TV Series on Blu-Ray/DVD for Christmas

Since there is only a few days before Christmas and the year is about to end, there are a few noteworthy TV series (to me at least) being released on blu-ray/dvd that might just make it to some lucky person's Christmas stocking. The first is 'The Strain' a series shown on the FX channel from Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan based on a series of novels written by them. I'm not going to delve too much into the story except to say that it deals with a diverse group of people who have banded together to fight an ancient evil and a plague that transforms those infected into zombie/vampire like creatures. Although the story may seem cliche but the series is very well written and addictive. As mentioned earlier, this series has been released on blu-ray earlier this month and would make a great gift for someone who's a horror drama fan. Actually, I can't wait for Del Toro's upcoming gothic horror movie 'Crimson Peak' which will be shown somewhere around Halloween next year.

However, I was a little disappointed to learn that the first season of another TV series 'Salem' from WGN America (which has been renewed for a second season) will only be released as a MOD (Manufactured on Demand) product using DVD-Rs. It is a shame that sometimes shows being produced by small/obscure channels are given a shabby treatment when it comes to being released on home video. Perhaps if response is encouraging, the series might be released later on proper dvds with some special features (at this point, don't keep your fingers crossed for a blu-ray release).

Another series which is being released on blu-ray on the 23rd of this month (which is pretty late for a Christmas release) is the new Syfy series 'Dominion'. Lately, Syfy has been releasing a slew of new series e.g. Defiance, Z Nation, Continuum etc in an attempt to revamp the channel (the latest being the 3 part series Ascension). Although I have always avoided Syfy for some unfathomable reason, I decided to give their new series 'Helix' a try due to the positive reviews it was getting. The series, which is about a team of CDC scientists sent to the Artic to investigate a possible disease outbreak in a high tech lab, was above Syfy's usual standards. The series had a dark but well written story, a great cast and high production values. Encouraged by this series, I was curious about another new series from Syfy 'Dominion' because I heard it was a (TV series) sequel to the 2010 movie 'Legion' which starred Paul Bettany. Although the movie had received mixed reviews, I have always liked the movie but then I have always been fond of films about fallen/warring angels ever since 'The Prophecy' films with Christopher Walken and Eric Stoltz in the 1990s. Besides, I heard that Australian actor Christopher Egan (last seen in the TV series Kings and the indie movie Crush) and British actor Tom Wisdom (from the original movie 300) was involved in it so it had to be good right? After watching a few episodes, I found Vaun Wilmott's (Sons of Anarchy) writing to be surprisingly good and the series highly watchable thanks to a great cast and some decent special effects which makes its blu-ray release an anticipated item on my watchlist. The series (first season comprises of only 8 episodes) has already been renewed by Syfy for a second season of 13 episodes.

Lastly, I would like to mention that the first season of the Hallmark TV series, When Calls The Heart, has also been released on dvd (no blu-ray release). This excellent series from Michael Landon Jr, was previously released on individual dvds of 2 episodes each but late last month Millennium Entertainment decided to release the first season of this series in one complete dvd boxset which also includes the (pilot) tv movie. I have no gripes regarding the boxset since it includes English subtitles, extended scenes and even some special features except that all the 12 episodes are crammed on 3 double sided discs (the fourth disc contains the 2013 tv movie). But for less than $20 ( I bought it from Amazon at 50% off), I guess 'dual discs' are to be expected although I still find handling them to be confusing and tricky. Most of the time, I avoid buying 'dual discs' unless the price is really cheap or I'm unable to find the material on another format. In this case, the boxset is much cheaper than the individual dvds. However, the boxset which comes in a digipak and attractive slipcover, will still make a perfect Christmas gift for someone who loves romance and period dramas (e.g. Little House on The Prairie).

Above are only some of my favourite blu-rays/dvds being released in November/December for Christmas (?). As said earlier, I hope some of them might end up in some lucky person's Christmas stocking :). If you plan to buy any stocking stuffers for pre-teen/teen girls, you can also check out my other post Christmas Gift Ideas for Pre-Teen/ Teen Girls  dated 5th December 2014.

Addendum (4th May 2024) : If you are thinking of treating yourself to some quality horror drama in 2024, you can do no wrong with Guillermo Del Toro, Carlton Cuse and Chuck Hogan's TV series 'The Strain' which lasted four seasons. Even after a decade, I still think it is one of the best horror series to grace the small screen and if you're interested in revisiting this series or wish to watch it for the first time, I have provided the links below to Amazon and Amazon Prime. Unfortunately, the series did not get a proper blu-ray release in the US with 20th Century Fox releasing the blu-ray for the first and second seasons only. However, the complete series is available on DVD. 

