‘Star Trek Picard: Season 2’ Struggles To Survive

Posted on October 3, 2022 by philspicks

Hardcore fans of the seemingly ever-expanding Star Trek universe got some good news this year when it was announced that Star Trek Picard, which focuses on legendary Federation Captain turned Admiral Jean Luc Picard, would get a third season run. The wait for the series’ third and final season will not be too long for said audiences, either, as it is currently planned to stream on Paramount+ from Feb. 16 to April 20, 2023 over 10 episodes. While audiences wait for the series’ final season, they can take in the series’ second season on DVD and Blu-ray now in a new three-disc set released through CBS DVD. Of course, this latest installment in the series sadly has little to applaud, save for a couple of high points. The most notable of the high points is the fact that it relies far less on the foul language and blood and gore of the first season. This will be discussed shortly. On the other hand, though, there is a lot to dislike about the season’s story and the packaging for the season’s home release. This will be examined a little later. The only other positive to this season is the surprise season finale, which will be discussed but not given away here. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the season’s presentation. All things considered they make the second season of Picard an intriguing presentation that is worth watching at least once regardless of audiences’ devotion to the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek Picard: Season 2 is an intriguing continuation of the series, which focuses on the one and only Jean Luc Picard. That is because of its overall mixed presentation. One of the few positives to this season is that it relies so much less on the violence and foul language that was incorporated into the series’ debut season. The writers relied far too much on that content in Season One, almost as if they knew that otherwise Season One would not work. Yes, there are some moments of foul language peppered throughout the season, but its presence is so much less in this case than in Season One. The worst of the bloodshed comes late in the season’s run this time as Seven is run through by the Queen Borg/Agnes (not to give away too much for those who have yet to see this season). Rios gets injured by one of the borg drones that Dr. Soong uses, but even in that case, the writers kept the bloodshed to a minimum. It is a nice change of stylistic approach that while still could have been minimalized even more, was still a welcome change in comparison to the level of violence in Season 1.

While the clearly decreased level of violence and foul language incorporated into the second season of Picard makes it more worth watching, this season still fails in so many ways, not the least of which is its story. The story in question finds Q (John De Lancie) sending Jean Luc and his friends back in time to the 21^st century, apparently out of his own bizarre sense of something. He admits in the end that he just wanted Jean Luc to learn a lesson about forgiving himself (once again, not to give away too much), but he does this at the risk of history being changed forever. Yes, there is even an alternate timeline bit tied into the season. What’s more, there is even an indirect reference to none other than Quantum Leap as part of the story. That really is what audiences get here. Picard and company go back in time and have to ensure history’s safety, this time all because Q has some quirky fascination with Jean Luc even as he (Q) is dying.

Complicating matters even more is that Picard and his rogue’s gallery of friends have to ensure that the borg queen, who essentially possesses Agnes, does not manage to take over 21^st century Earth and turn it into a borg planet. Adding even more to the complication is Dr. Soong and his role in everything. He lets his selfish desire for fame and immortality (literal and figurative) blind him and makes things even more difficult for Jean Luc and company. Considering that Jean Luc already had to battle the Borg in Star Trek First Contact in order to preserve history, this whole story arc becomes all the less original. The only difference is that instead of making sure that first contact is made, he has to ensure that his ancestor precedes that moment and joins the flight to Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons.

As if all of this was not problematic enough, the writers incorporate a completely cheesy and unnecessary romance subplot between Rios and a young, single mother who runs her own clinic in Los Angeles. Obviously, Rios’ own future is set early on and audiences know what will happen here.

The fact that the writers drag out this season’s story as much as they do over 10 episodes, ensuring that Jean Luc keeps getting into so many tough spots, using so much exposition as he recalls his childhood that led him to become the stoic person her became known as during his life, makes for even more problem. It makes the season feel so much longer than it really is. To that end, if Season One failed to live up to expectations, then all of this together makes this season fail to live up to expectations even more so because of its overall

The writing is just one of the very problematic issues that Season Two faces. The season’s packaging proves problematic in its own way. The three discs over which the season’s 10 episodes are spread are poorly packaged for starters. Disc One sits on its own spot inside the Blu-ray case while Disc two sits atop Disc three with nothing to protect Disc two from getting marred by Disc 3. This greatly decreases the potential longevity of at least one of the discs if not both, depending on which one ends up sitting atop the other from one point to another.

Adding to the problems of the packaging is the fact that there is no hint of an episode guide anywhere in the packaging. The episode titles are printed on the discs, but that is the extent of what audiences get here. The result is that audiences who have not yet seen Season Two will just have to sit and wait to find out what happens from one episode to the next. What’s more, even those who are familiar with the series might forget each episode specifically, so even they might end up having to go through just to remember which episode has what aspect of the story. This greatly diminishes the general effect of Season Two along with the massive writing problems that plague this season.

Keeping all of this in mind, there is at least one aspect of the story that does work. That aspect is the season’s surprising finale, which actually ties (at least indirectly) back to the story element from Season One involving the Borg. Audiences who have seen Season One will recall that Jean Luc made the revelation that the Borg were more victims than the monsters that they were made out to be for so much time. That realization likely led to Picard to ultimately make the decision to give talks with the Borg the chance to talk in the first place in the season premiere (and finale). The revelation that is made at season’s end is sure to play into the coming third and final season. It makes all of the slow boil buildup to that point at least somewhat bearable. Keeping that in mind, this final aspect of the season works with the lessened violence and foul language to make the season worth watching at least once.

The second season of Star Trek Picard is hardly the presentation that it clearly could have been. It could have done so much right, but sadly did so much else. That is not to say that it is a total failure. It succeeds in that it uses far less foul language and overt violence (including bloodshed) than was used in Season One. The surprise finale to Season Two makes for its own interest, too. It is certain to shock plenty of longtime Star Trek fans. These two elements make up at least somewhat for all of the failures that are so prevalent throughout Season Two’s writing and packaging, which are so problematic in themselves and collectively. Each item examined is important in its own way to the second season of Picard. All things considered they make Star Trek Picard: Season 2 come up even shorter than the series’ first season.

Star Trek Picard: Season 2 is available now on DVD and Blu-ray. More information on Star Trek: Picard is available along with all of CBS All Access’ latest news at:

Website: http://www.cbs.com/allaccess

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CBSAllAccess

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cbs

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

Season 2 of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Sees Noted Improvement From The Series’ Debut Season

Posted on July 31, 2022 by philspicks

Paramount+’s animated Star Trek series, Lower Decks is set to make its streaming debut Aug. 25. That means that fans of the series will not have to wait but so long to find out what happened to Capt. Freeman after her arrest by the Federation. While audiences wait, they can take in the series’ second season now on DVD and Blu-ray, after it was released July 12 on both platforms. The show’s second season is an improvement on its debut season in terms of its writing. This will be discussed shortly. The bonus content that accompanies Season 2 in its home release is engaging in its own way and will be examined a little later. The packaging for the standalone presentation rounds out its most important elements and will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the presentation. All things considered they make the second season of Star Trek: Lower Decks an overall success.

