Maud'Dib's List

Only a handful of really great DVDs this week, nothing I'll be buying anytime soon either, but there is one pretty damned important one I'll get eventually.

All American Girl - The Complete Series

And it's not this. Nothing against Miss Cho (is it Mrs.? I don't think so...), but I never really dug her TV show. The cast was decent and it had its moments, just not something I have to own. Maybe a future Netflix rental, if I ever reactivate my account.

Archie Bunker's Place - The Complete First Season

I don't think I've ever seen a single episode of this show. According to Amazon Edith makes an occasional appearence, I'd always thought she died towards the end of AitF, guess not. I remember the little girl from later AitF episodes, and always found her annoying as hell, so I doubt I'll ever buy this, but I may rent it. If for no other reason to see Sammy D and Archie in another episode.

Avatar The Last Airbender - Book 1, Vol. 1

Well, the cover art looks cool. Good reviews too. It airs on Nick, I'll have to try and catch it sometime.

Benny Hill Complete and Unadulterated - The Hill's Angels Years, Set Four (1978-1981)

I just never got the appeal.

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 22

Seems like the releases for this show should have been finished by now, doesn't it? God, it's expensive to be a fan of it too, over $40 a set? Good thing I'm not.

Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Second Season

Definitely for different folks. By that I mean fans of crappy television.

Dune (Extended Edition)

Definitely the biggest release of the year so far, and will likely be one of the most important DVD releases of the year. It is the extended television version, the only version former boss and current friend Alan Daffin will ever watch. So, Alan, they finally got it out for you. Still, I'd like to see Lynch's original six hour cut one day, but it probably can't happen ever. Did you know he turned down directing Return of the Jedi to direct Dune? Man, I can't help but think how much better that movie would have been.

Four Weddings and a Funeral (Deluxe Edition)

My Dad's favorite movie. I personally can't stand Andie McDowell.

Gastineau Girls - The Complete First Season

If you buy this, you're and idiot. I hope a meteor hits your house while you're watching it.

Gone with the Wind (Two-Disc Edition)

See, releasing this along with the other special edition would have made more sense, giving people a cheaper option (a la Wizard of Oz). Now it's just wasted. Anyone who wanted it on DVD likely already has it.

Hill Street Blues - Season 1

21 Emmy nods for this season alone.

In Her Shoes (Widescreen Edition)

From LA Confidential to this....Huh?

Knight Rider - Season Three

Word is David H. is getting a divorce. I just don't have anything to say about the show. Sorry.

The Legend of Zorro (Widescreen Special Edition)

This was actually pretty darn good. I'll end up buying it eventually.

Magnum, P.I. - The Complete Third Season

When the hell are they gonna put Simon & Simon on DVD?

On Location with Frank Gorshin

Wouldn't mind having this.

The Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection

Just in time for the crap remake of the movie.

Rat Patrol - The Complete First Season

I got nothing.

The A-Team - Season 3

I pity the fool who doesn't buy the A-Team on DVD!

Yeah, that was lame, I know.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ways of the Warrior #3.6 - Turtles Against H.A.T.E

Is this still on? Haven't seen it on Cartoon Network lately...

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (Widescreen Edition)

Gotta see this too.

X-Files - The Complete First Season (Collector's Edition)
X-Files - The Complete Second Season (Collector's Edition)
X-Files - The Complete Third Season (Collector's Edition)

Discounted versions of the DVD's, they don't include the bonus sixth disc that the original releases had. So, by "Collector's Edition" they must mean "People who couldn't afford the originals so we're screwing them on the extras Edition".

So, there, go buy something. I can't my car broke down and my cell phone is busted. Man I'm glad January is almost over. I hope I get some money from my tax return, and fast, otherwise I need to sell a kidney. Tooth, car, phone, it's $500 worth of expenses I didn't know were coming.

-L

The List, News and a One Sentence Review

1st and Ten: Complete Collection

80 episodes, less than 20 buicks. Anyone ever seen this show? Been a Wal-Mart exclusive until now, and I've been debatng on getting it. When I run out of crap to watch I might pick it up.

