THE EXORCIST (Blu-ray)

Written by Senora Bicho

I love scary movies, intense, nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat, scary movies. Most today do not live up to my definition; they involve lots of blood, gore, and torture but little suspense. The Exorcist is arguably the standard to which all truly frightening movies must live up to.

Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is an actress raising her 12-year-old daughter Regan (Linda Blair) with an absent father. It is evident from the start that mother and daughter are very close and share a loving relationship. Regan is a very happy and normal young girl. Due to the close nature of their relationship, Chris notices immediately when Regan's behavior changes. What starts with seizures and possible physical ailments turns into something much more disturbing and psychological. Doctors prescribe medication and therapy but nothing is working and while the behavior intensifies Regan must be isolated and locked in her room.

Chris comes to believe that Regan is possessed and her only solution is an exorcism. She meets with Father Karras (Jason Miller), a priest and psychologist who has started to doubt his faith while dealing with the guilt of his mother's death. He reluctantly agrees to meet Regan but eventually comes to the same conclusion. He convinces the church to bring in Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow) to perform an exorcism which results in the ultimate battle between good and evil.

The new two-disc Blu-ray collection includes the Extended Director's Cut from 2000 and the original theatrical cut. There isn't anything particularly noteworthy with the extra material except for the spider-walking scene. While they were able to improve the scene with new technology, it still feels out of place and over the top. The extended cut disc offers a new documentary broken into three parts: "Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist", "The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown Then and Now" and "Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of the Exorcist". There is also a new commentary by director William Friedkin, which is one of the rare commentaries worth listening to because he provides interesting insights and background information heightening the meaning of scenes and the film overall.

The Original Theatrical Version disc includes an introduction by Friedken and separate commentaries by Friedkin and by William Peter Blatty, who adapted his novel for the screenplay. There is also a 1998 documentary, interview gallery, and original ending.

The Blu-ray comes in a digibook and has been given a 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer displayed with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio that is hit or miss. The print looks good but suffers from intermittent artifacts appearing throughout. The image shows the expected softness of its age but still offers good details. The level of grain rises to distracting levels at times, such as a scene with Father Karras and Chris walking together. Colors are strong. Blacks aren't as consistent and suffer from occasional crush.

The EDC has a DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 surround track and the OTC has a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. There is good ambiance coming from the surrounds and the Devil makes good use of the subwoofer. Objects are positioned well and can be heard moving through the soundfield. While the enhanced subtle sound effects are amazing and really add to the creepiness of the film, intense scenes that should draw the viewer deeper into the action do just the opposite. Those scenes are so much louder that they actually threw me out of the story. They feel less believable because the effects are so aggressive they become unrealistic, in part, because they don't balance well with the dialogue, which gets buried at times.

While The Exorcist still offers thrills and chills, this Blu-ray package isn’t the best showcase as the Extended Director's Cut is unnecessary and the move to high definition is problematic in some areas.

Phineas and Ferb: Very Perry Christmas

Written by Fantasma el Rey

It's Christmas come early with Phineas And Ferb: A Very Perry Christmas now available on DVD. Phineas And Ferb is a cartoon series that airs on the Disney Channel and by taking 2009's Christmas special and adding in other episodes that are Perry the Platypus-themed we have a very nice present that can be viewed all year round. Being jam-packed with bonus features only makes this DVD that much more of an awesome Christmas gift.

Talkative Phineas and seldom-speaking Ferb are stepbrothers who spend their summer vacation creating elaborate, imaginative, sometimes massive things and making the most of every day; the opening title sequence pretty much says it all. In the meantime their pet platypus Perry, who leads a double life as Secret Agent P, slips off to stop the Evil Dr. Doofensmirts from attempting some kind of evil scheme that always involves a “____-inator” of some sort.

All this happens each day while older sister Candice tries to bust them by getting mom to come home early and catch the boys red-handed. But she never does because somehow the day’s projects are always disposed of or neatly destroyed just as mom shows up like The Cat in the Hat. The brothers also somehow manage to get their neighborhood friends involved in the fun and adventure as well. Each episode usually features a catchy song or three with clever lyrics that describe what’s going on that day.

“That’s what the whole show is about” you say? Yes, yes it is. But creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, along with their team of writers and contributors, manage to make each episode funny, smart, and entertaining. The Disney Channel usually runs two episodes back to back.

With A Very Perry Christmas we have five episodes, one being the 34-minute holiday special “Phineas And Ferb’s Christmas Vacation.” In it, Agent P must stop Dr. Doof’s evil plot to make the whole city of Danville seem naughty so Santa will pass them by. But that plan backfires, as always, and the boys with help from two of Santa’s elves bring Christmas to the city. The boys even get to meet their hero, Santa Claus, by building him a massive rest area on top of their house Thrown into the usual formula fun are snow- and winter-based projects which include giant flying snowball angels, bed sleds, massive snowmen, the city decorated by wonderful gizmos and much more (just listen to the special reworked title song). Oh, and lets not forget Santa’s rest stop. Plus we can view our lovable friends all bundled up, singing songs with holiday tones and we get to see the gang open their gifts on Christmas day.

