Pop Culture Roundup Sept. 7, 2007
A journalist looks at the good and the so-bad-they're-good aspects of today's comic book reprints.
..these comics are so dreadful you can’t take them seriously – and as a result, they’re wacky fun. If nothing else, they’re representative of a long-past era when comics didn’t take themselves seriously.
------------------
What more do you need to know? Cool Classic Space Toys.
-------------------
Newsarama interviews Jim Shooter, who's scripting DC Comics' Legion of Superheroes, 41 years after he first worked on the title.
-------------------
Dial B for Blog explores the Secret Origins of The Batman.
--------------------
Watch a trailer for the upcoming DVD release of the Beatles' "Help!"
..these comics are so dreadful you can’t take them seriously – and as a result, they’re wacky fun. If nothing else, they’re representative of a long-past era when comics didn’t take themselves seriously.
------------------
What more do you need to know? Cool Classic Space Toys.
-------------------
Newsarama interviews Jim Shooter, who's scripting DC Comics' Legion of Superheroes, 41 years after he first worked on the title.
-------------------
Dial B for Blog explores the Secret Origins of The Batman.
--------------------
Watch a trailer for the upcoming DVD release of the Beatles' "Help!"
T Works brings DC Comics, Warner Bros. animated characters online
The press release is a tad confusing, but the gist seems to be Warner's is throwing up a new Web site featuring many of the characters it owns where folks can watch videos, chat, game, etc.
This is what happens when they let marketing people try to communicate with the real world. See if you can puzzle it out:
In spring 2008, Warner Bros. Entertainment will launch T-Works, a brand-new
broad-appeal immersive animation experience which, for the first time ever,
brings together all of the key characters from the Studio’s core animated
properties in an expansive, rich online environment.
T-Works, which will be ad supported, also marks the first time
that all the key characters from Warner Bros. Entertainment’ s unmatched
family of animated icons, including Warner Bros. Animation, Looney Tunes,
Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics are brought together in a single site and tied
to a user rewards system.
The site offers unparalleled levels of interaction for the broadest appeal,
from watching originally produced and classic library episodes online and
playing games to customizing characters and exploring virtual worlds.
T-Works also embraces an open philosophy, giving fans tools for
self-expression and personalization in order to “brand” their digital lives
anywhere on the Web.
The grab-and-go capability enables fans to incorporate
a custom avatar into their lives, whether it’s on T-Works or utilized in the
participant’s digital world (MySpace, Facebook, etc.). Fans will be able to
forge a deeper relationship with the characters than they have ever been
able to in the past.
Warner Bros. Animation is in development with Studio 2.0, the original
programming digital production arm of the Warner Bros. Television Group, on
two projects: an untitled “Batman” shortform series and an untitled project
based on “The Wizard of Oz,” both of which will debut exclusively on T-Works
More details on these projects will be announced in the near future.
“While the focus of T-Works is our amazing collection of animated superstars
this online destination represents much more than that,” said Horn.
“T-Works presents us with a great environment and thus a great platform to
highlight many of our current projects, from feature films to
made-for-videos, consumer products, comic books and more.”
“T-Works will offer original entertainment content, social interaction and
an intimacy with our beloved and iconic characters like never before in an
environment that’s safe and appropriate for all ages,” said Lisa Judson,
President, Warner Bros. Animation. “People have literally grown up with Bugs
Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, and we’re building an
innovative, creative, cutting-edge home where people of all ages can
interact and play with our characters in a compelling entertainment
environment.”
“The animated versions of the DC heroes have been viewer favorites for years
” said Paul Levitz, President and Publisher, DC Comics. “T-Works will give
our fans new ways to connect with our characters. The DCHeroZone should be a
great new destination for our fans.”
The T-Works experience features:
• Immersive virtual worlds where users interact with each other and assume a
cartoon identity based on existing characters-- they can play, chat and
create a personal cartoon home complete with furniture, art, pets and more
from Warner Bros. Entertainment’ s animation asset library
• Video channel featuring hundreds of hours of classic Warner Bros.
Animation product as well as contemporary programs including “Looney Tunes,”
“The Flintstones” and “Batman Beyond” and original made-for-broadband
animated short-form series
• A personalization channel to serve all aspects of fans’ digital lives from
customizing social networking profiles, portable widgets, desktop
applications and more
• A games channel with over 125 games featuring never-before- seen character
match-ups
• Video Mash-Up Maker where users can create and share their own cartoon
remixes
• Sitewide reward system that gives points for all activity that the user
does both within the virtual worlds and throughout the site--points can be
redeemed for online assets as well as offline rewards
• Destination for younger users and their parents to spend time together
with age-appropriate activities based on family-friendly favorites such as
“Baby Looney Tunes,” “Krypto the Super Dog” and many more
This is what happens when they let marketing people try to communicate with the real world. See if you can puzzle it out:
In spring 2008, Warner Bros. Entertainment will launch T-Works, a brand-new
broad-appeal immersive animation experience which, for the first time ever,
brings together all of the key characters from the Studio’s core animated
properties in an expansive, rich online environment.