The Strain Amazon Prime (paid link)

The Strain Season 1 Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

The Strain Complete Series DVD Amazon US (paid link)

For fans of movies like Legion (2010) and The Prophecy Series (1995-2005) which deals with angel mythologies, you can try Syfy's Dominion (2014-2015) which lasted two seasons. The links are below.

Dominion Amazon Prime (paid link)

Dominion S1 Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

  

Dominion S2 Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

Kingsman : The Secret Service

            

(Trailer Courtesy of 20th Century Studios)

Since it is nearing Christmas and I have some spare time before the holidays, I wish to highlight  a particular (British) movie that will air in the UK somewhere around January 2015, Kingsman : The Secret Service. The movie which will be directed by Matthew Vaughn (who dropped out from directing X-Men: Days of Future Past) stars Colin Firth, Samuel L Jackson, Michael Caine and a bunch of other diverse actors (Elton John, Lady Gaga & Luke Skywalker?). Adapted from an actual comic book by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar and produced by Marv Films (not Marvel), it depicts a veteran agent who initiates a young recruit into a new world of espionage and introduces him to a top secret and exclusive agency. Not unlike 'Men in Black' or 'The Avengers' I really liked the fun premise of the movie which promises to be entertaining and the fact that Samuel L Jackson is always an interesting (if somewhat deranged) villain. Besides, I have always been a fan of Colin Firth since Pride & Prejudice/Bridget Jones Diary and here he is playing a deadpan and serious veteran secret agent so what's not to like right?

Addendum (30th May 2024) : For further information and trailers on the Kingsman Franchise, you can check out the links below. 

Kingsman Franchise Timeline (ScreenRant)

Guide to Kingsman Movies (Odeon.co.uk)

All three movies Kingsman : The Secret Service (2014), Kingsman : The Golden Circle (2017) and The King's Man (2021) are available on blu-ray and Amazon Prime. Links are provided below.

Kingsman 2 Movie Collection Blu-Ray (Amazon US) (paid link)

The King's Man Blu-Ray (Amazon US) (paid link)

Kingsman Secret Service (Amazon Prime) (paid link)

Kingsman Golden Circle (Amazon Prime) (paid link)

The King's Man (Amazon Prime) (paid link)

Christmas Gift Ideas (for Pre-teen/Teen Girls)

Well it's that time of the year again and I'm sure after the recent Black Friday Deals and ongoing Year End Sales, many of us have gotten Christmas gifts for our loved ones but for those who haven't, there is still time :). Lately, I was hard pressed to find some gifts suitable for pre-teen/teen girls. My Christmas list usually consists of dvds, blu-rays or books because they're budget friendly compared to tech gifts like smartphones, playstations etc and because I truly believe they make great gifts since movies & books are truly food for the mind and soul (not video games). Anyway, back to my original problem which is finding suitable gifts for pre-teen/teen girls. After browsing online for some good Black Friday Deals (yes, I'm actually getting a little too old and tired for frenzied shopping trips to the mall), I managed to spot some good books suitable for pre-teen/teen girls which are not too racy but still interesting enough. A favorite among teen girls at the moment is The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices) which is a collection of short stories based on a fan favorite character from The Mortal Instruments, flamboyant warlock Magnus Bane. And for those who already have all her books from The Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices series, why not try the manga/graphic novel version of  The Infernal Devices (Volumes 1-3) from Yen Press. In my humble opinion, you can never go wrong with graphic novels, mangas and comics which are undeniably a hit not only with kids and teens but many adults as well.

 

Another author to look out for is Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods/Witches of East End). The first season of Witches of East End, which was adapted into a popular TV series by the Lifetime Channel, is already out on dvd. You might consider buying the dvds as a gift if she already owns the book series or the always popular Blue Bloods vampire series which consist of 7 novels. Another alternative would be the Blue Bloods graphic novel adapted by Robert Venditti and artist Alina Urusov. The artwork for this graphic novel is truly exceptional but the downside is the publisher, Disney Hyperion , doesn't seem interested in releasing the graphic novels for the other remaining 6 novels in the Blue Blood series which is the continuation of the story unlike Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series which is being published by Razorbill.

