I thought I'd save some shipping charges from Amazon.com by picking up some DVDs in Hawaii (Six Feet Under Season 2, The Simpsons Season 4, Demonlover Director's Cut, and Goodfellas Special Edition). So as I make my way through these purchases I will comment on them. I started out with Six Feet Under Season 2. I really enjoyed the first season, so I was really looking forward to the next season, and it didn't disappoint. It is just another impeccably well-written and well-acted program with excellent production values that are being churned out by HBO (The Sopranos, Sex In The City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, etc...).
I particularly like the realistic characters that are largely likeable and easy to relate to. The acting is top notch- Peter Krause, Rachel Griffiths, Michael C. Hall, Lauren Ambrose, as well as the rest of the cast and supporting actors. This season seems funnier than the previous one, but maybe not, it's been a while since I?ve watched Season 1, perhaps I should re-watch it. However, I do think it is safe to say that this season is much darker as there are several storylines that deal with violent crime, serious illnesses, and sexual addiction. However, I think the overall tone is upbeat, it sort of promotes carpe diem since each episode begins with a death that is incorporated into the story as a motif or theme, and ruminations on how to live your life to the fullest, which seems to be the backbone of the show, since you never know when your time might be up. I find this refreshing in our contemporary world of irony where nothing heartfelt can be uttered in sincerity. I mean, really, life is too short. In addition to five commentaries, there is an interesting documentary on how they make the impressively realistic dead bodies for use on the show.
I am not sure what season just ended but Deven and I TIVO all the episodes and it just keeps churning out great episodes. Do not want to spoil it but there are some cool story lines this season.
Posted by: Kraig | September 30, 2004 at 07:13 PM
Kim and I get really sick of the whiny art student plots. We fast forward them. And actually the brother..not David the other one...his plot lines are kind of pathetic too. It gets hard to stick with characters you can't sympathize with. And Rico...you reap what you sow. We keep watching nonetheless. Ruth's plot lines are interesting, and David and Keith too. But for a really great HBO series, watch The Wire! Seasons 1 and 2 were fantastic. We are still warming up to season 3.
Posted by: Poje | September 30, 2004 at 09:32 PM
Check out the series "Dead Like Me". At first I thought it was going to be a cheap knockoff of Six Feet Under, but I was pleasantly surprised. I just bought a few box sets too. Millennium (short lived Chris Carter television series), Halloween 666 (Producer's Cut), Monster Legacy box (Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman) and the Lone Wolf & Cub series.
I'm still looking for a decent version of Twin Peaks that includes the Pilot and both seasons. Pat, any thoughts on that? In the U.S. they only released the first season on DVD (whcih did NOT include the pilot episode) and then I've only seen bad bootleg versions that include season 2. Just wondering if you've seen anything worth picking up.
Posted by: Ray Lee | September 30, 2004 at 11:28 PM
Basically, I try to avoid reading about series I like when they are be shown (The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, etc...), but I read a lot of web pages and bits leak out constantly, either because I can't help myself or I happen see the headlines related to plotlines-Alan Ball refers to some of them in his DVD commentary. So, I imagine that Season 3 has some unsettling storylines. I like Nate and Claire, but I can see their plotlines getting less interesting (ie serious illness/art school).
Ray, I haven't seen any Twin Peaks stuff, but I'll keep my eyes open. I've heard good stuff about "Dead Like Me," can't imagine seeing it unless I happen to be in the US.
However, I was a big fan of Millennium until about Season 3, I think where it became too much conspiracy theory obsessed like the X-Files, but he first two seasons are brillant. I liked the fact that they killed off main characters, and played Patti Smith's "Horses" in its entirity in one episode. Were you a Dark Angel fan? I have to admit aninfactuation for Jessica Alba. You must have quite a DVD collection at this point. How about Joe?
Posted by: MC | October 01, 2004 at 03:35 AM
Yeah, I was disappointed with the way Millennium dropped off...it seems that they just didn't know what to do when the ratings dropped and they knew the show was going to be canceled. How do you wrap up the show before the Millennium count down is up? There was an attempt at concluding Frank Black's character in a cross-over episode of the X-Files, but nowhere near what I was hoping for.
As mentioned before, you can always hit me up for titles that you can't find overseas. Just make me a list and of course, you get them at cost.
Posted by: Ray Lee | October 02, 2004 at 10:23 PM
This show has no morals. After I watched the whole season 2 box set, I felt sick to my stomach and it wasn't my antidepressant medication Celexa either. It was all that unprotected sex I saw. What is this show promoting anyway? After I saw the last episode, I immediately phoned my doctor and ordered a prescription of both Valtrex and Acyclovir. I went to the pharmacy right away and took a double dosage of each, I'm not taking any chances. Medically speaking, the show is inaccurate to say the least. The show says Nate is suffering from PVD, some bleeding of the brain. No, slurred speech and constant headaches are a sign of depression. He needs to take some antidepressants NOW. He just got his ex girlfriend Lisa preganant, His fiance is crazy and sleeps around and his sister drives a heast, who wouldn't be depressed after that and on top of that he works as a funeral durector. Hello. Give the show's writing staff a wake up call- this guy is depressed.
I also did not find David putting ectasy pills in the aspirin bottle to be funny. My brother intentionally took all of the aspirin pills out of my aspirin bottle and filled it in with Xenical (a weight loss pill). Well not only did my headaches not go away, but I went from a healthy 185 lbs to a sickly looking 105 lbs. Mixing pills should be handled by professionals.
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Actually, I've never seen the show. But the review above from amazon makes me want to watch it.
Mark
Posted by: Ozzy Osmond | October 02, 2004 at 10:39 PM
Definateley worth it- I thought that comment you found on the interent was great as well.
Posted by: Mc | October 03, 2004 at 12:14 PM