T-Works, which will be ad supported, also marks the first time
that all the key characters from Warner Bros. Entertainment’ s unmatched
family of animated icons, including Warner Bros. Animation, Looney Tunes,
Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics are brought together in a single site and tied
to a user rewards system.
The site offers unparalleled levels of interaction for the broadest appeal,
from watching originally produced and classic library episodes online and
playing games to customizing characters and exploring virtual worlds.
T-Works also embraces an open philosophy, giving fans tools for
self-expression and personalization in order to “brand” their digital lives
anywhere on the Web.
The grab-and-go capability enables fans to incorporate
a custom avatar into their lives, whether it’s on T-Works or utilized in the
participant’s digital world (MySpace, Facebook, etc.). Fans will be able to
forge a deeper relationship with the characters than they have ever been
able to in the past.
Warner Bros. Animation is in development with Studio 2.0, the original
programming digital production arm of the Warner Bros. Television Group, on
two projects: an untitled “Batman” shortform series and an untitled project
based on “The Wizard of Oz,” both of which will debut exclusively on T-Works
More details on these projects will be announced in the near future.
“While the focus of T-Works is our amazing collection of animated superstars
this online destination represents much more than that,” said Horn.
“T-Works presents us with a great environment and thus a great platform to
highlight many of our current projects, from feature films to
made-for-videos, consumer products, comic books and more.”
“T-Works will offer original entertainment content, social interaction and
an intimacy with our beloved and iconic characters like never before in an
environment that’s safe and appropriate for all ages,” said Lisa Judson,
President, Warner Bros. Animation. “People have literally grown up with Bugs
Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, and we’re building an
innovative, creative, cutting-edge home where people of all ages can
interact and play with our characters in a compelling entertainment
environment.”
“The animated versions of the DC heroes have been viewer favorites for years
” said Paul Levitz, President and Publisher, DC Comics. “T-Works will give
our fans new ways to connect with our characters. The DCHeroZone should be a
great new destination for our fans.”
The T-Works experience features:
• Immersive virtual worlds where users interact with each other and assume a
cartoon identity based on existing characters-- they can play, chat and
create a personal cartoon home complete with furniture, art, pets and more
from Warner Bros. Entertainment’ s animation asset library
• Video channel featuring hundreds of hours of classic Warner Bros.
Animation product as well as contemporary programs including “Looney Tunes,”
“The Flintstones” and “Batman Beyond” and original made-for-broadband
animated short-form series
• A personalization channel to serve all aspects of fans’ digital lives from
customizing social networking profiles, portable widgets, desktop
applications and more
• A games channel with over 125 games featuring never-before- seen character
match-ups
• Video Mash-Up Maker where users can create and share their own cartoon
remixes
• Sitewide reward system that gives points for all activity that the user
does both within the virtual worlds and throughout the site--points can be
redeemed for online assets as well as offline rewards
• Destination for younger users and their parents to spend time together
with age-appropriate activities based on family-friendly favorites such as
“Baby Looney Tunes,” “Krypto the Super Dog” and many more
DVD collects Dylan's Newport performances
A while back we mentioned a BBC documentary focusing on Bob Dylan's 1960s performances at the Newport Folk Festival. Now it looks like the doc is also set for U.S. DVD release on Oct. 30.
"The Other Side of the Mirror -- Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965" features 80 minutes of footage, most of it never previously released. The disk includes footage from the famed "Dylan's gone electric" performance in 1965, along with scenes of Dylan rehearsing with his electric band.
According to Billboard, the film also will appear on PBS after Thanksgiving.
Here's the track list:
"All I Really Want To Do" (7/24/1965 - afternoon workshop)
1963:
"North Country Blues" (7/26 afternoon workshop)
"With God on Our Side" (with Joan Baez - 7/26 afternoon workshop and 7/28 night performance)
"Talkin' World War III Blues" (7/26 night performance)
"Who Killed Davey Moore?" (7/27 afternoon workshop)
"Only a Pawn in Their Game" (7/26 night performance)
"Blowin' in the Wind" (with the Freedom Singers, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary - 7/26 night performance)
1964:
"Mr. Tambourine Man" (7/24 afternoon workshop)
Johnny Cash sings "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" (night performance)
Joan Baez sings "Mary Hamilton" as Bob Dylan (7/24 night performance)
"It Ain't Me, Babe" (with Joan Baez - 7/24 night performance)
Joan Baez interview
"With God on Our Side" (with Joan Baez - 7/26 night performance)
"Chimes of Freedom" (7/26 night performance)
1965:
"If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (7/24 afternoon workshop)
"Love Minus Zero/No Limit" (7/24 afternoon workshop)
Daytime rehearsal with Dylan's electric band
"Maggie's Farm" (with electric band - 7/25 night performance)
"Like a Rolling Stone" (with electric band - 7/25 night performance)
"Mr. Tambourine Man" (7/25 night performance)
"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" (7/25 night performance)
Best Bob Dylan Sites.
