Buys
Just one little purchase this week: Resurrection of the Daleks Special Edition. That is all.
"Accomplishments"
DVDs: Mad Men's second season really plays with three themes. One is the budding youth culture overtaking the Western world in the 60s. Another is the role of women in society and the workplace (explored through each of the show's excellent female characters). And the third, is Don Draper's guilt and apparent disconnect with who he is (being, after all, a "made man"). It's also a more downbeat season, mostly because of the latter - the protagonist is going through an identity crisis and it's not a happy thing. There's also more to find out about Don's origins, and by now, just what happened to Peggy during the year and a half between seasons. The show juggles all that pleasantly, in addition to its historical and social plug-ins and advertising stories. The DVD provides two commentary tracks for each episode, excellent featurettes on the historical tidbits used by the show (from the Cuban Missile Crisis to movies of the day), a two-part documentary on women in the 60s, a sizable featurette on the decade's fashion, and a soundtrack sampler.
Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior introduced Tony Jaa to the international audience, and while its production values are a little lower than later efforts, it's still a very impressive achievement in fighting and stunt work, with plenty of humor and dynamic film making. I've seen Jaa's films in the wrong order, so I'm struck how Ong-Bak is basically the same story as The Protector, with a stone Buddha head in place of the elephants, Bangkok for Sydney, and a villain without vocal cords for a transgendered gangster. A fun ride like most of these films, though the electronic music used in most scenes is very cheap. I'd call it the film's one weak point. The DVD includes a French hip-hop video (by Tragédie feat. Reed the Weed) featuring new footage by Tony Jaa, and a short making of for the video. There's also some behind the scenes footage of various stunts and the French premiere. Oh, and a quick Muay Thai demonstration and a gallery of trailers (including two promos done by the RZA).
Hyperion to a Satyr posts this week:
III.ii. Critical Reception - BBC '80
Just one little purchase this week: Resurrection of the Daleks Special Edition. That is all.
"Accomplishments"
DVDs: Mad Men's second season really plays with three themes. One is the budding youth culture overtaking the Western world in the 60s. Another is the role of women in society and the workplace (explored through each of the show's excellent female characters). And the third, is Don Draper's guilt and apparent disconnect with who he is (being, after all, a "made man"). It's also a more downbeat season, mostly because of the latter - the protagonist is going through an identity crisis and it's not a happy thing. There's also more to find out about Don's origins, and by now, just what happened to Peggy during the year and a half between seasons. The show juggles all that pleasantly, in addition to its historical and social plug-ins and advertising stories. The DVD provides two commentary tracks for each episode, excellent featurettes on the historical tidbits used by the show (from the Cuban Missile Crisis to movies of the day), a two-part documentary on women in the 60s, a sizable featurette on the decade's fashion, and a soundtrack sampler.
Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior introduced Tony Jaa to the international audience, and while its production values are a little lower than later efforts, it's still a very impressive achievement in fighting and stunt work, with plenty of humor and dynamic film making. I've seen Jaa's films in the wrong order, so I'm struck how Ong-Bak is basically the same story as The Protector, with a stone Buddha head in place of the elephants, Bangkok for Sydney, and a villain without vocal cords for a transgendered gangster. A fun ride like most of these films, though the electronic music used in most scenes is very cheap. I'd call it the film's one weak point. The DVD includes a French hip-hop video (by Tragédie feat. Reed the Weed) featuring new footage by Tony Jaa, and a short making of for the video. There's also some behind the scenes footage of various stunts and the French premiere. Oh, and a quick Muay Thai demonstration and a gallery of trailers (including two promos done by the RZA).Hyperion to a Satyr posts this week:
III.ii. Critical Reception - BBC '80
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