For Eliza Thornberry and her family, life will never be the same! Brace yourself for a wild ride through jungles, rain forests, cities and deserts spanning the globe with The Wild Thornberrys: Season One. Join Eliza Thornberry and her secret gift of gab (she can talk to animals!) in four action-packed DVDs that bring you face-to-face with danger as Eliza and friends traverse the cliffs and crags of mountainous Zaire, try to escape poachers in Tanzania, stumble upon evil hunters bent on destroying the rain forest in Brazil and discover gold on the Galapagos Islands. Plus you’ll encounter wildlife in all its natural glory, including silverback gorillas, pythons, crested grebes, tapirs, capybaras, antelopes, opossums, and more! So hang on for action, adventure and a bit of education!

Stars Lacey Chabert (Party of Five), Tim Curry (The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius) and Flea (The Red Hot Chili Peppers)!

I was sent The Wild Thornberrys: Season One on DVD to review, but my kids have decided that they are too old for this show and won’t watch it. Since I count on their opinions when reviewing children’s movies or TV shows, I’ve decided to do a giveaway rather than a straight review. This DVD set includes four discs and every episode from season one.

Here’s how you can win:

~ This giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada.

~ One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted.

~ To enter, leave a comment on this post – and, to make it fun, tell me what your favorite cartoon is!

~ All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST, Friday, June 3, 2011. On Saturday, June 4th, I will draw a winner using Random.org.

Good luck!

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I agreed to review a season of Murphy’s Law on DVD, thinking it was season 1. (Or Series 1, technically, since this is a BBC series.) What I was sent is Series 3. And just like I refuse to read series books out of order, I didn’t want to watch this series out of order either. I finally negotiated a spot in our Netflix queue to get the first DVD of Series 1 and I watched the pilot this afternoon – and I’m hooked. I will definitely be watching the rest of the series (there are 5 seasons), but I didn’t want to wait until then to review the series as a whole.

James Nesbitt, the actor who plays undercover copy Thomas Murphy, was familiar to me from Ballykissangel, a BBC series which I loved. (Up until the end of Series 3, which traumatized me so much I haven’t been able to watch any more yet.) He is perfect in Murphy’s Law as an undercover copy with nothing to lose. His daughter died, he has no other family, and therefore throws himself into his undercover work, often taking chances and being reckless in order to make his arrest.

Nesbitt is cocky and determined and has a dry sense of humor. There were a few lighthearted moments that made me chuckle, but for the most part, this is a gritty and dark show. From what I’ve read on Wikipedia, the first two seasons contain episodes that each involve one case. For each of seasons 3 through 5, the episodes follow one case from beginning to end. If you are a fan of police procedurals and /or BBC series, this is one you won’t want to miss. You can purchase series 1 through 3 from Acorn Media or on Amazon.

(I was sent a review copy of season 3 of Murphy’s Law from Acorn Media.)

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World-famous superstar Hannah Montana has been living a double life as Malibu teen Miley Stewart!?! Say what, say what? In the much anticipated 1-hour episode from the all-new season, Hannah Montana Forever, the whole world will watch as Hannah takes the wig off … for good! This is the must-have series collection that includes all of Hannah’s biggest moments when she takes off the wig and shares her true identity.

Hannah has been rocking the world and living the celebrity life, but behind all the glitz and glamour, she’s just a normal teenage girl named Miley Stewart. Things get complicated when she has to keep her true identity from friends, classmates, crushes, paparazzi and millions of fans! Join Miley on a journey of self-discovery in 8 hilarious episodes – including the sensational series pilot! Watch as she confesses her double life to her BFFs Lily and Oliver, then to Jake, and then to…? You’ll have to watch to find out! Will Hannah finally take center stage as Miley Stewart? it’s the big moment y’all have been waiting for – and you can see it first, only in this DVD!

Natalie does the reviews of Disney shows in our house, and here’s what she had to say:

First of all, I was kind of disappointed by this movie. I guess I misunderstood and thought it would have the last episodes of the whole entire season. So the first one was the only one I hadn’t seen. But over all, I really did like how she revealed herself and I thought it was pretty good. Just make sure that the viewers know that this DVD is just a DVD with episodes where in each one she reveals herself to the world and her friends.