"The Other Side of the Mirror -- Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965" features 80 minutes of footage, most of it never previously released. The disk includes footage from the famed "Dylan's gone electric" performance in 1965, along with scenes of Dylan rehearsing with his electric band.
According to Billboard, the film also will appear on PBS after Thanksgiving.
Here's the track list:
"All I Really Want To Do" (7/24/1965 - afternoon workshop)
1963:
"North Country Blues" (7/26 afternoon workshop)
"With God on Our Side" (with Joan Baez - 7/26 afternoon workshop and 7/28 night performance)
"Talkin' World War III Blues" (7/26 night performance)
"Who Killed Davey Moore?" (7/27 afternoon workshop)
"Only a Pawn in Their Game" (7/26 night performance)
"Blowin' in the Wind" (with the Freedom Singers, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary - 7/26 night performance)
1964:
"Mr. Tambourine Man" (7/24 afternoon workshop)
Johnny Cash sings "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" (night performance)
Joan Baez sings "Mary Hamilton" as Bob Dylan (7/24 night performance)
"It Ain't Me, Babe" (with Joan Baez - 7/24 night performance)
Joan Baez interview
"With God on Our Side" (with Joan Baez - 7/26 night performance)
"Chimes of Freedom" (7/26 night performance)
1965:
"If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (7/24 afternoon workshop)
"Love Minus Zero/No Limit" (7/24 afternoon workshop)
Daytime rehearsal with Dylan's electric band
"Maggie's Farm" (with electric band - 7/25 night performance)
"Like a Rolling Stone" (with electric band - 7/25 night performance)
"Mr. Tambourine Man" (7/25 night performance)
"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" (7/25 night performance)
Best Bob Dylan Sites.
Pop Culture Roundup Sept. 6, 2007
Deal alert: Amazon is offering more than $100 off the big "Land of the Giants" DVD set. Instead of $298.99, it's listed at $99.99 today.
-------------------
Check out a new Beatles Beatleg Podcast.
--------------------
A deal to offer the Beatles' music on iTunes may come through within the next six months, says Apple's Steve Jobs.
Best Beatles Sites.
---------------------
Those flatulent space villains the slitheen will make an appearance of "Doctor Who" spinoff "The Sarah Jane Adventures."
Best Doctor Who Sites.
----------------------
Deal alert: Amazon is having a huge sale
on TV series DVD collections.
-------------------
Check out a new Beatles Beatleg Podcast.
--------------------
A deal to offer the Beatles' music on iTunes may come through within the next six months, says Apple's Steve Jobs.
Best Beatles Sites.
---------------------
Those flatulent space villains the slitheen will make an appearance of "Doctor Who" spinoff "The Sarah Jane Adventures."
Best Doctor Who Sites.
----------------------
Deal alert: Amazon is having a huge sale
on TV series DVD collections.
DVD: Sesame Street - Old School Vol. 2 (1974-1979)
This second DVD set of vintage "Sesame Street" episodes and segments arrives Nov. 6 on three disks and is available for pre-order now from Amazon.
Highlights:
--Includes the first Sesame Street test episode ever created, which has never been nationally broadcast!
--A 12-page booklet packed with behind-the-scenes information and photos
--A special collectible animation cell from "Pinball Number Count" which made its debut on Sesame Street in 1977
--Contains the premier episodes from each of the 5 seasons (1974 - 1979) completely restored
--The first episode from Season 5 features the debut of Roscoe Orman in the role of Gordon
--Includes 57 bonus segments
Highlights:
--Includes the first Sesame Street test episode ever created, which has never been nationally broadcast!
--A 12-page booklet packed with behind-the-scenes information and photos
--A special collectible animation cell from "Pinball Number Count" which made its debut on Sesame Street in 1977
--Contains the premier episodes from each of the 5 seasons (1974 - 1979) completely restored
--The first episode from Season 5 features the debut of Roscoe Orman in the role of Gordon
--Includes 57 bonus segments
DVD: James Bond Monster Box
From "Doctor No" to the new "Casino Royale," this is the works--all 21 Bond films with lots and lots of extras, on 42 disks. It's out Nov. 6 and is available for pre-order now from Amazon.
The films in the set are the same as the recent Bond "Ultimate Edition" DVD sets released recently, but you get 'em all in one set.
The films in the set are the same as the recent Bond "Ultimate Edition" DVD sets released recently, but you get 'em all in one set.
DVD: The Addams Family - The Complete Series
This new set collects all 64 of the show's episodes on nine disks. It's out Nov. 13 and available for pre-order now from Amazon.