The Aristocrats

Gotta see this one too.

Cowboy Bebop Remix 4

Waiting for the set of these, hopefull it won't be too much longer.

Dallas - The Complete Fourth Season

In case you've been wondering who really shot J.R. for the last, oh...20 years?

Dragon Ball Z: Vegeta Saga 1 - Back From the Dead

Wouldn't mind having these new versions either.

Flightplan (Widescreen Edition)

The movie that killed Serenity.

The Fog (Widescreen Unrated Edition)

Superman vs a cloud. Also available with the original.

National Lampoon's Barely Legal

In case you thought they were scraping the bottom of the barrel before.

Planetes, Vol. 5

Bought Vol. 1 recently, haven't watched it yet.

Repo Man (Collector's Edition)

Never saw it.

Thumbsucker

Really wanted to see this.

And in case you're wondering what I missed last week:

Lord of War (2-Disc Special Edition)
Adventures of Superman - The Complete Second Season
Two For the Money (Widescreen Edition)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete Third Season (1972)
Lois & Clark - The New Adventures of Superman - The Complete Second Season
Titus - Season 3
Doogie Howser, M.D. - Season Three


It wasn't much. I did go buy Titus. Of course, haven't watched it yet.

And here's some DVD news that just rocks:

Disney is releasing two shows that I've been dying to have on DVD since DVD became DVD: The Tick and Darkwing Duck. And if that doesn't get you smilin': The Ultimate Apes collection is coming soon. Gotta love the packaging. And, it'll include the animated show, which will be available seperately too. To make you even happier: Dr. Katz is coming soon too. And even more news: BCI picked up some Funimation DVD rights, including She-Ra. And now, the best news EVER: more Futurama on DVD. 4 movies, they start production this summer, I can't friggin' wait!

Saw Underworld this weekend, not as good as the first, but still a good action flik.

-L

All Better

Well, despite a very bad reaction to some painkillers, everything is A-OK, abcess gone, with nothing but a sore jaw to remind me of it. But, that will be gone in a day or so as well I suppose. Or, I hope. I'm glad to have successfully survived my first trip to the dentist in probably ten years. And yes, he felt the need to bombard me with questions about why I don't go to the dentist, blah blah. But, I've been living on my own since I was about 16, dental work has never been part of the budget. I can thank my lackluster parenting for no providing it before then.

So, yeah...

Finished watching The Prisoner today, watching the guide thing right now. The only thing I knew for certain was that #6 was (or would become?) #1, like Dorian said, it's said at the beginning of every episode, you just have to listen to it. I had my suspicions about that ( "Who is #1", "You are #6" or "You are, #6"), Dorian's comment had me almost positive about it, and the final episode answered it. But, it still leaves alot to interpret, which makes it so damn brilliant I guess. I might be cancelling my Netflix, I don't have time to watch the DVDs I've bought, much less ones I'm paying for monthly, so until I get through all my unwatched stuff, Netflix is on hiatus. Ashame too, because I had a ton o stuff I've been dying to watch. Coming up next was Babylon 5. But, inside of a few months I should have most of my purchases watched and resume my subscription.

And ,while I'm here, if you've got some dough to spare, good buddy Patch Drury has some more comics to get rid of, all of 'em pretty damn cheap. He even started a blog for it. Head on over to Buy Patrick's Comics and buy something from him. Mention I sent you, and he might charge you more! I've alread decided to get the two Frank Miller Daredevil books, as I've read maybe a hanful of his DD, and probably a few more things as well. Good stuff, great prices, he's like Wal-Mart, only with less illegal aliens.

-L

Well, My Day Sucked

Got up this morning to find a giant blister in the back of my mouth. Yup, and abcess. Got an emergency dental appointment to fix it, cost $250 that I definitely didn't have. So, yeah, this year just keeps getting worse. Sigh...

-L

The Fastest List on Earth

So, here, finally is a DVD list. Apologies for missing in the last few weeks, I've just been so busy. Here's what hit stores today:

The Bad Sleep Well - Criterion Collection

Another Kurisawa release from Criterion. Always a must buy, but never affordable.

