Lost: The Complete Fifth Season Dharma Initiative Orientation Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm going to get one thing out of the way... I LOVE IT; it's a great little set with lots of little things that the completist-consumerist geek in me absolutely craves. That'll come last though.
FIRST, MY PROBLEMS WITH THE SET
There's nothing of any real consequence. Now I can't deny, the Geronimo Jackson CD is nice and unexpectedly fun, but the song has been available on iTunes for months, and it offers little insight.
Unlike most, I dig and understand that they wanted retro with the VHS, even if a VHS isn't technically authentic to the time period. What bugs me, like most, is that given that it's truly the only thing about the set with real weight and value to the experience, being VHS is just truly inconvenient. The end result is that the major player of the whole line-up gets seriously shortchanged; it's a brief but fairly important and entertaining video, but what are the odds that you're going to dust off that beast of a machine (the VCR) for viewing this thing more than once.
Everything else, which again I DO love, is pretty much fluff. It's written materials and creative packaging with 2 or 3 inside jokes (Hurley's famous garlic mayo), but nothing lengthy enough that you're going to pour over it again later...
*hypothetical complaint--why make one of the patches unique to a select few sets? I'd be pissed if I didn't get it (the submarine patch) given the price premium. Having said that... I GOT IT, lol. But sadly, my co-worker did not, and is thus sad.
ENOUGH COMPLAINING, I LOVE IT!!
It's big, and impactful. You're basically getting a 3" ring binder packaged in a cardboard box. This may be surprising, maybe even off-putting, but the outer sleeve is plain-as-day thick cardboard, albeit with fancy printing to mimic water stains and masking tape. Other than that, it's no different than moving boxes, and I think it's cool. It's easy to imagine they'd have these things stacked waiting for new recruits to grab them.
Inside is everything you need to know about life in Dharmaville. This is where the bonus stuff, while still admittedly just fluff, makes me geek out. You have the map of the barracks, some orientation materials, security protocols, etc., all packed in a firm, sturdy white binder with the Dharma logo emblazoned on the front. The most important piece in the binder though, would have to the confidential folder. Some are mad because yes, the folder is in fact sealed. To open it is to break the pull tab seal. Big whoop, that's what you bought it for. It does NOT damage your set, it's you enjoying your set. Besides, what's inside IS kinda cool, and though I know you can just search online, I'm not going to say here. It's nothing MAJOR, but still cool.
Some complain about the floppy sleeves for the discs. What the video doesn't show is that the sleeves, with discs inserted, then have their own lined binder pouches which, if the sleeves don't suit you, do a better job at cushioning and protecting the disc than a plastic tray. But I do think that the floppy sleeves go pretty hilariously far for the retro feel and are a welcome playful addition.
So, could we have done with more stuff? Absolutely. But then one has to ask, why now? I mean, especially since we're maybe only a year away from dropping an expected $250+ on a complete series set inside a package that looks like the top of the hatch (guessing, lol). Still, given that I could NOT miss out on LOST University (which is not being graded here but is AWESOME), I had to indulge myself in the now.

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The epic story of Lost twists, turns and time shifts in its brilliant fifth season. Packed with bonus material, including a revealing interview with the cast and an exclusive behind the scenes feature with Josh, Lost is better than ever.When destiny calls, the Oceanic 6 frantically race back to the island. Discover what forced them to return and find out the fate of all those who were left behind. The answers to some of Lost's most pressing questions are revealed in this spectacular 5-disc collection, complete with deleted scenes, a behind the scenes celebration of the 100th episode and an incredible vault of exclusive bonus features. The show that revolutionized primetime proves once again why it is television's most addictive and creative series.

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FlashForward: Season One Pt.1 (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)So, one reads all the time about authors who have had their work adapted by Hollywood complaining about what a lousy job was done. Well, as the author of the novel Flashforward upon which this TV series is based, let me say that this is NOT one of those cases. Yes, they changed things, but I was consulted by Executive Producer David S. Goyer and Brannon Braga about the changes even before they had secured rights to my book, I served as consultant on every episode (and wrote the 19th episode, "Course Correction"), and I loved the series. The cast was phenomenal, the scripts were mostly excellent, and the whole thing looked fabulous. So many good episodes, but I suppose my favorites are "No More Good Days," "Scary Monsters and Super Creeps," "The Gift," and "The Garden of Forking Paths." Oh, and we got to pull off a television first: after years of Toronto masquerading as Los Angeles, L.A. got to stand in for T.O. in the episode "Revelation Zero." How cool is that?

