herself and a world that wants to interpret her cheerfulness in
unintended ways. The result is a unique movie experience, one that
defies conventional notions of what's dramatic yet grows more absorbing
with every moment. Just as it's hard to imagine anyone liking Poppy at
the start of Happy-Go-Lucky, it's hard to imagine that anyone doesn't care about her by the movie's end. --Bret Fetzer
-Meredith
We want you to get Armchair Commentary blogs delivered right to your inbox, so here's an incentive: By signing up now (you can do it by clicking on the graphic on the right of this page, or by going here), you will be automatically entered in our E-mail digest sweepstakes. One winner will receive a selection of DVDs from the Editors' Top DVDs of 2008. They are:
1. 30 Rock: Season Two
2. Iron Man (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
3. Lost: The Complete Fourth Season
4. Dexter: The Second Season
5. Lars and the Real Girl
6. Battlestar Galactica: Season Three
7. Juno (Two-Disc Special Edition)
8. There Will Be Blood (Two-Disc Special Edition)
9. Into the Wild (Two-Disc Special Edition)
10. Spaced: The Complete Series
No purchase
necessary. Enter by 3/23/09. See official rules for details. If you have already signed up for the e-mail digest prior to this contest, all you need to do is fill out the entry form. Make sure you are using the same email address in this form as the
one you have used to subscribe to the Email Digest.
Thanks and good luck! --Ellen
What it is: The 22nd 007 film, Quantum of Solace which picks up just minutes after the death of Bond's love, Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale. Through an on-the-edge-of-your-seat, heart-racing car chase involving the Italian countryside and a beautiful Aston Martin, we are introduced to a very different, very dark Bond. Magnificently played once again by Daniel Craig, James Bond is hell bent on revenge as he tracks down the people who were responsible for Vesper's death. After capturing and interrogating, Mr. White; M and Bond make a startling discovery involving the secret organization, Quantum. This leads him to Haiti where he meets the mysterious Camille (Olga Kurylenko) whose motives for revenge are one in the same with Bond. He is ultimately forced to abandon M's (Judi Dench) orders and act on his own accord. With MI6 following his every move as he is now considered a major threat to friend and foe; the trail takes Bond to Bolivia and finally Russia where he learns the truth behind Quantum and the death of Vesper.
Why it's significant: Say goodbye to the slapstick comedy and double entendre of Bond films past and say hello to a new era in 007. Say goodbye to the infamous names like Pussy Galore, Xenia Onatopp, and Plenty O'Toole. This latest installment gives us Camille. Just plain Camille; who Bond never appears to even think about a quick romp with. Quantum of Solace continues what Casino Royale started, taking us to deeper and darker places than previous Bond films. This is mainly due to art house director Marc Forster (Monster's Ball, The Kite Runner). Daniel Craig is still as muscular and suave as ever, but he plays a Bond who emerges from a tragedy as more of an action hero (think Jason Bourne) than a man in a tuxedo with fancy gadgets. The action scenes are superb and the scenery sensational (Quantum was filmed in 6 different countries). Oh, and did I mention the Aston Martin? --Amanda