The other four, as mentioned above, are Perry themed. “Interview With A Platypus” has the boys making a device to translate what Perry is thinking. “Oh, There You Are Perry” finds Perry or rather Agent P, temporarily reassigned to a new evil genius. “Chez Platypus” has the boys build a trendy Platypus-themed restaurant. And “Perry Lays An Egg,” has the boys and Candice mistakenly believing that Perry has laid an egg.

The bonus features are very cool and include "Dr. D’s Jukebox-Inator;" which lets you cut to one of the Christmas songs; "Christmas Perry-oki" where you can play the movie and follow the bouncing Perry during songs; and a behind-the-scenes look at how the creators write a song. The highlights have to be bonus episode “Doof Side Of The Moon;” letters to Santa where Old St. Nick reveals what Phin, Ferb, and friends have asked for; and “Phineas And Ferb’s Virtual Fireplace. That’s right a new twist on the TV Yule log with a half an hour of an animated fireplace with the cartoons characters popping in from time to time to spread some Christmas cheer and laughter

A Very Perry Christmas is true joy for those who love the show and enjoy its wit, animation, and creatively simple songs. It has wonderful appeal for fans young and old.

Article first published as DVD Review: Phineas & Ferb: Very Perry Christmas on Blogcritics.

Family Guy: Partial Terms of Endearment

Written by Pirata Hermosa

Finally, the episode too controversial for television is released on DVD. If you know anything about the show, you can make a pretty good guess what the story is about.

When Lois (Alex Borstein) returns to her college reunion, she runs into her former roommate she once experimented with. When Peter (Seth MacFarlane) finds out, he expects a threesome, but much to his chagrin she wants Lois to be her surrogate. Against the wishes and opinions of the rest of the family, Lois decides to go ahead with the idea. But as soon as she becomes pregnant she hears that her friend and her friend’s husband were killed in an automobile accident. That leaves her with the difficult decision of what to do with the child now that she would be responsible for taking caring of the baby. And of course, everyone in the family has an opinion. Thus starts the abortion debate.

It’s pretty obvious why this one episode isn’t allowed on network television, but compared to a lot of other things they deal with on Family Guy it seems pretty mild. And if you compare it to an episode of South Park, it’s extremely tame. Overall it’s not worth all of the hype it gets or the “Banned From TV!” headline. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from any other episode other than the fact that they deal with the abortion issue, which is always a hot topic.

The DVD only contains this one half-hour episode from the series. There are also a handful of extras and a commentary with MacFarlane and the cast.

“Seth and Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show” – A half-hour variety show that aired in 2009 with MacFarlane. There is some animation, musical numbers, and guest stars while both actors do impressions and comedy skits. It’s just okay and a little odd watching MacFarlane doing all the different voices.

“Live and Uncensored Table Read” – The cast sits in director chairs in front of an audience and does a table read of the Partial Terms episode.

“Animatic” – The storyboard presentation of the episode. It’s a very rough drawing and includes some additional jokes that were cut out or changed in the final edit.

“Family Guy Songs” – You can place the DVD into your computer and download nine songs used on the show in the MP3 format. The songs are “Drunken Irish Dad”, “The Friendship Song”, “Give Up the Toad”, “Me And Jesus”, “My Fat Baby Loves to Eat”, “Prom Night Dumpster Baby”, “You and I Are So Awfully Different”, “You Do”, and “You Have AIDS”.

If you’re a collector and have to have every episode, then you’ll most likely go out and get Partial Terms of Endearment. But if you’re just a casual viewer it’s probably a good idea to weigh the price versus getting just one episode.

Article first published as DVD Review: Family Guy - Partial Terms of Endearment on Blogcritics.

THE THIN RED LINE - The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)

Written by Musgo Del Jefe

There's something to be said about be prolific. Take Alfred Hitchcock's work for example - there are runs of three-four films over a two- to three-year span that are so brilliant that you are willing to forgive the clunkers like Torn Curtain. But there's also something rare and amazing about the director that picks his pieces carefully. Terence Malick hit the ground running in 1973 with Badlands. The well-received film set in South Dakota and middle America in the 1950s starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek has gained in respect since its release. His second film came five years later in 1978, Days Of Heaven - it was another period piece (set in 1916) in the Texas panhandle starring Richard Gere and Brooke Adams. In those five years, Malick found it easier to tell the story he imagined with less dialog and let the cinematography tell a rich story - pulling inspiration from the paintings of Edward Hopper. Malick took a mere twenty-year break before releasing his next film, The Thin Red Line in 1998 - a World War Two film based on a book by James Jones. Musgo has the pleasure of sitting down with the new Criterion Collection release of the movie on Blu-ray and taking another look at a rare work from one of his cinematic heroes.

