Pop Culture Roundup May 1, 2007
A second DVD set of vintage "Sesame Street" episodes and segments is in the works.
"Yes! Indeed there are plans to release a Sesame Street Old School: Volume 2 some time between August and October of this year."
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"Spider-Man 3" is a "bloated, uneven behemoth," says The Associated Press.
Spidey the Third feels like an even greater letdown following Spidey Part Deux, which was the rare sequel that surpassed the original. "Spider-Man 2" was driven by a strong story and compelling character development, and didn't just feel the need to dazzle us with elaborate effects (though the effects did indeed dazzle).
Here, Raimi overloads us with more -- more villains, more supporting characters and more plot lines -- spread out across more time. People and threats come and go, and the narrative feels scattered.
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As if modern attention spans weren't short enough already: Sony is shrinking down episodes of old TV shows like "Starsky and Hutch" and "Charlie's Angels" to 3.5-minute "minisodes" for distribution on the Web.
As Steve Mosko, the president of Sony Television, described it, "So in 'Charlie Angels,' they have a meeting, Charlie's on the intercom telling them what the assignment is, there's a couple of fights, and then a chase, and they catch the bad guy. Then they're back home wrapping it up."
"T.J. Hooker," an especially formulaic cop show from the early 1980s, can be seen in short bursts of action as William Shatner interrogates suspects, fires shots and chases bad guys. "Shatner is just hilarious," Mosko said.
That sums up the main aim of the minisodes. Nobody expects these shows to captivate anyone with their exciting plotlines, writing or ageless acting. "It's really campy and fun," Mosko said.
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Booksteve's joined the Captain Marvel Club. Howdy Steve! Remember: The old stuff sucks!
"Yes! Indeed there are plans to release a Sesame Street Old School: Volume 2 some time between August and October of this year."
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"Spider-Man 3" is a "bloated, uneven behemoth," says The Associated Press.
Spidey the Third feels like an even greater letdown following Spidey Part Deux, which was the rare sequel that surpassed the original. "Spider-Man 2" was driven by a strong story and compelling character development, and didn't just feel the need to dazzle us with elaborate effects (though the effects did indeed dazzle).
Here, Raimi overloads us with more -- more villains, more supporting characters and more plot lines -- spread out across more time. People and threats come and go, and the narrative feels scattered.
-----------------
As if modern attention spans weren't short enough already: Sony is shrinking down episodes of old TV shows like "Starsky and Hutch" and "Charlie's Angels" to 3.5-minute "minisodes" for distribution on the Web.
As Steve Mosko, the president of Sony Television, described it, "So in 'Charlie Angels,' they have a meeting, Charlie's on the intercom telling them what the assignment is, there's a couple of fights, and then a chase, and they catch the bad guy. Then they're back home wrapping it up."
"T.J. Hooker," an especially formulaic cop show from the early 1980s, can be seen in short bursts of action as William Shatner interrogates suspects, fires shots and chases bad guys. "Shatner is just hilarious," Mosko said.
That sums up the main aim of the minisodes. Nobody expects these shows to captivate anyone with their exciting plotlines, writing or ageless acting. "It's really campy and fun," Mosko said.
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Booksteve's joined the Captain Marvel Club. Howdy Steve! Remember: The old stuff sucks!
Lost preview May 16 episode
Highlight hidden text for spoilers:
JACK DEVISES A PLAN TO DO AWAY WITH "THE OTHERS,"
SAYID UNCOVERS A FLAW IN "THE OTHERS'" SYSTEM THAT COULD
LEAD TO RESCUE, AND CHARLIE'S DANGEROUS TASK MAY MAKE
DESMOND'S PREMONITION COME TRUE, ON ABC'S "LOST"
"Greatest Hits" - While Jack devises a plan to do away with "The Others" once and for all, Sayid uncovers a flaw in "The Others'" system that could lead to everyone's rescue. But it requires Charlie to take on a dangerous task that may make Desmond's premonition come true, on "Lost," WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
"Lost" stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet, Dominic Monaghan as Charlie and Terry O'Quinn as Locke.