 

If you think that Gail Carriger's Soulless series (please refer to my older post) is a little racy and meant for older teens, you might want to get her new Finishing School series for younger readers. The latest and third book in this series, Waistcoats & Weaponry, was just released early last month. The story concerns a young Victorian lady sent to a girl's finishing school who discovers that the school (in a floating airship) is actually a front for a school that teaches espionage skills instead. As usual, you can expect steampunk adventure/mystery (involving werewolves & vampires) and Carriger's trademark humor.

Another perennial favorite among teens (boys and girls) is author Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson). Among his latest novels to be adapted into graphic novels are The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles) and Heroes of Olympus : The Lost Hero. The other graphic novel which I picked up accidentally in a bookstore but still an excellent (but often overlooked) choice is Chris Wooding's Pandemonium by Scholastic's Graphix. This 'Prisoner of Zenda 'like tale set in the Darkling Realm is both a humorous and interesting read.

If you're thinking of getting blu-rays/dvds instead, you might consider the post-apocalyptic teen drama, The 100, which is a new TV series from The CW. The first season, which is adapted from a book by Kass Morgan, is already available on blu-ray/ dvd. Believe me, most teen girls would prefer Vampire Diaries but why not try something different. I was also surprised to see that Shout Factory has released a dvd for the animated motion comic 'Eternals' under the Marvel Knights series from author Neil Gaiman and artist John Romita Jr. I have been a long time fan of Jack Kirby's original comics so seeing this on dvd is such great news although I heard that the characters/story has been changed somewhat for modern times.

                                            

             

        

            

(Trailer Courtesy of Shout! Studios)

Lastly, I thought it was worth mentioning (as a long time fan of the author) that Yen Press has released the graphic novel for Anne Rice's The Wolf Gift last month. However, I believe that this graphic novel as with Anne Rice's other novels are more suitable for older teens and adults. 

Above is just a few ideas that I spotted online but it is not an exhaustive list. A lot depends on her interest/hobbies and she might prefer other genres of books/movies. As you probably noticed, I have a fondness for graphic novels, comics and mangas. Too often I have seen parents/adults discouraging kids/teens from buying them in bookstores but what they failed to realize is that some of them are of very high quality, well written and beautifully illustrated. They are stepping stones for the child (especially reluctant/slow readers) to progress to books and novels. Some very creative writers and talented artist are themselves fans of comics. Lots of films and TV series have been adapted from comics and Japanese mangas. I remember a time, as a kid, when I read Marvel/DC comics which adults coined as 'rubbish' literature. Now, these comics have become valuable collector's items and adults themselves are  flocking to cinemas to see the latest Marvel movies. I believe as an adult we should always allow kids freedom to choose their literature (as long as they are age appropriate and do not contain any harmful content). When we try to control their reading and limit it to our tastes, we are actually killing their budding interest in reading. Just my 2 cents. I have another post on 22nd December 2014 for those who interested in purchasing high quality TV Series on Blu-Rays or DVDs as Christmas gifts for adults who are TV addicts like me :) . The link to the post is here TV Series on Blu-Ray/DVD for Christmas.

Addendum (6th May 2024) :

I wrote this post on 6th December 2014 (nearly a decade ago) when my niece was just fourteen years old. It was near Christmas and I ended up purchasing most (if not all) of the items above for her as gifts. She has since outgrew them but if you have any teen girls in your family that might be interested in the above items, I have provided the links below.

Bane Chronicles Paperback Amazon US (paid link)

Infernal Devices Trilogy Manga Yen Press

Witches of East End Book 1 Amazon US (paid link)

Witches of East End Amazon Prime (paid link)

Witches of East End Season 1 DVD Amazon US (paid link)

Witches of East End Season 2 DVD Amazon US (paid link)

Blue Bloods 3 Books Boxset Amazon US (paid link)

Blue Bloods Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

Vampire Academy 6 Books Boxset Amazon US (paid link)

Vampire Academy Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

Frostbite (Vampire Academy) Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

Etiquette & Espionage Paperback Amazon US (paid link)

Curtsies & Conspiracies Paperback Amazon US (paid link)

Waistcoats & Weaponry Paperback Amazon US (paid link)

Manners & Mutiny Paperback Amazon US (paid link)

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles) Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles) Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus) Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus) Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus) Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

Pandemonium Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

The 100 Amazon Prime (paid link)

The 100 Complete Series DVD Amazon US (paid link)

Eternals 2021 Movie Amazon Prime (paid link)

Eternals 2021 Movie Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

Marvel Knights Eternals DVD Amazon US (paid link)

The Wolf Gift Graphic Novel Amazon US (paid link)

James Spader (His Many Quirky Roles)

