Degrassi: The Next Generation - Season Four (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)I accidently stumbbled onto Degrassi several years ago over a Christmas break and found the show to be easily addictive. Not being one for the standard sterotypical high school scene like in the OC or Dawson's Creek I was stunned on how well the show was put together along side it's addictiveness.
Not only is the show intelligently written and plotted the acting from the youthful cast is spectacular. Each character (as partly a result from them being well written) is brought out onto the screen with that particular oddness and poignancy that is all to familar with someone who just left high school.
This is not a show where the entire cast is drop down gorgeous nor act exactly the same; there is a wonderful diversity with the roster of characters present. They all don't wear most expensive clothes or drive the most expensive cars to school and do not go around spouting out mindless phrases such as 'waxing philosophical.' This is a real life show displaying real life characters with real life problems and having those characters work through them with real life means.
About six months after I discovered this little gem of a show I found with much surprise that the DVD sets for each season were available and freaked out; quickly drove to the store and laid down my money. I bought season one sortly before season two came out in Aug. 2005, and saw that the release date for the third season was already scheduled for this past March and quickly pre-ordered. I watched them the entire way through and was able to pick up larger story arcs that I had missed when I saw the reruns on the Noggin Network and longed for more after the last episode had ended on the third season disk set. Once again I saw the release date was only about six months away after the third season (a very short time considering it takes over a year for each season of most other shows to be released on DVD).
I wrote a review for the third season of this show months back and claimed it the be the best season of the entire show (based on what I had picked up on TV and later watched on DVD) and still claim that, but must admit that season four is a very close second.
As in past shows Degrassi boldly faces down such issues as teen pregnancy, drinking, drugs, sex, cutting, homosexuality, violence, and much much more with a raw force that other shows would only dream of doing. The fourth season however goes even further with such issues as noted and beyond.
Not to give anything away (though I will give away some) a school shooting occurs, a student is murdered, another paralyzed, affairs of the heart go out of control, secrets are revealed, and pretty much the same intensity ignites as it has done in the past seasons.
Though some has called this show pretentious, overly dramatic, or just plain stupid they need to think again and take a look at the other shows out there depicting life in high school and recall what it was like for themselves years past in high school. I for one (as someone who just left it) find Degrassi to be all to true to the reality that teens go through as they walk the halls to class. It's safe to simply say this show gets it right.
As for the DVD as with the past three seasons the extras seem to be a step above one another with each passing season. Deleted/extended scenes, gag reels, casting tapes; the usual (I'm not one who does much with extra features on DVDs apart from deleted scenes). The quality of the print of each episode is great (the only drawback is it's in fullscreen (although apart from HBO DVDs not many TV shows that I own are in widescreen format)).
In the end is Degrassi worth laying down the money for? Absolutely...100%...YES!!! It is a must own for fans of the show, fans of high school programs, and fans of people who just like plain good old television; you will not be disappointed.

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Season four of Degrassi:The Next Generation could very well be one of the darkest and most intense seasons ever.And for good reason!Paige finally faces Dean in court.Crashed cars broken relationships burning questions .Emma lays the pressure to think to get Rick out of Degrassi.STDs are hot topic in the hallways.Marco realizes he s being cheated on.Ashley leaves.Craig snaps .Rick reaches for a gun .The Season Four Ultimate Box Set is packed with deleted scene bloopers yearbook original auditions quiz and so much more.Plus get the inside scoop onTime Stands StillandSecretfrom the actors and writers themselves.System Requirements:Running Time: 600 MinutesFormat: DEGRASSI Genre:ANIMATION/ADULT SWIM Rating:TV-PG UPC:704400113482 Manufacturer No:1-4210-0670-7

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An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)Last night on HBO I watched the premiere of this American Girl movie. I enjoyed the Kit movie from last year, they are really on a roll now I have to say!! This movie is a MUST see for students from 3rd or 4th grade and up. The movie is about a 5th grade girl who is new to a school and is soon bullied by a click of 3 girls, one in particular named Tara. This is not a sugar coated movie and you see Chrissa's situation go from bad to worse as she struggles to handle it by herself.
I figured this movie would be like every other typical Disney-style movie where Chrissa will eventually get revenge on the "bad guy", you know with some plot where say she makes some elaborate contraption which will embarrass the heck out of Tara and spill green paint on her or whatever and everyone will laugh at Tara and Chrissa will be the hero. That is NOT how this story goes at all, and I am very impressed American Girl (who is in the DOLL business) did not fantasy candy-coat the story. Rather, as you will see, it is shown with much more realism and makes you think about what you would do if you were in Chrissa's (or her parents') situation.
I actually have someone who has been bullying my 10 year old daughter over the past few months and ironically I got a few pointers from this movie last night, it made me think a little different about how to approach the situation. It also reinforced some of my beliefs on what makes someone a bully as well as providing some tips on ways to keep Chrissa staying strong.
Like other viewers, I bet you will be curious to see what bully Tara's parents look like - in every other movie (e.g. Camp Rock) the snobby/mean girl's mother is usually some self-centered witch who is nasty with her daughter and thus the chain continues....in this movie, you never get to see her parents. I think that is a good thing because it really let me focus on the rest of the story. I am seriously considering buying a copy for my local school and/or library to donate it, it was that good. The acting was fantastic and Chrissa is absolutely charming, I would love to have a friend like her for myself or my daughter!

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Meet Chrissa Maxwell. She and her family have just moved, and she has to start at a new school mid-year. Will she fit in? Can she find new friends? On her very first day, Chrissa is seated with three girls who greet her with teasing and tricks. The Mean Bees really know how to stingthey bully her in class, on the bus, online, and even at swim club. Chrissa cant seem to make any new friends; not even with the girl who seems to need a friend the most. When the biggest bully becomes Chrissa's swimming rival, the taunting finally goes too far. Now its up to Chrissa. Will she find a way to stand strong and stop the bullying?

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Trevor Romain: Taking the "Duh" out of Divorce (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)Trevor Romain and the Comical Sense Company score a home-run with this children's video on divorce. In an area where visual resources for children-of-divorce is lacking, this movie not only takes on the challenge of filling a void, but creates a resource for children, families and schools that has a high "usability" factor (Trevor has included a resource guide that is worth the price of the dvd alone).
The characters of Skye and Jack lend a sense of safety through familiarity and approachability. These characters could very well be any child you know. Trevor brings out the vulnerabilities of divorce in a careful but realistic way. He hasn't shied away from the fact that it is perhaps the second most difficult issue for a child to endure, next to the loss of a parent. This is not a watered down, "cutesy" movie...as a therapist I was moved by the reality of pain that Trevor was able to capture.
Finally, Trevor depicts Skye's pursuit of finding peace over her parent's divorce in the most creative and cognitively accurate way...I won't spoil it for you. It alone was worth the price of admission.
No divorce is easy, no divorcing parent should believe that a conversation with their child about it will be either. Trevor offers a tool that can help bridge the gap. This movie will not replace healthy post-divorce parent-child interaction/involvement ...in fact, Trevor's gem is just the beginning of the conversation.
A must have for anyone directly involved in the care of children-of-divorce.
Jeffrey Natalie, LSW - Child, Marriage and Family Therapist
ErieKIDS Organization

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Skye's parents have just dropped a bombshell - they're getting divorced! Trevor uses Skye's experience to give kids practical, helpful advice for dealing with the pain of divorce. After all, as Skye discovers, her parents aren't divorcing her - they love her!

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