Do you have any young girls on your Christmas shopping list? If so, you’ll want to leave a comment below, because I have an extra copy of Hannah Montana Forever: Who is Hannah Montana? to give away to one reader. Here are the details:

~ I’m shipping this myself, so this giveaway is limited to readers in the US and Canada.

~ To enter, simply leave a comment below before 11:59 p.m. PST, December 10, 2010. On December 11th, I will use Random.org to draw one winner.

~ One entry per person, please. Duplicate comments will be deleted.

Hannah Montana Forever: Who is Hannah Montana? is available now on DVD and would be a perfect Christmas gift for the tween girl in your life.

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Bones is a show that I’ve loved from the very beginning. Yes, they’ve had some fishy plotlines (Zack as the apprentice of a cannibal serial killer), but for the most part, they’ve kept me with them. I’m a week behind, but this season has been good so far. I know several people online who are ready to boycott the show until Hannah, Booth’s new flame, is gone, but I’m not at that point. I don’t think she’s right for him, and I think she’s going to end up bored as a Washington reporter after being a war correspondent, so I don’t think she’s going to last. I love that Angela and Hodgins are happy and having a baby together. I love Sweets, and though Daisy annoys me, they are funny together. I would be very happy to see a Stephen Fry episode or two – Gordon Gordon is a great character.

Fringe is another show that had me hooked from the beginning, but it’s just about lost me this season. Dad says that I’ll like last week’s episode, so maybe it will change my mind. My biggest beef is the whole “other Olivia” storyline. Peter is simply too smart to not notice that the woman he’s with is not the real Olivia. Yes, in our world, no one’s mind would even go there – we would never suspect that our loved ones had been replaced by their double from an alternate universe. But Peter knows it’s possible and the other Olivia walks differently, smiles more, talks about music – she dances, for Pete’s sake! – while the real Olivia is very serious and stoic. The other thing I’m hating is that there isn’t enough of Peter! To be honest, Joshua Jackson is a huge reason I have been a fan of the show from the beginning. So, if you put in an unbelievable storyline and then take away my Peter, I’m not going to stick it out. Hopefully, they’ll fix it before I lose patience completely.

I am adoring House this season – I’m so glad they went there with House and Cuddy. The common theory is that if you let the leads get together and take away the will they/won’t they tension, you lose something – and I know some series do that. But I’ve also seen series who drag that whole issue out way, way too long (JAG, anyone?) and that can ruin it, too. There is a whole host of dramatic material that the writers and actors of House can delve into with House and Cuddy in a relationship. The season premiere was brilliant and I also appreciate the fact that Cuddy said she’s not setting out to change him – she doesn’t think that by loving him she can “fix” him – which we all know is a recipe for disaster. I’m really excited to see where the season is headed. Oh, and I don’t miss Thirteen at all.

I know I’m not the only one who gasped and sobbed their way through last season’s finale, and I’m glad that the writers are taking their time in dealing with the aftermath of what happened. It would be very unrealistic – and unfair to the characters – to have one or two episodes wrapping all that up and then everything is back to normal. I also am glad they didn’t drag out the whole “will Meredith tell Derek about the miscarriage” thing. I love that Owen and Christina got married, and that he didn’t let her run when she tried to. I really want Sloane and Lexie to get back together, and I want Alex to get some resolution of the Izzie issue (without bringing her back, please!) and find some happiness. Oh, and woo hoo to having the chief back – I HATED McDreamy when he was the chief. And how heartbreaking was it that Bailey’s new-found relationship crumbled under the weight of her grief and trauma from the shooting? I hope he comes back for her eventually.

There are some other shows that I love that I will wait for on DVD: Castle, NCIS, Private Practice, The Mentalist, and Chuck. In the meantime I’ll catch up on some other favorites on DVD: Lie to Me, The Closer, etc.

Do you watch any of these shows? Love/hate them? Tell me, please!

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Oscar Winner Helen Mirren is Detective Jane Tennison, “one of the great character creations of our time” (The Washington Post), in a series that won more than 20 major international awards and raised the bar for police dramas.

Tenacious, driven, and deeply flawed, Tennison rises through the ranks of Britain’s Metropolitan Police, solving horrific crimes while battling office sexism and her own demons. “Rare is the drama that works so well on two levels: as a crackling whodunit and as a finely tuned character study of a strong but insecure woman trying to prove herself in a man’s world” (Time).