While watching The Blacklist (NBC TV series) recently, I couldn't help but revisit some of James Spader's earlier movies and TV series. For the last 2 decades, I have seen many of his movies and TV series and could not help but like the many eccentric (and sometimes unlikeable) characters he played but the most memorable ones to me were Max Baron (White Palace), Dr Daniel Jackson (Stargate), Mr E.Edward Grey (Secretary) and Alan Shore (The Practice/Boston Legal). Looking back at these roles, it is obvious that Mr Spader displays a knack for playing damaged characters with hidden idiosyncrasies. Whether playing a wealthy young widower involved with an older waitress (Susan Sarandon), a nerdy archaeologist who speaks alien languages, a lawyer involved in a S/M relationship with his secretary (Maggie Gyllenhaal) or an eccentric but brilliant attorney who is amoral, he always does it with flair. Anyone planning to see the (much hyped) upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey movie next year which is based on the notorious E.L. James novels, should first check out Steven Shainberg's 2002 indie movie, Secretary, based on a short story by Mary Gaitskill. The movie which is highly rated and tastefully done concerns an eccentric attorney who embarks on a S/M relationship with his submissive secretary. The movie (which won numerous awards especially for Maggie Gyllenhaal's performance), is really an exceptional  movie which deals with the subject of S/M relationships with great sensitivity, intelligence and dark humour. As for James Spader's E. Edward Grey, he will always remain the original Mr Grey to me. Move over zillionaire Christian Grey :) . But I guess James Spader's most memorable role will always be Alan Shore who first appeared in the tv series 'The Practice' and later in his own spin-off  'Boston Legal'. Well, one could attribute the success of 'Boston Legal' to David E. Kelley and his team of writers who also brought us Ally McBeal but who can deny the fact that Alan Shore just wouldn't be Alan Shore without James Spader. The brilliant but highly eccentric and amoral attorney was a role tailor made for the actor and I always liked watching his impassioned closing arguments during trials which he delivered so eloquently (not to mention his hysterically funny antics in court). Glad I still get to see this actor on TV these days and I heard he (or is it his voice) will also be appearing in the next Avengers movie.    

Dracula Untold 2014

Caught a recent trailer (courtesy of MovieWeb) for the movie 'Dracula Untold' which will premiere on 17th October 2014, just in time for Halloween. The trailer was interesting enough but then trailers can be deceiving so I guess I have to watch the whole movie to find out whether it is really that good. I have watched many vampire/Dracula movies in the past but my personal favourite still remains The Count from Sesame Street. Sorry, just can't resist joking about that :) . Seriously, what caught my attention about this trailer was Dracula's backstory and Luke Evans (The Hobbit). I have always found the story of Dracula's origin interesting although most movies skip that part and tend to focus more on the later part of his life (for obvious reasons). This also explains why I found 1994 movie Interview With The Vampire (based on the Anne Rice novel) so interesting because the movie provided backstories for each of the main characters/vampires. 'Dracula Untold' combines the myth created by Bram Stoker with the true story of Vlad The Impaler and somehow portrays Dracula as a 'hero' who had to turn to the dark forces to fight evil.  The movie, directed by Gary Shore, stars Luke Evans, a rising Welsh actor, who can be seen currently in The Hobbit and who will also star as the lead in the upcoming reboot of 'The Crow'. I find him an interesting choice for the Count because like Stuart Townsend (vampire Lestat in Queen of the Damned), he has the same bad boy/rock star quality to him. No, I don't think Robert Pattinson has that same quality ;). Anyway, now I know what I will be watching this Halloween.    

                          P.S. Is that Tears for Fears Everybody Wants to Rule the World?

(Trailer Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

Addendum (4th May 2024) : Dracula Untold is available on Amazon Prime and on Blu-Ray/4K. Links provided below. 

Dracula Untold (Amazon Prime) (paid link) 

 Dracula Untold Blu-Ray/4K (Amazon US) (paid link)

Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary

In view of its upcoming 30th Anniversary, Sony will be releasing Ghostbusters 1 & 2 on blu-ray on 16th Sept 2014. Actually, Ghostbusters 1 was released on blu-ray before but now both the original movie and its sequel will be released in a limited edition (remastered) 4K blu-ray digibook gift set with added bonus features and a figurine of Slimer. The movies themselves will also be given another wide theatrical release in anticipation of its anniversary. There is a video posted by 'Zaranyzerak' (The Multi Media Chronicles) on YouTube which mentions the previous releases of Ghostbusters on blu-ray and gives a sneak peek on the upcoming release of the new 4K blu-rays. I recently discovered 'Zaranyzerak' (not his real name) and MMC on YouTube and found his videos which are mostly short, honest and fuss-free reviews of dvds/blu-rays and video games highly informative and entertaining. After some searching, I found out that this 'videographer' has been giving independent reviews of dvds/blu-rays/video games for over 2 decades. I hope readers of my humble blog will check out his other videos on YouTube (reviews of steelbooks, limited edition sets, old films restored to high-definition etc). Anyway, below is the video on the 30th Anniversary of Ghostbusters.