The second season of Paramount+’s Star Trek: Lower Decks is an impressive new addition to the animated series. The season’s success comes in large part through its writing. That is because the writing seems to have more heart in each of its 10 total episodes. Right from the season premiere, “Strange Energies,” the writing improves on what was offered in Season 1. The episode finds a…well…strange energy impacting everyone on board the Cerritos after Mariner “cleans off” a structure on a planet that the Cerritos visits. Commander Ransom becomes an all-powerful interstellar being, leading Capt. Freeman to have to learn to be much nicer to her second-in-command. Along the way, the bridge crew and the lower decks crew alike learn some valuable lessons about friendship and respect for others. Whether that secondary theme was put there intentionally is anyone’s guess, but it is there, and it adds even more to the story.

On another note, the ship’s crew overall learns a valuable lesson about understanding and respecting what the other does in ‘I Excretus.’ A Starfleet trainer is sent to the Cerritos to make the crew take part in some holodeck style training to determine if the ship and its crew should even be in commission. Boimler is the only member of the crew who succeeds in the training, and his neurotic desire for perfection along the way ends up being the saving grace for the ship and its crew, unexpectedly. It is another surprisingly enjoyable story and further exhibits what makes this season’s writing so enjoyable.

‘First First Contact,’ Season 2’s finale, is yet another example of the strength of this season’s writing. That is because it has all of the heart and action of a classic TSO and even TNG episode. This as the Cerritos is forced to save another ship after an asteroid is destroyed by a solar flare. The ship’s crew has to remove all of the Cerritos’ outer hull in order to navigate through the debris field left by the destruction, and to save its fellow Federation ship. What happens following the brave rescue makes for an even bigger surprise. Viewers will find out what happens as a result of the surprise when Season 3 debuts later in August. Between this episode’s story, the stories in the other episodes examined here, and those in the rest of the season’s offerings, the whole makes clear why the writing this season proves so strong this time out. It is just one part of what makes Season 2 so engaging and entertaining. The bonus content that accompanies this season’s home release adds to that engagement.

The bonus content that accompanies Season 2’s home release is notable because of the background that it offers. The “Lower Decktionary” special feature for instance is an in-depth near episode-by-episode examination of this season. The show’s creative heads talk about many of the season’s episodes, explaining the time and thought that went into making each episode warmer and more accessible to audiences. Some of the cast also talk about recording their lines for certain episodes remotely because of the pandemic. In listening to them talk about each story, it is clear that much more time and thought went into bringing this season to life than the stories in the series’ debut season. The discussion on the attempt to tell the stories of the bridge crew just as much as the lower decks crew while also paying homage to fans of Star Trek: TOS and Star Trek: TNG (as well as even those of Voyager, Deep Space Nine, and Enterprise) with certain elements shows that the show’s creative heads better understood the need to connect with as many viewers as possible.

The secondary bonus feature, “A Sound Foundation” is interesting in its own way, too. In this equally in-depth presentation, audiences are presented discussions on the work that went into all of the sound throughout the series’ second season. This seems something minor on the surface, but when audiences listen to the discussion, it is clear that just as much time and work went into making the series’ sounds just as connecting to other Star Trek series as the stories. Taking that into account along with the background offered through this season’s “Lower Decktionary” featurette and even with some of the episode-length audio commentaries, the overall bonus content adds plenty of appeal for the season and enhances the viewing experience even more. That overall bonus content is just one more part of what makes the season’s presentation appealing. Its packaging rounds out its most important content.

This season’s packaging is important to address for a pair of reasons. First and foremost, it ergonomic. The two discs on which the season’s 10 episodes are contained are each placed on their own plate inside the case. This protects the discs from one another, thus increasing their longevity. At the same time, the case itself is the size of a case holding a single disc, so it will save space on any viewer’s DVD/BD rack.

On another note, the episode listing is printed inside the case. Some of the brief but concise episode summaries are a little difficult to read because of their placement, but otherwise are not too problematic. Those brief but concise introductions make it easier for audiences to decide which episode(s) they want to watch. The result is even more positive general effect for the viewing experience since audience do not have to otherwise search through the episodes one by one on the discs. That positive impact of the episode summaries being listed in the case and the season’s space-saving presentation makes fully clear, the positive impact of the packaging overall. When this is considered along with the impact of the season’s writing and its bonus content, the whole makes this season of Star Trek: Lower Decks quite the improvement from the series’ debut season and gives hope for the show’s third season.

The second season of Paramount+’s Star Trek: Lower Decks is a step up from the series’ debut season. That is proven in large part through the writing in its episodes. The writing gives each episode so much more heart and depth than that of the episodes in the series’ debut season. The bonus content that accompanies that writing makes for even more engagement. That is because it allows the series’ creative heads to talk about the work and thought that went into the writing (and the sound engineering and editing). The season’s packaging rounds out its most important elements and puts the finishing touch to the set’s presentation. That is because of the space-saving nature of the packaging and the presentation of the brief but concise episode summaries presented inside the case. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of this season’s set. All things considered they make the presentation a welcome improvement overall from the debut season of Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 2 is available now on DVD and Blu-ray. More information on this and other titles from CBS DVD and Paramount+ is available at:

Website: https://paramountplus.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParamountPlus

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paramountplus

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

Kids, Grown-Ups Alike Had Lots To Like From 2021’s New DVD/BD Box Sets

Posted on December 21, 2021 by philspicks

Between families and grown-ups, plenty of positive content has been released this year on DVD and Blu-ray in the form of newly released box sets. Shout! Factory and Nickelodeon’s full series presentation of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, Arrow Video’s classic creature feature collection, Cold War Creatures, and the latest collection of classic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood do well to support the noted statements. Between them and so many others, there is more than enough to create a list of this year’s top new DVD/BD box sets overall. Enter Phil’s Picks’ 2021 Top 10 New DVD/BD Box Sets.

As with every other list from Phil’s Picks, this list features the top 10 titles from this year as well as five honorable mention titles for a total of 15. There’s already some positive news about new releases coming in the new year about new box sets, but in the meantime, the titles on this list will help people pass the time. Without any further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks’ 2021 Top 10 New DVD/BD Box Sets list.

