Syria Behind The Lines A Powerful, In-Depth Investigation Of The Syrian Civil War

Posted on June 17, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS

Tensions in the Middle Eastern nation of Syria seem to be at an all-time high. Allegations recently came to light that President Bashar Al Assad’s regime used chemical weapons on its own people. This is just the latest black eye for the war ravaged nation. As the unrest in the country continues, PBS examines what is at the heart of this bloody feud and the effect of the conflict on both sides in the latest episode of Frontline, Syria Behind The Lines.

Frontline: Syria Behind The Lines is a deep and powerful look at a conflict that has raged for years in this Middle Eastern nation. It shows the devastation brought on by both the Syrian rebels and those fighting for the Al Assad regime in the war. Just as interesting to note as the human cost of the war, is the view that people on both sides of the war have towards involvement in the war by Westerners. One side notes that it wants the country to be the way it used to be although it fights on the side of Assad’s regime. On the other side, viewers are presented with those fighting for freedom and democracy in Syria. The juxtaposition of the peaceful Syrian countryside to the devastated city streets and walls is just as powerful a statement made by film maker Olly Lambert. Both sides obviously want peace. Yet neither side wants to work toward peace. This can only mean that the only way the city will be as peaceful as the countryside is for no one to remain in Syria’s Orontes River Valley.

The revelation of the seeming price of peace in Syria is painful. And the sentiment regarding intervention by Western nations is sure to generate just much discussion among viewers as the topic of the war itself and whether the United States should be involved in this conflict. The recent allegations that the Al Assad regime used chemical weapons on the rebels will only heighten that discussion along with the consideration of political tensions on Capitol Hill. Seeing the violence firsthand that has ravaged Syria brings home just how much pain and loss has been created as a result of the ongoing war. It is made obvious that the war is rooted deeply in religious and political beliefs much like so many conflicts throughout human history. This adds one more angle for discussion among both casual viewers and experts and talking heads. Keeping all of this in mind, viewers can’t help but agree that those behind Frontline have succeeded once again in maintaining the program’s positive reputation with this feature. Frontline: Syria Behind The Lines will be available next Tuesday, June 25^th. It can be ordered online direct from the PBS online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=20299416&cp=&kw=syria+behind+the+lines&origkw=Syria+Behind+The+Lines&sr=1.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ABC Pulls Big Number For NBA Finals Game 5

Posted on June 17, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

Game 5 of the NBA Finals left some strong numbers for ABC Sunday night. The matchup of the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat generated a strong 11.4 overnight rating according to Nielsen. It is expected to mark the thirty-fifth consecutive time that an NBA Finals telecast has won the night across the board and the twenty-third consecutive time that it has delivered double digit overnight ratings.

The peak period for the game was between 10:30pm and 10:45pm EST. This fifteen minute period saw the game peak at a 13.9. Local market numbers are just as good for the NBA Finals. Game 5 pulled in a 37.6 metered market rating in San Antonio and a 28.8 in Miami.

The series’ crucial Game 6 airs Tuesday night June 18^th, live at 9pm EST from Miami. It will be broadcast live on ABC. It will also be simulcast on ESPN Radio affiliates across the country and on ESPN Deportes for Spanish speaking audiences. For those wanting to catch the game online, it will be available on ESPN3 and WatchESPN. The game will be preceded by the Kia NBA Countdown at 8:30pm on ABC and ESPN3.

To keep up with all of the latest NBA news from ESPN, audiences can “Like” ESPN on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ESPN. Fans can also get all the latest NBA news on the official ESPN website, http://www.espn.com.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Beetlejuice Season One Reminds Viewers Why Beetlejuice is The Ghost With The Most

Posted on June 17, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: Shout! Factory

When it debuted in 1989, the Tim Burton helmed horror comedy Beetlejuice was one of the scariest, funniest, and most original movies of its time. It wasn’t long after the movie debuted that Burton headed up an animated, kid friendly take on the movie that has turned out to be another of the best children’s cartoons of its time. Even in only four seasons, this unlikely hit produced so many laughs both for kids and their parents who had likely seen the movie. It has remained such a fan favorite because of its storylines and its entirely original animation style. It also is so impressive thanks to voice actor Stephen Ouimette. His portrayal of the “Ghost with the Most” successfully brought Michael Keaton’s character to the small screen. His portrayal of Beetlejuice, along with the show’s writing and animation makes this another example of everything that was once right with children’s entertainment in the late 80s and 90s. This is evident from early on in the series’ first season, which is available now on DVD.