Extras:
- Audio commentary for "The Addams Family Goes To School", "Morticia, The Matchmaker" and "Cousin Itt Visits The Addams Family" featuring cast members Lisa Loring, Ken Weatherwax and Felix Silla with "The Addams Chronicles" author Stephen Cox and director Arthur Hiller
- Thing and Cousin Itt select scene commentary on "Thing is Missing", "My Son, the Chimp", "Cousin Itt and the Vocational Counsellor", "My Fair Cousin Itt" "Morticia's Dilemma", "Ophelia Finds Romance" and "Lurch's Little Helper"
- Commentary by Steven Cox, author of "The Addams Chronicles" on "Morticia Meets Royalty" and "Morticia the Decorator".
- Tombstone Trivia on "Morticia's Romance" (Part I) and "Cat Addams"
- You Rang, Mr. Addams featurette
- Snap, Snap featurette
- The Addams Family Portrait featurette including on-camera interviews with John Astin
- Mad About The Addams featurette
- Guest Star Seance with Parley Baer, Milton Frome, Vito Scotti, Elizabeth Fraser, Richard Deacon, Sig Ruman, Margaret Hamilton, Elvia Allman, Eddie Quillan and Peter Bonerz
- Theme Song Karaoke
- Still galleries featuring original drawings and photos
Extras:
- Audio commentary for "The Addams Family Goes To School", "Morticia, The Matchmaker" and "Cousin Itt Visits The Addams Family" featuring cast members Lisa Loring, Ken Weatherwax and Felix Silla with "The Addams Chronicles" author Stephen Cox and director Arthur Hiller
- Thing and Cousin Itt select scene commentary on "Thing is Missing", "My Son, the Chimp", "Cousin Itt and the Vocational Counsellor", "My Fair Cousin Itt" "Morticia's Dilemma", "Ophelia Finds Romance" and "Lurch's Little Helper"
- Commentary by Steven Cox, author of "The Addams Chronicles" on "Morticia Meets Royalty" and "Morticia the Decorator".
- Tombstone Trivia on "Morticia's Romance" (Part I) and "Cat Addams"
- You Rang, Mr. Addams featurette
- Snap, Snap featurette
- The Addams Family Portrait featurette including on-camera interviews with John Astin
- Mad About The Addams featurette
- Guest Star Seance with Parley Baer, Milton Frome, Vito Scotti, Elizabeth Fraser, Richard Deacon, Sig Ruman, Margaret Hamilton, Elvia Allman, Eddie Quillan and Peter Bonerz
- Theme Song Karaoke
- Still galleries featuring original drawings and photos
DVD: The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones - Volume One
This 12(!)-disk set is out Oct. 23, and is available for pre-order now from Amazon.
Details:
THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES Volume One is the first of three collections of the series and is released by Lucasfilm Ltd., CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. The first 12-disc set includes seven feature-length episodes as well as 38 in-depth companion documentaries, an historical overview, an interactive game and an interactive timeline.
The 38 historical companion films are original works from the Lucasfilm documentary unit, headed by CBS News veteran David Schneider. The documentaries complement the episodes with insights from scholars, historians and luminaries from a wide range of disciplines, bringing remarkable and fresh insight into The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. They include interviews with Gen. Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, Gloria Steinem, Martin Scorsese, Barbara Boxer, James Earl Jones, Hal David and Deepak Chopra, along with some of the nation’s pre-eminent academics.
A critically acclaimed combination of adventure, romance and history, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones was shot in 35 countries and utilized the talents of the industry’s most distinguished actors, directors and writers, earning 11 Emmy Awards and 26 nominations over the course of its production. In addition, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones was the first television series to use digital production, pioneering processes that would pave the way for Lucas' own Star Wars prequels.
“Young Indiana Jones was one of the most ambitious and complex projects that had ever been attempted for television, and the result was an amazing series that showed a completely different side to Indy,” said series producer Rick McCallum, who also produced the three Star Wars prequels and the Special Editions of the original Star Wars Trilogy. “Over the years, the fan support for Young Indiana Jones has swelled, and I’m asked about it everywhere I go. So, I’m really happy that people who grew up with it can at last have it for themselves, and that a new generation will be able to discover the brilliant acting, directing, writing and storytelling that has always been the hallmark of an extraordinary venture.”
The feature-length episodes star Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints, “The Dead Zone”) as teenaged Indy and Corey Carrier (Nixon) as 9-year-old Indy. The extraordinary cast of guest stars includes Christopher Lee, Vanessa Redgrave, Max von Sydow, Anne Heche, Lukas Haas, Elizabeth Hurley, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright and Daniel Craig.
During its network-television run, critics described the series as intelligent, daring, well written, irreverent, and unprecedented in scope and production values. The Hollywood Reporter called the series “exciting, fun, adventurous, brilliantly made and with a story that’s simply charming.” Bill Moyers said, “These exciting tales are the way to a youngster’s imagination – and his grandfather’s, too. History’s never been told more vividly or more engagingly for the young and old alike. May Young Indy be my grandson’s companion far into the 21st Century.”