PHIL’S PICKS’ 2021 TOP 10 NEW DVD/BD BOX SETS

1.Cold War Creatures

2. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius: The Complete Series

3. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Mister Rogers Meets New Friends Collection

4. All Creatures Great & Small: Season 1

5. The Watch

6. How To Train Your Dragon: Ultimate Collection

7. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Tigertastic 50 Pack

8. Jekyll & Hyde

9. Spongebob Squarepants: Season 12

10. Rugrats: The Complete Series

11. Star Trek Discovery: Season 3

12. Doom Patrol: Season 2

13. Josie & The Pussycats In Outer Space: The Complete Series

14. Human: The World Within

15. Thundarr The Barbarian: The Complete Series

Okay that it’s for this list. There is still one more list to go for this year. It will come tomorrow in the form of the year’s top new family friendly DVDs/ Stay tuned!

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

Shout! Factory, Arrow Video, Others Offer Audiences Plenty Of Alternatives To All The Prequels, Sequels, and Remakes Hitting Theaters, Streaming Services

Posted on December 16, 2021 by philspicks

It seems like ever year, audiences everywhere are seeing an increase in the number of classic TV shows and movies that were once popular everywhere they go. It really is a sad state of affairs. Of course that is not the only avenue in which older content is getting renewed so to speak. The originals also get new life every now and then on DVD and Blu-ray through various distributors, sometimes in better form than others and vice versa. This year saw a handful of classic TV shows and movies get some laudable re-issues and some less so.

What is most interesting about this year’s field of top new DVD and BD re-issues is the wide range of companies that released said titles. It shows that along with the likes of Shout! Factory – which has made quite the name for itself over the years in the home entertainment field – other familiar and up-and-coming names are really working to make their names known in that field, too, such as Arrow Video and Corinth Films, making for so much more variety.

From Shout! Factory’s re-issue of Explorers, to Arrow Video’s re-issue of the original Dune, to even Mill Creek Entertainment’s re-issue of the classic, short-lived animated series, The Critic, this year’s re-issues and the companies that released them offered audiences plenty of alternatives to the never-ending ocean of prequels, sequels, and reboots that filled theaters and streaming services this year. As with every list from Phil’s Picks, this list features the Top 10 titles in the given category with five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15. This year’s list was not easy to compile but is complete.

Without any further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks’ 2021 Top 10 New DVD/BD Re-Issues.

PHIL’S PICKS’ 2021 TOP 10 NEW DVD/BD RE-ISSUES

Explorers

Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In: The Complete Series

The Final Countdown

The Belles of St. Trinian’s

Ken Burns’ Baseball

The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang – Live at Copacabana Beach

Dune

Motorhead: No Sleep Till Hammersmith

The Interrogation

The Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch

The Transformers: The Movie

Superman: The Animated Series

The Critic: The Complete Series

Star Trek: The Original Series

Emergency: The Complete Series

It should be stressed here that in the case of Emergency and Star Trek, those two series sets are intentionally set at the bottom of this year’s list as, their positives are few. They are the least of the year’s best new re-issues. Audiences would do well to largely avoid these sets. There is a reason they are at the bottom of even the honorable mention titles. Keeping that in mind, this year’s list of top new DVD and BD re-issues is officially wrapped. There are still plenty of other lists coming, such as the year’s top new box sets for grown-ups, families, and even family DVDs/BDs. Stay tuned!

‘Star Trek Discovery’ Improves Noticeably In Its Third Season

Posted on July 18, 2021 by philspicks

Paramount+’s Star Trek series Discovery is a property that has struggled to find its place in the bigger Star Trek universe over the course of its first two seasons. Of course, the series did show some growth in its second season, offering some hope for the show. Now in its third season, which is scheduled for release Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray, that growth has continued even more, showing even more potential for its own future. That is exhibited mainly through its writing, which while not perfect is still key to this season’s success. While the writing does much to make Season Three a continued improvement for the Discovery franchise, the bonus content detracts slightly from the season’s forthcoming home presentation. This will be addressed a little later. Luckily, the detraction that the season’s bonus content causes is not enough to make this season’s presentation a failure. The acting works with the writing to continue showing the noted growth. It will also be addressed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of Star Trek Discovery: Season Three’s presentation. All things considered, they make the season such that longtime Star Trek fans will agree is another improvement in this series.

Paramount+ and CBS DVD’s forthcoming home release of Star Trek Discovery: Season Three is a presentation that brings the series another step forward in its ongoing growth. That is due in large part to the season’s writing. The writing stands out because while it ensures the season is still serialized, there is more going on within the season. Instead of just one central story, the writers create two central stories – Burham’s efforts to reunite with the Discovery crew, the crew’s efforts to find the source of “the burn,” and the crew’s efforts to rebuild the Federation. Along the way, the writers also developed story lines within those larger stories that allow the rest of the crew to shine (E.g. Lt. Detmer’s dealing with what is essentially PTSD, Tilly’s own personal growth as she comes into her own on board the Discovery, and Emperor Girgio’s own growth and change). Given, the writers still make Burnham something of a Christ-like figure, ensuring she is at the center of the bigger stories (and crying as much as possible yet again along the way), but seeing the rest of Discovery’s main crew getting their own time in the spotlight is a nice growth. That the writers were able to keep everything balanced and keep the whole from getting bogged down in itself is definitely worth its own share of applause.

Adding onto everything already noted is the fact that the writers also worked hard this season to bring Discovery into the bigger Star Trek canon through items, such as the introduction of Andorians and Orions, and even Carl (a.k.a. the Guardian of Forever). The Guardian of Forever reaches all the way back to Star Trek The Original Series, showing once again the attempt to pull this series into canon. As if all of that is not enough, the discussion of Spock’s attempts to reunite the Vulcans and Romulans is a direct throw back to The Next Generation. Captain Picard’s name is even directly used in this discussion, which will make even the most devoted viewers happy. There is even a tribute to Star Trek Voyager at another point, adding for even more appeal. That the writers did everything noted here without making any of it feel forced is even more impressive. It results in each episode being that much more engaging and entertaining.

While the writers’ work in this season is unquestionably important to its presentation, the lack of any real discussion on that work in the bonus content detracts somewhat from the season’s presentation on DVD. That is not to say that the events of Season Three are not addressed. Quite the opposite is true as a matter of fact. They are discussed in the home release’s only real worthwhile bonus, “The Voyage of Season 3.” Audiences are taken from the season premiere to its finale, outlining how the crew grows and changes, and how everything happens. The one thing that it does not do however, is offer commentary from the cast or crew on how the course was set (no pun intended) throughout the season. It would have been nice to have known from the show’s creative heads why the surprising source of the burn was chosen for instance. That one is a bit of a head scratcher with all due respect. The source of “The Burn” will not be revealed for those who have yet to see Season Three, but again, it just feels like the writers, in this case, just decided to throw something against the wall and see if it sticks. It is just a little disappointing at least in the mind of this critic. It is the only real downside to the writing, though. Considering how much the writers brought Discovery into Star Trek canon this season, it also would have been nice to have received comment from the writers and creative heads about that. That sadly is absent in this bonus feature, too. Did the creative heads do this out of reaction to audiences or was this all planned long term? Audiences are left not knowing this.

