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And in this corner, released just in time to frighten us on Halloween, we have one of the worst films of 2018, a ghastly gimmick cluster bomb that will have audiences gasping for the air that has been sucked out of the room by the worst acting you will see this century; London Fields! It really ought to be heralded, this monstrosity of a movie, so that future audiences can be forewarned, or else it ought it be completely wiped from our memories, so that none of us who have seen it will have to live with the pain. Rarely, if ever, does cinema swing this hard and miss, unless it's trying to in order to make a point; no ...Read the entire review

Highly Recommended

The Show:

Back when I was half joking about the acumen with which Better Call Saul was going in its second season, you knew that it would head down a sad yet inevitable road, right? Jimmy (its second season) would become Saul eventually, despite his best efforts otherwise.

There are two big changes that have occurred since I wrote a lot of words down about the show; one being the death of Jimmy's brother Chuck (Michael McKean, This is Spinal Tap) and the introduction or reacquainting if you will of Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad), both of which occur in Seaso...Read the entire review

Recommended

The Show:

As my two-year old goes from infant to toddler and is more of a sponge soaking up data and information I try to keep his media above board with things on education, and having Sesame Street as your driver in the club bag is a clutch one I have to say. He can watch Elmo, or Kermit or Bert and Ernie with content while I get his meals ready, and he gets the chance to learn something in the process. So yeah, damn right I grabbed Awesome Alphabet Collection as a surrogate parent!

The disc is less a series of show episodes and more focused on segments, all of which surround a particular letter of the alphabet, that the Sesame Street puppets and humans talk through in a means of education and illustration. Occasionally a celebrity will pop by, whether its singers like Norah Jones, Pharrell Williams or Smokey Robinson, or actors like Ricky Gervais (Read the entire review

Rent It

Well, I guess I had to see it to believe it. After reviewing Time-Life's set of Laugh-In's third season, where all 26 episodes were affected by a serious mastering error, I didn't think the problem would have carried over to any of the other sets. In this set of the fourth season with 26 more episodes from the show's 1970-71 season, ONE episode (#22) seems to have come out right but the remaining 25 are still afflicted. I'll talk more about that in the quality section, but first a bit about the show itself:

Dan Rowan and Dick Martin still haven't let up by this point, continuing the show's mostly anarchic format that filled an hour-long slot each week when network TV...Read the entire review

Recommended

Gather round, kiddos, for this review of The Brady-est Brady Bunch TV & Movie Collection will, as never before, attempt to make sense of this unkillable piece of pop culture iconography. Your humble reviewer was in the thick of things when The Brady Bunch, the 1969-74 family sitcom, staked its claim onto the American consciousness, and can offer a bit perspective those generations, just before and since, can't quite reconcile.

But before we do that, let's first point out that this compact if unruly boxed DVD set, with a total running time of around 75 hours (!) of material includes with one notable exception just about everything Brady-related one might possibly ever want: the original series; The Brady Kids animated spin-off; The Brady Girls Get Married TV movie and its short-lived sitcom follow-up, The Brady Brides; A Very Brady Christmas, a later TV ...Read the entire review

Highly Recommended

It's been fits and starts but it now appears that CBS/Paramount is fully committed to releasing the final seasons of the 20-season Gunsmoke. Through the grapevine this critic is hearing that the label is planning on combining later seasons into single, rather than two-volume sets, which might be a little easier on everyone's pocketbook.

I've been reviewing Gunsmoke sets since the First Season was released in July 2007. The program was so prolific, upwards of 40 episodes per season in its early days, it's been impossible to watch everything in broadcast order. As new sets have been released, I typically watch 7-8 representative episodes then return to where I left off which, at present, is still Gunsmoke during its prime, black-and-white years. Reviewing the later, color (and hour-long episodes) I initially expressed mild disappointment that they weren't as taut as the 30-...Read the entire review

Highly Recommended

It's been fits and starts but it now appears that CBS/Paramount is fully committed to releasing the final seasons of the 20-season Gunsmoke. Through the grapevine this critic is hearing that the label is planning on combining later seasons into single, rather than two-volume sets, which might be a little easier on everyone's pocketbook.

