Make It or Break It: Volume One - Extended Edition (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)One of the most impressive drama series I have seen on abc Family with a solid script, really good editing and also solid performances by the show's talent, "Make It or Break It" has become one of my favorite drama series to catch on television.
"Make it or Break It" is a new abc family drama series which began in June 2009, and with its debut and run "Make It or Break It" proved to be successful as it received the second best series ratings for the network. The first season consists of a total of 20 episodes, and the first ten episodes are featured in "Make It or Break It: Extended Edition" on DVD.
Created and written by Holly Sorensen, "Make It or Break It" is a captivating drama series that revolves around a female gymnastics team and a girl named Emily Kmetko (played by Chelsea Hobbs, "Beach Girls", "Pasadena", "Lords of Dogtown") from Fresno who practiced gymnastics at a public gym at the YWCA and showed impressive talent.
Because of her talent, she receives the opportunity to attend one of the top gymnastic schools in the country known as "The Rock" (Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Training Center). But life for Emily is difficult as her mother is a single, unemployed mother trying to take care of Emily and her disabled brother. So, Emily tries to balance her life working at a pizza restaurant (secretly), while preparing to make the gymnastics competition with her goals to make it to nationals and become part of the US Olympic Team.
But life is not easy for Emily, the girls of "The Rock" are not exactly welcoming to her especially Lauren Tanner (played by Cassie Scerbo, "Dance Revolution", "Soccer Mom"), who despises her. Especially since Emily is a threat to the top three who want to make it to the Regionals. As the storyline focuses on Emily, as the underdog who tries to prove to her fellow gymnasts that she belongs there and deserves to compete, her other fellow gymnastic friends at "The Rock" have their share of problems.
"Make It or Break It: Extended Edition - Volume One" comes with a total of 10 episodes on two DVD's. Here is a spoiler-less summary of each episode:
DISC 1:
* EPISODE 1 - Pilot - The Kmetko's move to Boulder, Colorado where she joins "The Rock", one of the most prestigious gymnastics school in the country. But as the new gymnast coming into the school, many of the top athletes are not to thrilled about her joining them.
* EPISODE 2 - Where's Marty? - With Steve Tanner blackmailing Marty, the Rock loses their head coach prompting the gymnasts and their parents in confusion and shock since nationals are coming up.
* EPISODE 3 - Blowing Off Steam - With a new coach who is very strict, some of the girls decide to go to a kegger party which leads Carter doing something he will later regret.
* EPISODE 4- Sunday, Bloody Sasha, Sunday - It's Sunday and because the girls have went to a party, Sasha disciplines the top 4 with a full day of intense training, meanwhile Emily is afraid she will get fired from work.
* EPISODE 5 - Like Mother, Like Daughter, Like Supermodel - With "The Rock" needing funding, the group will have a fashion show which Sasha makes the girls take part of.
DISC 2:
* EPISODE 6 - Between a Rock and a Hard Place - The Rock girls take on the Denver school in a gymnastics competition at the Invitational but what happens to Emily when she doesn't listen to her coach?
* EPISODE 7- Run, Emily, Run - Emily faces the repercussions of not listening to her coach. Meanwhile, Damon comes up with an idea for Emily to continue her training.
* EPISODE 8 - All's Fair in Love, War and Gymnastics - The Cruz family has a send off party for the gymnasts but secrets are revealed.
* EPISODE 9 - Where's Kaylie? - After Kaylie discovers Carter's secret, she runs off the day before the Nationals. Now Emily, Lauren and Payson need to find her.
* EPISODE 10 - All That Glitters (Extended Version) - It's the day of the National Gymnastics Championship in Boston. Who will emerge victorious and make it for the Nationals team?
VIDEO & AUDIO:
"Make It or Break It: Extended Edition - Volume One" is presented in widescreen (1:78:1) and for the most part, the picture quality is satisfactory for a drama series. Also, it helps that the series features various settings, including multiple outdoor shots which definitely makes the PQ for the DVD much better. You can see slight compression at times on certain scenes but not too distracting.
Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The series is front and center channel driven, dialogue is clear and understandable and music comes out quite clear from the front channels. The series is not the type of series that utilizes special effects or the use of the surround channels but if you have a modern home theater receiver and a 5.1 or 7.2 setup, definitely worth selecting audio on all channels on the receiver for a more immersive soundscape.
Subtitles are in English SDH.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"Make It or Break It: Extended Edition - Volume One" comes with a few special features. Included are:
* Making It - (8:50) Series creator/writer/Executive Producer Holly Sorensen talks about how the series came to be, the training the actresses had to go through to learn gymnastics (or sharing their previous gymnastics experiences) and their stunt doubles and behind-the-scenes footage on the making of the show.
* Deleted Scenes - A total of six deleted scenes: The "M" Word, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words..., You Go, Girl!, Mrs. Cruz is not your BFF!, Funny Money and What's in the Bag?
JUDGMENT CALL:
My first time watching "Make It or Break It" was through a feature which was included with "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and I was pretty captivated by the underdog storyline of a girl who came out of nowhere having to prove to others that she has talent while the others at the school tend to not welcome her. Also, the fact that her family are not financially in a well-place. In some way, it has that "Karate Kid" type of storyline that I enjoyed back in the 80's with the exception that no one is getting into fist fights but I could tell this was a show about perseverance, teamwork and possible some major cattiness.
Needless to say, when I started watching the first volume of "Make It or Break It", I watched all of it in one sitting because I found it to be quite engrossing. I have to admit that this is the first abc Family drama series that I really, really enjoyed immensely. For a group of actresses that have not had a long career, each of them did a great job. And it was great to know through the "Making Of", that the actresses had previous gymnastics or dance training but also had to go through weeks of boot camp to learn gymnastics and seeing how the camera shots and editing made this show so believable. I was pretty impressed, the editing of the actresses and their stunt doubles have been quite flawless and it helps that their stunt doubles have a similar height and build.
But I also enjoy the series because as much as its about four young women preparing for Nationals, it's a family series in which parents have a major place in the storyline and some major talent are in this series such as Perry Gilpin of "Frazier" and a grown-up Candace Cameron Bure of "Full House". And also because some parents are in various financial situations, I liked how the show shows the struggles of the families also incorporating how the economy can put a dent into the future of families with children who are athletes. I've known several friends who are in similar positions as the parents shown on this series and the writers did a good job in showing that.
So, I really enjoyed the series a lot. But if there was one little problem was during the finale, why they would introduce storylines that should have interfered with the gymnast's focus on their competition. Gymnasts are very focused athletes. It's a sport where there is a lot of discipline and takes a lot of focus and somehow at times, there are situations that I felt was a bit farfetched but of course, this is a drama series and I can understand why certain things had to happen. Also, for the DVD release, I hope that there will be some kind of audio commentary in the future. It would be fun to have the director or even the four young women share their commentary of an episode or even for the next release, the season finale.
But overall, I have to admit that "Make it or Break It" is a wonderful drama series. Granted, if you have a little or a lot of appreciation for gymnastics, the series although incorporates the sport, it's not to over-dominating as the storyline focuses on the four main athletes of "The Rock" and their family situation.
"Make It or Break It: Extended Edition - Volume One" is a very solid series, definitely recommended!

