Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday 720p HDTV Reviews 10.09.2009



Another Friday is upon is. This means that more of my favorite (favourite to my UK friends) shows will be airing. By far, Sunday evening brings my favorite show: ShowTime's DEXTER.
Tonight we will have the following shows that I will be watching and reviewing. Keep in mind that I only watch and review the shows I can find broadcast in HDTV 720p or 1080p.



*My favorite pick for the night:


Stargate Universe Season 01 Ep. 03: Air (3)
Keep in mind, that last week, we saw Air (1) Air (2) back to back. It's time to resolve the first and biggest problem that the new Stargate expedition faces. Resolving their problem of running out of air aboard the latest Ancient vessel: "Destiny".

Here is how TV.com summarizes the episode:
Lt. Scott and Dr. Rush travel to a desert planet to locate a mineral essential to Destiny's life support system.
---My Review will follow here---
***All links to media content delivery services removed w/in 24-36 hours***





Smallville Season 9 episode 3: Rabid
Here is the skeleton of the episode as summarized by TV.com
Zod releases a virus that transforms humans into zombies throughout Metropolis, with the only cure being found in the blood of a Kryptonian. When Lois is infected, Clark is forced to choose between using his own blood to create an antidote, which would reveal his presence to Zod, and doing nothing.
---My Review will follow here---
***All links to media content delivery services removed w/in 24-36 hours***






Dollhouse Season 2 episode 3: Belle Chose
Here is the skeleton as summarized by TV.com
At the request of a Dollhouse shareholder, Victor is imprinted with the mind of the man's nephew. The man's unstable, psychotic, homicidal nephew.
Now, just as Ballard is starting to adjust to his new role, he must call upon all of his FBI training when Victor escapes the Dollhouse to wander the streets with a killer in his head.

---My Review will follow here---
***All links to media content delivery services removed w/in 24-36 hours***




Sanctuary Season 2 episode 1: End of Nights: Part 1
Episode summary as written by TV.com:
While desperately searching for Ashley, who remains in the hands of the Cabal, the Sanctuary team encounter a con artist named Kate Freelander. After her relationship with the Cabal went sour she gives Helen the location of a secret Cabal facility that may lead them to her Ashley..
To be honest, I was very much looking forward to this episode. As we all remember, Season 1's finale left us all at the tip of our chairs begging for resolution, but being left with anticipation. This is a good sign that the writers of the show know what they're doing. It's pure strategy that captivates the audience. I really rather look forward to it. Funny that, eh.

Amanda Tapping was nothing short of exceptional in her role as Doctor Helen Magnus. We saw a part of Dr. Magnus that we had not previously seen. During an interrogation she performs, Dr. Magnus walks the fine line of searching for answers vs. seeking retribution over the unknown whereabouts of her daughter, Ashley Magnus.

The plot gets better. At the end of last season, we are introduced to the secrets of Dr. Magnus longevity. Pure vampire blood. It also happens to be the source of John Druitt's powers (AKA John the Ripper).

That Ashley disappearance and that these two powerful individuals (Dr. Magnus & John Druitt)are her parents, is no coincidence. Ashley's sudden disappearance, along with a vial of pure vampire blood is the foundation of this episode's plot. The show seems to be gravitating towards the virtually extinct civilization that was vampirism.

This episode is a must watch. I'm very much looking forward to this week's upcoming episode, "End of Nights: Part 2"

I know I haven't mentioned much, but suffice it to say that Ashley's powers have increased dramatically. The powers even rival those of her father, John. It would seem that at this point Ashley has no control of her own conscience and has become a hybrid of human and vampire. To make things worse, the organization that is holding Ashley captive, have begun creating genetically pure (wiped memories & cell regeneration properties) to be vessels for Ashley's cloned conscience/powers.

Well, something like that anyway. It's enough for me to keep hanging in there episode to episode.

Oh, and please remember that these episodes are best seen in HDTV (720p or 1080p)


***All links to media content delivery services removed w/in 24-36 hours***








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Thursday, October 8, 2009

Thursday - 720p HDTV Reviews 10.08.2009

So it's Thursday night. I'm all revved up and ready to go for my fave shows, and then just the extras. Here is a glimpse of some of the shows I'll be watching tonight.

I'm keeping it short, as obviously, I want to actually watch them.



Two weeks ago, I first heard the name, "FastForward". Being a big HDTV watcher, I went to TVRage and read the shows synopsis. I have to say, I wasn't very impressed by the plot line. Another week went by, and I began reading some posts @SyFy (SyFy.com). The show peaked my interest. So, last week I did an episode by episode catch up. There's something about a mystery that catches people's attention. And for me, a mystery in a sci-fi kinda way. So tonight, I'm looking forward to episode 3 of the series. I will return to give my opinion of the episode. In the meantime, I've placed some links here to some media content delivery services. ;)

FlashForward Season 1 E03 720p HDTV (CTU release) 
***Any links to media content services are deleted w/in 24-36 hours***
Sorry folks.