The Young Indiana Jones films also feature the work of some of the industry’s biggest names in directing and writing. Directors include Bille August (Les Miserables), Mike Newell (Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire), David Hare (Strapless, screenplays for The Hours and Damage), Terry Jones (Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian), Deepa Mehta (Water), Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer, Jurassic Park III), Nicholas Roeg (The Man Who Fell To Earth, Don’t Look Now), and Michael Schultz (Car Wash, TV’s Everwood). Writers include Rosemary Anne Sisson (Upstairs, Downstairs), Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) and Jonathan Hensleigh (Die Hard with a Vengeance).
The DVD disc breakdown is as follows:
Disc One:
-- My First Adventure
While on an archeological dig in Egypt's Valley of the Kings,
Indy uncovers an ancient mummy and fresh corpse. With the help
of T.E. Lawrence, the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, Indy solves
an intriguing murder mystery only to find himself thrust right
back into danger when he is kidnapped by slave-trading
brigands. Dragged on a terrifying journey across the burning
sands of North Africa to the slave markets of Marrakech, Indy
finds that he must rely on his courage and wits to survive the
brutal ordeal.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Archaeology: Unearthing Our Past
-- Howard Carter and the Tomb of Tutankhamun
-- Colonel Lawrence's War: T.E. Lawrence and Arabia
-- From Slavery to Freedom
Disc Two:
-- Passion For Life
The beautiful Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya is the locale
as Indy goes on safari with former President Teddy Roosevelt.
When he becomes lost in the savage African bush, Indy finds
that he must fight for his life against all manner of exotic
and dangerous wildlife. Exotic wildlife of another kind await
him in Paris when he accompanies a young Norman Rockwell on a
rollicking tour through the bohemian world of Parisian fine
art. Wild parties, wilder women and artist temperament are on
full display as Pablo Picasso and Edgar Degas clash over their
contrasting styles of painting, while painting the town red at
a gaudy late-night soiree.
Disc Three (Passion For Life bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Theodore Roosevelt and The American Century
-- Ecology: Pulse of the Planet
-- American Dreams: Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening
Post
-- Art Rebellion: The Making of the Modern
-- Edgar Degas: Reluctant Rebel
-- Braque + Picasso: A Collaboration Cubed
Disc Four:
-- The Perils of Cupid
In beautiful Vienna, Indy falls for the lovely young daughter
of soon-to-be assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
But the course of true love does not run smoothly and he must
seek advice from two of the founding fathers of psychology,
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Romantic complications of another
kind turn up in Florence, Italy, when Indy and his mother meet
the great opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Dismayed to find his
lonely mother succumbing to the sensuous charms of the
charismatic Puccini, Indy frantically looks for a way to
reunite his parents and rekindle their love before it's too
late.
Disc Five (The Perils of Cupid bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Giacomo Puccini--Music of the Heart
-- It's Opera!
-- The Archduke's Last Journey--End of an Era
-- Powder Keg--Europe 1900 to 1914
-- Sigmund Freud--Exploring the Unconscious
-- Carl Jung and the Journey of Self Discovery
-- Psychology--Charting the Human Mind
Disc Six:
-- Travels with Father
A trip to Russia takes Indy from the opulent palaces of the
aristocracy to the fetid villages of the peasant class when he
runs away from home after an argument with his parents.
Joining up with novelist Leo Tolstoy, the two go on the road,
engaging in philosophical discussions and clashing with
colorful Gypsies and ferocious Cossacks. Realizing that
there's no place like home, Indy rejoins his mom and dad and
travels with his father to an isolated Greek monastery perched
high on the peak of a mountain. The arduous journey, including
a harrowing trip in a tiny cage up a thousand-foot
mountainside, brings father and son closer together.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Seeking Truth--The Life of Leo Tolstoy
-- Unquiet Voices--Russian Writers and the State
-- Aristotle--Creating Foundations
-- Ancient Questions--Philosophy and Our Search for Meaning
Disc Seven:
-- Journey of Radiance
A jaunt through the mystical Far East takes Indy to the Holy
City of Benares where he befriends the lonely and isolated
young leader of the Theosophy movement, Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Surrounded by supplicants and hangers-on, Krishnamurti
struggles to have faith in himself and to fulfill the destiny
decreed for him by his worshippers. In the process he shows
Indy just how strong the power of faith can be. Indy's mother
also learns a lesson in faith and trust when she must rely on
some poor Chinese villagers and their traditional medical
techniques to save the life of her son who lies perilously
close to death with typhoid fever.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Jiddu Krishnamurti--The Reluctant Messiah
-- Annie Besant--An Unlikely Rebel
-- Medicine in the Middle Kingdom
-- Eastern Spirituality--The Road to Enlightenment
Disc Eight:
-- Spring Break Adventure
Indy and his girlfriend Nancy Stratemeyer, whose father
created the Nancy Drew mystery series, visit the fascinating
laboratory of inventor Thomas Edison. The two must contend with
dangerous German spies as they struggle to keep Edison's top
secret new invention out of the hands of hostile enemy agents.
