All In The Family (Season 4)

01.04.2010

Recipient of widespread critical acclaim and much audience adulation, All In The Family remained the top rated TV program throughout the early 1970s. Following the life of the loudmouth and often crass Archie Bunker (Carrol O’Connor), the show centered around Archie’s constant conflict with his daughter and son-in-law and their very liberal belief system. Archie also periodically clashed with his wife Edith, an often subserviant and ditzy traditional housewife. Tackling some of the more taboo issues of its time such as sexism, racism, bigotry, xenophobia, and death, All In The Family was a truly groundbreaking industry production…

The All In The Family (Season 4) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “We’re Having a Heat Wave” in which Archie and Henry Jefferson (both for different reasons) try to prevent the Lorenzos, a Hispanic family, from moving into the house next door which just went up for sale… Other notable episodes from Season 4 include “Archie and the Kiss” in which Gloria brings home a Rodin-inspired centerpiece much to Archie’s chagrin, and “Edith’s Conversation” in which Archie fears that Irene Lorenzo is attempting to convert Edith to Catholicism…

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All In The Family

01.04.2010

The #1 Nielsen rated program from 1971 to 1976, All In The Family is quite simply one of the greatest television programs in history. Inspired by The Honeymooners and The Flintstones, All In The Family features its own loud-mouthed, opinionated blowhard sporting a hidden soft and sensitive side. Like Ralph Kramden and Fred Flintstone, Archie Bunker fulfills his role to absolute perfection, and the result is TV magic. Well-written and outright hilarious, All In The Family broke ground in the 70’s with its willingness to tackle all the social issues and societal taboos of its day. Topics included racism, bigotry, sexism, homosexuality, death, and other namby-pam, socialist and liberal-feminist ideals (or at least that’s how Archie would put it!) A titan among television sitcoms, All In The Family spawned a pair of shows which topped the ratings in their own right – Maude and The Jeffersons…

Carroll O’Connor plays the role of Archie Bunker, the titular head of the Bunker household. Loud and crass, Archie freely dispenses his bigoted remarks and ignorant comments from the living room of his Queens, New York home. Joining Archie is his loving and ditsy wife Edith (Jean Stapelton), his beautiful and progressive daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers), and her ultra-liberal husband Mike (Rob Reiner) whom Archie refers to as “Meathead”. As Gloria and Mike’s modern ideas clash with Archie’s old school beliefs, all hell breaks loose in the Bunker household, but the Bunkers don’t spend all their time arguing as they’re inevitably held together by the immutable bond of love…

The All In The Family DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Meet the Bunkers” in which it’s Edith and Archie’s anniversary, and Edith manages to drag a reluctant Archie to church. Meanwhile, Mike and Gloria work overtime to create a celebration the Bunkers will never forget… Other notable episodes from Season 1 include “Archie Gives Blood” in which Archie refuses to participate in the blood drive because he’s afraid of having his blood mixed with that of another race, and “Edith Has Jury Duty” in which Edith’s conviction to hold steadfast as the lone juror in favor of a defendant’s acquittal proves correct when the true culprit comes forward…

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Alias (Season 3)

01.04.2010

One of the highest rated shows of its era, Alias maintains a loyal cult following swept away by its intriguing suspense and action-packed drama. Jennifer Garner stars in the lead role of Sydney Anne Bristow, a beautiful and cerebral recruit tasked to work for a secret government entity, the SD-6 agency. But problems confront her when she eventually realizes that SD-6 is not the government agency she thinks. Reunited with her estranged father Jack (Victor Garber), she blossoms into a top tier double agent in an attempt to counter SD-6… Recipient of numerous industry awards and award nominations, Alias continues to grow its fanbase via strong writing, interesting characters, and a suspense-riddled plotline…

The Alias (Season 3) DVD features a number of exciting episodes including the season premiere “The Two” in which Sydney, suffering from amnesia, desperately tries to uncover the truth about the past few years of her life. Meanwhile, the CIA puts her on a case which might possibly aid in her memory’s recovery… Other notable episodes from Season 3 include “Reunion” in which Sydney and Michael once again pair up on an assignment in order to halt an evil plot by Sark, and “Conscious” in which Sydney participates in a strange doctor’s experiment to recover her earlier memories…

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All In The Family (Season 2)