There really isn't much to say about "Vampire Diaries". It's pretty straight forward. This sudden trend of vampire stories has gotten a little over the top. I'm a big "True Blood" fan. From what I hear, it's supposed to be a comedic rip off of the Twilight series of books/movies. I didn't care much for Twilight either.
The first few episodes are pretty dry, and reveal the characters in a very adolescent sort of a way. It takes place in a high school. A long lost vampire who returns home after a hundred years or so, decides to enroll in the local high school to pursue a pretty face that is identical to his long lost love from his past.
Yeah. It doesn't leave much to the imagination. Plot lines are very simple and very predictable. For anyone that is a LOST fan, you'll recognize the antagonist of the story. Yet another vampire. The brother with a dark side. The character is played by the same actor that played "Boone" on LOST. At this point, I can't remember the names of the main characters (high-school sweet-heart, good vampire that doesn't drink human blood and the bad vampire brother out to tempt his brother and obtain global domination. Or something like that LOL)

Vampire Diaries Season 1 E05
***Any links to media content services are deleted w/in 24-36 hours***
Sorry folks.




Supernatural. One simple word or title. It's quickly become one of my favorite (or favourite to my Brit friends) HDTV shows. If you've been watching Supernatural, you'll know that the series has slowly been building towards "The Apocalypse". As in The Biblicle apocalypse.
So that means end of the world kind of stuff. Any episodes past this, Michael & Satan, is almost anti-climactic. I mean, the devil is free and that's it.
What I like about this episode, is that the brothers Sam & Dean re-unite. Two weeks ago, they were free to go their own way. This week, they're back in the saddle again like a dynamic duo. Now that they're teaming up again, they're back on the road "on training wheels" meaning, that the brothers are going back to simple. Have I told you that I like simple?
The Supernatural producers have decided to go back to basics. Where do you go from Apocalyptic? Back to basics, baby. What I find really funny is that Sam is back to being Dean's kid brother, or his "b!T@H" so to say. He's portrayed as the "Skully" to Mulder, the side kick even. And just for fun, Paris Hilton is thrown in as well. It isn't one of Supernatural's best episode, but it brings us back to the series' roots; Hunting demons, omens, ghosts and demi-gods. I'm glad Supernatural is back to simple.

Supernatural Season 5 E05
***Any links to media content services are deleted w/in 24-36 hours***
Sorry folks.





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Thursday - Misc. HDTV experiences

OK then. I'm sure I don't have to ask, "How many of you tweet" (reference to Twitter). I've made friends throughout the entire Net-universe. Funny that ;).
I didn't dawn (or is it don?) on me that some (online friends) may not be privy to international tv (HDTV 720p in my case).

I'd like to discuss some of my misc. international HDTV shows. One that I began watching about a year ago, is a British drama that follows in the footsteps of its predecessors. Law & Order: UK starring:

• Bradley Walsh (2) Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks
• Jamie Bamber Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin (AKA Lee Adama of Battlestar Galactica)
• Harriet Walter Detective Inspector Natalie Chandler
• Ben Daniels Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel
• Freema Agyeman Crown Prosecutor Alesha Phillips
• Bill Paterson (1) played Crown Prosecution Service Director George Castle

Here is a summary from an online TV rating fave of many, TVRage:
"Law & Order" has been a staple in American homes for 18 years, and now London is being hit with the crime drama from Dick Wolf. "Law & Order:UK" will feature all new episodes with an all new cast exclusively for United Kingdom viewers.

Law & Order: UK summary by TVRage

For a detailed summary of each episode, visit IMDB episode guide .

Episode 1: Care
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 2: Unloved
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 3: Vice
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 4: Unsafe
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 5: Buried
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 6: Paradise
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 7: Alesha (This one has already been done by the Original Law & Order and the character of Dr. Olivet)
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 8: Samaritan
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 9: Hidden
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 10: Community Service
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 11: Sacrifice
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 12: Love and Loss
**Links and review to follow here**

Episode 13: Honour Bound
**Links and review to follow here**


Although this season has ended, I am still debating whether I liked the series or not. It has all of the elements of the Law & Order's that we're familiar with as well as a justice system that is vaguely familiar to me. I'm sure EVERYBODY had to take a class in Western Civilizations or some kind of Legal/Justice system in their college years. Right?
However, you're gonna find this funny, I never could get used to those funny looking wigs. Even more, I assumed that there would be a certain pomp and circumstance revolving the entire UK judicial system. Instead, I was awakened to the reality of how humble (economically) any public defense system is anywhere in modern times. Of course not including 3rd world countries. They're lucky if they have a legal system, much less a fair one. Back to the wigs. LOL. I couldn't get over the wigs that looked like they cost maybe $10 US dollars.
It's intriguing to watch something familiar (Law and Order-esque) with an international twist. I've decided I'm going to follow the series the following season. Season 02 begins sometime in early 2010. I'm thinking closer to February since that was its original premiere date.