Seen on Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery! and created by crime writer Lynda La Plante, Prime Suspect features some of Britain’s biggest stars, including Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton), Zoe Wanamaker (Poirot), David Thewlis (Harry Potter), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes), Ciaran Hinds (Jane Eyre), Tom Bell (Reilly: Ace of Spies), and Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting).

Prime Suspect: The Complete Collection is available now on DVD with lots of extras, including a behind-the-scenes special and a photo gallery.

And, for a completely different kind of entertainment:

See how the story ends for J.D., Elliot, Turk and the rest of your favorite characters in ABC’s Scrubs: The Complete Ninth and Final Season. The heroes of Sacred Heart may have finished their rounds, but the laughs never stop as they mentor a brand-new class of med students!

J.D. returns to teach at Sacred Heart’s medical school with the old gang and is surprised to find an impressionable young student has picked up where he left off. Meet Lucy and her classmates, Drew and Cole, as they try to fit in while they do their best to stand out.

Relive every clever and quirky moment of Scrubs’ outrageous final season, complete with never-before-seen bloopers, deleted scenes and interviews with the show’s cast. Complete your Scrubs collection with The Ninth and Final Season on DVD. It’s the best house call you’ll ever get!

Scrubs: The Complete Ninth And Final Season is available now on DVD with bloopers, deleted scenes, and cast interviews.

So, now you know how I’ll be spending my TV time for a while. I’m excited about both – for Prime Suspect because I think Helen Mirren is truly amazing; and for the final season of Scrubs because Kevin and I have loved this series from the beginning. Have any of you watched these?

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Get ready to ROCK with the biggest musical event of the year—now in an extended edition with exclusive scenes & songs! Join Mitchie (Demi Lovato), Shane, Nate, and Jason (Jonas Brothers), and some brand new campers across the lake for 2 times the music, 2 times the dance moves and 2 times the fun in Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam!

Mitchie can’t wait to go back to Camp Rock and spend the summer making new music with her friends and superstar Shane Gray. But the slick new camp across the lake, Camp Star, has drummed up some serious competition—featuring newcomers Luke (Matthew “Mdot” Finley) and Dana (Chloe Bridges). In a sensational battle of the bands, with Camp Rock’s future at stake, will Camp Star’s flashy production and over-the-top antics win out, or will camp rockers prove that talent, teamwork, and spirit are what truly matter?

When Natalie and I headed to Spokane on the 8th for a consultation with the surgeon, I had no idea he would tell us he had already booked the OR for us the next day. I had very little time to pack our clothes, toiletries, and my books. The day before, I had received a copy of Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam on DVD for review, so I tossed that in the bag. I’m so glad I did, as Natalie and I spent one of our evenings at the hospital watching it and enjoying it very much. Natalie reviewed it today on her blog, and here’s what she had to say:

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam is a really good movie. I think it might even be better then the first one! I love the story, and I love most of the music. I also love how they added a little side story into the movie about Nate and this girl named, Dana.

I have always loved Demi Lovato’s voice, and this movie and it’s music totally give her justice. I love the song that Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas sing together, “Wouldn’t Change a Thing.”

So if you are a fan of Camp Rock, you should definitely watch this movie. It’s one of my favorites.

(Disclosure: Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam was provided to me by Click Communications for the purpose of review. Many of the links on my site are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of those links and subsequently purchase anything, I will receive a small percentage in commission.)

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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This past season of Grey’s had a slow start for me. The new docs from Mercy West took a while to grow on me, and certain ones never did. I am happy that the one I enjoyed the most – now known as McPretty Eyes – has been made a season regular.

The season did pick up halfway through. Here are some of my favorite parts of season 6:

~ Watching Owen choose between Cristina and Teddy.

~ Derek and Meredith working out their Post-It marriage.

~ Lexie coming into her own as a doctor.

~ Bailey – Chandra Wilson is an amazing actress; will someone please give her an Emmy?

~ Owen dealing with his PTSD.

~ The season finale – that was one of the most harrowing and heartbreaking episodes of television I’ve ever seen. I’m a bit afraid to watch the extended edition on the DVD.

Things I didn’t like:

~ Derek as the Chief. He turned into a major jerk and I mostly hated his character this season.

~ Izzie. I wish the writers would hurry up and just let her die so there’s never question of Katherine Heigl returning to the show again.

~ Lexie and Alex together. She deserves someone who truly loves her – not just a temporary bedmate. I liked her with Mark – he just needs to grow up a bit more.