01.04.2010

The top Nielsen-rated television program from 1971 to 1976, All In The Family is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV sitcoms ever produced. Inspired by The Flintstones and The Honeymooners, All In The Family focused on the weekly antics of its own loud-mouth, politically-incorrect Fred Flintstone/Ralph Kramden clone, and like his predecessors, Archie Bunker has a hidden sensitive side. Ingeniously written and downright hilarious, All In The Family established new ground for TV sitcoms with its willingness to take on the taboo social issues of its day. Topics covers included bigotry, racism, homosexuality, sexism, death, and other namby-pam, commie-lib feminist ideals (at least that’s how Archie would say it!) A true mammoth in the history of TV, All In The Family also led to a pair of highly successful spin-offs: Maude and The Jeffersons…

The All In The Family (Season 2) DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “The Saga of Cousin Oscar” in which Archie’s Cousin Oscar arrives in Queens for a visit. Considering him a lazy, do-nothing, Archie isn’t pleased to be playing host to Oscar (whom we never actually see), and the irritation is further amplified when Oscar dies in the upstairs bedroom. Now mourners fill Archie’s house, and he must decide whether or not to plan a funeral… Other notable episodes from Season 2 include “Edith Writes A Song” in which Archie purchases a handgun for protection only to have two robbers use it against him, and “The Election Story” in which Mike and Gloria vociferously campaign for the liberal candidate while Archie throws his hat in with the opposition candidate…

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Alias Season 2

01.03.2010

Making its debut in September 2001, Alias immediately struck a chord among interested television viewers. The series combines the conspiracy and intrigue of The X-Files with the action and adventure of a Hollywood blockbuster. It also helps that the central character of the show is a mysterious and beautiful woman played by Jennifer Garner. But it’s the unique plots and creative dialogue of writers which makes Alias one of the highest rated shows of its era…

The Alias (Season 2) DVD features a number of exciting episodes including the season premiere “The Enemy Walks In” in which, following a long search (most of Season 1), Sydney finds her mother. Meanwhile, Michael has been swept away by a tsunami in the Pacific, and it remains up in the air as to whether or not he’s still alive… Other notable episodes from Season 2 include “Cipher” in which Sydney is forced to match wits with Khasinau’s front man, Sark, while Jack meets with Sydney’s mother (whom he once believed to be dead), and “Phase One” in which SD-6 gets a new director to replace Sloane…

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Alias

01.03.2010

Premiering in September 2001, Alias has built a steady and loyal following among television viewers. The show combines the fast pace action sequences of 24 with the conspiracy theory backdrop of the X-Files. It also doesn’t hurt that the show centers itself around a character that’s a beautiful and mysterious woman. But the true strength of Alias, as with most successful TV shows, is its unique and creative writers who manage to always keep their audience on edge…

Jennifer Garner (star of 13 Going On Thirty) plays the role of Sydney Anne Bristow, a beautiful, intelligent American woman recruited to work for the government’s super secret SD-6 agency. However, problems arise when her fiancé is murdered by the agency she works for, and she ultimately discovers that SD-6 is not a legitimate government organization at all… In seek of revenge, Sydney contacts the CIA, and they deploy her as a double agent. Meanwhile, Sydney’s estranged father, Jack (Victor Garber), also works as a double agent, and their relationship blossoms as a result of their work. Together, they manage to eliminate SD-6, and now both work full-time for the CIA where they’re accompanied by fellow colleagues Marshall Flinkman (Kevin Weisman), Marcus Dixon (Carl Lumbly), and Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan)…

The Alias DVD features a number of exciting episodes including the season premiere “Truth Be Told” in which Sydney, against her better judgment, confides in her fiancé Danny the secrets of her SD-6 affiliation. Some time later, Danny is murdered, and Sydney finds reason to believe that SD-6 is involved in his death. She also comes to the realization that SD-6 (which also employs her father) is not a branch of the CIA, but an anti-US government force working against it. Sydney agrees to work with the CIA as a double agent, and along the way, she learns that her father is also a double agent. Episode one sets the framework for the remainder of the series… Other notable episodes from Season 1 include “Time Will Tell” in which Sydney is forced to take a lie detector test while SD-6 attempts to identify the mole within its ranks, and “Snowman” in which the SD-6 rival K-Directorate dispatches as assassin known as the “Snowman” to eliminate the newcomer Khasinau (alias “the man”)…

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Aladdin

01.03.2010

Anxious to follow up on the massive commercial and critical success of Beauty And The Beast, Disney created another animated masterpiece with Aladdin. Although not nearly as successful in terms of critical acclaim as the aforementioned film, or later Disney creations such as The Lion King and Finding Nemo, Aladdin is nevertheless just as entertaining and probably the funniest of all the animated Disney features. With the voice of Robin Williams leading the way, the film is a non-stop foray into the timeless fantasy world of A Thousand And One Arabian Nights spliced together with the rapier-like wit and quick-fire humor of one of America’s most talented comic performers…