I've been reviewing Gunsmoke sets since the First Season was released in July 2007. The program was so prolific, upwards of 40 episodes per season in its early days, it's been impossible to watch everything in broadcast order. As new sets have been released, I typically watch 7-8 representative episodes then return to where I left off which, at present, is still Gunsmoke during its prime, black-and-white years. Reviewing the later, color (and hour-long episodes) I initially expressed mild disappointment that they weren't as taut as the 30-...Read the entire review

Recommended

This review necessitates an unusually long premise, so bear with me. I'm a lifelong casual fan of the Star Trek franchise, from the original 1966-69 series through The Next Generation and, a bit less so, Deep Space Nine and all the feature films made up to that point. In the minority, I also regard Star Trek Voyager as the best, most daring of the "Next Generation" era shows, but didn't care for Star Trek: Enterprise, as its post 9/11-era teleplays seemed to swing the Star Trek universe hard to the right, in directions that seemed in stark opposition to the original intentions of the franchise's late creator, Gene Roddenberry.

That series ended in 2005. Four years later J.J. Abrams's Star Trek feature film attempted to "reboot" the Star Trek universe, with new actors playing characters from the original 60s show. I pretty much loathed everything about it, m...Read the entire review

Recommended

This second DVD release from Shout Factory Kids celebrating Sesame Street's 50th anniversary consists of a special made this year for prime time on both HBO (where the show has moved for its first run episodes) and PBS (which still presents the show delayed after the HBO showings, and with an annoying "E/I" symbol at the top of the screen to count towards the FCC's required hours of "educational programming" each week- in that regard it's likely for the better that its new primary home is HBO.) Like the 25th anniversary special, which was one of the very first DVD releases back in 1997, this focuses mostly on songs from the show but most of them are new performances, done on the show's set, rather than archival clips. There's a number of celebrity appearances but for some reason Joseph Gordon-Levitt, born after I had already outgrown the show on TV, was chosen to be the main "star". He takes a cab t...Read the entire review

Highly Recommended

(Note: Reviews of Gunsmoke: The Sixteenth Season and Gunsmoke: The Seventeenth Season are identical. In preparing them I watched at episodes and the extras from both sets. Give me a break.)

Despite the steady decline of the DVD format, CBS/Paramount deserves a lot of credit for seeing the 20-season run of Gunsmoke (1955-1975) through all the way to the finish line. For the show's last five seasons, it appears that the label has decided to release full- rather than half-season sets, a wise decision, and they've even added a most welcome supplement.

I've been reviewing Gunsmoke sets since the First Season was released in July 2007. The program was so prolific, upwards of 40 episodes per season in its early days, it's been impossible to watch everything in broadcast order. As new sets have been released, I typically watch 7-8 representative episodes then ...Read the entire review

Highly Recommended

(Note: Reviews of Gunsmoke: The Sixteenth Season and Gunsmoke: The Seventeenth Season are identical. In preparing them I watched at episodes and the extras from both sets. Give me a break.)

Despite the steady decline of the DVD format, CBS/Paramount deserves a lot of credit for seeing the 20-season run of Gunsmoke (1955-1975) through all the way to the finish line. For the show's last five seasons, it appears that the label has decided to release full- rather than half-season sets, a wise decision, and they've even added a most welcome supplement.

I've been reviewing Gunsmoke sets since the First Season was released in July 2007. The program was so prolific, upwards of 40 episodes per season in its early days, it's been impossible to watch everything in broadcast order. As new sets have been released, I typically watch 7-8 representative episodes then ...Read the entire review

Recommended

Time-Life has released yet another repackaging of their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame discs, this one containing three previous releases: Two four-DVD sets "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Concert" (the same title as this entire box set) which covers the induction ceremonies from 2014-2017, followed by the "Encore" set which actually contains the four shows prior to that, and concluded with the 3-disc "25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts" performed in 2009. I figured it was time for me to check these out having never seen any of them, and being a fan of a large variety of music.

One thing I'm not a big fan of however is awards shows, as they're typicall...Read the entire review

Recommended

The Movie:

Rod Serling's efforts on the original The Twilight Zone is, in a word, legendary and it remains, decades since it debuted, an incredibly influential body of work. The series was revived in the second half of the eighties and then again in the early two thousands an in April of 2019, Jordon Peele, Simon Kinberg and Marco Ramirez brough the popular anthology series back, albeit this time to CBS's streaming platform, CBS All Access. Peele not only serves as one of the show's executive producers, but also as the host and narrator, just as Serling did in the original run.

Paramount has now compiled the ten episodes that make up the first season and brought them to DVD. Here's a quick rundown of the episodes, which we'll keep reasonably vague in order to avoid spoilers.