To keep him from getting into any more trouble, Indy is sent to
visit his Aunt in New Mexico. While there, he is kidnapped by
Pancho Villa and swept up into the Mexican Revolution. Chaotic,
free-wheeling border towns, a "Wild Bunch" style train robbery
and a colorful barroom encounter with a young George Patton
make for thrilling entertainment in this action-packed movie.
Disc Nine (Spring Break Adventure bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Thomas Alva Edison--Lighting up the World
-- Invention and Innovation--What's Behind a Good Idea?
-- The Mystery of Edward Stratemeyer
-- Wanted: Dead or Alive--Pancho Villa and the American
Invasion of Mexico
-- General John J. Pershing and his American Army
-- George S. Patton--American Achilles
Disc Ten:
-- Love's Sweet Song
Landing in Ireland right before the Easter Rebellion, Indy
mixes romance and revolutionary politics when he falls for a
beautiful young colleen whose brother is mixed up in the Irish
resistance movement. Across the waters in England he encounters
a similar problem when his love affair with a strong-willed
young woman is derailed by her fervent belief in the women's
suffrage movement and her need for independence. Violent street
brawls, a terrifying Zeppelin raid and a seriocomic dinner
party with Winston Churchill provide plenty of thrills in this
exciting, romantic adventure.
Disc Eleven (Love's Sweet Song bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Easter Rising--The Poets' Rebellion
-- The Passions of William Butler Yeats
-- Sean O'Casey vs. Ireland
-- Ireland--The Power of the Poets
-- Winston Churchill--The Lion's Roar
-- Demanding the Vote--The Pankhursts and British Suffrage
-- Fighting for the Vote--Women's Suffrage in America
Disc Twelve: (Interactive Disc)
Special Features:
-- "Revolution" Interactive Game, based on Spring Break
Adventure allows players to become Indy and make their
own decisions based on Indy's adventures. As well as
entertaining, this game has educational elements.
-- Extensive Interactive Timeline that details the history
and locations of Indy's adventures and previews footage
of the companion documentaries.
-- Historical Lecture: The Promise of Progress is an
exploration of the people and events of the Industrial
Revolution, spanning the late 19th century to the early
20th century.
Details:
THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES Volume One is the first of three collections of the series and is released by Lucasfilm Ltd., CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. The first 12-disc set includes seven feature-length episodes as well as 38 in-depth companion documentaries, an historical overview, an interactive game and an interactive timeline.
The 38 historical companion films are original works from the Lucasfilm documentary unit, headed by CBS News veteran David Schneider. The documentaries complement the episodes with insights from scholars, historians and luminaries from a wide range of disciplines, bringing remarkable and fresh insight into The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. They include interviews with Gen. Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, Gloria Steinem, Martin Scorsese, Barbara Boxer, James Earl Jones, Hal David and Deepak Chopra, along with some of the nation’s pre-eminent academics.
A critically acclaimed combination of adventure, romance and history, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones was shot in 35 countries and utilized the talents of the industry’s most distinguished actors, directors and writers, earning 11 Emmy Awards and 26 nominations over the course of its production. In addition, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones was the first television series to use digital production, pioneering processes that would pave the way for Lucas' own Star Wars prequels.
“Young Indiana Jones was one of the most ambitious and complex projects that had ever been attempted for television, and the result was an amazing series that showed a completely different side to Indy,” said series producer Rick McCallum, who also produced the three Star Wars prequels and the Special Editions of the original Star Wars Trilogy. “Over the years, the fan support for Young Indiana Jones has swelled, and I’m asked about it everywhere I go. So, I’m really happy that people who grew up with it can at last have it for themselves, and that a new generation will be able to discover the brilliant acting, directing, writing and storytelling that has always been the hallmark of an extraordinary venture.”
The feature-length episodes star Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints, “The Dead Zone”) as teenaged Indy and Corey Carrier (Nixon) as 9-year-old Indy. The extraordinary cast of guest stars includes Christopher Lee, Vanessa Redgrave, Max von Sydow, Anne Heche, Lukas Haas, Elizabeth Hurley, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright and Daniel Craig.
During its network-television run, critics described the series as intelligent, daring, well written, irreverent, and unprecedented in scope and production values. The Hollywood Reporter called the series “exciting, fun, adventurous, brilliantly made and with a story that’s simply charming.” Bill Moyers said, “These exciting tales are the way to a youngster’s imagination – and his grandfather’s, too. History’s never been told more vividly or more engagingly for the young and old alike. May Young Indy be my grandson’s companion far into the 21st Century.”
