Guitarist Paul Warren is taking on a classic TV theme song for his latest single.
Warren premiered his take on the theme song from the classic TV series, Mission: Impossible and a companion video Tuesday. The song is the lead single from Warren’s new project, Light Theory. He most recently worked with another project, Infinite Eve, and performed on the group’s single, ‘2020.’
Warren’s take on the song gives the timeless theme song an amped up take on the song. It blends heavy metal guitar with a subtle keyboard line to give it a sound more akin to that of the rendition used for the Tom Cruise-led MI movies than that used in the original series.
Warren’s take on the Mission: Impossible theme song is available to stream and download through Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.
The video that accompanies the song is also similar to what one might expect from a trailer for one of the series’ big screen adaptations. There is footage of a tech specialist at his desk, tracking something or someone, footage of exotic locales, such as the pyramids of Egypt, mountainous regions of Europe, and busy city streets throughout to add to the presentation.
This all pairs with footage of Warren performing his take on the song. Lights illuminate Warren from behind, leaving him fully silhouetted as he performs. The visual is meant to create its own air of mystery to echo the sense of mystery in the arrangement.
More information on Paul Warren’s take on the Mission: Impossible theme song and his new project, Light Theory, is available along with all of his latest news at:
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:
Timeless Media Group will bring audiences yet another long lost piece of television history this Summer.
Timeless Media Group will release the classic series ISpy on Tuesday, June 24th. The classic dramedy series, starring Bill Cosby (The Cosby Show, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids) and character actor Robert Culp. It could be argued that the show’s witty writing and equally strong acting on the part of Cosby and Culp were the influence behind hit dramedies such as Monk and Psych. The series ran on NBC from 1965 to 1968 and produced a total of eighty-two episodes in that span. It won countless awards over the course of its three-year run including: the Golden Globe® for Best Dramatic Series in 1967, three consecutive Prime Time Emmys® for Outstanding Lead Actor for Bill Cosby, and the Prime Time Emmy ® for Outstanding Musical Composition for Earle Hagen. Cosby’s co-star received his own accolades for his work on the show. He was nominated for a number of Prime Time Emmy® Awards including: three Outstanding Lead Actor nominations and one for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama.
Along with its groundbreaking acting and writing, ISpy also featured a number of guest stars that would go on to be some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Those names include the likes of: Gene Hackman (Hoosiers, Enemy of the State, Unforgiven), Jim Backus (Mr. Magoo, Gilligan’s Island), Ron Howard (The Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days), Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Raven), Martin Landau (Ed Wood, North by Northwest, Mission: Impossible), George Takei (Star Trek), Don Rickles (Toy Story 1 – 3), and Eartha Kitt (Batman).
The upcoming release will have all eighty-two episodes of ISpy contained on eighteen discs. More information on this and other releases, including pricing and how to order the box set, is available online at http://www.timelessvideo.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 https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
Everybody knows the story of The little Engine That Could. Well now, people are going to start learning the story of the little movie studio that could. That’s thanks to Anchor Bay Entertainment’s latest home release, Unfinished Song. This latest release is one more from Anchor Bay that has found its way onto this critic’s list of the year’s best independent movies. The other is the recently released rom-com, Shanghai Calling. Unfinished Song is nothing like Shanghai Calling. It is also entirely unlike 20th Century Fox’s geriatric drama, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Despite attempts by some to make a comparison, there is no comparison as the two are wholly separate stories. Unfinished Song is its own story. And it is a story that will both entertain and move audiences just as much as the aforementioned works.
Unfinished Song boasts so much heart throughout its roughly ninety-minute plus runtime. It is centrally a story about family. On a deeper level, one could argue that it is also a story about appreciating life. Throughout both story elements, writer/director Paul Andrew Williams throws in more than enough laughs to keep audiences of any age laughing, too. His ability to balance both the story’s dramatic and comedic elements is to be highly commended, especially considering the story’s length. Also to be considered in the success of Unfinished Song is the story’s casting. Terrence Stamp (Superman II, Get Smart, The Adjustment Bureau) was the perfect choice to fill the role of grumpy old Arthur Harris. And Vanessa Redgrave (Howard’s End, Mission: Impossible, Cars 2), was just as solid a choice to play Arthur’s wife Marion. The two play off of each other so well. Their interpretation of Williams’ scripts draws viewers in even deeper, and thus makes suspension of disbelief that much easier. The resultant effect of both of that acting prowess and the general writing make this movie one more surprise hit from Anchor Bay, and one of the year’s surprise hits.
The writing behind Unfinished Song is, as already noted, one of the keys to the movie’s success. Despite attempts by some to compare this movie to the likes of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, the two stories are total opposites. The latter is centered more on the elderly acquaintances’ personal journeys of self realization. Unfinished Song is its own story in that it is more centered on family. Audiences are introduced in this story to Arthur Harris, a very Scrooge-like character that doesn’t want to have a good time or smile. He’s just a crotchety old man. But underneath that rough exterior, Arthur is very much the sympathetic character, as audiences will learn as the story progresses. The change that he eventually undergoes as the result of a tragic event completely envelops audiences and makes them cheer even more for him; perhaps even more than his fellow choir members. By the story’s end, Arthur’s transformation is complete so to speak. And audiences will realize just how deeply they have been pulled into the story thanks to Williams’ writing and by Stamp’s acting.
The acting on the part of the veteran Stamp was perfect from start to finish. Though, his wasn’t the only acting that audiences will appreciate. The passion in Redgraves’ voice when Marion sang ‘True Colors’ to Arthur will bring even the strongest person to tears. And his reaction to what happens after the fact is even more powerful. Of course there are some funnier moments that come from the supporting cast. Audiences will find themselves laughing uproariously as the members of the elderly choir perform Motorhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’ and Salt ‘N Pepa’s ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’ to an audience made up of people of various ages. There is just something hilarious about a group of older people trying to rock out to Motorhead. And one would think that older people would be more conservative when approached with the idea of singing Salt ‘N Pepa seductive song. Yet, they were entirely open and enthusiastic about it. Their reactions are more than worth the laughs that are generated. And countered by Arthur’s view of the song, it makes this moment even funnier. Paul Andrew Williams has given audiences quite the story, as is evidenced here. He has written a story that boasts a perfect balance of comedy and heart. It is a story with equally excellent acting. Whether for the acting, the writing, or both factors, both work hand-in-hand to make Unfinished Song a story that will leave viewers feeling entirely complete. It will be available this Tuesday, September 24th on DVD in stores and online. It can be ordered direct online from the Anchor Bay Home Entertainment website at http://www.anchorbayent.com/detail.aspx?ProjectId=3967a252-b0ce-e211-838a-d4ae527c3b65. More information on this release is also available here and through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AnchorBayEnt.
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 https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
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