Guest starring are Tania Raymonde as Alex, Blake Bashoff as Karl, Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, Mira Furlan as Rousseau, Brian Goodman as Pryce, Marsha Thomason as Naomi, Neil Hopkins as Liam, Joshua Hancock as Roderick, John Henry Canavan as Simon Pace, Jeremy Shada as young Charlie, Zack Shada as young Liam, L. Scott Caldwell as Rose, Sam Anderson as Bernard, Andrea Gabriel as Nadia, Lana Parrilla as Greta and Tracy Middendorf as Bonnie.
"Greatest Hits" was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and directed by Stephen Williams.
See the Best "Lost" Sites on the Web.
JACK DEVISES A PLAN TO DO AWAY WITH "THE OTHERS,"
SAYID UNCOVERS A FLAW IN "THE OTHERS'" SYSTEM THAT COULD
LEAD TO RESCUE, AND CHARLIE'S DANGEROUS TASK MAY MAKE
DESMOND'S PREMONITION COME TRUE, ON ABC'S "LOST"
"Greatest Hits" - While Jack devises a plan to do away with "The Others" once and for all, Sayid uncovers a flaw in "The Others'" system that could lead to everyone's rescue. But it requires Charlie to take on a dangerous task that may make Desmond's premonition come true, on "Lost," WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
"Lost" stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet, Dominic Monaghan as Charlie and Terry O'Quinn as Locke.
Guest starring are Tania Raymonde as Alex, Blake Bashoff as Karl, Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, Mira Furlan as Rousseau, Brian Goodman as Pryce, Marsha Thomason as Naomi, Neil Hopkins as Liam, Joshua Hancock as Roderick, John Henry Canavan as Simon Pace, Jeremy Shada as young Charlie, Zack Shada as young Liam, L. Scott Caldwell as Rose, Sam Anderson as Bernard, Andrea Gabriel as Nadia, Lana Parrilla as Greta and Tracy Middendorf as Bonnie.
"Greatest Hits" was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and directed by Stephen Williams.
See the Best "Lost" Sites on the Web.
DVD cover art: Space Ghost and Dino Boy, Birdman and the Galaxy Trio sets
Here's cover art for these two sets detailed last week.
Click the artwork to pre-order either set from Amazon.
Click the artwork to pre-order either set from Amazon.
DVD: Flash Gordon out Aug. 7
This Queen-soundtracked 1980 film will be out on DVD Aug. 7.
Dubbed the Flash Gordon Saviour of the Universe Edition (the original film was just "Flash Gordon." Don't know what's up with the British spelling of savior.), the DVD featuring the remastered movie and assorted extras.
Here's the info:
An All-American football player must foil an extraterrestrial plan to dominate the Earth in Flash Gordon: Saviour of the Universe Edition, rocketing into stores August 7, 2007 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
Available on DVD for the first time, this rollicking sci-fi classic stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Timothy Dalton, and Academy Award® nominees Max von Sydow (Pelle the Conqueror) and Topol (Fiddler on the Roof) in the ultimate otherworldly adventure.
An all-new digitally remastered picture and 5.1 Surround Sound brilliantly enhance the tongue-in-cheek dialogue, outrageous costumes and over the top sets, as well as the now legendary soundtrack by the celebrated rock group Queen.
Directed by Mike Hodges (Croupier, Get Carter) and produced by Dino De Laurentiis (Barbarella, King Kong -1976), Flash Gordon: Saviour of the Universe Edition brings to the screen all the action, romance and fun of the original 1930’s comic strip that inspired it.
The special edition DVD includes exclusive bonus features, packaging art by renowned comic book artist, Alex Ross, and an “alternate” collectible postcard of the packaging art that make it a must-have addition to the collection of any sci-fi fan. The creation of cartoonist Alex Raymond, Flash Gordon is the original epic outer-space fantasy.
BONUS FEATURES
* ALEX ROSS, RENOWNED COMIC ARTIST, ON FLASH GORDON - Alex Ross talks about his favorite movie of all time, Flash Gordon, and about how the film has inspired him in his life and work.
* WRITING A CLASSIC: SCREENWRITER LORENZO SEMPLE, JR. - Screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr. speaks about the deliberately campy script for Flash Gordon.