Twenty years is a long time between films. There was plenty of time for Malick to think about life and death and moviemaking. The war film of this period in cinema was approaching the end of a arc started by Apocalypse Now to start the 1980s, peaking with Platoon in the mid-'80s and seemingly ending with the triumph of Saving Private Ryan earlier in 1998. These movies increasingly were getting away from telling the stories of the soldiers and were leaning more towards letting the war itself be the story. Malick would use the techniques he had in his previous two films to tell a story that was much more about human beings and life than about soldiers and war.

In a literal sense, the movie tells the story of Company C during the battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific during World War II. Like other movies of the genre, war films require a rather large ensemble cast and this film is no different. There are so many actors that lined up to work with Malick that he couldn't even fit all of them into the final cut. Ones that made the cut include Sean Penn, John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Adrien Brody and John Travolta. Those left on the cutting room floor include Gary Oldman, Mickey Rourke, Martin Sheen and Billy Bob Thornton. But this film isn't about military tactics or finding lost soldiers - this movie is set to shed light on higher philosophical ideals of nature and humanity.

The film starts with a shot of an alligator slipping into a swamp - blending into its surroundings like a perfect predator. It's the same way that the jungle and later the long grass of the mountains will swallow the soldiers. Nature will be a main focus of the film. This film looks wonderful on Blu-ray - the idyllic shots of long green grass against improbably blue skies jump off the screen. Nature is dangerous - there are snakes and bats and predators throughout the film, but they don't interact with the soldiers. This illustrates Malick's philosophical style. He raises questions without really delivering any answers. For some it's frustrating - for others this makes perfect sense. Is Nature evil? Is Man more evil? Or are we powerless against the force of Nature? These are all valid questions to Malick.

The other important element of The Thin Red Line is in its unique use of narration. The film is more narration than actual dialog, I believe. The narration isn't a plot device to summarize the battle, fill in story details or even to explain what we are seeing onscreen. The narration is more a combination of internal monologue as if we are watching a Shakespeare play. Or it's akin to journal entries being read while we see scenes that inspired the words.

"What is this great evil? How did it steal into the world? From what seed, what root did it spring? Who's doing this? Who's killing us? Robbing us of light and life? Mocking us with the sight of what we might have known?"

Almost all of the actors have narration. And there are many points where the voices blur together and it's almost impossible to keep track of who's words we are hearing. That creates the feeling of an "everyman" narrating the film - that what is being observed is more of a universal experience. As the Company overwhelms a Japanese encampment, the narration raises questions. But allows the viewer to ponder the answer. "What is this great evil?" That's not directed specifically at the enemy. As soldiers shoot each other, the lines are blurred. Have we become evil? And how did it happen? Most other war films have not found a way to ask these questions.

The sound design is amazing. In the essay that accompanies the disc, it is mentioned that Malick suggests you watch the film at a loud volume (it also appears in subtitles at the beginning of the disc!). I wholeheartedly agree. There is way too much going on that you would miss at normal volume levels. The island is alive with sound - natural and man made. Malick manipulates sound to establish themes and tones. Unlike a movie like Saving Private Ryan - the battles aren't a cacophony of sound. While there are some traditionally filmed battle scenes - they aren't presented in ways that you have seen them. Malick uses isolated sounds and Hans Zimmer's soaring score to emphasize emotions over action. The battles to take a machine-gun nest on the hill don't become about taking the hill - they are about loss and futility - underscored by the swelling music and the sporadic narration.

The movie is summed up for me in a pivotal scene about halfway through the almost three hours between Lt. Tall (Nick Nolte) and Captain Staros (Elias Koteas). Lt. Tall has been passed over for many promotions and he's looking to make a name for himself in this battle. Lt. Tall is not "tall" in any way - he is the shallowest man on the island - oblivious to anything but his own needs. At one point, Tall orders Staros to take the hill with a frontal assault. The orders are being relayed to him over a battlefield phone. Staros and his men are pinned down by enemy fire. Staros refuses to obey the order. The argument between the two that ensues is brilliant. As we cut back and forth - Nolte is a raging volcano - shaking with anger as he orders Staros to attack. Staros responds in a calm, reasoning manner. There are tense moments of silence as the viewer takes in the scene waiting for the next response. Lt. Tall allows Staros a reprieve as he comes up to the frontline. By the time he arrives - the situation has calmed down and there appears to be no reason that Staros couldn't have attacked. Ultimately, I see the futility of the war in this argument. Neither man wins - Tall doesn't get his shining moment and Staros eventually gets relieved of his command. Emotion and reason both lose.