Audiences that grew up with Beetlejuice: The Animated Series will remember this show fondly for a number of reasons. One of the most notable of those reasons is the show’s writing. Those that remember the movie on which this show was based remember how everything unfolded. So they will recall that the animated series is quite different. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. And keeping in mind the proposed plot for a long in the works sequel to the original movie, that Lydia and Beetlejuice would be friends in the series actually makes more sense in hindsight. Having Lydia and Beetlejuice being friends is just one of the positives to the writing behind Beetlejuice: The Animated Series. The physical comedy and the nonsensical plots add to each episode’s comic element. For instance, having Beetlejuice taking on a babysitting service just to earn the money to buy Lydia a gift is completely against everything that Beetlejuice stands for. So it goes without saying that this is a solid first episode to the series. And the jokes that Beetlejuice pulls on Lydia’s dad, Charles, and her rival, Claire Brewster make for more than enough physical comedy for viewers of any age. Suffice it to say that the show’s writers offered plenty more for viewers to enjoy whether for the first time or the first time again. But to discuss all of it would take far too long. So it would be best to go on to another factor behind the success of Season One.

From the show’s writing, the next sensible point of Beetlejuice: The Animated Series to discuss is its animation. Beetlejuice: The Animated Series had its own identifying mark thanks to its animation. As a matter of fact, the way that the show’s artists combined actual hand drawn animation with computer based animation was something that no other cartoon at the time was doing at the time. And it wouldn’t be done again for many years to come. It can be argued that its animation style was quite the influence behind other cartoons crafted during the late 1990s and early 200s. A prime example of that influence is Cartoon Network’s short-lived series, Courage the Cowardly Dog. It’s just one of a handful of cartoons that have followed suit. And it’s very possible that without the work of the animators behind Beetlejuice: The Animated Series, these later series might not have happened. Or at least, they might not have been brought to life when they did.

The animation and writing behind Beetlejuice: The Animated Series did so much to make this show stand out from all of the other cartoons from which kids had to choose in its original airing. And it still does to this day. There’s one other factor that makes it so enjoyable, even in its debut season. That last remaining factor is the voice talent of one Stephen Ouimette. Ouimette was the man that brought Beetlejuice to life on the small screen. And he did quite the job of it, too. He expertly translated the character portrayed by Michael Keaton (Batman, Batman Returns, Mr. Mom) onto the small screen, making him just as entertaining as Keaton. From the personality, right down to the voice itself, Ouimette was showed time and again that he did his research with this character. There was no better choice for the role, since Keaton was unable to (or simply didn’t want to) voice the “ghost with the most.” He might have only gotten to give voice to Beetlejuice for four seasons. But in those four seasons, he helped make Beetlejuice one of the most entertaining and ironically kid friendly characters on television. And along with the writing and the animation, the whole show proved to be one of the best on television at the time. It proves even today, to be one of the best even on DVD. It is available in stores and online and can be ordered direct via the Shout! Factory store at http://www.shoutfactory.com/?q=node/217313.

Bosox, Angels Face Off July 7th On ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented By Taco Bell

Posted on June 16, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has announced the latest addition to its Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell schedule. On Sunday, July 7^th, ESPN will broadcast a matchup between “Big Papi” David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox and Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels live. The game will be broadcast live at 8pm EDT. Dan Shulman will be joined by analysts Orel Hershiser and John Kruk. Reporter Buster Olney will be on hand to provide commentary.