Looking at the rest of the bonus content featured this time out, the “Bridge Building” bonus is entertaining in its own right. Considering how much more the Discovery’s bridge crew is featured this season, this profile of the crew from the actors themselves is a nice added nod to those actors.

Speaking of cast profiles, the profile of cast member Kenneth Mitchell is engaging in its own right, even if it is not necessarily memorable. Audiences get to hear from Mitchell himself here and learn of how many roles he has played over the course of the series’ now three seasons. His discussion on being diagnosed with ALS will grip and move audiences, certainly. It adds a little more appreciation for the character development and widening character portrayals this season too.

Looking at all of this (and the mostly forgettable “Writer’s Log” bonus feature), the bonus content adds some appeal to this season in its home presentation at best, but because of what it lacks, it also detracts from that presentation. Luckily, that balance of pro and con here is enough to keep the presentation still mostly positive.

One more item that makes the third season of Star Trek Discovery positive is the acting. Every cast member serves his or her own positive part in terms of the acting. That includes Mitchell. While Mitchell only appears near the season finale, his subtle performance as part of the Emerald Chain and his realization as to what the Emerald Chain is really all about is powerful in its simplicity. Mitchell shows here a real appreciation for his time on screen, making audiences really connect with him. On another note, Michelle Yeoh is once again one of the real highlights in terms of the acting. Her role as Emperor Giorgio, that hard-nosed figure is just so great to take in. Even the crew appreciated that snappy nature. Audiences will be left for audiences to figure that out for themselves. On a more subtle note, Linus (David Benjamin Tomlinson) makes for some great subtle comic relief as he tries to figure out how the new Federation badges work, even accidentally breaking up a romantic moment between Burnham and Book. Yes, she falls in love again, but that development was obvious right from the duo’s meeting in the season premiere. Tomlinson may not be a key member of the cast, but he is used so well even as a lesser member of the crew and deserves his own share of applause. Between his work, that of the other cast members addressed here and that of the rest of the cast, the overall acting does a lot to make this season enjoyable in its own right. When it is considered along with the positives of the writing and even some of the positives in the bonus content (as few as they are), the whole makes the third season of Star Trek Discovery a cast improvement on the series from its first two seasons. One can only hope that the improvements continue in the now apparently planned fourth season.

The third season of Star Trek Discovery is a noticeable improvement on the series from its first two seasons. That is evidenced in large part through its writing. The writing has expanded this season, incorporating more story elements rather than just focusing on one item. That means also allowing stars other than Sonequa Martin-Green to have the spotlight. It is a nice change of pace. Add in the more clear effort by all involved to tie Discovery into Star Trek canon, and the writing creates even more appeal. While the writing does a lot to make this season appealing, the bonus content that accompanies the season’s home release detracts from the presentation. That is because while it does offer some background on the season, that background is limited. Luckily, the character profiles make up for that shortcoming at least to a point. Keeping that in mind, the few positives in the bonus content make up for the shortcomings to keep the bonus content from dooming the presentation. Those positives work along with the wholly positive acting to rounds out the most important of the season’s elements. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the season. All things considered, they make the third season of Star Trek Discovery largely a win and clear improvement on the show from its first two seasons.

Star Trek Discovery Season Three is scheduled for release Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray. More information on the series is available online now at:

Website: https://cbs.com/shows/star-trek-discovery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTrekCBS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbs

Re-issues Saved Movie, TV Studios During Pandemic

Posted on December 20, 2020 by philspicks

This year was another rough one for television and movie studios alike. Movie studios were forced to postpone the release of so many new movies until either 2021 or beyond and TV studios were forced to shut down production all as they faced the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On top of all of that, the movies and TV shows that did release this year and that were announced for release were largely another massive batch of prequels, sequels, reboots, and movies based on actual events. That, again, made for very little for audiences to really appreciate. Thankfully, there were a lot of worthwhile box sets for families and grown-ups alike. There were also lots of enjoyable re-issues. That is why Phil’s Picks once again is presenting a list of the year’s top new DVD and Blu-ray re-issues. MVD Entertainment Group and Arrow Video released some of the best of this year’s re-issues, with re-releases of classics, such as Black Angel, Flash Gordon, and The Last Starfighter. Shout! Factory meanwhile produced its own interesting re-issues in the form of Thomas and the Magic Railroad, The Spider, and Attack of the Crab People. CBS DVD and Paramount even had their share of interesting re-issues in the form of Mission: Impossible – The Original TV Series, Police Squad: The Complete Series, and Gunsmoke: The Complete Series 65^th Anniversary Edition. Audiences were even treated to re-issues of more classics, such as Roman Holiday, To Catch a Thief, and The Flintstones: The Complete Series. All of these titles and others are on Phil’s Picks 2020 Top 10 New DVD and Blu-ray re-issues.

As with each other list from Phil’s Picks, this final list of 2020 features the Top 10 New titles for the year along with five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15 titles. Without any further ado, here is Phil’s Picks 2020 Top 10 New DVD & Blu-ray Re-Issues.

PHIL’S PICKS 2020 TOP 10 NEW DVD & BLU-RAY RE-ISSUES

Black Angel
Flash Gordon
Mission: Impossible: The Original TV Series
The Last Starfighter
Thomas & The Magic Railroad
The Spider
The Flintstones: The Complete Series
Warning From Space
Mallrats
War of the Colossal Beast
Attack of the Crab People
To Catch A Thief
Roman Holiday
Police Squad: The Complete Series
Transformers: The Complete Series

That’s it for this year’s year-ender lists. With 2021 already coming fast, plans are already in the works for lots more new music, movies, and TV shows.

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

‘Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels’ Is Not Dreadful, But Tough To Watch