The Chumscrubber

I wanted to see this but it never played here. I'll have to rent it.

The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)

Might be really good, but it's one of those that looks like it could be boring as hell.

Dead Poets Society (Special Edition)

Includes a commentrak with Weir and the writers. Good flik, not one of my favorites though.

Eraserhead

One of two Lynch releases this week. The other isn't Season 2 of Twin Peaks.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Bueller Bueller Edition

A must buy, probably the best DVD of the week. Even if it is a re-release.

The Five Heartbeats - 15th Anniversary Special Edition (Widescreen)

Never saw it.

The Flash - The Complete Series

Wish I had the dough to get this. I only remember seeing the pilot.

Good Morning, Vietnam (Special Edition)

Well, Robin Williams sure is popular today. What's next, Patch Adams?

Hustle & Flow (Widescreen Edition)

Another one on the "must rent" list.

The Magnificent Seven (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

One of the best movies ever made. Looks like I'll have two copies, I gotta buy this.

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Another classic.

Red Eye (Widescreen Edition)

The mystery of who he's supposed to be is probably not enought to get me to watch it.

Sam Peckinpah's Legendary Westerns Collection

Has the aforementioned Billy the Kid flik and the Wild Bunch, plus a few more. Probably worth the price.

The Short Films of David Lynch

This is the other one.

Transporter 2

The part on me that's an idiot wants to see this.

The Wild Bunch - The Original Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Yeah, a classic.

I'm out, peace.

-L

The Television Shows That Just Won't Die

So, for christmas I got South Park Season 5 and The Simpsons Season Seven. I've recently finished watching both.

I guess I'll tell you what I think about them...

Starting with the lesser of the two, Season Five of South Park is one of the shows better years, but there's still the occasional clunker in it. The highlights though make it well worth it.

Easily the best of the bunch are Super Best Friends, Scott Tenorman Must Die, Cartmanland, Here Comes the Neighborhood and Butter's Very Own Episode. All of them stand as some of the series best episodes. From the evil cult of David Blaine, to the depths of Cartman's hatred and Butter's twisted family life, it's all pretty hilarious. The only features on the set are the mini commentaries by Stone and Parker. Mostly they're just behind the scenes stuff, but there are a few occasionally informative things they have to say. Probably not worth the asking price, but it was a present, so it was worth it for me, and it's all pretty damn funny.

The Simpsons set, now there's something worth owning. It is hands down the single best season the show has ever had, and if you disagree, well, that'd just make you wrong. just look at the episode list (thanks to someone over at Amazon):

Who Shot Mr. Burns? (2) - In this, a continuation of a storyline started in the sixth season's finale, the identity of Mr. Burns' would-be assassin is revealed.

Radioactive Man - A Radioactive Man movie is being filmed in Springfield, and Milhouse gets the role as his sidekick Bart so desperately wanted.

Home Sweet Home-Dum-Diddly Doodly - Marge and Homer are accused of being bad parents and their kids are sent to live with the Flanders family.

Bart Sells His Soul - During an argument in church about whether or not souls exist, Bart sells his to Milhouse for five dollars.

Lisa The Vegetarian - An encounter with a very cute lamb at a petting zoo makes Lisa question whether eating meat is right.

Treehouse Of Horror VI - In this year's Halloween trilogy, billboards come to life and wreak havoc on Springfield, a recently-deceased Willie attacks children in their dreams, and Homer gets trapped in the third dimension.

King-Size Homer - Homer intentionally gains additional weight so that he can qualify for a disability that will let him work from home.

Mother Simpson - Homer's long-lost mother returns to his life after nearly a quarter of a century, and this makes the family question where she has been the whole time.

Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming - Sideshow Bob returns yet again, this time threatening Springfield with an atomic weapon at the city's air show.

The Simpson's 138th Show Spectacular - Troy McClure hosts a special, featuring rare and deleted footage, fan letters, alternate endings, and plenty of other interesting stuff.