        

(Video Courtesy of The Multimedia Chronicles-MMC)

Link for the above product is provided below.

Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary 4K + Digibook (Amazon US) (paid link)

Into The Storm & Richard Armitage

There are really some good British actors who remain relatively unknown in the US until they are discovered in some major movie/TV series. I could name quite a few namely James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender  (X-Men) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock). Another British actor, Richard Armitage, won me over when he first appeared in  a BBC miniseries, North & South, in 2004 (please refer to my post dated 30th Jan 2014 on British Period Dramas on Blu-Ray). Since then, he has appeared in a few British series Robin Hood, Spooks, Strike Back and more recently in the movie The Hobbit. This versatile actor will now be appearing in the lead role of an upcoming major US summer film, Into The Storm, which will premiere on 8/8/2014. The movie is basically about a town being hit by tornadoes. Although I'm not a fan of disaster films, I might give this movie a try just to see how Mr Armitage fares in it :). 

   

Full Length Trailer Courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

Addendum (5th May, 2024) : If you interested in this movie, it is now available on dvd, blu-ray and Amazon Prime (links provided below). By the way, I am currently watching a new 6 part British TV Series from ITV 'Red Eye' which stars Richard Armitage and Jing Lusi about a British man who is extradited to China on suspicion of murder. The series looks promising enough so I have decided to include the trailer for it below. Prior to this series, I managed to catch this prolific actor in the 2022 movie 'The Man from Rome' by Sergio Dow which is about a priest investigating a hacker infiltration into the Vatican that eventually leads him to a church in Spain. 

Trailer courtesy of Serienjunkies

Into The Storm 2014 (Amazon Prime) (paid link)

Into The Storm 2014 Blu-Ray (Amazon US) (paid link)

Minuscule, Futurikon & Valley of the Lost Ants

A few years back, my mum and me got hooked on a cute French animated series called 'Minuscule' which lasted for 2 seasons and comprised of 78 episodes.  The series consists of short videos with animated CGI insects against real backgrounds (French countryside, interiors of a house etc) in humorous situations. I remember a rather mischievous ladybird, curious spiders, dragonflies/bees engaged in aerial chases and armies of ants. The series, not unlike Canimals, was really funny and entertaining . The animation was top notch and I really enjoyed watching the beautiful French countryside. Anyway, I was surprised to discover that Futurikon (the French company that produced the original series) has released a new full length movie entitled Valley of the Lost Ants which was released earlier this year. The movie concerns a ladybird (modelled after the original ladybird in the series) who befriends a black ant whose colony is at war with another colony of red ants over a box of sugar cubes. The movie, released in 3D, looks fun and is suitable for family viewing. I'm actually terrified of (real) insects but these cute ones from Futurikon are really lovable ;). In fact, they remind of another early Pixar movie, Antz, except the insects here don't talk. They only whistle. 

          

(Video Courtesy of Minuscule YouTube)

Addendum (5th May 2024) : Besides two seasons of Minuscule and the film 'Valley of the Lost Ants' in 2013, Futurikon had released another film in 2018 titled 'Mandibles from Far Away'.

Cosmos, Carl Sagan & Crabs

As a kid in the early 80s, the original 'Cosmos' by (the late) Carl Sagan made quite an impression on me but not because I was interested in astronomy or such but because it was 'different' from the other documentaries that was being shown during that time. Firstly, the special effects during the space sequence was very 'state of the art' for those times. Secondly, Carl Sagan had a distinctive and enthusiastic style of talking which could make even the most boring topic interesting. Yes, I was weird as a kid :) but weren't we all? Anyways, amongst the few strange things that I remember from my childhood (which is very blurry to me now) was an episode of Cosmos that had Carl Sagan talking about a crab with a human face on its shell. Thanks to technological advances and YouTube :) I was able to find the clip with that scene on it again which I would like to share here now. Although I was very fond of the original series, I have not seen the new version with Neil deGrasse Tyson yet. Enjoy... 