Along with its primary broadcast on ESPN, the gam will also be broadcast on ESPN Deportes with Ernesto Jerez, Luis Alfredo Alvarez, Guillermo Celis, and Ozzie Guillen. It will also be broadcast on ESPN Radio affiliates across the country with Jon Schiambi and analyst Chris Singleton. Fans can also see the game on with WatchESPN.

Each week’s game is preceded by Baseball Tonight at 7pm EDT. Tonight’s game sees the San Francisco Giants on the road against the Atlanta Braves. The current schedule of games on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell is available below. Additional July games are announced three weeks prior to their broadcast while August and September games will be announced two weeks in advance to their broadcast.

Upcoming Sunday Night Baseball schedule:

Date	Game
June 16	San Francisco Giants at Atlanta Braves
June 23	Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals
June 30	New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles
July 7	Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels
July 14	St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
July 21	New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

For all the latest Sunday Night Baseball news, go online to http://espn.go.com/mlb/baseballtonight and https://www.facebook.com/ESPNBaseballTonight.

To keep up with all of the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Deer Documentary An Interesting Release From PBS

Posted on June 14, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS

The deer is one of the most beautiful and graceful of nature’s creatures. While urban sprawl has drastically increased throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the population of deer has actually increased as well. And as the deer population in North America, so have the opportunities to document the lives of these beautiful creatures. Suburban residents, semi-professional naturalists and even professionals alike have had plenty of opportunity to document the behavior patterns of deer as humans and deer increasingly cross paths. Thus audiences get another enjoyable episode of PBS’ series of animal adventures, Nature, titled, The Private Life of Deer.

The Private Life of Deer is quite the interesting look at an animal that is so visible each year across every part of the country. As it shows and notes on the back of the DVD case, deer are quite visible across the country. But as it reveals, these seemingly simple animals are far more complex than anyone might have ever thought. It points out that they are quite the social animals. One of the most interesting facts of which viewers will take note comes early on in the program. Narrator Howard McGillin notes indirectly that urban sprawl has actually created ideal situations for deer. This is, as is noted, because it provides plenty of food for deer as they will eat pretty much any plant life, including that which grows in backyard gardens. It’s gotten so out of hand that suburban residents have had to resort to putting up fences high enough that deer can’t jump over them. Apparently that doesn’t seem to work, as footage included in the program shows. There are other interesting facts included in this episode of Nature that audiences will enjoy discovering such as the social interaction of deer. Viewers will find interesting that it’s not only bucks that literally butt heads with one another. The doe go head to head, too. Just as interesting is the early note of communication between deer. In particular is the communication of warning between deer by the simple twitching of the deer’s tail. Who would ever have imagined something so simple could mean so much? It is one more of so many amazing facts that viewers will learn in watching this documentary.

The facts taught about deer through this episode of Nature are interesting in that they prove that most people do not know as much as they might perhaps believe about them. It’s another plus for PBS’ hit series. Just as impressive as the facts revealed through the program are the general structure and cinematography of the episode. The structure was such that it was simple for any viewer to follow. What’s more, it easily keeps viewers engaged as it transitions from one topic to another and maintains its simplicity through each segment of the episode. The cinematography was just as impressive as the segments themselves. Watching the deer make jumps over the tallest of fences as first hand witnesses describe their disbelief will in itself leave viewers in disbelief. That’s because the deer don’t look like they should be able to jump that high. It’s already known that deer are good jumpers. But the ability to jump over a six-foot high fence is incredible. Equally incredible is the footage of the elusive “ghost deer.” This deer is so called as it is an albino deer. As is the case with any albino animal, the “ghost deer” is extremely rare. So having the opportunity to see it even on film is still an extraordinary experience, especially so close-up. There are so many other wonderful cinematic moments that work with the presentation’s overall structure. Viewers will find their own favorite moments throughout the near hour long episode when they order the brand new DVD, which is available now in the PBS online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=20029976&cp=&kw=the+private+life+of+deer&origkw=The+Private+Life+of+Deer&sr=1.

