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"THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON" DVD Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars) DVD EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Studio: Fox Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
In its seventh and final season, Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) has become an institution at WJM in Minneapolis. She still spars with the other folks in the newsroom, whether it be Ted Baxter the dim-witted anchor, Murray the talented writer, Sue Anne the spunky special interest personality or Lou Grant her boss. But all of this happens with love and laughter as she continues to throw dinner parties and face the challenges of changing management.
WHAT I LIKED
I was only six years old when “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” went off the air, but I was very much aware of it in reruns. As a kid, watching syndicated afternoon programming, I saw plenty of episodes of the classic series, but I didn’t quite understand the nuances. I was just a tween when I saw most of these episodes, so the life and times of a single woman in her 30s were pretty much lost on me.
Now as an adult, it was a real treat to revisit “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Coming in on the seventh season wasn’t hard at all, especially since I remembered the character dynamics from the shows I watched 25 years ago. But coming at it with a grown-up mind and a small dose of experience with local news and the associated personalities, I found this show to be warm, inviting and often hilarious.
Not very often do we see a show come along like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” in which every person in the main cast moved on to bigger and better things with their own shows (including “Lou Grant,” “Too Close for Comfort” and “The Love Boat”). This show manages to be sweet and fulfilling while dipping its toe into the more risqué subject matter of the time that was dealt with in many shows like “Three’s Company.”
Probably one of the biggest compliments I can pay this show is that if I were surfing on Nick at Nite and swerved into an all-night marathon, I’d probably stay on that channel until the bitter end.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The only problems that “The Mary Tyler Moore” show faced were signs of its time. It was a bit of a cheesy show, which was par for the course in the 70s. Plus, there really wasn’t a continuing arc, a convention that really only came into being for sit coms in recent years.
Also, the season finale was a bit abrupt with everything happening in that short 25-minute time frame of the episode. For as big of a show as this was, they could have eased us into it a little better. But that criticism is falling on deaf ears, more than 30 years in the past.
DVD FEATURES
No special features are on these discs, which is not surprising for a 1970s sit com in its seventh season.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Fans of quality 70s television.
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"HUMAN TARGET: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars) DVD EXPERIENCE: *** (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Available on DVD September 21 HumanTargetDVD.com Studio: Warner Bros. Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Based on the lesser-known DC comic series, “Human Target” tells the story of the mysterious Christopher Chance, a former assassin who is now in the business of helping people who can’t help themselves. Partnering with a former detective and a brilliant computer hacker, Chance works freelance, putting himself in harm’s way in order to save his own clients.
WHAT I LIKED
I’ll have to admit that I was a bit reluctant to watch this show. First, it just seemed like a really low-brow hard sell as a big, dumb, explosive show. Second, it came highly recommended by someone whose tastes I do not always agree with, especially for the aforementioned big, dumb, explosive shows. However, after getting a chance to see this first season on Blu-ray, I can say that I am looking forward to season two when it premieres in November, and it now has time reserved on my DVR.
There are two main reasons why “Human Target” works. First, it has probably the best production value I’ve seen in a weekly television series. Many shows strive for a feature film look each week, but “Human Target” manages to achieve it. From the slick cinematography to the fantastic action to the ultra-cool production design, this show is not overblown but rather looks effortless. While it’s not really a spy show, the closest comparison I can make is this being a James Bond movie each week.
The second reason “Human Target” is great is because of the cast. Mark Valley is a special actor, playing the extremely good looking action hero but also having a strong dose of self-deprecation. He’s not as arrogant as Jeffrey Donovan comes across in “Burn Notice,” and he’s more warm and inviting than the entire cast of “Hawaii Five-0.”
Supporting Valley is Chi McBride, who has shown a brilliance as a similar (albeit less action-oriented) supporting role in “Pushing Daisies,” as well as Jackie Earle Haley as the laid-back techno-whiz behind the scenes. All three have great chemistry and just make this show a hell of a lot of fun.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The only reservation I have about this show is that it could soon end up folding back upon itself if it gets too much into its own mythology. There’s a nice teaser throughout the season about someone that Chance failed to protect, and that’s delved into quite a bit in the season finale. I like to have some backstory to my television characters, but stories like these have a tendency to get overly angsty as the characters dwell upon the loss more than just bringing a great show each week.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The first season Blu-ray comes with enhanced audio mixes and a commentary on the pilot by stars Mark Valley and Chi McBride as well as producers Jonathan E. Steinberg and Peter Johnson. There’s also some deleted scenes and two featurettes: “Human Target: Confidential Information” which discusses bringing the comic book to life and “Human Target: Full Contact Television” which focuses on the action of the series.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Fans of action movies, but want to see one made well for TV.
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"THE MENTALIST: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars) DVD EXPERIENCE: **1/2 (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Available on DVD September 21 TheMentalistDVD.com Studio: Warner Bros. Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Former mentalist Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) continues to use his powers of perception and persuasion to aid the California Bureau of Investigation to solve murders and other crimes. All the while, Jane continues to search for the serial killer Red John, who murdered his wife and daughter. In this season, Jane gets the closest he has ever come to Red John, putting a new friend in harm’s way.