                          
                                                      

(video courtesy of KipEsquire's Rants)

Link below for those interested in Cosmos-Carl Sagan 7 Disc Collector's Edition (Remastered) DVD Boxset.

Cosmos Collector's 7 DVD Boxset Amazon (US) (paid link)

Salem (WGN America TV Series)

Currently, I'm following Salem, a new original TV series by a relatively unknown channel WGN America. I feel this series is worth mentioning because despite my earlier presumptions (before viewing) that it must be another run-of-the-mill series about the Salem witch hunts in the 17th century, it was on the contrary a different kind of beast altogether. Although the series does deal with witches and those famous Salem witch trials, the story is cleverly woven around the premise that the witches were real people who were conspiring to revenge against the puritans. The series stars some interesting new faces on TV namely (English actress) Janet Montgomery as the charismatic Mary Sibley, a powerful and wealthy witch who is plotting revenge on the unsuspecting townsfolk who have wronged her. Despite myself, I found the series to be very addictive due to the soap opera like story complete with twist and turns, secrets, scandals and conspiracies. If Dark Shadows was a soap opera about vampires, this series is a soap opera about witches. Mary Sibley might even give Alexis Carrington a run for her money ;). So my verdict on the series, if you're looking for light entertainment why not give it a shot. Who knows, you might get hooked like I did. By the way, the series also stars Shane West (Nikita) as John Alden, a war hero and Mary's former love interest who returns to Salem after nearly a decade. His reappearance (she thought he died) soon rekindle old feelings within Mary and complicates her plot for revenge (he doesn't know she's now a witch). I don't want to give too much away but Mary is not all bad witch and you can't help rooting for her and John to have a happy ending. WGN has ordered a second season of the series so I guess I can look forward to the continuation of the story. I really disliked that many of the previous TV series that I was fond of e.g. Emily Owens M.D. and Do No Harm was cancelled after only one season. Signing off for now :)

(Trivia : The theme song is by Marilyn Manson)

Addendum  (30th April 2024) : For those looking to watch this old series again or are newbies, you can view all three seasons on Amazon Prime. Perhaps because Salem was produced by the relatively unknown and now defunct network WGN America, the series was never properly released on any physical media (DVD or Blu-Ray). And if you want to see more of the beautiful actress Janet Montgomery, you can always catch her performance as Dr Lauren Bloom in the later NBC hospital drama, New Amsterdam, which ran from 2018 to 2023. Link to Salem on Amazon Prime provided below. 

Salem (Amazon Prime) (paid link)

Penny Dreadful (Showtime TV Series)

With reference to my post on Gothic Horror Movies from the 90s dated 11/5/2014, gothic horror is now scarce on tv/cinema so naturally I was curious about Penny Dreadful, a new series from Showtime. The first two episodes of the series, which is created by John Logan and produced by Sam Mendes, had initially been available on demand for some time before airing on Showtime and is a mash-up/loose remake of  famous classic horror stories namely, Dracula, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray. As with most Showtime series, production quality is high but content can be very adult (not recommended for kids/family viewing). The series borrows heavily from elements contained in the classic stories but the plot/story line differ greatly from the books. I have only watched the first two episodes and while watching them, is greatly reminded of another movie, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Actually, I was piqued by the series when I heard that Timothy Dalton, Eva Green and Josh Hartnett was involved in the series. I liked Eva Green's performance in the remake of Dark Shadows and I haven't seen Josh Hartnett for a while so it was worth a try. The story starts with Sir Malcolm Murray (Dalton) who enlists the help of  Vanessa Ives (Green), Ethan Chandler (Hartnett) & Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) to find his missing daughter, Mina Murray, who he suspects was abducted by a vampire like creature. After watching the first two episodes, I was left with mixed reactions. The series does show promise (there are six more episodes for Season 1) but was at times a little too slow paced  and messy (like it was trying too hard to combine all elements of Dracula, Frankenstein, Dorian Gray & Jack the Ripper!?) but I like to give some series time to develop and find its footing. Will I watch Episode 3? Yes, because most of my favourite series like Grimm and  The Following has ended their season run and I'm not A Game of Thrones fan :).  If you would like to watch the trailer and behind the scenes videos for Penny Dreadful, you could always check out the Penny Dreadful Production Blogs on YouTube (link below). 