For those reading this, I'll try and have some links to online media content delivery services. To my usual readers (I think it's me, my niece, my mom when she's not at church, and my doggie Jack), I'm sure I don't have to define the terms: "Media content delivery systems". So stay tuned. I'll have some links here soon, but will not be up here for very long.

You can also watch these online at iTV.com but only if you live in the UK.

Looking forward until then (prolly tomorrow 10/09/2009), I'm heading to bed and finish catching up on my HDTV shows whose seasons are about to begin.

J.




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Saturday, October 3, 2009

Saturday 720p HDTV Reviews

Unfortunately, there are not very many shows on Saturday evening at all. Even less, still are any 720p HDTV series. Still I wanted to put in an entry for Saturday. Actually for each day of the week. The only thing of interest to me on Saturday evening's schedule is Merlin 2009. Sadly it is only available in streaming media or media content delivery services (that would be me ;) ) in Xvid. Yuck. I hate Xvid and DivX codec (with the exception of DivX new DivX HD h264 codec - 6.8.5).




I'll include a little about the series here.
Merlin 2008 (Season 1), and Merlin 2009 (Season 2) are British series', and has recently been adopted by NBC for US broadcast. You can also read more about this series at TVRage, a very popular source of television information for nfo content. You can follow any of the links above to view more information, or simply follow this link to TVRage: http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-18834


I might be back to write a review, but I don't think that will happen. Since I am interested in this series, I have decided to watch Season 2 Ep. 01-03 in XviD.

Stay tuned for Sunday's post. Sunday evening brings us Dexter, and a few other delights. As usual, I'll have links (for 24 hours) to various media content delivery services.

Until then.




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Friday, October 2, 2009

Friday 720p HDTV Reviews

OK. Today is the BIG premiere of SGU (Stargate Universe) that we've all been waiting for. The phrase "Stargate Universe" has already become a trending topic on Twitter. Thankfully "Google Wave" and "Wave" have finally disappeared from the trend. ;)

I've decided to create my 720p HDTV Blog (brought to you by the 720p-PIMP). Any link references will only be on here for less than 24 hours... so pay attention.





Stargate Universe Season 1 episode 1-2 (2 hours):Air (1), Air (2)
Here is the skeleton of the 2 episodes as summarized by TV.com:
Air (1)
A research team studying the Stargate's ninth chevron is forced to flee through the gate when their secret base is attacked by an unknown enemy. They end up stranded on an Ancient ship named Destiny, billions of light years from Earth.
Air (2)
The evacuees from Icarus Base discover that the life-support system on the Destiny will fail in a matter of hours.

I've decided to remove this review, as it was WAY too long, and was more of a play by play review. What I have to say about the season premiere is that I was not satisfied with it. It left something to be experienced somehow. It really is not typical of the 2 other Stargate series, and leaves me wondering whether I will like this or not.

True that I was overly hyped over SGU, but even then, we are left with too many unresolved questions. There are too many dis-jointed plots. The characters include every single discipline of all Stargate series, with the exception of a medical chief let alone a doctor. I was left with the feeling I experienced when I first watched "Lost in Space", "Voyager" (though it became a favorite of mine) and somehow the movie Aliens.

I think I'll just have to grow into it. But lets hope that the producers don't keep us hanging. A new ploy being used by the writers, is having each episode rely on the following one. On Stargate Atlantis, most episodes had a definite resolve. Perhaps there was room left for future visits on the same topic, and the occasional 2 part episodes. The same can be said of the original Stargate series, SGC. I will not like the soap opera like episodic series unless it provides something much more meatier than what we are given.

Here's hoping that our next episode will have some resolve, and some verified communication with Earth. I too do not trust Dr. Rush, just as most of the expidition team members. The evacuees don't trust him either. He is creepy in a sort of hermit who doesn't communicate with anyone. This really is alienating everyone, especially since he has declared himself as the leader of the expidition supposedly by Gen. Oneall. We have no idea if this is true. Dr. Rush will not allow access to the ancient devices that allow communication with planets over great distances.

So then, it[s wait for next week. Hopefully the end of the episode will not completely leave us hanging again. "Lost" and "Voyager" at least did that for us. There was some kind of resolve at each episode.



-All links removed-







Smallville Season 9 episode 2: Metallo

Here is the skeleton of the episode as summarized by TV.com
Lois' new colleague, John Corben, undergoes a horrific transformation when he awakens from an accident with superhuman strength and a heart made of kryptonite. Determined to use his new power to further his vendetta against the Blur, Corben sets out kill the vigilante. However, the situation becomes even more complicated when Lois' own investigation leads her into Corben's hands.