We no longer have cable, as we had to cut back on expenses and decided that we would rather keep Netflix. We watch a lot of TV on DVD. I’m not sure I’ll be able to wait a year for Season Seven on DVD; I may be watching it online.

Grey’s Anatomy: Season Six is available now on DVD. Special features include: extended finale – over 20 additional minutes of the dramatic season finale; unaired scenes; outttakes; and six webisodes.

Private Practice is another show that has its ups and downs. Sometimes I absolutely love it – other times, I get so angry with the characters that I want to throw the remote at my TV. Shows how much I’m invested in the characters, I guess. (Plus, I’d watch Tim Daly act in just about anything.)

The high points of season three:

~ Pete learning to be a father.

~ Sam and Addison working through their feelings for each other. I initially didn’t like the idea of the two of them together, but I’ve changed my mind.

~ Shelden getting a bigger role! In some ways, he’s the only character who acts like a grown up.

~ Dr. Fife and the way the show handled a physically impaired character.

~ Charlotte learning to deal with people. She’s such a prickly character, but I can’t help but like her.

What I didn’t like:

~ Naomi. She seemed to act completely out of character this season. I hated the way she acted toward her daughter when she got pregnant, her relationship with William White, and the way she reacted to Sam and Addy having feelings for each other.

~ Violet coming home from her extended vacation and acting like she should get custody of the baby back right away.

~ Charlotte and Cooper – those two are too messed up individually to have a decent relationship.

~ What they did with Dell’s character at the end of the season. (I don’t want to give anything away for those of you planning to watch on DVD.)

Private Practice: Season Three is available now on DVD. The special features include: bloopers, deleted scenes, and a list of Kate Walsh’s eight favorite episodes from Season Three.

So, do you watch either of these shows? What do you like or hate about them? Will you be watching this season?

(Disclosure: Grey’s Anatomy: Season Six and Private Practice: Season Three were provided to me on DVD by Click Communications for the purpose of review. Many of the links on Books and Movies are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of those links and subsequently purchase anything, I will receive a small percentage in commission.)

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Hold on to your seat as you experience a show like no other. “The ride you are about to take will be worth every minute,” raves Newsday.

Out of nowhere, a mysterious flash causes nearly everyone in the world to lose consciousness and gain a glimpse of his or her life six months into the future. As one elite FBI unit attempts to solve the mystery, the rest of the world’s population soon discovers, that when it comes to destiny, nothing is set in stone.

Uncover the answers and delve even deeper into the mind-bending story with riveting bonus features, including an in-depth look at the entire series from pilot to final episode and inside stories from cast and crew. Relive every brilliant twist of the groundbreaking show’s complete series – uninterrupted – in this 5-disc collection. It’s a must-have for any FlashForward fan!

It’s been a challenge to find things to keep Natalie distracted while she waits to find out what the next stage of treatment will be, but FlashForward: The Complete Series on DVD has fit the bill perfectly. I’ve already seen the first half of the series, so I have been re-watching as I type lesson plans, and have gotten completely sucked into the series again. I was a bit hesitant to watch any further, because I know that the series was canceled after only one season, but a friend has assured me that it ended with a semi-satisfying conclusion, so I’m excited to watch to the end.

One of the best things about FlashForward is the casting. Joseph Fiennes heads up the FBI task force attempting to figure out the cause of the blackout, based on what he saw during his own flash. Sonya Walger (Penny from Lost) plays his wife, a surgeon, whose own flash is a bit confusing – she saw herself with another man – Lloyd Simcoe, played by the dashing Jack Davenport (will someone find him another series already?!), who is a quantum physicist who may or may not be responsible for the event.

While you have an intriguing science fiction premise, you also have a meta-physical dilemma: are the flash forwards destined to happen? Or are they simply one possible future? Is there any way to avoid a fate you’re afraid of – or bring about more quickly a future you are anticipating? What if your flash seems completely impossible – like in the case of gay FBI agent Janis Hawk, who saw herself 17-weeks pregnant and getting a sonogram?

This series is addictive television – mutli-layered storytelling with fantastic characters and terrific writing. I only wish it could have lasted longer than one season!

(Discosure: I received FlashForward: The Complete Series for the purpose of review from Click Communications. Many of the links on my site are Amazon affiliate links; if you click on one of those links and subsequently purchase anything, I will receive a small percentage in commission.)