Penny Dreadful Production Blogs

Addendum  (5th May 2024) : All 3 seasons of this high quality series from Showtime is available on dvd, blu-ray and Amazon Prime (links provided below). For those who are interested in what the (rather elusive) actor Josh Hartnett is up to these days, you can catch him in M. Night Shyamalan's upcoming psychological/mystery/thriller film 'Trap' in August 2024. 

Penny Dreadful (Amazon Prime) (paid link)

   

 Penny Dreadful Blu-Ray (Amazon US) (paid link)

Movies from the 80s (When I was a Kid)

Being a kid from the 80s meant growing up without internet, smart phones, facebook or (gasp) blogging. I also grew up with films like The Goonies, Back to The Future and Ghostbusters, so imagine my delight when I visited a nearby Uniqlo outlet with my nephew and niece (who are in their teens) and we spotted some t-shirts (from their American Movies line) which had characters from some famous movies from the 70s and 80s namely, Star Wars, Gremlins & Ghostbusters. Although they are familiar with Star Wars & Ghostbusters (I doubt they have seen the original movies), they were puzzled about a character on one of the t-shirts that had an image of Gizmo on it. When they asked me who/what the furry and cute creature was, I replied that Gizmo was a 'mogwai' and was featured in the Gremlins movie and its sequel. After that, they asked me what a 'mogwai' was so instead of explaining it to them, I decided to show them the movies instead. To my surprise, they seemed to enjoy the movies immensely although the special effects appeared really dated. I didn't really expect them to appreciate movies like these since kids today are used to more sophisticated movies with lots of CGI instead of puppetry but I guess they get can get jaded with the films today that are so slick they sometimes lack 'heart'. Anyway, I plan to  introduce them to Ghostbusters next (after they have finished their exams) one fine weekend. I always regarded Harold Ramis (who recently passed away), Dan Aykroyd  & Bill Murray as the funniest comedians during the 80s and when they got together for this film, it was just pure laughter and fun. I hope they share my enthusiasm for the movie. 

UNIQLO American Movies/ Back to the 80s (Women) Graphic T-Shirts

Gizmo, still adorable after all these years :)

Vexed (British TV Series)

Lately, I'm sure many caught Toby Stephens as Captain Flint in Black Sails. Personally, I have not seen the series (not really into pirate films/movies) but whenever I hear of Toby Stephens, I am always reminded of a little known series by BBC2, Vexed, which is still on hiatus after the second season. This series was created by Howard Overman ,who was responsible for series like Hotel Babylon, Merlin, Hustle & Misfits, and is actually a comedy police drama about two police detectives who can't get along with each other but still manage to solve cases together. The first season ,which comprised of only 3 episodes, starred Lucy Punch as DI Kate Bishop who was later replaced, in the following 6 episodes of the second season, by Miranda Raison as DI Georgina Dixon. Frankly, I liked the second season more because the writing was funnier and I felt Miranda Raison was a better foil to Toby Stephen's DI Jack Armstrong (of course, that is just my opinion). The thing is, after seeing Vexed, I can't really reconcile Toby Stephens with his more serious roles like Captain Flint and Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre (which I have not seen either). Because I'm fond of the series, I'm still hoping that there will be a third season to it. Heard rumours that some networks in the US are interested in remaking the series but I feel part of the charm of the series is Toby Stephens. Without him, the series just won't be the same. Decided to post a video with a scene from the series (which still remains my favourite) of Jack inventing a song (on the spur of the moment) to avoid doing some real police work which Georgina asked his help with.

               

(Video Uploaded on YouTube by Ambermoon42)

Seriously, Mr Rochester?

Those interested in watching this series for the first time or wish to revisit it, can purchase both seasons on DVD from Amazon US or watch the episodes on Amazon's streaming platform, Prime, courtesy of Acorn TV. Links provided below.  

      Vexed Series 1 DVD Amazon US  (paid link)

     Vexed Series 2 DVD Amazon US (paid link)

    Vexed Amazon Prime (paid link)

Constantine (NBC TV Series)

Lately, horror (not the seriously scary ones) has been making a comeback on NBC with shows like Grimm (my favourite) and Dracula. Now, NBC has released the trailer for Constantine which is based on DC's Hellblazer comics. Despite being panned by critics, I truly liked the 2005 movie of the same name which starred Keanu Reeves. However, after watching NBC's trailer, I'm left with mixed reactions. On one hand, the lead actually talks like he's English (which should please fans of the comics) but is the story good enough for a TV series?  Incidentally, NBC has not given any date for the premiere of the series but has already ordered a full season of the show.