* FLASH GORDON 1936 SERIAL EPISODE - Chapter One of Planet of Peril.
Check pre-order info from Amazon.
Dubbed the Flash Gordon Saviour of the Universe Edition (the original film was just "Flash Gordon." Don't know what's up with the British spelling of savior.), the DVD featuring the remastered movie and assorted extras.
Here's the info:
An All-American football player must foil an extraterrestrial plan to dominate the Earth in Flash Gordon: Saviour of the Universe Edition, rocketing into stores August 7, 2007 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
Available on DVD for the first time, this rollicking sci-fi classic stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Timothy Dalton, and Academy Award® nominees Max von Sydow (Pelle the Conqueror) and Topol (Fiddler on the Roof) in the ultimate otherworldly adventure.
An all-new digitally remastered picture and 5.1 Surround Sound brilliantly enhance the tongue-in-cheek dialogue, outrageous costumes and over the top sets, as well as the now legendary soundtrack by the celebrated rock group Queen.
Directed by Mike Hodges (Croupier, Get Carter) and produced by Dino De Laurentiis (Barbarella, King Kong -1976), Flash Gordon: Saviour of the Universe Edition brings to the screen all the action, romance and fun of the original 1930’s comic strip that inspired it.
The special edition DVD includes exclusive bonus features, packaging art by renowned comic book artist, Alex Ross, and an “alternate” collectible postcard of the packaging art that make it a must-have addition to the collection of any sci-fi fan. The creation of cartoonist Alex Raymond, Flash Gordon is the original epic outer-space fantasy.
BONUS FEATURES
* ALEX ROSS, RENOWNED COMIC ARTIST, ON FLASH GORDON - Alex Ross talks about his favorite movie of all time, Flash Gordon, and about how the film has inspired him in his life and work.
* WRITING A CLASSIC: SCREENWRITER LORENZO SEMPLE, JR. - Screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr. speaks about the deliberately campy script for Flash Gordon.
* FLASH GORDON 1936 SERIAL EPISODE - Chapter One of Planet of Peril.
Check pre-order info from Amazon.
DVD new releases May 1, 2007
Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition)
Dreamgirls (Widescreen Edition)
Beverly Hills, 90210 - The Second Season
The King of Queens - The Complete Eighth Season
Tyrone Power: The Swashbuckler Box Set (Blood and Sand / Son of Fury / The Black Rose / Prince of Foxes / The Captain from Castile)
The Girls Next Door - Season 2
Michael Palin's Around the World in 80 Days
Melrose Place - The Second Season
The Best of the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
What I Like About You - The Complete First Season
Clint Eastwood Western Icon Collection (High Plains Drifter/Joe Kidd/Two Mules For Sister Sara)
CD new releases May 1, 2007
Beyond by Dinosaur Jr.
BBC Sessions 1967-1970 by The Moody Blues
Look Thru the Eyes of Roy Wood & Wizzard by Roy Wood
American Doll Posse by Tori Amos
The Time Has Come by Pentangle
Spider-Man 3: Music from and Inspired By by Original Soundtrack
Rock & Roll Music by Elvis Costello
The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years by Elvis Costello
Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Punch the Clock by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
King of America by Elvis Costello
Almost Blue by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Trust by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Get Happy!! by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
We Three by Roy Haynes With Phineas Newborn and Paul Chambers
Mating Call by Tadd Dameron with John Coltrane
More upcoming CD releases
BBC Sessions 1967-1970 by The Moody Blues
Look Thru the Eyes of Roy Wood & Wizzard by Roy Wood
American Doll Posse by Tori Amos
The Time Has Come by Pentangle
Spider-Man 3: Music from and Inspired By by Original Soundtrack
Rock & Roll Music by Elvis Costello
The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years by Elvis Costello
Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Punch the Clock by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
King of America by Elvis Costello
Almost Blue by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Trust by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Get Happy!! by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
We Three by Roy Haynes With Phineas Newborn and Paul Chambers
Mating Call by Tadd Dameron with John Coltrane
More upcoming CD releases
Today's video: John Romita, Sr., draws Spider-Man
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