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Experience the nonstop action, excitement, and drama of the first ten episodes of the critically-acclaimed FlashForward and get set for television's best new show (Mark A. Perigard, Boston Herald) to grab hold of you from its first explosive moment. Chaos reigns ater a mysterious event causes everyone in the world to lose consciousness at exactly the same time. Was it an act of nature or something far more sinister? During the global blackout, every man, woman and child was given a glimpse of his or her life six months in the future. One elite law enforcement team jumps into the investigation, attempting to solve the mystery, as the world's population wrestles with the choice of whether to embrace the fate they've seen or fight to change the future. Relive every brilliant twist of FlashForward's first ten episodes, and prepare yourself for what's to come in the second half of Season One. Who is D. Gibbons? Who is the shadowy figure unaffected by the blackout? And what's next for your favorite characters as their day of reckoning approaches? Plus, dig even deeper with never before seen bonus features and an exclusive sneak peek at the next chapter, only available on DVD.

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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World - Season One (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is very loosely based on "The Lost World" written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. So loose that if you took away the character names it would pretty much lose all resemblance. That however does not take away from the wonderful stories and characters. The acting is quite good and the sets, special effects, and music are better than adequate. The dinosaurs may not be up to Jurassic Park standards, but they are fairly good. My whole family enjoys this series. Devout fans of the book may find it a let down, but anyone that enjoys light TV series like Hercules with Kevin Sorbo, Zena, or Mutant-X should find it fun. Even fans of more in depth series like Stargate SG-1 will probably like it.

The set includes six slender cased DVDs with twenty-two episodes. It is 16 hours and 8 minutes of entertainment. The first two seasons have all the original cast. The cast includes Peter McCauley as Professor George Challenger, Rachel Blakely as Marguerite Krux, Will Snow as Lord John Roxton, David Orth as Ned Malone, Jennifer O'Dell as Veronica, and Michael Sinelnikoff as Dr. Summerlee. After that the Australian TV industry intervened with tax laws at the the end of the second season, both Ned and Veronica had to be guest stars and the series started to go down hill after that. I highly recommend the first two seasons. The picture and sound quality is good and although the set does not includes any extras it is well worth the price.

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Determined to prove the existence of The Lost World, dashing adventurer and scholar Professor Edward Challenger mounts a British expedition team consisting of a mismatched group of enthusiasts, all with less than selfless reasons for making the journey. Traveling through the uncharted Amazon jungle to this prehistoric plateau, the group encounters incredible adventures: tribal headhunters, vicious ape men, giant crocodiles, and terrifying dinosaurs! This thrilling spectacle from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, brings cliffhanging action into your home with this special box set! 22 action-packed, one-hour episodes the entire first season of this exciting TV hit! As seen on WGN and in National Syndication Still a Viewer Favorite from Coast to Coast! Dinosaurs Are Huge Business! Market to fans of the Jurassic Park series and Walking with Dinosaurs From Executive Producer John Landis, Creator of An American Werewolf in London and National Lampoon's Animal House Eye-Catching Deluxe Slimcase Packaging with Collectible Artwork! Each DVD case highlights a different personality from the TV program. Episodes include: The Journey Begins, Stranded, More than Human, Nectar, Cave of Fear, Salvation, Blood Lust, Out of Time, Paradise Found, The Beast Within, Creatures of the Dark, Tribute, Absolute Power, Camelot, Unnatural Selection, Time After Time, Prodigal Father, Birthright, Resurrection, Prophecy, The Chosen One, Barbarians at the Gate.

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The Stepfather (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)i couldn't be happier that this movie has finally found it's way to dvd. one of my all time favorites and what was becoming the "holy grail" of movies to find on dvd. the transfer looked good without any obvious "cleaning up" of the scenes for dvd. i wish there were a few more special features but i am happy they included "the stepfather cronicles" because i love hearing the behind the scenes workings of my favorites. terry o'quinn does an acting tour de force as jerry blake, the stepfather. he so completely inhabits the role that i am suprised and thankful that he was not type cast after this role.i read somewhere one time that his role as the stepfather was a cross between mr. rogers and mark harmon. i can see that. it may not be hamlet or macbeth but it is damn fine acting. jill shoelen is great as the daughter. i am so happy to hear that the dvd release may have brought her back to the conscience of producers and casting directors. this is a great movie that possibly gets a bad rap as "horror" or "slasher" neither of which it is. it is a great movie about one mans struggle to make his world the way he believes it should be and treating it, and everyone around him, like an "etch o sketch" when they inevitably disappoint him. he simply reinvents himself elsewhere and then cleans up the mess at home before embarking on to his new existence. do yourself a favor and watch this movie.

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Jerry Blake (Terry O Quinn, Lost) is a man obsessed with having the perfect American Dream life: including the house with the white picket fence in the suburbs, an adoring wife and loving children. He believes he has found it when he marries Susan Maine and becomes the stepfather to her 16-year-old daughter, Stephanie. But Stephanie gets an uneasy feeling when she is around Jerry with his Father Knows Best attitude: she can see that there is a darker side behind his cheerful exterior. Could she just be going through the typical teenager rebellion against her new stepfather, or is he actually the same man who brutally murdered his family just one year earlier?