I'm going to add skin to this skeleton. My personal opinion that is. For starters, the first few minutes before the opening credits, OMFG!! (F being frak or frag from SyFy's Battlestar Galactica LOL) Seriously though. I think this has got to be one of the darkest and disturbing scenes that Smallvile has ever produced. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the thrill of the new dark style, including a darker Clark Kent. It's remeniscent of the Batman that many of us grew up with to the more realistic "Dark Knight". Still, do not for one moment believe that I enjoyed the actual truck-run-over incident that created "Metallo" (John Corben), and left him in a pool of his own blood. Shortly after this scene, John Corben finds himself in an abandoned warehouse inside of a dirty surgical room filled with Mary Shelly like surgical instruments.

Next. What's up with Lois' flash backs to the missing 3 weeks of her life (End of season 8 through episode 1 of season 9). I'm sure it plays well into the series finale plot and all. But is anyone else tired of the character of Clark Kent being doomed to solitude explicitely because of his failed relationships? Mind you, the relationships failed because he neglected the world, and the world cannot take care of itself without the full cooperation and attention of "The blur".

With Jimmy Oleson dead, Chloe has become cynical and very hardened after Clark's refusal to change the past in order to save him from Clark's neglegenct duties of being mankind's savior. I get the feeling that soon she will be calling him Kal-El so as to help push him into the roll he should have been before Jimmie's death. She is however, keeping Clark on Jor-El's path. Her reasoning is that if he is going to embrace his Kryptonian side, and abandon his humanity, (with reference to Jimmy of course) he must commit to this path whole heartedly. This is where Lois' flash back dreams come into play. We are getting glimpses of a future where Kal-El puts Earth on the endangered list, by becoming romantically involved with Lois. Again. He can't multi-task. Save the girl, or save the planet.

Back to Lois. Lois is nabbed by Metallo (John Corben transformed after being mysteriously hit by a truck). The Blur saves her, but only after inadvertantly killing John Corben, A.K.A. Metallo. In an attempt to save Lois without being harmed himself by Metallo's Kryptonite fueled heart, Clark burns a plate of lead onto Corben's chest. No one likes a burned plate of lead on their chest. So, of course Metallo forcefully peels off the now cooled down plate of lead and along with it, his meteor-rock powered cyborg heart. Dead. Metallo is now dead.

Back to the first few minutes of the episode. John Corben is speaking with Lois on his cell phone telling her that he will expose "The Blur" for what he really is. A vigilante with no regard to the consequences of his actions. Ok, those weren't the exact words. He's holding up a picture of his sister in his hands. A sister that was killed by a murderer. This murderer we find out is a survivor of a bus crash "The Blur" saved. This is why John Corben blames Clark for his sorrow, and why Metallo begins his vandetta against him.

Tess Mercer is now back in shape and kicking the hell out of a punching bag just shortly after being violently held hostage by the Candorians. Oh, the new villains of the story (also from Krypton) are no longer referred to as Kryptonians, but Candorians. The city (Capitol city presumably) of Krypton. As is expected of Tess, she is on the hunt so to locate our Kryptonian... I mean Candorian friends. We quickly discover that Luther Corps. technology was used to build Metallo in a Frankensteinish way. A quilt of stolen technologies. We have no idea in this episode who created Metallo. We'll have to find out later. Just before the episode's end, Tess's assistant shows her pictures taken around the world of Kryptonian symbols burned onto the ground. This is where we are left in our cliff hanger. The assistant zooms in on one of the images (it's a digital photo on a tablet pc) and we see the image of Clark nude right in the middle of the El family crest burned on to the ground. We still don't know if Tess recognizes Clark or not, but we have to assume that she sees enough, including the El family crest, to know it really is him. I'm including a screen shot of this crop-circle like family crest on Tess' tablet pc.

All in all, I rather liked the episode. The plot line flowed well (even if my review here doesn't show it). We continue to be given mysteries to hold the audience in suspense for up coming episodes, and a direction of the inevidable end of Smallville the Series.


Screenshot:
The "crop circle" El family Crest with Clark Kent in the middle of it. As seen by Tess Mercer.
1080p:
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/562/svs09e02elcrestclarkac1.jpg

720p:
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/562/svs09e02elcrestclarkac1.jpg


-All links removed-






Dollhouse Season 2 episode 2: Instinct

Here is the skeleton as summarized by TV.com

When Echo is imprinted as a new mother, her reactions are more intense than anyone predicted. Senator Perrin steps up his investigation, and Adelle pays November a visit.

I've decided not to write a review on this series, as I have lost interest this season. However, I did want to include Dollhouse on here since it is a Friday evening show. And of course, any links to any media content delivery services.
;)


-All Links removed-



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