The film takes place hundreds of years ago in the windswept sands of the kingdom of Agrabah, where a young street urchin named Aladdin wanders the streets, stealing and hustling for survival. Along the way, he’s joined by his loyal companion Abu, a clever and enterprising monkey. Yet, in stark contrast to the poverty-ridden streets below, the lustrous facade of a massive palace towers high above the urban world of Aladdin. Inside, the Sultan of Agrabah lives a carefree life of opulence and luxury with his beautiful daughter Jasmine and a cunning, ambitious adviser named Jafar.

Forced to spend her days inside the palace walls, the headstrong Princess Jasmine sneaks out in order to experience the world around her. During this dangerous trek through the streets of her kingdom, the girl befriends Aladdin who is immediately awestruck by her beauty. But when Princess Jasmine’s escape is brought to the attention of Jafar and her father, she is quickly rounded up, and Aladdin is thrown in prison. Hoping to seize the kingdom for himself, Jafar enlists the aid of Aladdin in an effort to obtain a fabled magic lamp, the purported powers of which are unlimited. Legend has it that only a “diamond in the rough” is capable of retrieving the lamp from the Cave of Wonders. All others will be swallowed whole by the endless sands of the desert.

When Aladdin fails in Jafar’s quest, he is left for dead. But he soon discovers the mysterious lamp and the blue genie who resides within. Granting Aladdin the ultimate power of three wishes (with certain conditions such as not wishing for more wishes or wishing for someone to fall in love with you), the genie transforms Aladdin into a powerful Prince, thus making him eligible to marry Princess Jasmine. Riding into Agrabah at the helm of a triumphant parade, only Jafar knows the true secret of Aladdin’s identity and his success, and he’s determined to scheme and connive until he gains control of the magic lamp himself…

Aside from Robin Williams, this film is easily forgettable. With him, Aladdin is transformed into a legendary blockbuster hit. In fact, the later appearances of comic voices in animated films such as Shrek (Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy), Mulan (Eddie Murphy), Finding Nemo (Ellen DeGeneres), and The Lion King (Nathan Lane & Whoopi Goldberg) can most likely be traced back to the overwhelmingly positive audience reaction to Robin Williams and the comic relief his blue genie provided. This once overlooked aspect of the animated film has since become a staple, and Aladdin is the reason why. In addition, the film boasts a beautiful soundtrack that gave birth to the chart-topping hit “A Whole New World”. Fun for children and adults alike, Aladdin is the perfect film for those who enjoy creativity, humor, and a great story…

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A Christmas Story

01.02.2010

Adapted from humorist Jean Shepherd’s hilarious memoir In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, A Christmas Story has climbed the ranks of the annual holiday classic films list to claim its spot among the hallowed elite of the genre. If you’ve ever tried to lick a frozen telephone pole, or found yourself in a ridiculous bunny outfit on Christmas morning, then A Christmas Story is one comedy you won’t want to miss…

A Christmas Story focuses on one central character, fifth grader Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his all-encompassing quest to receive a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB rifle for Christmas, although I don’t think he realizes he could put an eye out with one of those things… Thwarting Ralphie at every turn are his mother (Melinda Dillon) and father (Darren McGavin) who seem absolutely oblivious to their young son’s dream.

Unable to come right out and say what he wants, Ralphie drops subtle hints around the house such as placing clipped-out magazine ads for the gun in his parents’ nightstand reading material. When prodded for his true Christmas wish, Ralphie blurts out that he wants a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB gun, but his mother’s only reply is, “You don’t want one of those. You’ll shoot your eye out!”

A Christmas Story is filled with memorable scenes and highlights that have helped built a cult following around the life of a young boy obsessed with Christmas who is surrounded by a varied cast eccentric friends and family members. When Ralphie’s father beams with pride at his ability to win a newspaper contest, his proudly displays his prize in the front window of the family home, a three-foot lamp with a woman’s long, stocking-covered leg as its base. Embarrassed, Ralphie’s mother “accidentally” breaks it, sparking a war of words with her husband. Meanwhile, Ralphie dreams of saving the whole family with his Red-Ryder BB gun, thus earning the family’s undying gratitude.

One of the best sequences in the film involves a family trip to the local department store, where Ralphie and his little brother Randy meet with the store Santa Clause near closing time. Following a long, extended wait to reach the front of the line to see Santa, Ralphie is so brimming with anticipation to tell Santa what he wants that he can’t speak. So, Santa convinces Ralphie that he wants a football. But before Santa’s helper can push Ralphie down the North Pole slide, Ralphie blurts out his true wish, only to hear Santa’s reply, “You’ll shoot your eye out with that, kid!”