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How far would you go to achieve your ultimate dream? Experience the rivalry and romance of four teenage girls on their path to Olympic gold in the original ABC Family series that has fans and critics cheering all across the nation. You'll flip for...MAKE IT OR BREAK IT, raves David Hinkley of the New York Daily News. Who will rank number1 at Nationals and what will it take to get there? Follow the triumphs and the heartbreaks as close friends balance their lives as high school students with the intense world of competitive gymnastics. Relive the series that raises the bar on family drama, complete with a never-before-seen extended episode, and go behind the scenes to discover what it takes to perform such amazing stunts only on DVD!Bonus Features include: Deleted Scenes, Making It An Inside Look At How These Flexible Female Stars Balance Acting With Difficult Stunts For A Gold Medal Performance, Never-Before-Seen Extended Finale

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Breaking Bad - The Complete First Season (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I think many, when looking at the main star of this show (Bryan Cranston) will have only really been familiar with him from Malcolm In The Middle. He played Hal, a simple Dad with simple values and an unbeatable love for his family. Who would have thought that he can take a character with the same basic love of his family and create something incredibly unique from that. In Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston plays Chemistry professor Walter White who's married with a handicap son who suffers from Cerebral Palsy and a child on the way.
One day Walter is hit with the ultimate bombshell as he finds he has inoperable lung cancer and has little time left to live. Walter realises that he can't assure his families financial security for the little time he has left being a teacher. He hears about a raid on a crystal meth lab that seizes millions of dollars worth of drugs which he decides that he must be a part of that. He knows how to make the best crystal meth ever seen, but not how to get it on the streets which is why he must enlist the help of his former student and drug pusher Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul).
I honestly didn't have high hopes for this show as, although I'm a huge fan of Bryan Cranston for his work on Malcolm In The Middle, I struggled to believe he could pull off such a train wreck of a character. The family is a typical middle class American family struggling to take care of their disabled son trying to make him have as normal a life as possible. In a way I can relate to the situation as I'm disabled myself and know how much of a strain it can be on parents. Sure, it's not the same disability, but the family struggling through it is definitely displayed well and R.J. Mitte as Walter Jr. is an excellent fit. Although I'm betting he was only cast because he too has Cerebral Palsy, he still fits the bill and plays the character brilliantly.
Fantastic, fantastic show. I don't want to tell you much about the seasons events as it is quite short and risks spoiling certain events. I have to tell you that there are times in which this show doesn't hold back. It has no qualms about showing you the brutality of a broken man fighting against his own sense of morality, joining the drug world and even dealing with the fact that he killed a guy. Oh and obviously he's dying and is reminded of that from time to time but it's certainly gelled together brilliantly.
Just to wrap it up I can only really say this TV show is amazing in every way and I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. Bryan Cranston is a very underrated actor, but he's determined to prove himself for which he does a terrific job. When this DVD set comes out in the UK I'll certainly be one of the first to buy it.

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Popular water-cooler drama about an unremarkable and uncharismatic chemistry teacher, Walter, who discovers new passion in his life after he learns he has terminal cancer. Once a successful chemist, Walter now teaches apathetic high school students and works part-time at a car wash to help support his family - wife Skyler, who earns a modest income buying and selling items on eBay, and son Walter, Jr., a strong-willed 17-year-old suffering from cerebral palsy. Realizing he has nothing but his family left to live for, Walter's new sense of purpose reinvigorates him into a man of action as he turns to an exciting life of crime to provide for the ones he loves.

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The Riches - Season 1 (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I originally started watching this only because Eddie Izzard was in it, simply because I find him to be amazing. However, the show in itself is just phenomenal. It's very quirky, off beat and definitely filled with a dark comedy aspect. I don't know if everybody will like it, but if that's your style, you should definitely check it out. And even those who may not like it, have to at least respect how clever and original the show is.

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The Wire - Seasons 1-4 (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)Not a single tired cliche, characterization short-cut or unbelievable plot point. Not a single action motivated by anything other than the character's personality. If Dickens were alive today he would have been one of the writers.
The older I get the more critical I become of film/TV. I almost don't like anything anymore. It's easy for me to explain why so many other shows are poorly made. I wish it was easy to explain what makes The Wire so good.
It is violent, and season 4, because it deals with children, is very depressing. Everyone I meet, I ask them , have you seen it? And I ask them, 'what else do you think is as good as The Wire?' Perhaps there are shows I've missed. So far, everyone has said, 'such and such is good...but not as good as The Wire.'
What makes the Wire special is that it is more than entertainment. It is, excuse the hyperbole, a vision of truth. It is us. Laugh at me. I would too. Then watch. Start with Season One, Episode One.

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Unlike most television crime dramas which neatly introduce and then solve a case all in the space of one hour HBO\'s THE WIRE follows one single drug and homicide investigation throughout the length of an entire season. Focused on the drug culture of inner-city Baltimore the series\' ultra-realistic storyline unfolds from the points of view of both the criminals lording the streets the police officers determined to bring them down and occasionally the politicians who often obstruct the process. Created by writer David Simon (THE CORNER HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET) THE WIRE\'s multifaceted approach offers a profoundly humane and wonderfully nuanced view of every aspect of the drug trade and the complex morality of its participants. The first four seasons of the show are included here.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:TELEVISION/HBO UPC:026359794421 Manufacturer No:97944