Fans of PBS’ Nature can keep up with all of the latest news on the show when they “Like” the official Nature Facebook page and website at http://www.facebook.com/PBSNature and http://www.pbs.org/nature. Fans can also keep up with the latest news and more on the show from the official PBS Facebook page and website at http://www.facebook.com/pbs and http://www.pbs.org.

Undefeated Fighters Anchor This Week’s Edition Of FNF

Posted on June 13, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN’s Friday Night Fights returns with yet another big card tomorrow night, June 14^th. This week, the show will be headlined by a bout between two undefeated fighters. Along with the match, viewers will also get to see a ten-round fight between a pair of Junior Featherweights. Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas and Todd Grisham will all be on hand for all the latest on the fight and news from around the boxing world. On hand for ESPN Deportes will be the regular crew of Pablo Viruega, Delvin Rodriguez, Claudia Trejos and Leopoldo Gonzales. Bernardo Osuna will also be on hand for live interviews and the latest reports.

Friday night’s brand new edition of Friday Night Fights will feature in its main event, two undefeated Bantamweights in the form of Juan Carlos “Baby Pacquiao” Payano (13 – 7, 7 KOs) and Jundy Maraon (15 – 0 – 1, 12 KOs). The pair will face off in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBA Interim title. The fight will be broadcast live from the Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange, New Jersey at 9pm EDT on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, and online via WatchESPN. Payano, from Miami, is a 2004 and 2008 Olympian. He is coming into tomorrow’s fight on the heels of a second-round TKO win over Jhon Molina in his most recent fight. Payano spoke through an interpreter, explaining his nickname and what he expects in his fight with Maraon. “My style is similar to Manny Pacquiao – that’s why I’m ‘Baby Pacquiao,” he said. But I feel like I’m a little more organized with my punches, have better technique and better fighting ability. I think Maraon is a great fighter. He’s very strong and technically very sound. But I feel that he’s a one-way fighter, always looking for the knockout. He hasn’t really fought my caliber, so the knockouts have come easy. I consider myself a great fighter, as well – it will be two good fighters facing each other on June 14^th, and I’ll be prepared.”

Maraon also comes into tomorrow night’s fight with another win under his belt. He defeated Ernest Marquez thanks to a third-round KO against Marquez. Maraon’s trainer, Nonito Donaire, Sr., spoke on his behalf, telling reporters about what he believes to be Maraon’s edge over Payano. “He’s quick and fast. He’s strong – Jundy [Maraon] doesn’t hit like a bantam, he hits hard,” Donaire said. “I watched video of Payano. He’s good, but he doesn’t have the punching power like Jundy. I think this is going to be a good fight. Payano is not just like ‘any opponent’ – he’s a good fighter, too.”

Along with tomorrow night’s main event, viewers will also be treated to a ten-round co-feature that will pit Junior Featherweights Yenifel “El Rayo” Vicente (24 – 1 – 2, 16 KOs) and Jorge “King” Diaz (12 – 1, 10 KOs) against one another. Vincente won his most recent fight in a second-round KO win over Aneudy Mesa. Diaz also comes into tomorrow’s fight with some momentum. His most recent fight resulted in a sixth-round unanimous decision win for him over Victor Sanchez.

Friday Night Fights still has a pair of fights left on its schedule. That pair is noted below.

Upcoming Schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Main Event	Location	Networks
Fri., Jun 21	10 p.m.	Rances Barthelemy (18-0, 11 KOs) vs. Fahsai Sakkreerin (39-3-1, 21 KOs)—12-rounds, Junior Lightweight	Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minn.	ESPN2, ESPN Deportes WatchESPN
Fri., Jun 28	9 p.m.	Grzegorz Proska (29-2, 21 KOs) vs. Sergio Mora (23-3-2, 7 KOs)—10-rounds, Middleweight	Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Fla.	ESPN2, ESPN Deportes WatchESPN

For all of the latest news and more from ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, fans can “Like” the official FNF Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/espn.fnf. While there, fans can score tomorrow night’s fight round by round with the Live Friday Night Fights Voting app. Fans can also follow ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on the official ESPN website at http://www.espn.com/boxing and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ESPNboxing and http://twitter.com/ESPNBoxeo.