In the years since the movie's release, there seems to be a renewed interest in the War in the Pacific. Ken Burn's The War focused equally on the war in both theaters - including extended attention to Guadalcanal. And the HBO series The Pacific did a great job of capturing a bit of the thematic threads of the Malick film. It was certainly informed by some of the filming decisions he made here. But this movie could easily be about any war - it aims much deeper.

While Malick is influenced by many sources - in the twenty years between films, you get the feeling he was absorbing all kinds of art that would add depth to his cinematic voice - there is a big nod to The Heart Of Darkness. It's not the Apocalypse Now take on the piece though. The title itself refers to the thin line between sanity and madness. It is truly an ensemble cast but our journey begins and ends with Private Witt played by Jim Caviezal (oddly as a very Christ-like character). We start the film in the bright idyllic Eden-like world with him among the natives. He travels through the film into the jungle and darkness. We end the film with Pvt. Witt peacefully learning to accept death as he sacrifices himself for his men. Sean Penn's character, Sgt. Welsh wonders what difference one man can make. That question lingers as the troops pull away from the island.

"Where is it that we were together? Who were you that I lived with? The brother. The friend. Darkness, light. Strife and love. Are they the workings of one mind? The features of the same face? Oh, my soul. Let me be in you now. Look out through my eyes. Look out at the things you made. All things shining."

The video is presented with a 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC encoded transfer at an aspect ratio of 2.34:1 and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track. The disc is loaded with extras including commentary from cinematographer John Toll and others from the crew. There's some great audition footage included. Plus, I'm a big fan of the newsreels of the battle of Guadalcanal. It puts the film in perspective that Malick probably didn't think would be important. An impressive movie that will prompt you on a philosophical level.

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals

Written by Hombre Divertido

Released on DVD from HBO Home Video on September 28th, Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals is more than a story of two basketball players. It is more than a story of two athletes. This is a story of two men. Two completely different types of men brought together by a game, but kept together by what is quite possibly their only similarity: passion.

Ervin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird are arguably two of the greatest basketball players ever to lace up their shoes, and each has a legacy worthy of its own documentary. This new release does an excellent job of telling both their individual stories, as well as that which will have them intertwined forever.

With narration by Liev Schreiber, the team at HBO has produced an excellent documentary that transports the audience to the streets of Michigan and Indiana so that an understanding of where the lives of these two men started, and how their lives were shaped, can be realized and appreciated.

Many credit the rivalry between Magic and Bird with revitalizing, if not downright resurrecting, the NBA. As seen in the documentary, their participation in the 1979 NCAA Championship also clearly laid the groundwork for what is now “March Madness” and one of the most popular sporting events of the year.

Yes, two great players with incredible careers, but more so, two unique men with different backgrounds and personalities, that developed a bond that remains strong today. It can easily be argued that Magic and Bird played the game of basketball with a passion and intelligence that is only rivaled by each other. Their respective basketball intelligence quotient is seen throughout their careers, while their completely different off court personas are chronicled as well.

HBO manages to tell a complete story, and that is what ultimately makes this project work. With the exception of 1992 Olympic Team experience, the documentary gives the audience the perfect amount of time on each segment of the two stars' careers and their time together. Their first real off-court experience while filming a commercial gives a wonderful account of the two men finding common ground and developing an off court respect for each other.

In the case of the Dream Team, this segment of their lives could easily fill another documentary, and though it was at the end of their respective careers, more time should have been dedicated to their time together during this experience as well as this time in their lives.

The basketball highlights are excellent here, but it is the interviews that keep this piece moving and truly bring it to life. More time with the two of them together on camera would have made this a perfect investment in time.

Recommendation: You don’t need to be a basketball fan to appreciate what these two players accomplished, who they are as people, and how they were brought together on and off the court. Great entertainment and education for the whole family.

Modern Family - The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)

Written by Pirata Hermosa

A new comedy on ABC that looks into the lives of today’s typical modern family. Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill) is the patriarch of the family and has two adult children. He lives with his new and much younger Columbian wife Gloria (Sofia Vergara) and her son Manny (Rico Rodriguez) who considers himself a modern-day Casanova

His son Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) lives with his boyfriend Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and the two have adopted a little Vietnamese girl named Lily. Mitchell feels that he is a disappointment to his father and is always trying to prove his manliness in order to impress him.

His daughter Claire (Julie Bowen) lives with her not-so-bright husband Phil (Ty Burrell) and their three children. Claire is always in a competition with her brother Mitchell since she is daddy’s favorite.

While the main theme is about having a blended family filled with all kinds of different people, it also breaks itself down into the three smaller familial groups. And even though they are all distinct with different personalities, each of those three subsets has one character that tends to be the center of the smaller group.