The Comedian: Samir Wassan (Kumail Nanjiani) is struggling to get his standup comedy ca...Read the entire review

Recommended

I can never get enough of old musical and comedy variety shows these days. I remember them being rather cheesy from what I can remember of their original airings, but they are yet another thing that gets better with age. There were many of these throughout the 1960s and 70s, anchored by star hosts with a never-ending parade of different guest stars every week to do their own musical numbers and join in the comedy sketches. Sonny and Cher were two of the biggest stars in this genre- in 1971 they were set to take up residency for a live show in Las Vegas when they had to cancel because CBS offered them a weekly TV show, five episodes of which are featured here.

Highly Recommended

(Note: Reviews of Gunsmoke: The Eighteenth Season and Gunsmoke: The Nineteenth Season are identical. In preparing them I watched at episodes and the extras from both sets.)

Nearing home plate, CBS/Paramount's Eighteenth and Nineteenth of 20 season sets of Gunsmoke (1955-1975) nearly finishes off the classic series. Many wondered if the label would complete the series before the DVD format went kaput, so their determination to see it through deserves our gratitude.

I've been reviewing Gunsmoke sets since the First Season was released in July 2007. The program was so prolific, upwards of 40 episodes per season in its early days, it's been impossible to watch everything in broadcast order. As new sets have been released, I typically watch 7-8 representative episodes then return to where I left off which, at present, is still Gunsmoke during its b...Read the entire review

Highly Recommended

(Note: Reviews of Gunsmoke: The Eighteenth Season and Gunsmoke: The Nineteenth Season are identical. In preparing them I watched at episodes and the extras from both sets.)

Nearing home plate, CBS/Paramount's Eighteenth and Nineteenth of 20 season sets of Gunsmoke (1955-1975) nearly finishes off the classic series. Many wondered if the label would complete the series before the DVD format went kaput, so their determination to see it through deserves our gratitude.

I've been reviewing Gunsmoke sets since the First Season was released in July 2007. The program was so prolific, upwards of 40 episodes per season in its early days, it's been impossible to watch everything in broadcast order. As new sets have been released, I typically watch 7-8 representative episodes then return to where I left off which, at present, is still Gunsmoke during its b...Read the entire review

Recommended

Back in DVD's glory days, when stores were overflowing with them, you would often have to watch out for so-called "music" discs that were actually not authorized by the artists and didn't include any music from them- instead just containing interviews of anyone remotely associated that they could find. Many of these discs were about the Beatles- in fact some of the very first budget titles out were "Alf Bicknell's Beatles Diary" and "Beatles Celebration". Today the supply of discs in stores is not as plentiful, but a few of these titles still make it out. Checking out "Made on Merseyside" I was expecting it to be that sort of disc, but I've had enough long-time interest in the Beatles that it might still be worth watching.

This focuses on the very early years of the grou...Read the entire review

Recommended

The Movie:

Beyond The Door

Directed by Ovidio G. Assonitis (as O. Hellman) and released in 1974, a year after The Exorcist proved to be box office gold, Beyond The Door introduces us to Jessica Barrett (Juliet Mills), her husband Robert (Gabriele Lavia) and their two kids, smart-mouthed Gail (Barbara Fiorini) and pea soup loving Ken (Davd Colin Jr.). They live a good life and seem quite happy together, but when it turns out that Jessica is pregnant, things get a little tense. Regardless, they decide they'll make the best of the situation but after a visit to Dr. George Staton (Nino Segurini), a man who also happens to be their best friend, Jessica realizes that something is odd: she figures she can't be more than a few weeks into her pregnancy, while he insists she has to be at least three months.

From there, things start to get strange in the Barrett ho...Read the entire review

Highly Recommended

And so with this CBS/Paramount DVD release, Gunsmoke ends its unprecedented 20-year run, wrapping up an incredible 635 episodes. While a couple of series have since beaten Gunsmoke, namely Law & Order, The Simpsons, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, with more seasons and/or episodes, that doesn't take into account Gunsmoke's far greater per-season output in its early years, or the much longer running times of both the half-hour and later hour-long episodes. Nor does it factor in star James Arness's appearance in every episode (and later TV movies), or the long runs of so many regulars, including supporting and bit players.

Regardless, the label's commitment to finish out Gunsmoke on DVD deserves our gratitude, especially their wise decision to remaster the entire series, and to even add some fine extra features in its last seasons.