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Crazy, in a coma, or back in time? Struck by a passing car in modern-day Manchester, detective Sam Tyler (John Simm, State of Play, Doctor Who) wakes up in 1973, where he’s the newest member of his old police squad. Sam’s respect for proper procedure and 21st-century mentality clash mightily with his bullying boss, DCI Gene Hunt (Phillip Glenister, Cranford). Still, Sam gamely adapts to crime solving in this retro world, despite hearing strange voices that call him back to his former life. When he bonds with sympathetic policewoman Annie Cartwright (Liz White, The Fixer), Sam wonders: does he really want to return?

Winner of two International Emmys for best drama series, Life on Mars is “an entertaining collision of bare-knuckled police-procedural realism and mind-blowing surrealism” (TV Guide), acclaimed by critics and fans alike.

Kevin and I really enjoyed the US version of Life on Mars, starring Jason O’Mara – though I understand we’re in the minority. Watching that one first was a benefit, I think, because the UK version is brilliant – grittier, yes, with less light-hearted moments – but it’s a really good TV drama. If I had watched it first, I might have been a tad bit disappointed, too.

I’ve never seen any of the actors from the UK cast before, but whoever did the casting made excellent choices. I love John Simm as Sam and Phillip Glenister is particularly good as Sam’s commander-in-chief. As a fan of British television, I enjoy the fact that they are more interested in casting people of talent than making sure everyone is pretty. (Not that Simm and Glenister aren’t pretty – LOL – they’re just not your typical model-type actors like we often see in the US.)

I’m recognizing many of the same plots from the US version, although often I’m finding myself enjoying the UK version more. (On a side note, my husband thought the US version was pretty much perfect, and so I haven’t been able to get him to watch the UK version with me. Yet.) I’m very curious to get to the end and see if it’s the same. I have a feeling it will be different, as I seem to remember that was part of the brouhaha and negativity over the US version.

Life on Mars (UK):The Complete Collection is an 8 disc set with a ton of bonus features: audio commentaries for all Series 1 episodes; “Take a Look at the Lawman” documentary; an interview clip with directory Bharat Nalluri; “The Music of Life on Mars” featurette; “Get Sykes” production design featurette; an outtakes reel; “The Return of Life on Mars” documentary; Series 2 behind-the-scenes footage and set tour; and “The End of Life on Mars” featurette.

(Disclosure: Life on Mars – The Original UK Series was provided to me by Acorn Media for the purpose of review. Many of the links on my site are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of those links and subsequently purchase anything, I will receive a small percentage in commission.)

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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At the height of World War II, France is occupied and all of England is in peril. Col. James “Cad” Cadogan (Julian Glover, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) will use any means necessary to get the intelligence he needs – even sending civilians to work undercover behind enemy lines. Based on the real-life stories of women recruited by Britain’s Special Operations Executive, this suspenseful drama series follows wife and mother Liz Grainger (Kate Buffery, Trial & Retribution) and half-Jewish factory girl Matty Firman (Suzanna Hamilton, 1984) from training in England through the terror of their daily lives in Nazi-occupied France.

Filmed on location in Britain and France, this gripping wartime drama boasts strong female characters, tension-filled plots, and historical authenticity. Also starring Jeremy Northam (The Tudors), Jane Asher (A Voyage Round My Father), Michael J. Jackson (Doctors), and Warren Clarke (Dalziel & Pascoe) as German Col. Werner Krieger.

My husband and I started watching this series last week, and only managed to watch one episode before I realized this was one I would be watching on my own. Since this series is just now out on DVD, I assumed – wrongly – that it was a recent BBC series. It isn’t; it was produced in the 1980s. Therefore the production values are quite low compared to what we’re used to, and my husband kept rolling his eyes and making fun of it.

That said, I believe the series has a lot of potential – I already like the characters, and I’m especially looking forward to Jeremy Northam, whom I love. I’ll keep you updated on what I think as I get farther along in the series, but wanted to make sure I had this post up around the release date.

Do any of you watch British series? If so, what are your favorites?

Wish Me Luck, Series 1 is available now on DVD. The DVD special features include historical background on the real-life operation that inspired the series.

Disclosure: Wish Me Luck, Series One was sent to me by Acorn Media for the purpose of review. The above link is an Amazon affiliate link; if you click on it and subsequently purchase anything, I will receive a small commission.

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: british series, TV on DVD, whatcha watchin wednesday

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