Manny is the catalyst for Jay and Gloria, with Manny sometimes being more of the adult than they are. In Mitchell’s group, Cameron seems to dominate with his ability to be the Jack-of-all-trades. One minute he is sensitive, the next he’s threatening to beat up a guy harassing Mitchell, another he’s Fizbo the clown or playing drums in a rock band. In the final group it’s Phil who draws all the attention. He thinks he’s the cool, hip, understanding parent as he bumbles and stumbles around looking more the fool than anything, but fortunately, he has a big heart which makes him very likeable.

Most of the time the show is shot from a perspective much like you are watching a documentary as opposed to a fixed camera angle prevalent in many sitcoms. It also breaks through the fourth wall as each of the family members does “Couch Confessionals” and speaks directly to the audience.

Each 50 GB Dual Layer Blu-ray disc comes with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and is shown woth a 1.78:1 Widescreen ratio. The biggest issue that I had was with disc three in the set. While the others were very clear and bright, disc three seemed to run a little darker than the others. Along with the slower loading speed from the formatting that all of the discs had, disc three took even longer and had to be reinserted for it to work.

Each disc has Deleted, Extended and Alternate scenes. These extras are so good that it would have been nice to see them actually inserted into the episodes on the Blu-ray to give it a little more context instead of having to watch them in a special features section.

There are also several more features that include the typical Gag Reel, discussions with the cast on what they were doing before, and the making of two specific episodes, “Family Portrait” and “Hawaii”.

For being a new show, there are quite a few celebrities in the first season. Shelly Long, Elizabeth Banks, Edward Norton, and Minnie Driver are just a few to make guest appearances. The show recently won several Emmy awards for a comedy series, and rightfully deserves every one of them as each episode has a number of laugh-out-loud moments. It is certainly a must-see event every Wednesday night.

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season (Blu-ray)

Written by Pirata Hermosa

Season three of the highly popular show featuring four nerds and one beautiful girl next door has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. This season picks up a few months after season two’s finale with the four men returning from a three-month expedition to the North Pole, their normally clean cut looks being overridden by their now mountain-man attire and unruly facial hair.

While the first two seasons introduced you to Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and their unique interactions, season three goes much further than just the immediate characterization and begins to fill in the reason behind their personalities by introducing the outside influences that make them who they are.

We are finally introduced to Sheldon’s mother, Mary (Laurie Metcalf), a devout Christian who is the antithesis of her son. Comparatively, Leonard’s overly analytical mother, Beverly (Christine Baranski) is also the opposite of her son. In a strange twist of fate, the two friends have the mother that the other one really needed.

Not only does the audience meet new family members, but they also get to meet Sheldon’s arch nemesis, Wil Wheaton. Yes, it is the same Wil Wheaton from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Not only is he playing himself, but he’s playing an evil version of himself. He shows up during two episodes, one in a card tournament with Sheldon and another in a bowling tournament. And both times he sinks to new lows by lying and tricking his way to victory, even at the cost of breaking up Penny and Leonard’s relationship.

Even though the guest stars are incredibly amazing in the show and fit in perfectly with the cast, they aren’t the only thing that makes the season work. There are also many wonderful storylines like how Sheldon and Leonard first met, Penny hurting herself in the shower and having only Sheldon to call for help, why the elevator doesn’t work, what happens when the gang comes across a Lord of the Rings replica of the One Ring, and can a computer find the perfect woman for Sheldon.

There are only three extra features on the two Blu-ray discs, and they aren’t particularly interesting. “Take-out with the Cast” is the best feature as the group sits around the set eating Chinese food and answering question from their fortune cookies. “Set Tour with Simon and Kunal” is self-explantory. The "Gag Reel” is a very typical one where they flub their lines or giggle for no apparent reason.

The Blu-ray is formatted in 1080p High Definition at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, and the audio is available in Dolby Digital 5.1. The sharpness of the picture is impressive, particularly when Howard shows up wearing his extremely absurd and colorful outfits. As with most sitcoms, the audio tracks aren’t used to their fullest, but more than once it sounded like Sheldon was knocking on my front door looking for Penny.

Every season of this show just keeps getting better and better. The cast is superb and every week there seems to be a new surprise. If you’re expecting to get anything more than just the season episodes you’ll be disappointed, but the show is good enough that it doesn’t matter that there are no decent additional features.

Glee - The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)

Written by Musgo Del Jefe

Musgo likes a good high school television show. High school is a ripe setting for emotional and dramatic storylines. We have been living in the ultimate era of TV shows that revolve around teenagers and their schools. Musgo has decided to take a deeper look at one of the biggest success stories for this genre, Glee - The Complete First Season released on Blu-ray this month. The show has not lacked for overcoverage from FOX and print media in the past year, not to mention Golden Globe awards, People's Choice awards, and even Emmy awards. With all that has been written about the show, Musgo will try to step outside the hype machine and take a look at what makes the series' ratings hum along at such a fast pace.