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Lost - The Complete Second Season (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a die hard Lost fan from the Season 1 debut, I have been a bit shocked to hear so many negative things about Season 2. The mystery of the island went much deeper and the season actually answered more questions than the first, while still whetting our appetite for more. I would love to see some loose ends tied up, but that is what makes people keep watching. Those who abandoned the show because of too many questions obviously don't have the patience required for a show such as this. In our "quick fix, gotta have it" society, it is refreshing to know that there is actually a show that will not simply give us questions and answers but an acutal story with strong characters and an intriguing plot. I cannot wait for Season 3 to premiere.

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4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. Push the button and prepare to be blown away by the groundbreaking television event USA Today calls "TV's best series." The multiple Emmy® Award-winning drama reaches new heights in its spectacular second season as the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 discover they are not alone in their battle against "the Others," and a contested decision to open the hatch reveals a new realm of mystery and intrigue. Prepare yourself for the DVD experience of Season Two, complete with over 8 hours of original bonus material you can't see anywhere else -- including unaired original flashbacks -- and you'll discover for yourself why "everything happens for a reason."

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Lost: The Complete Fourth Season (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)This seasons twists and turns have renewed my interest and respect for Lost. There were no fillers due to the (mostly planned) reduced episode count and even with the writer's strike it was a solid season. There were really only 2 hours lost to the writer's strike anyway, which ABC has stated they will "give back" by giving 1 extra hour to the next 2 seasons. The quality of the show this season more than made up for the reduced episode count.
It was interesting in the final show of the 3rd season to see Jack's focus change (seen in a flash forward) from getting off the island to getting back on it. This season was spent giving a set up to the reason why without really answering the question but creating enough suspense to make it worth finding out...next season I hope. This season is about who gets off the island (the Oceanic 6, as they're called) and how, and a bit about what they're going to do back in the real world. A few other people also get off the island but they aren't included in "the Oceanic 6" and you'll also get a partial reason why by the last episode, as well as finding out who was in the coffin in the final episode of the 3rd season that had Jack so upset (but not why or how.) Jack finally finds out who Claire is to him, but we still don't know what actually happened to her. Ben's character becomes more complex, as we start to see how he manages to go from outcast to leader and gets people to do what he wants (such as Locke, Sayid, and even Jack,) even if they are uneasy in their association with him. Clearly some other Oceanic refugees have escaped the island but we don't know how yet, and it doesn't seem like the "Oceanic 6" are necessarily even aware of them.
Another interesting addition this season is the newcomers, the "freighter folk," who may as well be the new "others." Some are decent people and some are evil, and one will be familiar face from previous seasons. Speaking of "the others," who they are, where they came from, and what is their nature became a new set of unanswered questions this season. I wasn't thrilled with Rosseau's or her daughter's storylines, but it seems what happened was done in order to develop Ben's character.
What is planned for extra features is below, it is subject to change since it wasn't released yet. If you want to see more info for yourself on planned extras, run a search for TV shows on DVD, you should be able to find the site I got my info from.
Features:
Lost Bloopers
Oceanic Airlines Safety Guide
The Lost Flashbacks
Audio Commentaries
Deleted Scenes
Lost on Location - Go on location with the cast and crew of Lost for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of some of Season Four's hottest episodes.
Freighter Folk (working title) - Where did the folks on the freighter come from? Get to know them and find out what the show runners looked for in new cast members.
Transforming Hawaii (working title) - From the deserted beach to urban Los Angeles, Hawaii serves as a global backdrop for the excitement and intrigue of Lost. Join the small army of technicians that transforms Hawaii to the Island as they go about their duties.
Gun Tracking (working title) - Lost features a formidable array of firearms Get real life gun profiles and find out what it's like working with so much firepower.
The Music of Lost (working title) - The Honolulu Symphony performs Michael Giacchino's award-winning score live for the first time ever. Witness the power of the show's many musical themes as well as its innovative use of instruments-and learn how music affects the production, from writing to directing.
I recommend this season for anyone who ever enjoyed this show. You won't feel the writer's strike when watching the DVDs.

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After Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island, it s survivors were forced to find inner strength they never knew they had in order to survive. But they discovered that the island hold many secrets, including a mysterious smoke monster, polar bears, a strange French woman and another group of island residents known as The Others. The survivors have also found signs of those who came to the island before them, including a 19th century sailing ship called The Black Rock, the remains of an ancient statue, as well as bunkers belonging to the Dharma Initiative a group of scientific researchers who inhabited the island in the recent past.

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