Marge Be Not Proud - When Bart is caught attempting to shoplift a video game, he tries his best to keep it a secret from his family.

Team Homer - Homer gets fed up with the league nights at the bowling alley hogging the lanes, so he forms his own bowling team.

Two Bad Neighbors - Former president George Herbert Walker Bush moves in across from the Simpsons, and trouble quickly ensues between him and Homer.

Scenes From A Class Struggle In Springfield - Marge meets a friend she hasn't seen since high school, who has long since become high-class material.

Bart The Fink - Bart's actions in an attempt to get an autograph from Krusty result in tax problems for Krusty, which drive him to insanity.

Lisa The Iconoclast - Lisa discovers some shocking truths about the man who founded Springfield around the same time a founder's day celebration is planned.

Homer The Smithers - Mr. Burns demands an overworked Smithers take a vacation, and Homer fills in for him during his time off.

The Day The Violence Died - Bart discovers the true creator of Itchy and Scratchy, who he successfully convinces to sue the studio owner. Unfortunately, this causes the studio to go bankrupt, resulting in the end of Itchy and Scratchy cartoons.

A Fish Called Selma - During a law-mandated visit to the DMV to have his eyesight checked, Troy McClure meets Selma, and oddly enough, the two fall in love.

Bart On The Road - When Bart is forced to spend a day observing Patty and Selma at the DMV, he makes his own fake ID, and uses to have all kinds of fun around town.

22 Short Films About Springfield - Essentially, the title of this episode says exactly what it is.

The Curse of the Flying Hellfish - Grampa entertains Bart with his stores of when he fought in World War II, alongside the fathers of many of the best-known men in Springfield.

Much Apu About Nothing - Apu reveals to the Simpsons he is an illegal alien, and this ultimately causes Homer to stop hating immigrants who enter the country illegally.

Homerpalooza - Homer gets a job with a traveling music/freak show, getting shot in the chest with a cannon.

Summer Of 4'2" - For the summer, the Simpson family and Milhouse go to a coastal town to spend time at the Flanders family's beach house.

There isn't a bad episode to be found, and I'd be hard pressed to pick out my favorite of the bunch. Lisa the Iconoclast does contain the absolute funniest line of dialogue ever spoken on TV though, and Bart on the Road probably ranks in my top five of all time, as does 22 Short Films. But they're all classics. In fact, in a Top 25 list every episode except Part 2 of Who Shot Mr. Burns (easily the weakest episode of the season) would be present. And here's a little tidbit for all you Beatles fans out there- Lisa the Vegetarian has an alternate version of Maybe I'm Amazed, inserted into the song is Paul's recipe for Lentil Soup, backwards. There's Homer in 3d, something that pushed the boundaries of animation when it was created, Homer in a mumu, Sideshow Bob's best appearence (in my opinion), the 138th Spectacular hosted by Troy McClure- the best clip show ever made, Team Homer and Homer the Smithers are some of the best Burns material ever written, Homer vs Bush is friggin hilarious and a Fish Called Selma is more Troy, always a good thing. Like I said, the single best season ever. If I had to choose one TV DVD set to take on a desert island it would probably be Firefly (Ha!), but this would be a pretty close second.

-L

Where Were We?

I've been meaning to post, honest I have. Life has just become one big blur lately, with hardly any time for amusement. So, what have I been up to?

I'm almost through with The Prisoner. I'm loving it. The most recently watched episode was "Living in Harmony", and I think it's definitely my favorite so far. Though, the other episode on the disc is quite good as well. I've watched some of the special features on the discs I've sent back, didn't find too many of them that interesting, though one interview contained a kind-of spoiler, so I decided to skip anything other than the episodes from then on.

Caught Scrubs hour long premiere the other night, and was really unimpressed with it. I missed most of last season for some reason or another, and I might decide to skip this one voluntarily. Outside of a handful of funny moments in the second episode I just thought it was lackluster. Also watched the premier of Four Kings. Not great either, but it has a heart to it that a lot of sitcoms lack, I doubt if the show lasts long at all.