WHAT I LIKED
I’m not wild about police procedurals, which is why I have never gotten into the dozens of shows that have been produced over the years. Nothing against “Law and Order” or “CSI,” but your standard detective story about people solving a crime is just something that’s been done to death, if you’ll pardon the pun. However, if a procedural can inject something unique or at least a little different into the mix, I can really get into the show.
“The Mentalist” does exactly that. Set to the backdrop of a relatively standard police procedural, the show adds the wild card of Patrick Jane, who can think circles around everyone on the team... and most often the criminals as well. Simon Baker is brilliant in the role, bringing a level of empathy to the role that you don’t often see on television. You really get behind him, even when he’s manipulating the system for his own gains.
This season played out better than the first, in which I had guessed the killer in almost every episode before the first commercial break. Here, the writing isn’t as formulaic, and when the show delves into the background and mythology of the characters – that is to say when we get closer to Red John – it just makes things more interesting.
Plus, there are some nice developments in the other characters, mainly with the relationship between Rigsby and Van Pelt and the introduction of a new commander for the unit.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The biggest strength to “The Mentalist” is also its biggest weakness at times. When Jane takes a secondary role, I quickly lose interest. I understand the desire to develop the other characters in the show, but this works against “The Mentalist” because Baker’s portrayal of Jane is so deliciously necessary to the series’ dynamic.
Oh, and there might be a bear trap the writers set which I am seeing from a mile away. I can’t say anything more, but it is about Red John, and when they finally reveal that killer’s real identity, I’ll let you know if I actually am the smartest person in the room.
DVD FEATURES
The special features to this and the first season of “The Mentalist” are much like the show itself. They’re pretty standard in what they present, but they also offer some really clever elements that you don’t see elsewhere. The standard features include ‘Lost Evidence” (which is Mentalist-speak for deleted scenes) on five episodes.
To help shake things up, there are two decent sized spots that feature real-life mentalist Luke Jermay. In “Mentalism: A Subliminal Art,” Jermay demonstrates his techniques and how he uses subliminal messages and the power of suggestion to control people. “The Art of the Mentalist with Chris Long” features executive producer Chris Long chats with Jermay to deconstruct the season two premiere.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who like a wild card factor in their police procedurals.
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"DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON" DVD Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: *1/2 (out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: **1/2 (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Studio: ABC Studios Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The housewives of Wisteria Lane are back for a sixth season, and they’re drawing new blood. The new family on the block is the Bolens, who have a mysterious past that puts everyone in the neighborhood in danger. Mike and Susan are together again, but that doesn’t stop them from facing the dangers of Katherine’s wrath and strippers in the mix. Finally, as a plane crash changes the dynamic of the neighborhood forever, we find out new secrets about Bree’s dead husband’s past as well as a new danger that puts the Scavos in real jeopardy.
WHAT I LIKED
As I sit here to reflect upon the entire series of “Desperate Housewives,” I cannot call myself a fan. However, I have respect for the significant impact this show has made on the television landscape. Six years ago, along with “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives” was partly responsible for saving hour-long dramatic television, which was fading away in the shadow of reality TV. Me and the other people out there who do not like the show often forget that, so “Desperate Housewives” has my thanks for that.
The series continues to push the buttons of its die-hard fans, so its definitely doing something right. People have fallen in love with these characters and, for better or for worse, Marc Cherry and his team are keeping them alive and kicking.
I will also give Cherry credit for delivering a mid-season finale with a real punch (even if the outcome was a bit standard for him). I may not find his shows brilliant, but they definitely do what needs to be done to keep the fans invigorated.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The real charm of the first two seasons of “Desperate Housewives” was the smarminess of the characters. I loved how decadent they were and how fun it was to watch them be terrible to each other. This element is continued through the show even into the sixth season, but it’s inappropriately balanced with too much heart. Lynette Scavo is an awful person and a terrible mom, but the show continually tries to remind us that she’s a great mom. Similarly, Gabrielle Solis is a self-centered, egotistical, pretentious and snobby woman. So when the show tries to portray her as just another housewife trying to get along, I have a real problem with that.
I wish the show would got back to its roots in a more “Married... with Children” or “Seinfeld” feel, in which we enjoy watching the wretchedness of the characters.
The other real problem I have with the show is the overdone introduction of a new housewife on Wisteria Lane. This season, the Bolens embody almost offensive New York stereotypes and exhibit a questionable morality that seems to be championed by the series. They’re not bad enough people to be villains, but they’re not good enough to get me to root for them.
Oh, and don’t get me started on the storylines about taking people in. Whether they’re strippers in need or budding serial killers, these elements are more ridiculous than even this show’s premise will allow.
DVD FEATURES
In its sixth season, there are still some decent special features. Standard elements include a blooper reel and deleted scenes. Like previous season, Marc Cherry picks his favorite scenes in “Cherry-Picked” and offers a commentary on them. There’s another feature called “Master Class” which profiles the actors and how they hone their art for the show. Finally, the best feature is “Miss Piggy Gets Desperate” which brings the famous Muppet along with Pepe the Prawn Shrimp to Wisteria Lane to get a part in the show.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
The same people who loved seasons one through five.