We've come a long way since Archie, Jughead, and Reggie were hanging out at Riverdale High School. The high school based show can encompass many different genres. The simplest solution for much of the '70s and '80s was to use high school as a medium to bring together a diverse group of teen actors. In most cases, the adults were mostly window dressing or as merely a catalyst to help the students learn a lesson. I don't think that demeans the quality of the genre. Within that setup many shows found ways to feature exciting new actors and make some really funny shows. Shows like Room 222 and Welcome Back, Kotter let the students run the show despite being nominally about the teacher.

Many of the shows that followed, would embrace the ensemble high school cast but only use the classroom and even the school setting as just a jumping off point. Shows like Head Of The Class, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, and even the Saturday morning staple Saved By The Bell used their large casts of students to tell traditional sitcom stories but also used more traditional aspects of soap opera love relationships to expand the possibilities of storylines.

At the same time, there was a parallel movement of quality teen dramas set in or around high schools. In the dramas, the casts of students either seemed to be much smaller or the stories moved quickly out of the high school. One of my favorites, James at 15, was very introspective for a teen show and addressed "real" issues in the context of a teenager's life, like his first sexual experience being more a normal event and not the type of decision that is fretted over for months like in other shows. This show and The White Shadow among others, set the bar for dramas that would incorporate more adult storylines like Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson's Creek, and My So-Called Life.

New networks like The WB and UPN positioned themselves as "teen friendly" networks. They didn't just bridge the gap between Disney shows like Even Stevens and traditional network adult fare. These networks took chances and pushed the envelope for everyone. A show like Buffy The Vampire Slayer took the high school genre and combined it with the horror genre. Alone, the horror genre, does not seem to be able to sustain a lengthy series. But mixed with a group of attractive and hilarious teenagers, the show set a new bar for shows with a high school setting. These networks pushed the bigger boys with Popular, One Tree Hill, Veronica Mars, and still today with The Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries.

NBC was the only larger network that seemed to embrace the creative freedom of mixing genres in a high school setting. They aired the groundbreaking Freaks and Geeks and have stood behind the critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights. Once again, like Buffy, FNL takes a genre that can't stand on its own - the sports-themed show - and mixes it with a healthy dose of teen drama. The show has consistently found a way to tell dramatic, real stories and work the drama around the small town football theme.

Glee debuted on Fox in May of 2009 after an episode of the most popular show of the past decade American Idol - which also happens to attract people who like singing. The show took a unique marketng strategy. Only the pilot episode aired in May. That episode was then available online through a number of sites for the rest of the summer. FOX believed that they could create a buzz through the summer and give everyone a chance to show their friends that first episode. Those initial post-Idol ratings weren't matched in September but the ratings were promising. The show aired 12 episodes before taking a hiatus and making room for a new season of American Idol. That break was just what the show needed. People were able to see episodes, the music from the show was all over retail outlets for the holidays and when it returned after Idol in April for nine more episodes, the show had become a true phenomena.

It's hard to imagine that most people don't know the basic premise of the show. It's about a group of students who form a Show Choir or Glee Club in their high school in Lima, Ohio. The group is initially formed with all of the stereotypical characters required for every high school comedy or drama - there's the jock who can sing, the "geeky" girl who no one in the school seems to realize is beautiful, the fat black girl who can sing her butt off, the overly gay male, the quiet but talented Asian girl, and a musically gifted geek in a wheelchair. The teaching staff is equally as stereotypical. The Glee group, New Directions, is led by Will "Shoe" Schuester, the Spanish teacher. His main rival is Sue Sylvester who coaches the Cheerios (the cheerleaders). For dramatic purposes, there's a bumbling but lovable gym teacher, and a potential love interest for married Will / voice of reason in Emma the guidance counselor. As the series progress through the starts and stops of Season One, it's important to look at four key moments.

"Pilot". I'm actually amazed that the series made it too far past this initial effort. If there had not been such a long break to fix some of the basic problems here - I don't know if it could have lasted a full season. As with any show that's going to have an ensemble cast of more than 10 recurring characters, introducing them is always going to be an issue. The benefit of having such broad stereotypical characters is that we don't need many clues to understand who is who in the school. The problems arise in uneven use of narrartion - the show starts to veer off into Scrubs realm or Wonder Years but not with the same insights. The music is also an issue here. The biggest lesson learned between here and the rest of the season is that they listened to what the characters are saying - Glee is about joy. They learned to have fun with the music. I found it an interesting steal from the Grey's Anatomy playbook to use a cover of Peter, Paul and Mary's "Leaving On A Jet Plane" as a musical montage at the end to show us the lessons learned. It gives us a peak at how a little creative placement of the tunes can surprise and give hope for future episodes.