One of the best Christmas comedies ever made, although few come close to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story is a memorable holiday classic the entire family can enjoy. Much like It’s A Wonderful Life, the film has only grown in popularity in the years since its release. The timeless nature of its subject matter lends itself well to annual holiday viewing, and it remains one of a handful of “must see” films for the Christmas season…

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24 (Season 3) DVD Review

01.02.2010

Originally aired in late Fall of 2001, 24 immediately built a cult following of dedicated fans and critics, establishing itself as one of the best new television series of the decade. Founding on the interesting premise that each episode should account for one hour in a day, the show follows the exploits of a James Bond-like government agent named Jack Bauer. Kiefer Sutherland stars in the role of Bauer who often grapples with personal problems as well as world-altering crises. At first glance, 24 could easily be confused with a blockbuster Hollywood action thriller, but it’s so much more…

Season 3 begins almost three years after Jack’s successful thwarting of a terrorist conspiracy to nuke Los Angeles. An extremely powerful drug kingpin, Ramon Salazar, has recently been captured and imprisoned due to Jack’s efforts, but the Salazar case is far from over. Ramon’s brother contacts federal authorities and threatens to release a deadly virus on the American public unless his brother is immediately freed. Yet again, Jack is tasked with hunting down the terrorists in a 24 hour timeframe… Will he succeed? Or will innocent people die in mass?

The 24 (Season 3) DVD features a number of breathtaking episodes including the season premiere in which a dead body is tossed just outside of a healthcare facility in Los Angeles. The Counter Terrorism Unit quickly learns that the body is infected with a deadly virus, a blatant signal of blackmail when the unit learns of a threat to release the virus at large unless drug lord Ramon Salazar is let out of prison. Meanwhile, President Palmer is preparing a presidential debate in the company of his brother (also his chief-of-staff) and his doctor (also his girlfriend), and Kim who now works at CTU with Jack has secretly been dating her father’s partner, Chase Edmunds… Other notable episodes from Season 3 include (#53) in which Jack is taken hostage in an inmate riot while trying to break Ramon out of prison, and (#71) in which Jack is on the verge of discovering the location of the deadly vials…

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24 (Season 2) DVD Review

01.02.2010

Premiering in November 2001, 24 set the television landscape on fire as one of the best new series and cemented its position as a pop culture phenomenon. Making use of an extremely original plot device, each season follows the exploits of a single day in life of hero Jack Bauer, each of the season’s 24 episodes chronicling an hour-long action segment from the day. Kiefer Sutherland plays the part of Jack Bauer, a daring government agent with awesome responsibilities. Each year’s episodes are similar to an action-packed Hollywood blockbuser, but they’re only a glimpse into a normal day in the life of Jack Bauer…

Season 2 supposedly takes place eighteen months after Jack’s big day in Los Angeles. Jack is now dealing with the death of his wife and is estranged from his daughter Kim. As a result, he contemplates retirement. But when President Palmer personally requests his help, Jack agrees to take on a new assignment. In so doing, Jack learns that a Middle-Eastern terrorist group called Second Wave is going to detonate a nuclear device in Los Angeles in the next 24 hours. Yet again the clock is ticking, and yet again, only Jack Bauer stands in the way of an evil conspiracy reaching its final fruition…

The 24 (Season 2) DVD features a number of breathtaking episodes including the season premiere which begins with President Palmer and his son fishing in an Oregon lake when he’s called away for an emergency. Ushered into an underground bunker, he learns of a terrorist plot to set off a nuclear weapon in the Los Angeles area in the next 24 hours. At the CIA’s Counter Terrorism Unit, George Mason is ordered to contact Jack Bauer in respect to the case, but it takes the personal appeal of President Palmer to move Jack into action. Meanwhile Kim, working as a housekeeper/nanny, overhears a domestic dispute between her boss and his wife, and she locks herself and the man’s daughter in a bedroom. As the episode concludes, Jack learns that the key to uncovering the whereabouts of the nuclear device may lie with a domestic terrorist organization he once infiltrated… Other notable episodes from Season 2 include (#31) in which Jack and Nina set up a sting to see if a contact can lead them to the site of the bomb, and (#46) in which Jack stands on the verge of making a break in the case but has his efforts thwarted by the president’s ex-wife, who’s involved in the terrorist conspiracy…

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