The Young Indiana Jones films also feature the work of some of the industry’s biggest names in directing and writing. Directors include Bille August (Les Miserables), Mike Newell (Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire), David Hare (Strapless, screenplays for The Hours and Damage), Terry Jones (Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian), Deepa Mehta (Water), Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer, Jurassic Park III), Nicholas Roeg (The Man Who Fell To Earth, Don’t Look Now), and Michael Schultz (Car Wash, TV’s Everwood). Writers include Rosemary Anne Sisson (Upstairs, Downstairs), Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) and Jonathan Hensleigh (Die Hard with a Vengeance).
The DVD disc breakdown is as follows:
Disc One:
-- My First Adventure
While on an archeological dig in Egypt's Valley of the Kings,
Indy uncovers an ancient mummy and fresh corpse. With the help
of T.E. Lawrence, the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, Indy solves
an intriguing murder mystery only to find himself thrust right
back into danger when he is kidnapped by slave-trading
brigands. Dragged on a terrifying journey across the burning
sands of North Africa to the slave markets of Marrakech, Indy
finds that he must rely on his courage and wits to survive the
brutal ordeal.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Archaeology: Unearthing Our Past
-- Howard Carter and the Tomb of Tutankhamun
-- Colonel Lawrence's War: T.E. Lawrence and Arabia
-- From Slavery to Freedom
Disc Two:
-- Passion For Life
The beautiful Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya is the locale
as Indy goes on safari with former President Teddy Roosevelt.
When he becomes lost in the savage African bush, Indy finds
that he must fight for his life against all manner of exotic
and dangerous wildlife. Exotic wildlife of another kind await
him in Paris when he accompanies a young Norman Rockwell on a
rollicking tour through the bohemian world of Parisian fine
art. Wild parties, wilder women and artist temperament are on
full display as Pablo Picasso and Edgar Degas clash over their
contrasting styles of painting, while painting the town red at
a gaudy late-night soiree.
Disc Three (Passion For Life bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Theodore Roosevelt and The American Century
-- Ecology: Pulse of the Planet
-- American Dreams: Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening
Post
-- Art Rebellion: The Making of the Modern
-- Edgar Degas: Reluctant Rebel
-- Braque + Picasso: A Collaboration Cubed
Disc Four:
-- The Perils of Cupid
In beautiful Vienna, Indy falls for the lovely young daughter
of soon-to-be assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
But the course of true love does not run smoothly and he must
seek advice from two of the founding fathers of psychology,
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Romantic complications of another
kind turn up in Florence, Italy, when Indy and his mother meet
the great opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Dismayed to find his
lonely mother succumbing to the sensuous charms of the
charismatic Puccini, Indy frantically looks for a way to
reunite his parents and rekindle their love before it's too
late.
Disc Five (The Perils of Cupid bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Giacomo Puccini--Music of the Heart
-- It's Opera!
-- The Archduke's Last Journey--End of an Era
-- Powder Keg--Europe 1900 to 1914
-- Sigmund Freud--Exploring the Unconscious
-- Carl Jung and the Journey of Self Discovery
-- Psychology--Charting the Human Mind
Disc Six:
-- Travels with Father
A trip to Russia takes Indy from the opulent palaces of the
aristocracy to the fetid villages of the peasant class when he
runs away from home after an argument with his parents.
Joining up with novelist Leo Tolstoy, the two go on the road,
engaging in philosophical discussions and clashing with
colorful Gypsies and ferocious Cossacks. Realizing that
there's no place like home, Indy rejoins his mom and dad and
travels with his father to an isolated Greek monastery perched
high on the peak of a mountain. The arduous journey, including
a harrowing trip in a tiny cage up a thousand-foot
mountainside, brings father and son closer together.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Seeking Truth--The Life of Leo Tolstoy
-- Unquiet Voices--Russian Writers and the State
-- Aristotle--Creating Foundations
-- Ancient Questions--Philosophy and Our Search for Meaning
Disc Seven:
-- Journey of Radiance
A jaunt through the mystical Far East takes Indy to the Holy
City of Benares where he befriends the lonely and isolated
young leader of the Theosophy movement, Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Surrounded by supplicants and hangers-on, Krishnamurti
struggles to have faith in himself and to fulfill the destiny
decreed for him by his worshippers. In the process he shows
Indy just how strong the power of faith can be. Indy's mother
also learns a lesson in faith and trust when she must rely on
some poor Chinese villagers and their traditional medical
techniques to save the life of her son who lies perilously
close to death with typhoid fever.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Jiddu Krishnamurti--The Reluctant Messiah
-- Annie Besant--An Unlikely Rebel
-- Medicine in the Middle Kingdom
-- Eastern Spirituality--The Road to Enlightenment
Disc Eight:
-- Spring Break Adventure
Indy and his girlfriend Nancy Stratemeyer, whose father
created the Nancy Drew mystery series, visit the fascinating
laboratory of inventor Thomas Edison. The two must contend with
dangerous German spies as they struggle to keep Edison's top
secret new invention out of the hands of hostile enemy agents.