Those who want to know more about the 2005 movie Constantine starring Keanu Reeves and whether the movie will spawn a sequel can check out my post on 30th April 2024 titled Constantine 2, Is It Really Happening?

             

(Constantine Season 1 Trailer Courtesy of Series Trailer MP)

Below is the link for Constantine : The Complete Series on Blu-Ray/DVD.  

Constantine The Complete Series Blu-Ray (Amazon US) (paid link)

  

Gothic Horror Movies from the 90s

What I find extremely lacking these days, in cinemas or on tv, are good gothic horror films which were abundant during the 90s. Present day audiences prefer their horror films to be more visceral. Amongst three of my favourites (all produced by Francis Ford Coppola) are Dracula (1992), Haunted (1995) and Sleepy Hollow (1999). All films were big budget films which starred big names like Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins,Wynona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken and were remakes of classic stories except for Haunted which was a lesser known film which starred the often underrated Aidan Quinn, Anthony Andrews and the then unknown Kate Beckinsale. The film, adapted from a James Herbert novel of the same title, contains some adult themes (not unlike the other 2 films) and has all the elements of a good gothic horror story, lots of atmosphere, a haunted house, mysterious characters with hidden pasts and lots of surprises. Despite being often overlooked and forgotten, this film still remains my favourite amongst the three films simply because it was very well made and written.The deceptively simple plot about a skeptical professor who arrives (at the behest of an elderly nanny) to debunk the paranormal going-ons at her country estate may seem cliche at first but the story later reveals the characters complicated backstories which eventually ends with a surprising twist. I can't help but wish more films like these were produced but I guess gothic horror don't really appeal to the younger audience anymore. Apparently, "sparkly" vampires do ;) .

Addendum (5th May 2024) : Provided links below for those who are interested in the above movies.

Haunted 1995 DVD Amazon US (paid link)

Dracula Amazon Prime (paid link)    

 

Dracula Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

    Sleepy Hollow Amazon Prime (paid link)  

   

       Sleepy Hollow 20th Anniversary Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

When Calls The Heart (Hallmark TV Series)

Finished watching the first season of a new TV series from Hallmark, When Calls The Heart, which I unintentionally discovered. Usually, I don't watch Hallmark but was pleasantly surprised by this series which is loosely adapted from Janette Oke's Canadian West book series. Initially, the series was introduced as a 2 hour movie in October 2013 (which I haven't seen) starring a different lead actress & actor, Maggie Grace & Stephen Amell (Arrow). However, in the series, they were replaced by Erin Krakow & Daniel Lissing (which in my opinion were a better choice of leads) .The first season (12 episodes) which aired from mid January until late March this year was written by Brian Bird and produced/directed by Michael Landon Jr (yes his father was Michael Landon of Little House on the Prairie fame). This series is the second collaboration between Janette Oke and Michael Landon Jr (the first being the Love Comes Softly series). I was impressed by the high production value of this series (set in 1910), the consistently good scripts ,the great cast which includes Lori Loughlin, guest stars like James Brolin and the chemistry between the leads. If you like wholesome drama (suitable for family viewing) with great stories, plenty of romance and a sprinkling of humour, this series should be right up your alley. Noteworthy, Hallmark has not yet confirmed the second season for this series but has released the first four episodes on 2 dvds ,Lost & Found and A Telling Silence, on February and April this year. The movie itself was released on dvd late last year and if response for the dvds are encouraging, they might release the complete first season on dvd later this year (which I'm hoping for). Since Mother's Day is just around the corner, the dvds (from Word Entertainment) should make great gifts for some die hard romantic mums, don't you agree? ;)

Update : Hallmark has confirmed a second season for the series and the 2 dvds, Lost & Found and A Telling Silence, will also be re-released by Millennium Media in June this year. However, they will be sold as Walmart exclusives. Still unsure whether the dvds from Millennium Media will carry English & Spanish subtitles (found in the 2013 movie dvd) or if they include the extras (interviews & deleted scenes featured on the Word Entertainment dvds which incidentally are not subtitled). The Word Entertainment dvds are sold on Christianbook.com.

Addendum (5th May 2024) : 

All 11 seasons of Hallmark's When Calls The Heart are now available on Amazon Prime. However, if you're looking for the DVDs, then you should check out the webstore for Edify Films who has been releasing all the seasons and specials for this series in Episode Edition and Collector's Edition Boxsets. The Collector's Edition usually contains bonus material besides the episodes.  

Links below :)

When Calls The Heart (Amazon Prime) (paid link)

When Calls The Heart (Edify Store)