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Samantha Brown's Passport to Great Weekends: Collection 1 (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)She's back! The lovable, witty, and energetic Samantha Brown returns in a fun, adventurous trek around the world in "Season one: Passport to Great Weekends."
Brown's personality is nothing if not lovely and zany and out of control. Her zest for life and that smile! are what drive this collection of trips around the globe to the tip of the peak. In season one, the world's most favorite travel guide host invites us to beautiful locales that one cannot pass up--and you do not even have to leave your sofa. But these videos would not be as fun as they are without experiencing at least one of the cities recommended here.
Brown takes us to such places like Orlando, Florida, where the heat is not the only thing that sizzles in the air. Did you see that wine taster?
In San Francisco, Brown helps the viewer find inexpensive ways to enjoy the City by the Bay, and one of the most beautiful cities in the country.
In New Hampshire, Samantha returns home to dine, laugh, and have fun with family. She even goes to Maine! All in one trip!
Las Vegas, watch out! We see a different side of Ms. Brown here than we have in the past. Let's just say she will have you regaling with laughter when she serves drinks to the locals--the Samantha Brown way!
Whatever your penchant for travel, even in today's economic upheaval, Samantha Brown shows us ways in which we can get away, if only for the weekend, inexpensively, and live on the edge with a big, open smile.
Now let's hope season two of this fantastic series finds its way to DVD soon. And where in the world are the "Passport to Latin America" and "Great Hotels" DVD series? More adventures are on the way!


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Samantha Brown is here to prove that all you need for a fantastic adventure is 48 hours and a taste for fun. With her eagerness to try anything, her sense of humor, and an insider's knowledge, Samantha is the perfect travel companion as she shares her favorite spots all around the world in these 18 great episodes. Orlando New Orleans Paris Tuscany London Miami Las Vegas Cabo New HampshireAustin Washington, D.C. Dude Ranch in Wyoming Myrtle Beach Santa Fe Brooklyn San Francisco Los Angeles Cape Cod

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Mad Men: Season One (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)It would be hard to imagine a more absorbingly intelligent American TV series--in terms of writing, acting, and visuals--than MAD MEN. Just before the final season of THE SOPRANOS began in late 2007, AMC presented us in the summer with the thirteen episodes of this marvelously atmospheric series created by one of the main writers of the series, Matt Weiner, that HBO insanely took a pass on. Ostensibly the series is about a group of advertising agency working for Madison Avenue advertising agency, the fictitious Sterling-Cooper, in 1960, during the Nixon-Kennedy presidential contest; yet on a deeper level the show wrestles with much larger questions about the meaning of obsession with having (and marketing) happiness in mid-20th-century America. The series centers primarily around four characters whose lives are inextricably linked with one another: Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a handsome advertising executive at Sterling-Cooper of few words but enormous creative gifts who hides a mysterious past; his beautiful but childlike wife Betty (January Jones), whom he keeps entirely separate in the suburbs from his work life and his mistresses in the city; Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), Don's new secretary, whose naive affect and kind heart belie her tremendous ambition; and Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser), the smarmy account executive who trades on his ties to the Old New York "Knickerbocracy" to get him ahead. The four central actors are absolutely first-rate, as are several within their near orbits: John Slattery as Roger Sterling, the roguish partner who is both Don's friend and his competitor; the gifted Christina Hendricks, as the firm's femme fatale head secretary; and Robert Morse, as the firm's wily and eccentric senior partner.
Morse's presence ties the series to his famous work in both the Broadway and Hollywood production of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, and the episodes make intelligent reference also to any number of important American fictional works about the NYC business and suburban domestic worlds of the post-War era, including THE APARTMENT and THE BEST OF EVERYTHING. (Richard Yates's REVOLUTIONARY ROAD and the films of Douglas Sirk are also repeatedly evoked too, if in less direct ways.) One of the pleasures of this fine DVD set are the superb extras which allow us to see the especially thoughtful work done by the series' set designers, hairstylists, and (particularly) its head costume designer. The commentaries are generally excellent, and it will come as no surprise to fans of the series that not only the series creator, Matt Weiner, and its writers are especially eloquent but so too are its actors, especially Hamm and Kartheiser. The eye-catching design of this DVD package (fashioned to look and open, naturally, like a classic American manufacturer's product: a Zippo lighter) has been rightly praised for its innovation but also rightly criticized for its unwieldiness.

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