I'...Read the entire review

Enjoy the first of our new format of messages from David Legge, also available to watch on our YouTube Channel! In this two-part message, David encourages us to choose to praise - no matter what our circumstances - in order to affect our mood. Join us for this first part, as we find out what praise is and what it looks like. This sermon is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio and on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord) in HD video...

In this second part of his message 'Praise Time!', David looks at what praise does - the effects praise can have upon your life's circumstances and your own personal well-being. Learn some of the practical outcomes of what happens when you activate the power of praise! This sermon is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio and on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord) in HD video...

'Fasting God's Way' is the subject of our latest Topical Sermon, as we consider the genuine motives behind the type of fasting God looks for in His people. What's the difference in fasting our way, and fasting God's way? What does our fasting achieve if we're not fasting God's way? How does He view it? Join us for the answers to these and other questions! This sermon is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio and text formats...

In this series, David Legge looks at how the Minor Prophet, Habakkuk, teaches us to be 'Confident in the Chaos' around us. In these times of uncertainty and confusion, there are some clear principles that will not only help you to survive but enable you to thrive by faith! This first instalment is entitled 'The Paradox of Faith'. If you are questioning 'What on Earth God is doing?' in your life or in the world, then you'll glean some helpful truths from this message. Your questions and faith in God are not mutually exclusive. You can bring your questions to God and He will be your Answer! This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

Sometimes we don't understand what's happening in our world and in our lives. We wonder how God can allow certain things, let alone use bad things for our good! In Part 2 of 'Confident In The Chaos', learn how Habakkuk responds to God's 'Mysterious Ways' and how you also can posture yourself in faith. This encouraging message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

In 'Confident In The Chaos' Part 3, we learn to 'Stop, Look And Listen'. Habakkuk learned to get to grips with his questions and confusion by bringing them to God. He had to get quiet and listen for God’s voice. We need this discipline especially at this present moment in history. Only faith in what God speaks to our hearts will bring us through as overcomers! This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

In part 4 of 'Confident In The Chaos', 'The Judged And The Just', we discover part of the answer to Habakkuk's questioning of God and His ways - 'The just shall live by his faith' (2:4). The way we remain confident in the chaos is to believe God. This is also the way to be 'right with God', be saved from judgement and to stay in close fellowship with God - by faith. In this episode we go to the very heart of the Gospel - how Jesus took our sin and we receive God's righteousness through faith in Him. Why not share this message of Good News with someone you know who needs Jesus? This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

Part 5 of 'Confident In The Chaos' brings us 'A Trinity Of Positivity'. In the midst of the darkness of the 'woes' of judgement against Babylon, the LORD, through Habakkuk, shines some welcome light to help His people have confidence in the chaos they were facing. Find out what these three encouragements are, which will help you through your own chaos in these difficult days. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

In Part 6 of 'Confident In The Chaos' Habakkuk has 'A Prayer And Vision For Revival'. In chapter 3, Habakkuk gives us an example of how to pray for revival in the darkest of days. He gives us hope to pray, believing that He wants to bring blessing in His goodness and mercy. Learn how to pray with confidence for a great awakening in these difficult last days. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

In Part 7 of 'Confident In The Chaos' Habakkuk exhorts us to 'Choose Joy!'. In these closing verses of Habakkuk we see the power of joy, even in the worst of circumstances - how joy is not rooted in our circumstance, but in our faithful God. See with us how Habakkuk's journey from doubt to faith, and chaos to confidence, ends. In these strange and perplexing days we are living through, we face some similar scenarios to Habakkuk, not least a global economy in dire straits. How do we respond? How do we survive? Can we actually thrive to be 'Confident in the Chaos'? Habakkuk gives us an emphatic - YES!! This encouraging message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

How have you related to the Holy Spirit? He is a person with whom we are to cultivate an ever-deepening relationship. In Part 4 of our series on 'The Holy Spirit', we will look at 'The Person Of The Holy Spirit', discovering many of the characteristics of the Spirit's personality and the roles that He has in the Godhead. Get your Bible ready for this episode as we let the Holy Spirit tell us about who He is as God and who He is to us! This sermon is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

As Christians we must be aware that we are in a battle of epic proportions, and therefore we MUST 'Stand Firm In The Battle'. To do this, we must have a working knowledge of what plain this battle is fought on, what weapons are at our disposal and the source of our victory. Only then will we know how to stand firm when so much is coming against us from the enemy's ranks. This message was originally aimed at a men's conference, hence the application to men - but, of course, the truths here apply to both genders! This message is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio and on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord) in HD video...