To keep him from getting into any more trouble, Indy is sent to
visit his Aunt in New Mexico. While there, he is kidnapped by
Pancho Villa and swept up into the Mexican Revolution. Chaotic,
free-wheeling border towns, a "Wild Bunch" style train robbery
and a colorful barroom encounter with a young George Patton
make for thrilling entertainment in this action-packed movie.
Disc Nine (Spring Break Adventure bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Thomas Alva Edison--Lighting up the World
-- Invention and Innovation--What's Behind a Good Idea?
-- The Mystery of Edward Stratemeyer
-- Wanted: Dead or Alive--Pancho Villa and the American
Invasion of Mexico
-- General John J. Pershing and his American Army
-- George S. Patton--American Achilles
Disc Ten:
-- Love's Sweet Song
Landing in Ireland right before the Easter Rebellion, Indy
mixes romance and revolutionary politics when he falls for a
beautiful young colleen whose brother is mixed up in the Irish
resistance movement. Across the waters in England he encounters
a similar problem when his love affair with a strong-willed
young woman is derailed by her fervent belief in the women's
suffrage movement and her need for independence. Violent street
brawls, a terrifying Zeppelin raid and a seriocomic dinner
party with Winston Churchill provide plenty of thrills in this
exciting, romantic adventure.
Disc Eleven (Love's Sweet Song bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Easter Rising--The Poets' Rebellion
-- The Passions of William Butler Yeats
-- Sean O'Casey vs. Ireland
-- Ireland--The Power of the Poets
-- Winston Churchill--The Lion's Roar
-- Demanding the Vote--The Pankhursts and British Suffrage
-- Fighting for the Vote--Women's Suffrage in America
Disc Twelve: (Interactive Disc)
Special Features:
-- "Revolution" Interactive Game, based on Spring Break
Adventure allows players to become Indy and make their
own decisions based on Indy's adventures. As well as
entertaining, this game has educational elements.
-- Extensive Interactive Timeline that details the history
and locations of Indy's adventures and previews footage
of the companion documentaries.
-- Historical Lecture: The Promise of Progress is an
exploration of the people and events of the Industrial
Revolution, spanning the late 19th century to the early
20th century.
DVD: The Batman - The Complete Fourth Season
This double disk is out Nov. 20. It's available for pre-order now from Amazon.
Info:
Season 4 features a redesign of Bruce Wayne/Batman, that is more reminiscent of the DCAU (Bruce Timm) Batman. The season also introduces Dick Grayson as Robin (Evan Sabara) into the series as well as other characters such as Lucius Fox (Louis Gossett Jr.). More villains appear such as Tony Zucco (Mark Hamill), Killer Moth (Jeff Bennett), Black Mask (James Remar) & Number One (Diedrich Bader), Rumor (Ron Perlman), Everywhere Man (Brandon Routh), Harley Quinn (Hynden Walch), Francis Grey (Dave Foley), and a new Clayface (Wallace Langham). Batgirl returns this season as well, and is now officially part of Batman's team. Swoop onto this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition with All Season 4 Adventures plus Exciting Extras.
Info:
Season 4 features a redesign of Bruce Wayne/Batman, that is more reminiscent of the DCAU (Bruce Timm) Batman. The season also introduces Dick Grayson as Robin (Evan Sabara) into the series as well as other characters such as Lucius Fox (Louis Gossett Jr.). More villains appear such as Tony Zucco (Mark Hamill), Killer Moth (Jeff Bennett), Black Mask (James Remar) & Number One (Diedrich Bader), Rumor (Ron Perlman), Everywhere Man (Brandon Routh), Harley Quinn (Hynden Walch), Francis Grey (Dave Foley), and a new Clayface (Wallace Langham). Batgirl returns this season as well, and is now officially part of Batman's team. Swoop onto this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition with All Season 4 Adventures plus Exciting Extras.
DVD: Teen Titans - The Complete Fourth Season
Out Nov. 20 on two disks, this set is available for pre-order now from Amazon.
Info:
The series revolves around main team members Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven. While it is an action cartoon, the series is also character-driven, with a focus on the main characters' struggles with being teenage superheroes, their mutual friendships, and their limitations. Seasons four is based upon one of the most popular New Teen Titans arcs, "Terror of Trigon". Many characters from the comics, including Aqualad and Speedy, appear throughout the series. 13 action-packed adventures from the hit TV series this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition feature 13 exciting episodes from this smash TV series plus behind-the-scenes bonuses
Info:
The series revolves around main team members Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven. While it is an action cartoon, the series is also character-driven, with a focus on the main characters' struggles with being teenage superheroes, their mutual friendships, and their limitations. Seasons four is based upon one of the most popular New Teen Titans arcs, "Terror of Trigon". Many characters from the comics, including Aqualad and Speedy, appear throughout the series. 13 action-packed adventures from the hit TV series this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition feature 13 exciting episodes from this smash TV series plus behind-the-scenes bonuses
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)