Posted on December 13, 2020 by philspicks

Courtesy: CBS DVD/Paramount/Showtime/Sky

Showtime and Sky’s Penny Dreadful spin-off City of Angels is an interesting addition to the franchise. The 10-episode series, which ran for approximately two months this year from April 26 to June 28, is an interesting presentation. While it only ran for one season, it is a presentation that will find its specific audiences. That is due in part to the story featured in the program. This element will be discussed shortly. While the story does give audiences reason to watch, the general content that accompanies the story unarguably detracts from the show’s presentation to a point. This will be addressed a little later. The work of the series’ cast puts the finishing touch to the show’s program. Together with the story, those two elements are enough to make up for the show’s somewhat overly gritty content and make it worth watching at least once.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is an interesting addition to Showtime and Sky’s original Penny Dreadful franchise, which originally launched in 2014 and ran for three seasons. It is a presentation that fans of hard boiled crime dramas will find at least somewhat appealing. That is proven in part through its expansive story line, which spans the show’s 10-episode run. Unlike the original series, which is based on a series of Victorian-era monsters and their experiences, City of Angels is centered more on the real world. The gritty, hard-boiled crime drama takes place in pre-World War II Los Angeles, California. It follows the murder of a well-to-do white family in Los Angeles. The murder is initially blamed on members of the city’s Hispanic community, but of course the truth is eventually revealed at the series’ end, not to give away too much. This frame-up highlights the racial tensions that did in fact exist between the white members of the city’s citizenry and its immigrant population, especially in the interactions between the city’s all-white police force and the members of the city’s Hispanic population. Adding to the mix is the impact of the Nazi party in the region at the time. As if that is not enough, Magda, in all of her various forms, keeps the tension high throughout each of the story lines that interweave throughout the series, adding even more intrigue to the story. Her actions add to the never-ending discussion on whether human behavior and thoughts are innate or are influenced by external factors (I.E. the sociological discussion of nature versus nurture). This is discussed in the bonus content that accompanies the series’ home release. That overarching aspect makes for so much interest in this series. Of course it cannot be denied that through it all, there are moments when all of the story lines do cause the series to get bogged down in itself. Each of the story lines do ultimately tie together, but because there is so much going on, it was clearly easy for the writers to get lost in their project. As a result, audiences end up getting a little lost, too. Luckily that is not enough to completely ruin the series’ presentation, but it also cannot be ignored. The fact that the story occasionally gets bogged down in itself is just one of the problems from which this series suffers. Its general content creates its own problem for the its presentation.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels was intentionally presented as a gritty, hard boiled crime drama. There is no denying that. This brand of crime story is nothing new to audiences. It has been around since at least the early to mid 1920s and 30s. The thing is that this series takes the general elements of hard boiled crime to a new and somewhat controversial level. The gruesome fate of the family that was killed is explicit to say the least. It is reminiscent of Heath Ledger’s look of the Joker in The Dark Knight only far more extreme, complete with blood and gore, oh and nudity. This is just one over-the-top element of the show’s content. The overt displays of homosexual (and bi-sexual) intercourse are completely unnecessary, and another way in which the show’s content goes way too far over the top. As if that is not enough, a moment, such as that in which a police officer’s neck is slashed with a razor and his body left naked and covered in blood (yes, this really is shown) is far too explicit, too. Between these moments and all of the unnecessary foul language that is used throughout, the general content featured in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels proves to be anything but angelic. Maybe that is because the show’s heads could get away with it, being on Showtime after all. Regardless, the noted content (and more) does a great deal to detract from what could have otherwise been a great classic crime hard boiled style crime drama.

For all that the content displayed in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels does to detract from the series’ presentation, it is not enough to make the series completely unwatchable. The work of the series’ cast on camera works with the story to help save it at least somewhat. Most notable of the cast is star Nathan Lane. The veteran actor, Lane serves as a supporting cast member here. Even as a supporting cast member, he still shines both by himself and alongside fellow cast member Daniel Zovatto (It Follows, Lady Bird, Don’t Breathe). Lane is known typically as a comedic actor, but his dramatic turn here is so powerful. When he’s by himself, he stands out so much because he takes the full chance to let Michener’s personality develop. His years of experience on stage and screen comes through fully and fully entertaining. When he is working alongside Zovatto, who shines in his own right as Tiago, he never tries to outdo the younger actor. Rather, the duo works so well together, sort of building their characters’ personalities together. Natalie Dormer meanwhile shines in her own way as Magda as she takes on her various roles. Among the best of her moments comes as she portrays Alex, clerk to Councilman Townsend. The way in which she basically plays him is classic clerk to an evil business. At the same time, she makes her evil intentions just barely noticeable enough really balance things out and make her character so wonderfully despicable. Going back to Zovatto, the way he presents Tiago’s personal identity struggles as he works with the police and tries to balance that with his identity as a Latino is moving in its own right. There are moments when he hams it up a little too much, but for the most part, he takes on his portrayal quite well. In the same vein, the way in which Tiago’s police counterparts take on their roles is fully believable, too. There is no way that doing and saying what they did could have possibly been easy, but sadly there is a lot of reality about those racial tensions even in that era. To that point, the actors made it easy to have a strong dislike for their characters and their awful behavior. That means that they did a good job of showing the vile nature of how horribly they treated minorities even back then, so they are to be commended for that, as difficult as it must have been, morally. Taking in the performances noted here, that of Lane’s fellow veteran actor Brent Spiner (who does well in a rare non-Star Trek role), and those of all others involved, it can be said easily that the work of the series’ cast plays well into the overall presentation of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Together with the story, they do just enough to counter the questionable content featured within the story, and make the series worth watching at least once.

Showtime and Sky Network’s short-lived series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is an interesting addition to the franchise, which started six years ago as a fantasy type series. Its overall story, which incorporates multiple story lines does relatively well to engage audiences. Given those story lines do bog the series down at times, but not enough to make the series a failure. The content that is displayed throughout the series does quite a bit to make it difficult to watch, as has been noted here. It goes way above and beyond the content presented in classic hard boiled detective novels and movies, basically throwing it all out the window just for the sake of having something shocking. It really is the series’ biggest detractor and makes the series difficult to watch more than once. The work of the series’ cast works with the story to make up for the problems created by the content at least somewhat. Those two elements are positives, and do make up for the problems posed through the content to a point. Taking everything noted here collectively, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is a powerful addition to Showtime and Sky Network’s franchise that crime drama fans will find worth watching at least once. Hopefully if another addition to the franchise comes along, it will not be as explicit as this series and worth far more. If not, then the franchise has closed out on a difficult note. It is available now.

More information on this and other programs from Showtime is available online at:

Website: http://www.sho.com

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‘Mission: Impossible’ BD Re-issue Will Appeal To Series’ Most Devoted Fans

Posted on December 10, 2020 by philspicks

Retro television networks are among the greatest networks out there today. They are free and they offer audiences who grew up during television’s golden age (which ended, sadly in the late 90s) a great, safe alternative to all of the garbage that currently pollutes the airwaves. From the likes of The Munsters and Emergency! to Betwitched, Black Sheep Squadron, and The Flintstones, networks, such as Me-TV, CoziTV, H&I, and Antenna TV have grown in popularity as worthwhile viewing options steadily decline on broadcast television (and even streaming outlets). While the retro networks that are out there offer so much great programming, there are still some shows from TV’s golden age that are still not on any of those networks. One of those shows is the timeless action/adventure series Mission: Impossible. Luckily though, the series has gotten new life on Blu-ray thanks to the folks at Paramount and CBS DVD. The series was re-issued Dec. 1 on Blu-ray marking the first time that the series has ever received the Blu-ray treatment. Its release last week comes more than seven years after the series’ most recent DVD release in 2012. This latest presentation is as good as the series’ most recent DVD release if not a little better. That is proven in part through the presentation’s collective audio and video quality, which will be discussed shortly. The one negative to the set is its lack of any bonus content. This does detract from the set’s presentation at least to a point. It will be discussed a little later. The collection’s packaging is a slight positive that deserves its own examination. It will be addressed later, too. All things considered, the new Blu-ray presentation of Mission: Impossible – The Original TV Series a presentation that every vintage television fan will appreciate.

