Catalog Release of the Week
Traffik: Remastered 20th Anniversary Edition (DVD only)
Interviews with writer Simon Moore and Brian Eastman, Extended UK Broadcast version of Episode 6, Photo Gallery, Production Notes, Cast Filmographies
The brilliant Channel 4 miniseries from 1989 that inspired Steven Soderbergh's Traffic has been re-mastered and reissued by Acorn Media. The new DVD edition includes the full five hour series as it originally aired along with an interview with the series' creators. With the majority of the new TV season disappointing big-time, it's a good chance to catch up on really good, solid storytelling.
New Release of the Week
Yellowstone: Battle for Life (BBC Earth) (Blu-ray & DVD)
Featurette: The People of Yellowstone
Paraphrased from my recently-posted impressions:
BBC Earth has put together yet another reference-quality nature documentary, this time about the first National Park. The 2.5 hour doc follows the wildlife of Yellowstone surviving through the seasons and highlights the stunning beauty of the park itself. I hope the fact they didn't put the bears, wolves, and bison on the cover doesn't mean people will pass it up on the shelf.
New Release
Life on Mars (US): The Complete Series
Featurettes: To Mars and Back, Sunrise to Sunset With Jason O'Mara, Flashback: Lee Majors Goes to Mars
Blooper Reel, Deleted Scenes, Audio Commentaries
This US version of the dynamite UK series failed to catch on with audiences or critics. Critical opinion seemed to really revolve around the "why remake it? what was broken?" topic. Having recently started my way through the original (Acorn Media released Series 1 in July, Series 2 coming in November), I have to agree that nothing was broken with it and it stands on its own. I love it and it's wonderful.
At the same time, the US version isn't bad at all, and it was the best way to get the story to US audiences. By no means am I a remake-loving heretic, but it's in the nature of the storytelling tradition that things be recycled and done over. There are places here and there that the US version nails it (dare I say?) better than the original. It's like knowing the answers to the test in advance. The single reason I'm most glad the remake happened is that it means more than just the anglophiles out there like me will be exposed to the property and (I hope) see the original. I've already had the ending of the original spoiled for me, and I've received confirmation that the US version went a wildly different direction entirely with a similar device. O'Mara, Mol, Imperioli, and Keitel deserved better.
The Real Story: Part 1
The Real Story: Escape From Alcatraz
The Real Story: The Amityville Horror
I routinely find myself trying to find something on the hundreds (thousands) of channels I pay for each month and see something interesting on the Smithsonian Channel, only to realize that it's one of a few channels I don't have. I'm glad I'm getting the chance to sample their programming by reviewing discs like this on for this column.
In the world of shows purporting to be "the truth behind" some event, The Real Story is among the better put together I've run into. It's filled with re-creations, interviews, and voice of God narration relating the facts of legends like, in this case, the escape from Alcatraz and The Amityville Horror. Both of them have been plumbed for inspiration for various movies over the years, and the shows Smithsonian made about them are really pretty good.
Kings: The Complete Series
Deleted Scenes, Audio Commentary
I heard very, very bad things about this show toward the beginning that turned to outright disgust only a couple episodes into the first and only season. I'm not sure when or if I'll crack this one open and watch it, after finding the following in the synopses of Disc 2: "David is torn between his family and his king the peace treaty with Gath threatens his homeland." I know the show is dead and buried, and I've seen typo-ridden booklets and packages for TV shows, but whaaa?
How I Met Your Mother: Season 4
The Unit: Season 4
Catalog
The Patty Duke Show: Season 1
Cagney & Lacy: The Menopause Years
I just love the title of this set.
TV on Disc is generally posted a few days after the corresponding week's Disc Roundup (Movies) and covers the week's TV releases on DVD & Blu-ray. Unless otherwise noted, screener copies of titles reviewed were provided by the respective studio.
If you think I've missed something, feel free to send me an email.