"Showmance". The second episode was a very important signpost for the show. Viewers had waited all summer with just the excitement of the ending performance of "Don't Stop Believin'" from "Pilot". Now, the show had to show some direction, a plot that will carry us through a whole season and that it's not going to be a Journey-Song-Of-The-Week show (despite how much I might pray for that!). Musically, the show is a winner - with superb performances of "Gold Digger" and a hilarious "Push It" routine and later "Take A Bow". This show tells us in so many words that it's not going to take itself seriously - the music numbers are going to be a wink to the audience - the vocals are produced and the lip synching isn't always perfect but it's fun. From a story perspective, this episode doesn't tell us much more than we could have guessed. There's a couple love triangles forming - one with Rachel, Finn, and Quinn and the other that should inform the student triangle happening with Will, Emma, and Terri. The tone is lighter and more viewer friendly than "Pilot" but I still found it hard to judge what the writers were trying to get from the series yet.

"Hell-O". The 14th episode marked the return of the show after a five month hiatus. Here is where the show has found its groove. The first "half" of the season ended with "Sectionals" - the most dramatic epiode of the season - bringing to a head most of the soap opera-ish storylines. With that lead-in, "Hell-O" is a tipping point. We've reset the lives of most of the characters - the songs were as good as the season got and now you have to start up the engine again. Part of the show feels like a "here's where we are" reminder but then the show drops right back into its groove. The theme of Hell and Hello in the songs and plot are what make the remaining portion of the season so much fun. The songs aren't just pauses in the plot like they felt earlier - now they are clever choices that also mean something to the audience. In this second half of the season - there seems to be an increase in the length and number of musical perfromances which helps draw out the character development over a longer period of time. This episode sets the table for the following week's "The Power of Madonna" - the episode that would finally tip the show to being more about the music than the plot.

"Journey". The 22nd episode is the Season Finale. The show tries to get back a little to the roots of those first few episodes. We've finally reached the Regionals - whenever the show needed to refocus - it could always fall back on this quest. When it finally arrives, there's a sense of accomplishment. Comparing the "Journey" to "Pilot" is like looking at two different shows. The musical numbers are more confident and flashy - the cast understands that the show is essentially a broad musical comedy that has several dramatic plot points. I credit the writers for recalling the Journey references from the initial episode and keeping with the Glee = joy theme that has defined the show. The show tied a nice bow on the season but left themselves plenty of dramatic rope for Season Two and Three.

Glee has found a perfect little niche. They have hit upon America's love of musicals but taken out what the masses don't like about musicals - not knowing the music. They've created a mini-karaoke show where you can sing along at home but all within a fun teen drama. They address serious issues of teenage pregnancy, etc. but always with a nod to the unreality of the show. The likable cast pursues joy and that's what they give. I don't forsee that same freshness lasting more than a couple seasons but that's all you need to be so fondly remembered as some of the other high school shows of the past.

The Blu-ray disc includes all 22 episodes, commentary on the Pilot plus the usual audition pieces and meet the stars type of extras. The video is given an 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC encoded transfer (aspect ratio of 1.78:1). The audio is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. For those known as Gleeks (is anything more forced than that term?) - there's plenty of sing-along opportunities on the disc through karaoke tracks and a jukebox.

Fringe - The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray)

Written by Senora Bicho

The series finale of Lost would have left a large void in my television schedule were it not for Fringe. As the fall season gets underway it is the only show I am highly anticipating with lofty expectations. While I enjoyed the first season, the second season was outstanding and solidified their hold on me as a viewer.

The first season of Fringe followed FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), and his son Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) as they investigated cases involving strange phenomena and sought to uncover how the large global company, Massive Dynamic, fit into these events. We also learned about the existence of an alternate universe which Olivia is transported to in order to meet William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) the founder and chairman of Massive Dynamic.

Season Two is difficult to write about without giving too much away since there are big reveals throughout. It starts with Olivia being thrown from a car with no recollection of her visit to the alternate universe but with the knowledge that she must do something very important. As she tries to remember what happened, she is being hunted by a shape-shifting soldier sent by someone from the parallel reality seeking to silence her forever. Over the course of the season, the alternate universe is further explained and the team crosses over. Each of the main characters has a counterpart living in the other world and seeing how they differ creates an extra layer of intrigue. The strengthening relationship of Peter and Walter is another main storyline of the season along with the discovery of Peter's past that threatens to undo the bond that has formed between them. Peter and Olivia's romantic tension continues to tease viewers as well.

Like The X-Files, there are episodes that deal with the series' mythology and others with stories that standalone. That worked in the first season, but at this point the series is beginning to get so entrenched in its mythology with so much going on that to be able to catch an episode here or there and feel satisfied is hard to imagine. Character development, emotional connections, and relationships are more at the forefront which is what made the season so special. They have been able to find the perfect blend of science fiction and character-driven storytelling.