I'm now an official convert to How I Met Your Mother. I hated (HATED) the first epsiode, but since then the show has improved vastly, and if they could ditch the Bob Saget stuff I'd be ready to proclaim it the best new show on TV. Instead, My Name is Earl gets that honor. Also still loving Two and a Half Men, CSI Miami, and all the other crap I watch regularly. Oh, Arrested Development is as brilliant as ever, too bad it's ending. But, at least we got what we did, right?

The year definitely started off on a sour note, hell it ended on one too. The Falcons don't deserve any damn thing. They don't even deserve the 8-8 record. Football is a team sport, and apparently they forgot how to play as a team. When the offense clicked, the defense crumbled and if the D made a goal line stand the offense couldn't get in the endzone. Typical Atlanta, never able to play to their fullest. Said it for years now, they can only put half of themselves into any season, game or drive. Vick has improved as a short passer I thnk, but it's those 20 yard throws that he just can't get down. I give him one more year in Atlanta, if he can't do it next year, he's trade fodder.

I've had a few new things show up at the Galaxy; my Demo review and a column that I may have already linked to. While you're there check out the exclusive Barry Windsor-Smith preview, it's truly awesome stuff. Speaking of the column though, that may be my last, at least for awhile. I really haven't had the energy for it and it's not exactly fair to keep doing it if I'm not going to give it my all.

Other crap that's kept me busy.company the last week?

Be Cool, the sequel to Get Shorty. Not a great film by any menas, but not a bad one. Has it's funny moments, the acting is spot on, but the script could have used some work. It all feels very forced. Still, I liked it more than most, probably because I saw the tongue-in-cheek style it was trying to pull off. Also watched March of the Penguins; very depressing. And I saw Melinda and Melinda, Woody Allen's latest film. Great, great story, with no Allen in sight. Well, unless you count Will Ferrell's pretty accurate imitation. Not his best work, but maybe his most commercial. Longtime fans will probably not love it, but for people like me who think less Woody is better, it's a good bet.

Reading? The usual.

The Perhapanauts #2 was good. The story has me intrigued. But, the letters page confuses me. Was this series being published somewhere else? I'd never heard of it til this new mini. I'll have to track some info down about it.

Spider-Man/Black Cat #5 hit last week, and man does it blow. Not even the hyper-sexy Dodson art can save this crap. Seriously, rape? Is that all comics are about anymore? Is that what every woman hero in comics must become, a rape victim? Not to make light of any real life victims (I know quite a few, so I know how damaging it can be), but that's just beyond dumb. There are ways to tell an emoptional story with women that don't involve them being raped, just like their are ways to tell emotional stories about kids that don't involve them being molested. In the world of fiction it's an old hat, it's tired and cliche. But, I guess no one's said Kevin Smith was original since Clerks, have they? Personally, I like Dogma better than all of 'em.

Y #41 was another stand alone. This time we got 355's "origin". Hey, thanks for nothing Vaughan. That wasn't an origin, not really. More like "Hey, pad this story out a little bit." "Okay, I have the perfect idea!" Still, it was better than anything else I read this week.

Fallen Angel #1...Well, I'm sorry I pre-ordered so many issues before I read this one. The art sucks and I'm completely friggin lost with the story. Dammit. But David's X-Factor is rocking my socks off. #2 was funny as hell, even with little miss "I move the plot along."

The Hyperactives preview sucked. No more Alias books for me, thank god. I'll have to go into that at some point in time. Funny story...

What if?... Starring Wolverine. Ooooh, I know, what if this didn't suck! I love Daniel Way, but this was barely readable. I didn't even see the Punisher reference until I looked at the cover again. Speaking of the clawed one. I liked Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk. It's like Con Air in comic book form. It's senseless just for the sake of being senseless.

Justice #3 came out, and I don't even remember reading it. That's sad, I enjoyed the first two issues a lot. This every other month thing is gonna kill me. Also read Testament #1 and wasn unimpressed. We've all seen Logan's Run, please stop re-making it, thank you.

Do I sound bitter? Man I hope this year gets better!

-L