From Dust To Dreams A Concert Dream Come True

Posted on June 13, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS

Las Vegas is typically known by its nickname, “Sin City.” The other “city that never sleeps” is dominated by gambling, girls, and much more. Because of that reputation, few people would ever associate the famed city with a center for the performing arts. But there is in fact a center for the performing and cultural arts in Las Vegas now in the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Thanks to PBS, audiences that weren’t able to be in attendance at the celebration of the center’s opening can now re-live the concert event any time that they want.

from Dust to Dreams: Opening Night at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts chronicles the celebration held in honor of the center’s opening. What can be said of this performance but it was an impressive show from a who’s who of the music and entertainment community. Performers the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Mavis Staples, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and more than can be named here took part in the two-hour long celebration of the arts coming to Las Vegas at long last. Host of the Tonys and star of CBS’ How I Met Your Mother served as emcee of this presentation. What’s interesting to note about his presence in this performance is how much different it was in comparison to what audiences have become accustomed to from the actor. This isn’t a bad thing, either. If anything, it only serves to heighten the enjoyment of the overall presentation. Add in expertly mixed audio and video, and audiences get what is in retrospect one of the best live recordings of 2012.

The very first thing that can be noted of from Dust to Dreams is that it opens and closes in fine fashion. The opening number performed by trumpet player Arturo Sandoval. Sandoval’s performance was an outstanding opener for the two-hour event. His control over his instrument shows the result of his years of training. This is especially the case when he hits the final high note of his opening number. Far too often, some overzealous performers hit high notes in songs, thinking they sound good. But in reality the performers in question are blasting out the notes, resulting in a very harsh sound. That wasn’t the case with Sandoval’s performance. His performance got the energy flowing and set the bar for what was to come through the rest of the show’s performances.

The performances that follow that of Sandoval hold the bar quite well. Whether the medley of songs from Man of La Mancha and West Side Story, the classic country of veteran artist Willie Nelson, or even the more rocking sounds of John Fogerty, this show spans the musical spectrum and will entertain audiences of all ages and musical tastes. Adding to the enjoyment of the concert is the presence of emcee Neil Patrick Harris. Yes, Harris was more subdued in his hosting duties here than as host of the Tonys. But this was an entirely different event. Even the performers had their time on stage limited as there were so many performers. What’s more, Harris did offer his share of pretty funny jokes when he was on stage. Audiences need to keep this in mind in considering his performance as emcee of this event. In doing so, those same individuals will enjoy the laughs that Harris shares when he is on stage.

The performance of host Neil Patrick Harris and that of the show’s performers make from Dust to Dreams quite the enjoyable live recording. One would be remiss though, to ignore the importance of the show’s audio and video mix. Going back to the show’s opening number by Arturo Sandoval straight through to the show’s closing number, the audio and video have been expertly mixed. There are some songs that absolutely soar throughout the course of this program. And then there are other, more subtle pieces that were captured so well. Whether one has a home surround sound theater or not, one can still experience so much. Those that do have home theater systems will appreciate the performances even more. That’s because the picture will look crystal clear on an HDTV and the sound will sound just as clear. This is especially true for those with surround sound. It is these aspects that make the overall presentation on this DVD so enjoyable. In retrospect, it makes this collection of performances one of the best live recordings of 2012. From Dust to Dreams is available now. It can be ordered online direct from the PBS online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=13233132&cp=&sr=1&kw=from+dust+to+dreams&origkw=from+Dust+to+Dreams&parentPage=search&searchId=1374600.

Fans of PBS and its programming can keep up with all of the latest news, releases and more from the network online at http://ww.facebook.com/pbs and at http://www.pbs.org.

