Sanctuary

I have been catching up a bit on some of the shows I've slept through this year.  I loved Sanctuary last year and this year it is proving to remain one of my favorite programs.  The writing is just awesome and it is a show that continues to keep you guessing.  I think Amanda Tapping is marvelous as Helen Magnus and she is finally getting to show that she can act -- which was an occasional thing over at Stargate. 

This is one show where all the main characters are good.  I particularly enjoy the interaction between the characters.  Henry has grown considerably this year, as has Will.  I hated to see Ashley go, but the new addition is a good one -- and the give-and-take between her and Henry adds another facet to the show.

Rainy Sunday Afternoon

It has been raining here for nearly for two days.  I found the perfect way to spend the day.  I pulled out the latest video from Warner Bros. SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES.  I have been a real fan of comic books for years and I have found that these animated movies are absolutely wonderful.  They have captured so much of the power and moral character that I remember from the comics I read way back when.
In this movie, Lex Luthor becomes President of he United States and has Superman and Batman declared Public Enemies because they would not work with him and some other super heroes.  This is a great story and resonates so well -- showing the economic crisis that we see in newspapers today.  This was a great movie and I'm sure everyone will enjoy it.  What you have to watch are the extras that come with the DVD.  It is such a wonderful mix of interviews and commentaries from some of the best in comic book history.  The new Justice League has a segment that is gives you a peek of that feature with some wonderful voice talent assembled.
Animated features can be just rich and exciting as a non-animated feature.  It's all in the writing -- good script usually means a good feature.  I find that the Super Heroes works on a number of levels -- kids and adults.

The Mentalist

I love weekends -- they go way too quickly -- but it gives me a chance to watch some of the programs I've missed during the week -- and DVDs that I haven't cracked the wrapper on yet!  This week I got into THE MENTALIST.  Simon Baker is SO cute -- but the show is wonderfully clever as well.  Simon Baker portrays the haunted hero extremely well.  As Patrick Jane, he assists police with an assortment of murders.  The most interesting story arc is that of Red John -- the person who killed Jane's wife and child and continues to haunt him with additional murders -- each using a similar style and disdain for life. 

I love procedural dramas like Criminal Minds, CSIs, NCIS, etc.  The Mentalist is somewhat like that but more character involvement.  I am only now getting into Criminal Minds -- now that it is on A&E, I can watch it just about anytime.  While I like CSI: Miami - David Caruso drives me nuts!!!! 

Anyway, Happy Monday -- back to work.

DVDs - Fringe

I am watching the Fringe DVD for season one.  I love this series -- it is very creative and really exciting.  The extras are awesome.  There are several segments on the visual effects associated with the show and it is an amazing series of segments.  You see how much green screen they have used and how CGI has been enhanced to provide the visual effects being used.  To have this on a TV series is unbelievable.  You see this stuff in movies and they have tons of time to get the effects done.  To have this on a weekly series is just unbelievable.

I know I have written about the series before.  Can't wait to see the second season to begin.  Leonard Nimoy played "the" most key character of the series and I can't wait to see where they go with their alternate reality scenario.  It is very cool!

I love watching the special features on DVDs -- especially when they explain how they have done some of the special effects.  The commentary is very cool as well.  The writers and producers discuss how they came up with the various ideas and stories and how they actually brought it to the screen.  This is what makes getting the DVD worthwhile.  You can record all the episodes of the series but you can never get this sort of thing -- only on the DVD.

If you enjoy the series, you are going to love this DVD.

Senator Edward Kennedy

I guess I am like a million other people watching the news related to the death of Senator Edward Kennedy. He was a very beloved politician here in Washington and in Massachusetts. Few ever talk ill of the dead, but it seems like more people have good things to say about him than not. I admired him for years. Unlike his brothers, he seemed content in Congress, fighting the continual fight for bills to increase minimum wage, civil rights, health care. He was good at what he did -- talking and listening to people's concerns.

At least to my generation, there are only a few names that come to mind immediately when talking about Senators -- Senator Kennedy is the first one that pops into my head. Despite the fact that everyone knew his days were numbered following the diagnosis of brain cancer, he continued to pick his appearances and lend his voice and influence when needed. I applaud him for a life of service and hope his family will find solace in the millions of people who shed tears at his passing.

I don't believe we will see the likes of Ted Kennedy again. In this age of mass media and fast communications, few stop to say hello, tell stories and share experiences as he did. He was the ultimate "people" person with a skill to energize people for a cause or an idea. His smile was infectious, as was his love of life.

FRINGE

It is amazing what people come up with to promote their upcoming DVDs and other projects. Warner Bros. has developed a new game where you match the pattern frequently seen on FRINGE -- the grand prize is a trip to the FRINGE studio. You get 6 chances to enter wonder what the odds are in such a contest. Anyway, its fun and since this is one of my favorite shows, if not my favorite show, I hope that the DVD sales do well.

I find that there is so little on TV these days to actually make me think -- at least while my eyes are still focused on the screen. FRINGE peeks my curiosity on a number of levels. You wonder about the A story, but you wonder about all the little things that go on behind the A story -- the Olivia/Peter chemistry that is developing, the whole interaction between Peter and his father, I just can't wait for it to return. Now I have the DVD to watch and see what extras they have tucked inside.

If you want to learn more about the series, go to http://www.warnervideo.com/fringedvd/.

New DVDs

There are some awesome DVDs coming out in the next few weeks-months. I was watching SMALLVILLE on Sunday. Boy has that changed from its early days on the tube. Tom Welling has grown nicely into a leading man and Allison Mach is awesome as Cloe. I thought I would miss Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) more -- but the new lady, Tess, fills in nicely. You wonder what's going on with her and Oliver (Green Arrow) and at times it seems more like a soap opera.

Coming very soon are the DVD collections for SUPERNATURAL and FRINGE. I have loved FRINGE from the first episode and can't wait for it to return for season two. This show has so many twists and turns you need the DVD so that you can run it back to see what you missed. This year promises to be even better -- with Leonard Nimoy as the mysterious Mr. Bell making another appearance.

Warner Bros. has a ton of great movies for kids, including a new Scooby-Do Where Are You? Volume Three. Their selection of animated adventures is awesome. The Green Lantern: First Flight was great. I can't wait to see SUPERFRIENDS: The Lost Episodes and SUPERMAN: THE COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES. The previous volumes have been wonderful and my nephews children can sit for hours and watch. Oh, can't forget WONDER WOMAN! They all make for good viewing -- along with positive reinforcement of good versus evil.