Paramount and CBS DVD’s new Blu-ray re-issue of Mission: Impossible – The Original TV Series is a mostly positive presentation that will appeal easily to fans of real television. That is proven in part through its production values; its audio and video. Considering the age of the footage (the show ran from 1966 – 1973 over seven seasons), the audio and video is largely impressive. There are a few moments here and there in which audiences will find themselves having to adjust the volume as the episodes progress, but those moments are so few that it cannot be said that they really detract from the series’ presentation. The explosions, car chases and everything else are well-balanced with the dialogue throughout the series. Adding to the pleasure brought by the audio is the largely high quality in the video. The colors that were used in the scenery are so rich. The explosions (everyone’s favorite part of the show) are bright and fully capturing for viewers. Even ordinary scenes, such as jail cells, hotel rooms in which the team stays on its missions, and car scenes look full. This is a tribute to those who transferred the footage from the series’ previous standalone season sets and its most recent full-series set. The full impact of the set’s production sets a strong foundation for this re-issue. Considering the strength of this aspect and the award-winning series’ equally enjoyable writing, those aesthetic elements collectively give this classic series’ fans plenty to appreciate.

While the audio and video presentation in Mission: Impossible – The Original TV Series (and the series’ writing) goes a long way toward making the series’ re-issue a success, the set is not perfect. It is missing any bonus content. Considering the series’ legacy and impact in America’s pop culture realm, it would have been common sense to have at least discussions on the writing (E.g. how did the writers develop the ideas for the Impossible Missions Force’s adventures). On another note, the series saw cast changes as it progressed, along with a variety of guest stars. The series’ first season saw guest appearances from at least two actors who appeared in timeless episodes of The Twilight Zone. Discussions by the series’ creative heads and/or writers would have enriched this aspect even more for the series’ most devoted fans. Considering that Mission: Impossible was yet another product of Desilu Productions (which was also responsible for other timeless series, such as The Untouuchables, Star Trek, and of course I Love Lucy) a discussion on those shows and the overall legacy of Desilu Productions would have enhanced the viewing experience even more. All things considered here, there is so much extra content that could have been included for audiences in this latest iteration of Mission: Impossible – The Original TV Series. The lack thereof does not make the series’ re-issue a failure, but there is no denying how much it does detract from the series. Without that content, the re-issue is essentially a bare bones presentation. Thankfully though, the content in the episodes does manage to make up for that lack of still keep viewers fully engaged and entertained. Keeping all of this in mind, there is still one more aspect of the set to examine. That aspect is its packaging.

The packaging for the new Blu-ray re-issue of Mission: Impossible – The Original TV Series is another interesting aspect of the set. That is because while it is an improvement over that of the series’ DVD release, it is still imperfect. The previous set contained all of the series’ discs on their own discs inside cans that are themselves inside a bigger package shaped like a stick of dynamite. The overall packaging was bulky and anything but ergonomic. What’s more, getting the discs in and out of the inner cases was problematic in its own right. By comparison, this set’s packaging uses gatefold style packaging for each season. The slim cases open up to reveal the discs placed inside in their own spots. This does make the overall packaging less bulky and more space conservative. The problem here is that while the packaging is more ergonomic, there is nothing securing the discs inside their respective season “cases.” The result is that the discs can easily slide right out of the “cases.” That, in turn, increases the chances that the discs can be damaged by scratching. Yes, it is – again – something of an improvement over the packaging for the series’ DVD set, but still does leave something to be wanted.

Keeping everything noted here in mind, this latest presentation of Mission: Impossible proves to be such that the most devoted of the series’ fans will enjoy regardless of whether they own the previous DVD set. That is especially considering the average price point of $118.37. That price was obtained by taking prices from Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Barnes & Noble Booksellers. It was not listed at Walmart or Books-A-Million at the time of this posting. Amazon’s price listing of $99.99 is the least expensive while Target’s listing of $132.99 easily topped that average price. Best Buy was able to join Amazon in staying below the average price point, listing the set at $109.99. Barnes & Noble Booksellers meanwhile was well above the average, listing the set at $130.49. That low price of $99.99 is a welcome aspect considering, again, the aesthetic value of the primary content and the lack of bonus content. The series did run, after all, for 171 episodes over seven seasons. So even without bonus content, audiences will still get their money’s worth at that lowest price. What’s more considering the series’ long run, there likely will be no perfect answer to the packaging issue. It will always be there. All things considered here, Paramount and CBS DVD’s latest presentation of Mission: Impossible – The Original TV Series proves itself to be, again, a welcome presentation for the series’ most devoted fans.

CBS DVD and Paramount’s new Blu-ray re-issue of Mission: Impossible — The Original TV Series is an interesting new presentation. Audiences will assuredly appreciate the high quality of the show’s audio and video in this presentation. The lack of any bonus content does detract from the series’ presentation in this iteration, but does not ruin the set’s presentation. At the same time, that needed bonus content definitely would have benefited the set’s appeal. The packaging of this set is a step up from that of the series’ DVD set, but still poses its own problem. Keeping all of this in mind, the set’s average price point and separate listings play (primarily those at Best Buy and Amazon) make for some more appeal. Hopefully when and if the series gets its next re-issue, there will be bonus content and more improved packaging. Regardless, it is not *ahem* impossible (yes, that awful pun was intended) to appreciate this latest presentation of a timeless series that still is not on any of the major retro TV networks.

More information on this and other titles from CBS Home Entertainment is available online at:

Website: http://www.viacomcbsexpress.com/cbs-home-entertainment

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‘Gunsmoke’ 65th Anniversary Set Is A Lackluster Celebration Of A Classic Series

Posted on August 30, 2020 by philspicks

Courtesy: CBS DVD/PAramount

CBS’ classic western series Gunsmoke is unquestionably one of the most respected and revered series of any genre in the modern history of television. The series ran approximately 20 seasons on CBS, and went on to be nominated for 15 prime time Emmy awards, six of which it won. That is almost half of its nominations, which is not bad, to say the very least. The series has also never been off of television since it ended its historic run in 1975. In fact, it still runs on Me-TV to this day. The wife of a former CBS executive – Babe Paley – is really even to blame for the series’ survival past its 12^th season and the demise of fellow CBS series Gilligan’s Island in its place. Additionally, Gunsmoke has seen each of its 20 seasons released by themselves between 2007 and this year. All of those standalone season sets’ releases culminated in May with what is seemingly its first-ever full-series set courtesy of CBS DVD and Paramount in the new 65^th Anniversary edition box set. Spread across a total of 143 discs, this extensive box set will appeal mainly to the most devoted of the series’ fans. That is due in pat to the presentation of the set’s episodes. This will be addressed shortly. While the presentation of the set’s episodes proves a positive for its presentation, the set’s packaging proves to be a negative that cannot be ignored. It will be addressed a little later. The bonus content that accompanies the episode’s primary content – its episodes – is at least slightly positive even though it still leaves audiences wanting for more. Together with the presentation of the episodes, these two elements and the negative of the packaging make the set a presentation that only the most devoted Gunsmoke fans will appreciate.