Us Weekly: Segel’s New Romantic Interest Identified

Posted on June 12, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: Us Weekly Magazine

Actor Jason Segel has recently been seen out and about with a new mystery woman. The actor, who is best known for his role on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, parted ways with former girlfriend Michelle Williams this past February. Now, the identity of Segel’s new mystery companion has been revealed. Her name is Bojana Novakovic. The 31-year old Serbian/Australian actress is best known for her role in The Edge of Darkness. She was spotted with Segel on June 9^th. She and Segel were seen out and about shopping and sharing lunch together in Hollywood. Reports are that the photographs saw Segel affectionately wrapping his arm around Novakovic during the couple’s outing.

A source close to Segel noted of Segel and his new love interest that she definitely holds a special place in his heart. “He had been dating some girls, a few. But think it may be a little more serious with this one,” the source said. “He wanted to date, but he did learn that down the road he does want something more stable and serious.”

Segel and Williams broke up this past February after dating about a year. Reports are that the parting of ways was mutual as the couple wasn’t able to make its long distance relationship work. Williams is currently living in New York with her seven-year old daughter, Matilda. Segel currently resides in Los Angeles. In the time since the couple broke up, Williams has allegedly been seen out and about with artist Dustin Yellin. The couple had been spotted at a park in Brooklyn on June 4^th with Williams’ daughter.

More information on this and even more is available online at http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jason-segels-mystery-girl-identified-bojana-novakovic-2013126#ixzz2W14waVmU.

To keep up with all of the latest celebrity news and more from Us Magazine, go to the magazine’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/UsWeekly and “Like” it. Fans can also keep up with all the latest celebrity news and more on the Us Magazine website, http://www.UsMagazine.com. Fans can also keep up with all the latest from Us Magazine on Twitter at http://twitter.com/usweekly.

Shout! Factory Re-Issuing MST3K The Movie This Fall

Posted on June 12, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: Shout! Factory

For years, Shout! Factory has released to audiences twenty-six volumes of episodes from the hit cult comedy/sci-fi series, Mystery Science Theater 3000 (otherwise known by fans as MST3K). This summer, fans will see a twenty-seventh volume hit store shelves and online outlets. And this fall, fans get even more of a treat when Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie will be re-issued by Shout! Factory on a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie originally debuted in theaters in 1996. The movie was centered on the 1955 sci-fi classic, This Island Earth. Now fans of the cult favorite show and its subsequent movie will get to add this modern classic to their libraries when the movie is re-issued on Tuesday, September 3^rd. This time out, it’s not just Mike, Crow, and Tom Servo that could be subjected to the best of the worst of Hollywood’s sci-fi flicks. The evil scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester explains in the movie’s opening that he plans to torture the people of the whole planet to the movies that for years Mike and company have had to endure. Who can stop them? Leave it to Mike, Crow and Tom Servo….perhaps. Audiences will have to find out for themselves when Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie is released on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack Tuesday September 3^rd.

The following bonus features and specs included in the upcoming re-issue are below:

Special Features:

The Making Of Mystery Science Theater 3000 The Movie
The Making Of Mystery Science Theater 3000 The Movie : The Motion Picture Odyssey
This Island Earth: 2 ½ Years In the Making
Deleted Scenes
Original Theatrical Trailer

Presentation

Blu-ray: 1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.85:1)/DTS-HD Master Audio
DVD: Anamorphic Widescreen/Dolby Digital
Color/74 minutes/Rated PG

Ghost Army One Of The Greatest Generation’s Greatest Stories

Posted on June 11, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS

PBS’ latest WWII documentary, The Ghost Army is another of this year’s best documentaries. While it will not be available until next Tuesday, June 18^th, its release was still quite well timed with the recent passing of last week’s 68^th anniversary of D-Day. There are so many stories that have been told about the members of “The Greatest Generation” as they were so properly termed by former broadcaster Tom Brokaw. Sadly, as each year passes, there are fewer and fewer members of said generation left to share the stories of WWII. One can only wonder how many stories will never be told because of this. Thankfully though, PBS has managed to recover what is perhaps one of the least told stories of WWII with this new release. It is one that regardless of whether one has an interest in war history, art history, or history in general, will appeal to so many audiences.