Part 6 of our series on 'The Holy Spirit' begins our look at 'The Work Of The Holy Spirit'. The Holy Spirit is the critical prime mover in the work of redemption. He established salvation for us but now He is also the One who applies salvation to us. In the next two studies, we will see how the Holy Spirit personally works in our lives to conform us to the image of Jesus. This episode will look at the Spirit's work of 'Conviction and Regeneration'. Why not share this message, which is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

Part 7 of our series on 'The Holy Spirit' continues our look at 'The Work Of The Holy Spirit'. The Holy Spirit is the critical prime mover in the work of redemption. He established salvation for us but now He is also the One who applies salvation to us. We are learning how the Holy Spirit personally works in our lives to conform us to the image of Jesus. Last time we considered the Spirit's work of 'Conviction and Regeneration', in this episode we will look at the Spirit's work of 'Empowerment and Sanctification'. Why not share this message with others? It's available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

In this introduction to a sub-series in our wider study on 'The Holy Spirit', we consider: what exactly is the Fruit of the Spirit? Whose life is it anyway? Here in 'The Fruit Of The Spirit - God's Personality' we find the answer to why the Christian life is impossible to live in the flesh. This sermon is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

Is 'Self-control' nothing more than merely exercising will-power? If not, what is it then? How is it different from just 'trying harder'? In this concluding message in our mini-series on 'The Fruit of the Spirit', find out how self-control is a key to effectively accessing the other fruit of the Spirit. Also find out what Paul meant when he said of the fruit of the Spirit, 'against such there is no law'. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

In this topical message for our current cataclysmic times, David brings light from a passage of scripture he considers as the most relevant for this moment - Hebrews 12:25-29. How do we survive, or even better, thrive and overcome in this time of great shaking? This message, entitled 'The Great Shaking', helps us to know how to receive the kingdom that cannot be shaken, whilst the things that can be shaken all around us are being removed. This timely sermon is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio format...

For Part 31 of our series on 'The Holy Spirit', we begin our consideration of 'Tongues'. What is the gift of tongues? What is it for? Is it a private prayer language or to be used in public in the church? Are there rules around the use of tongues in the church? These are some of the questions David considers in this first study on the vocal gift of different kinds of tongues. This sermon is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

Part 32 of our series on 'The Holy Spirit' forms the second episode on the gift of 'Tongues'. David Legge considers more questions that people ask about this gift of the Spirit. You may have had some of these questions yourself after the last study. Is there such a thing as public tongues and private tongues and is there a difference between these? Are we out of control when we speak in tongues? Is there a danger of demonic tongues? Do we have to be careful in seeking this gift in case we receive something harmful? Join us we look for the answers! This sermon is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

Join us for Part 33 of 'The Holy Spirit' as we continue looking at the gifts of the Spirit in 'Interpretation Of Tongues'. We have already learned that all the gifts of the Spirit are intended for the edification of the church. For a message in tongues, that means it should be interpreted. In this study, David considers the spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues. Why is it needed? How might it operate? Who should have it? Come and learn more about how the gifts of interpretation of tongues and tongues work together to build up Christ's body the church. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

Join us for 'Helping Others To Freedom', a series based on David Legge's book, 'Breaking Through Barriers to Blessing'. We will explore how we can be set free from bondages of Satan and healed from wounds of the heart. This study is for people who need set free themselves, or for those who want to be used to help others into freedom. In this introductory episode, David lays down some biblical foundations and considers how freedom ministry is something the church is commissioned by Jesus to engage in today. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

In this series based on David Legge's book, 'Breaking Through Barriers to Blessing', we continue exploring how we can be set free from bondages of Satan and healed from wounds of the heart. This series is for people who need set free themselves, or for those who want to be used to help others into freedom. In this second session, 'The Necessity Of Confession And Repentance', David looks at the issues of sin and how confession and repentance is a necessary step toward freedom in Christ. We need to own our ungodly behaviours. If we are going to get help ourselves or help others we've got to be real with ourselves and see sin the way God sees it. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...

In Part 7 of our 'Helping Others To Freedom' series, we come to the issue of 'Generational Iniquity and Curse'. Can the sins of our ancestors affect us today? Is this concept biblical? In this session, we consider what scripture teaches about the matter of generational iniquity and curse and how the death of Jesus Christ on the cross sets us free from these influences. This study is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)...