CBS DVD and Paramount’s recently released Gunsmoke collection is a mixed bag of a presentation. It is a presentation that while it does have its positives, it also has its negatives. The most notable of the set’s positives is the presentation of its episodes. Considering that the series was released in standalone sets leading up to this full series presentation, it should come as no surprise that the episodes look and sound just as good if not better as they do on television. Sure, that grainy look is there, but even after being upscaled on a Blu-ray player, they still maintain their integrity, which is certain play well into viewers’ nostalgia. The sound is impressive in its own right from one episode to the next. Of course that is again little to no surprise. That is because likely those behind the set’s assembly essentially just took the already released season sets and put them together into one large box. That eliminated the need to go back and remaster either element. So to that end, audiences get the same audio and video presentation here as they would have in the series’ previously released standalone season sets. Now taking into mind the sets, this is where the set takes a turn for the worse.

Courtesy: CBS DVD/Paramount

The one clear negative to this set is its packaging. All six of the cases that contain the series’ 635 total episodes are placed into the back of their larger box, which boasts its own artwork on the front and sides. This is where the problem comes into play. Audiences who fork over the $200-$300 for this set (depending on the retailer and time of year) will have the set on their DVD/BD racks for storage, or even on another shelf. Having no backing on the box, it is so easy for the cases to fall out and break, and/or discs to fall out and get damaged in the process. The bigger box’s artwork is great. That should not be misunderstood. The problem is that lack of backing. It would have made much more sense for the cases to be placed into a box that has a bottom and full box around them. That guarantees the safety of the separate cases and the boxes therein. The primary artwork could have been used as a box topper that could have been lifted and replaced. Sadly that was not the packaging decision made here.

Making things even more difficult in terms of the packaging is the way in which the series’ discs were placed. Again, the standalone sets used for this full series set are just the previously released standalone season sets. The discs, in many of the cases, are stacked on top of one another inside the plastic cases. The old style of multi-disc packaging is used once again here, just as with CBS DVD/Paramount’s full series DVD sets of shows, such as I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, and even The Twilight Zone. This packaging method greatly increases the chances that the discs will get damaged by scratching one another or even being scratched by the boxes as they are removed and replaced. Yes, by using a more “modern” packaging method might have made the box even larger, but audiences likely would forgive that if it meant the safety of the discs. Keeping all of this in mind, Gunsmoke: The Complete Series 65^th Anniversary’s packaging detracts from the set’s presentation, but does not make the set a total failure. Its bonus content works with the episodes’ presentation to make the set at least somewhat worth the money.

Courtesy: CBS DVD/Paramount

The bonus content that accompanies the Gunsmoke: The Complete Series 65^th Anniversary set is sadly limited mostly to commercials in which the series’ starts took part and episode promos. The positive doesn’t really come until Season 15. It is in this season and each season that follows, that audiences get treated to some history of the show in a feature titled “Ben And Beckey Discuss…” The low-budget segments are co-hosted by authors Ben Costello and Beckey Burgoine. The duo sits in front of a drop screen that looks like one of those screens used by Olan Mills for its photos. The backdrop is anchored by a pair of red curtains on either side, while the duo sits at a table and talks about Seasons 15-20. Given, some of the content that the pair reveals is at least somewhat interesting, such as the lack of ego among the cast. Burgoine points out in one of the latter season’s segments that the cast would often offer lines to one another during table reads and that the cast members cared just as much for one another’s safety on set. The pair also talks briefly during its Season 16 segment, about how the show’s directors would just as often run shoots on single takes. That is enlightening, and could just as easily serve as a starting point for audiences about directorial styles for directors past and present in television and movies. During the pair’s discussion in Season 17, it is revealed that there is a direct connection between the Apollo 8 space mission and the series’ cast. That anecdote will be left for audiences to discover on their own. Additionally, the duo discusses in the Season 20 segment, why Amanda Blake (who played Miss Kitty) did not return to the series in its final season and how that was handled in the writing. Between all of this and more, the pair’s discussions between Season 15 and 20 will engage and entertain audiences in their own right. The issue that all of this raises is the question of why there were no discussions in the sets for Seasons 1-14. Up until that point, the bonus content was relegated to the noted vintage ads and episode promos. Keeping all of this in mind, the bonus content is positive in its own right, but only to a point. Even with this in mind, that limited content together with the episodes’ presentations comes together to make the set at least somewhat appealing to the noted Gunsmoke devotees.

Paramount and DBS DVD’s recently released Gunsmoke 65^th anniversary DVD box set is an intriguing presentation. The audio and video presentation in the episodes is positive. Again, that is understood just because the content is in fact just the previously released standalone sets released together in one larger box for the first time ever. The set’s packaging detracts greatly from its presentation, but does not make it a total failure. The bonus content that accompanies the series’ set is positive in its own right because of the “background” information that is provided to audiences in Seasons 15-20. The problem is that said bonus content is the set’s only positive bonus content. One is left wondering why there were no season discussions on Seasons 1-14. Taking all of this into mind collectively, this new full series presentation of Gunsmoke is sadly a lackluster presentation that will appeal mainly to the series’ most devoted fans, especially considering its price.

More information on this and other title from CBS DVD is available at:

Website: http://cbshomeentertainment.com

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Paramount’s New ‘Star Trek: TNG’ Movie Collection Is A Welcome Set For The Most Devoted ‘Star Trek’ Fans

Posted on October 13, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment/Viacom/CBS DVD

Make it so! Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment is beaming down a new Star Trek box set for fans of the franchise’s Next Generation era Tuesday. Star Trek: Picard Movie & TV Collection is scheduled for release Tuesday on Blu-ray. The six-disc collection is oddly titled, considering that it is more the Next Generation era movies than TV episodes. This, the set’s presentation, will be discussed shortly. The bonus content featured with the ser is a positive in its own way, in examining the set in whole. It will be addressed a little later. Keeping in mind the set’s primary and secondary content, its average price point becomes a key discussion topic in its own right. It will be discussed a little later, too. Keeping in mind the importance of all of these elements, this latest collection of Star Trek movies and television episodes is one that will appeal largely to the most diehard Star Trek fans.

Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment’s new Star Trek box set is a collection that is certain to divide fans of the long-running franchise’s Next Generation era. It is a set that will appeal mostly to the most devoted fans of the franchise and the era thereof. That is due in part to the set’s overall presentation. The box set is titled Picard Movies & TV Collection. The catch is that the set only features two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation along with all four of the movies. The two episodes featured in the collection are the famed two-part episode “The Best of Both Worlds,” which finds Captain Picard being captured by the Borg and turned into one of them. The other episode, “Chain of Command” also finds Picard being captured, this time as a prisoner of war, so to speak. One can’t help but wonder why those two episodes were chosen, considering that each was already previously released on DVD and Blu-ray. There are other, equally entertaining episodes that could have been presented here, which were previously released only on the series’ full season and series box sets. One of those episodes is the timeless “Darmok.” The episode, featured in the series’ fifth season. It was yet another episode that found Picard being captured and stuck on alien turf, having to get out of a tough situation. What makes it stand out is that no conflict ever happened because Capt. Picard and his counterpart see past their differences and learn to communicate instead. It is one of the series’ most beloved stories among fans and audiences in general. “The Inner Light” is another powerful episode that focuses mainly on Capt. Picard in a completely different fashion. It finds the beloved leader in a “what if” scenario that shows him what his life could have been like. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” is yet another powerful episode of the series. It finds Picard and the crew of the Enterprise D working with the crew of the Enterprise C to make sure history runs the way that it was meant to run in what was one of a handful of time travel episodes from the series. Keeping all of this in mind, one can’t help but wonder why the two episodes featured here were chosen considering they’ve already seen the light of day.

The episodes chosen for this set are just part of what will divide audiences. The set also features all four of the movies from the Next Generation era. This is where things get even dicier. On the surface, it would seem that having all four movies in one, slim package is a good thing. It definitely is for the most devoted fans of that era from the Star Trek universe (no pun intended). On the bigger scale though, only one of those movies ever proved truly successful in the long run – First Contact. Insurrection, which premiered in 1998, was the second of the four movies. According to information from Rotten Tomatoes, it was soundly panned by critics and viewers in general, receiving a 54% tomato meter score and 44% audience score. It was panned by both parties as being little more than an extension of the series. As a matter of fact, considering the story line, it is a story that had been done prior very early in the series’ run when a hidden federation outpost is accidentally revealed to a group of Romulans. The Romulans in question end up thinking Capt. Picard is God. Going back to the featured episodes in this set, that is yet another key episode featuring Picard.

Nemesis, the last of the Next Generation era movies, fared even worse, receiving a tomato meter score of only 39% and an audience score of 49%. Written by Brent Spiner, this movie is essentially a double evil twin story, with Data meeting his twin and Picard meeting his “twin,” who turns out to be quite the bad guy with a giant ship. In the end, the bad guy with the bigger ship (big gun) loses to the David character in Picard, of course.

Generations, while the first of the Next Generation movies, comes across as another very familiar story. The crew of the Enterprise-D already encountered the crew of the Enterprise-C during the course of the series. Now, here is some of the crew from the first Enterprise bridging the gap with the latest Enterprise crew. Given, there is an intriguing story about us having to come to terms with our mortalities with the villain wanting to get to the Nexus, but the plot elements written into Picard and Kirk’s own experiences inside the Nexus echo previous episodes of The Next Generation, too. There are lots of good special effects, but other than that, this movie felt more like a cash grab by Paramount to get fans of both Star Trek eras to open their wallets. Is that bad? No. It makes sense. At the same time though, the effort did not ultimately feel genuine. It felt more like those involved just wanted to make something that they knew said audiences would buy into even though there is nothing to buy into here.

First Contact is the best of the franchise’s big screen features. That is because it finally answers the long-unanswered question of who and what was at the heart of the Borg collective. Never once throughout the course of the series was this question ever answered, even though audiences knew there had to be a starting point, and finally that is what they got here. Given, the movie’s story is familiar with its time traveling plot line and the attempt to keep history from being altered. Even with that in mind, the story’s writing staff manages to do something here that makes the story stand out from the time travel stories that were featured in the series. The set and costume design is also stepped up, adding to the movie’s draw. To that end, it truly shows itself as something special.

The movies that were spawned during Star Trek’s Next Generation era have themselves become extremely divisive among audiences and fans, as has been noted. Even with that in mind, there are those fans who are still truly devoted to the series and its cinematic counterparts. For those audiences, the featuring of all of these movies will certainly be appealing. In the same breath, the fact that each of the movies featured in the set also themselves feature the same bonus content as was featured in their previous releases will appeal to those noted audiences as well as other audiences. Simply put, regardless of viewers’ devotion to the Star Trek franchise, everyone will be on the same level, including regardless of whether audiences have seen all four or none of the set’s featured movies. To that end, love the movies or hate them, at least everyone will get to take in all of the same bonuses thanks to this set.

The carrying over of the bonus content in each movie from this set is a key positive for this set. The inclusion of all four TNG movies is a boon for the most devoted fans of the franchise, while for those who might be more particular might find it not as interesting a draw. Keeping that in mind, the set’s average price range of $31.72 is actually not a bad thing. That price was obtained by averaging prices from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Book Sellers and Books-A-Million. It was not listed at Target at the time of this review’s posting. Considering the prices of the stand-alone episodes’ Blu-ray releases and the prices of the movies’ releases, that price for this set is actually affordable. Consumers would have to spend more than $100 for each of the titles by themselves, so paying a little more than $30 for all of them together is its own positive, again, regardless of that noted devotion to the franchise. Having all of the movies, and at least two episodes (which were clearly chosen subjectively) gives audiences of all devotion something to look forward to here. To that end, it is money well spent both for the most devoted fans and for even the most casual Star Trek fans who want to still be able to check out all of the TNG movies in one collection, rather than having to hunt them down one by one. When this is considered along with the featured content – both primary and secondary – the whole of the et proves a positive for Star Trek fans even despite the division that it will certainly create.

Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment’s new Star Trek: The Next Generation set is an interesting new presentation for audiences. The most devoted audiences will certainly appreciate having all of the TNG movies in one set complete with all of their original bonus content, and at an affordable price. The franchise’s more casual fans will appreciate the fans, but might find themselves better off with the movies that they enjoy the most. What’s more, those same audiences will find the set’s featured television episodes, which have already seen release in their own standalone Blu-rays, questionable as so many other episodes could have been featured. To that end, those audiences might not find the set’s average price point enough to encourage them to purchase the set. Keeping all of this in mind, this latest TNG set is an interesting journey, but not one that every Star Trek fan will want to take. The set is scheduled for release Tuesday on Blu-ray. More information on this and other titles from Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment is available online now at:

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