Along with all 22 episodes from the season, which are spread across four discs, there are many special features. Three episodes come with commentary tracks provided by the creative team, and "Peter" features John Noble and Blair Brown, moderated by TV Guide Magazine's Damian Holbrook. While the creative team commentaries are interesting, the "Peter" episode was my favorite of the season and it is wonderful to get more background, especially Nobel's thoughts since it centers on Walter's actions. "Beyond the Pattern: The Mythology of Fringe" is a comprehensive overview of the season that offers interviews of cast and crew providing additional insights. It is the perfect vehicle to prepare and excite viewers for the start of the new season. "Analyzing the Scene" provides in-depth details on the making of certain scenes from six key episodes. Also included is "Unearthed," a standalone unaired episode from season one that aired as a special during the break in season two. "In the Lab with John Noble and Prop Master Rob Smith" offers a tour of the lab set and a demonstration of some of the more notable props. There is also a gag reel and unaired scenes.

The 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer delivers a solid picture at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. Colors have rich hues and skintones are realistic and consistent. Black is prevalent in the color scheme of the series' production design, regularly appearing inky although there is minimal noise on occasion. Detail sharpness seems dictated by the source.

The audio is Dolby Digital 5.1. Dialogue is clear and balanced well with the effects and music. Together they demonstrate very good dynamics. There is very good ambiance including the rear speakers. Sounds move across the system and are positioned throughout the soundscape. The subwoofer delivers a solid contribution.

I was a huge fan of The X-Files but am an even bigger fan of Fringe as it has more heart and characters I have come to love and root for, most notably Walter. John Noble's portrayal of this quirky and flawed scientist is one of the best performances on television these days.

Season Three starts on September 23rd and after reviewing this Blu-ray collection, I am even more excited for it.

Glee - The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)

Written by Senora Bicho

It is interesting that during a time of massive cutting of liberal arts programs in many of our schools, a television show about a high school music club is enjoying great ratings and critical success even winning the Golden Globe for Best TV Series (Comedy or Musical). Glee illustrates all of the benefits and rewards that many kids will be missing out on.

The series follows a group of high school students who have come together to form a show choir. Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) takes on being the director of the club in hopes of returning the program to its old glory and helps the kids to find themselves along the way. Schuester has an uphill battle from the start in getting members, funds, and respect, especially from his nemesis, award-winning cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch).

The choir includes a wide range of students from football players and cheerleaders to outsiders trying to fit in and avoid slushy facials. Not only does "Glee" offer amazing musical numbers and lots of laughs, but there also were many serious issues addressed over the season including homosexuality, teen pregnancy, bullying, disabilities, single parents, and adoption. The guest stars gracing the screen in season one included Kristen Chenoweth, Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Neil Patrick Harris, and Molly Shannon.

All of the actors provide great performances but Lynch is the standout; she is hilarious and deservedly won the Best Actor Emmy for her role as the tough-as-nails coach. The performances, storylines, and depth of the characters would be enough to make this series special but the musical numbers put it on a whole other level. The strength of these musical numbers and the singing ability of the cast are additionally evidenced by the success of the CD releases and iTunes downloads. I have no problem admitting that I have several songs on my iPod. One of the marquee episodes was based on Madonna songs and due to its popularity Season Two will offer similar episodes featuring other music stars.

The Blu-ray set presents 22 episodes across four discs. The video is presented at 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The picture has strong colors with consistent fleshtones and rich blacks but struggles in other areas. Sharpness can be intermittent. Noise pops up as does banding and aliasing. The audio is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. As expected for a TV series, the soundtrack is front heavy. The ambiance is minimal but the surrounds and subwoofer kick into gear during the musical numbers.

In addition to all "Gleek Edition" offers over two hours of special features to the pleasure of any superfan. "Behind the Pilot: A Visual Commentary with Cast and Crew" is a Blu-ray exclusive. There is also "Deconstructing Glee with Ryan Murphy", "Unleashing The Power of Madonna", "Making of a Showstopper", "Dance Boot Camp", "Jane Lynch A to Glee", and "Meet Jane Lynch" are all featurettes highlighting different aspects of the series. "Glee Sing-Along Karaoke" and "Glee Music Jukebox" separates out the musical numbers and provides the words onscreen for audience participation. "Staying in Step with Glee" has the choreographers teaching the viewers some of the show's dance moves. "Bite their Style: Dress like Your Favorite Gleek" highlights the costume designers. "Welcome to McKinley High" stars Principal Figgins in a comprehensive introduction to the school. There are also music videos, auditions, casting sessions, video diaries, and you-don't-know lists for some of the actors.

Glee is a breath of fresh air that never fails to put a smile on my face and often a tear in my eye. It is funny, heartwarming, and tackles real relevant issues while teaching acceptance and the understanding of differences. I can't recommend this show strongly enough; it offers a little something for everyone. Season Two premieres on September 21st.

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Glee - The Complete First Season on Blogcritics.