The Ghost Army is on the surface one more story of WWII. What makes it so special is that while there are so many stories that have been told, the story of the Ghost Army has not been told nearly as much as others. That is because as members of the then secret military outfit noted, their operations were kept classified for some four decades after the war ended. So while some books have been written on the group of soldiers, little else has been created or even published about this group of men. That being noted, the stories shared by those that served with the Ghost Army will amaze any viewer. It’s incredible to believe that this group of soldiers was able to outsmart so many Nazi divisions with just speakers and a bunch of inflatable weaponry and vehicles. It’s so incredible in that for decades mankind has marveled at how advanced the Nazi forces were in terms of their military technology in comparison to the United States. The Ghost Army didn’t need all of the high tech rockets and other tech to hold off the Nazi forces. It’s a true statement to American know-how and creativity.

Speaking of the creativity of the Ghost Army, art lovers will appreciate this program as it notes that many of the men that staffed the Ghost Army were in fact artists. It was because of their talent as artists that the Ghost Army was able to pull such acts of deception over not just the Nazi forces, but their own forces, too. At one point, narrator Peter Coyote notes that an airfield built by the Ghost Army was so convincing that an American recon plane landed and was summarily told to get out of there, so as to not blow their cover. That is a tribute to the talents of all involved from brainchild to reality. And as viewers will learn in the show’s closing minutes, many of those same men came to be some of America’s best known and respected individuals in the worlds of art and fashion. On a side note, it should be noted here that some of the unit’s men had some real talent with a pencil and pen. That’s revealed through drawings and etchings crafted by the men during trips to Paris. Parents should note that these drawings in question do contain at least some slight nudity. One drawing does reveal a woman’s breasts under a very sheer negligee. It’s just one of a handful of drawings that some older audiences might not think appropriate for younger viewers to see. So parents and teachers should use their discretion here. Sure the stories connected to the drawings will have viewers laughing. But the drawings themselves might be a bit much for some viewers.

The stories shared by the members of the Ghost Army are quite eye opening and impressive to say the least. Just as impressive is the understanding that the simple use of theatrics was able to hold off so much of the German army. And to learn that certain members of the Ghost Army went on to become highly successful in their art and fashion related careers is even more incredible. There is one more factor in The Ghost Army that makes it an impressive documentary. That factor is the original footage taped through operations conducted by the once top secret military outfit. The footage helps to fully illustrate what the Ghost Army did and the impact of its operations. It helps to pass on what is perhaps one of the most incredible stories of the Greatest Generation for a whole new generation (and generations to come). All of these stories and revelations shared in The Ghost Army prove even more, the value and importance of public broadcasting. The program will be available next Tuesday, June 18^th. It can be ordered online direct via the PBS online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=20299476&cp=&kw=the+ghost+army&origkw=The+Ghost+Army&sr=1.

Anyone wanting more information on The Ghost Army and any other PBS program can get all the latest and more online at http://www.facebook.com/pbs and http://www.pbs.org. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

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Tag Archives: Television

Syria Behind The Lines A Powerful, In-Depth Investigation Of The Syrian Civil War

ABC Pulls Big Number For NBA Finals Game 5

Beetlejuice Season One Reminds Viewers Why Beetlejuice is The Ghost With The Most

Bosox, Angels Face Off July 7th On ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented By Taco Bell

Deer Documentary An Interesting Release From PBS

Undefeated Fighters Anchor This Week’s Edition Of FNF

From Dust To Dreams A Concert Dream Come True

Us Weekly: Segel’s New Romantic Interest Identified

Shout! Factory Re-Issuing MST3K The Movie This Fall

Ghost Army One Of The Greatest Generation’s Greatest Stories

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