Everwood: The Complete Second Season (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)...demanding the release of the remaining seasons of "Everwood." It is indeed trite to declare profound affection for a television show, but the fact that Everwood elicits such passion from its viewers serves as testament to the quality of the writing, acting, and direction. I have watched many television dramas over the years, and I can honestly say that I have never--never--seen one that captured the human condition so authentically. As other reviewers have rightly claimed, Everwood never pandered, never condescended, never simplified, and never compromised merely to reach the lowest common denominator in viewership. Ultimately, I suspect this accounts for its untimely cancellation; it was simply too genuine and too smart for an American audience.
Those of us who realized what we had, however, deserve the opportunity to preserve this timeless jewel for ourselves. I encourage others to fill this review board, contact Warner Brothers and/or ABC Family, and ratchet up the pressure to deliver the remainder of this series on DVD.

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Birds of Prey: The Complete Series (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)After five long years of fans begging and pleading, the way too-short TV series Birds of Prey is getting a complete DVD release! The news is truly worth shouting about.
Loosely based on DC Comics and a variety of other sources with a touch of Marvel's the X-Men thrown in, the series continues the legend of The Batman.
We enter the future, dark and fantastic world of New Gotham City. Long after The Batman has driven himself into exile, his legacy lives on in the form of the Birds of Prey - Black Canary, Oracle, and the Huntress.
From the creators of the CW hit Smallville, Birds of the Prey was produced in 2002 for the now defunct WB, but had only 13 episodes before cancellation. Since then, its devoted fan base worked tirelessly to have the series released on DVD. It was a really exciting action show, breaking new ground because ALL of the lead characters were women.
This boxed set collects all 13 episodes and a never-collected-on-DVD before Flash-animated series "Gotham Girls."
Awesomely, it also includes the unaired pilot, which featured Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks) in the role of Dr. Quinzel. Mia Sara was later cast as Quinzel in the series. She also appeared in the AIRED pilot. Interestingly, all of the scenes featuring the character in the AIRED pilot were reshot with Sara, word-for-word.
Also of note, the aspect ratio of the episodes in the set will be full frame, but will have dark bars on top and on bottom to mimic widescreen.
While normal citizens slept, the Birds of Prey flocked together to fight crime on the streets of New Gotham City. Several years after the city was abandoned by Batman, the awesome threesome of Huntress (Ashley Scott), Oracle (Dina Meyer), and Black Canary (Rachel Skarsten) was formed. Huntress is the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, and can smell danger from miles away. Black Canary has the gift of clairvoyance and Oracle leads the team through her cyber experience, despite being wheelchair bound by Batman's nemesis, the evil Joker.
When the series opens, we learn that New Gotham's Batman has disappeared leaving behind a daughter from his long-time love Catwoman. Her name is Helena Kyle, who transforms herself into the mysterious superhero known as "The Huntress." Helena has hypersensitive senses and agility, but uses her gifts selfishly. Fate brings her face-to-face with her choices as well as a wheel-chair-bound Barbara Gordon, the hero Oracle, who befriends her but agrees to train her only if she uses her powers for good.
She teams up with Barbara, who had been "Batgirl" prior to being paralyzed by the Joker. By day, Barbara is a teacher at New Gotham High, but by night she fights crime from her secret lair in the New Gotham Clock Tower.
The two meet a determined Dinah Redmond, a young woman who was drawn to New Gotham to learn more about her powers. Dinah is a touch-telepath and psychic who had terrifying dreams about Batgirl's brutal incident that resulted in her paralysis. The Huntress resists working with Dinah, but Oracle convinces her to give the younger woman a chance. Now, they must learn not only how to work together as New Gotham's protectors, but also as a family.
Special recognition goes to Mark "Star Wars" Hamill who briefly reprises his award-winning voice role as the Joker from the iconic classic, Batman: the Animated Series. In Birds of Prey, "Mister J" on-camera is portrayed by actor/stuntman Roger Stoneburner but Hamill's voice was dubbed over Stoneburner's performance.
During the course of the series, the women are often confronted with schemes masterminded by the Joker's on-and-off girlfriend, psychiatrist Dr. Harleen "Harley Quinn" Quinzel (Mia Sara), but they always prevail and eventually beat her at her own game.
Other characters of note are: Alfred Pennyworth (Ian Abercrombie), who serves Helena as heir to the Wayne estate, and Police Detective Jesse Resse (Shemar Moore), confronted with crimes and abilities he cannot explain.
A central feature of the series is the concept of metahumans: Individuals born with powers that cannot be explained. No two metahumans have the same specific ability (or set of abilities) and there exists a whole sub culture of metahuman society that the outside world knows nothing about.
It is this world that Detective Reese is drawn into, reluctantly teaming up with Huntress and the Birds of Prey to defeat metahuman criminals. At first, he is disapproving of Helena's vigilantism, even trying to arrest her, but eventually he realizes there is a need for the Birds of Prey to take down criminals the police can't handle.
Episodes in this four-disc collection are: the Pilot; Slick; Prey for the Hunter; Three Birds and a Baby; Sins of the Mother; Primal Scream; Split; Lady Shiva; Nature of the Beast; Gladiatrix; Reunion; Feat of Clay; and Devil's Eyes.
Very popular theme song "Revolution" was performed by Aimee Allen.

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Who will stand up to villains now that a heartbroken Dark Knight has mysteriously vanished? Never fear, New Gothamites, a trio of champions is ready to take wing – and Helena, the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, is among them. She calls herself Huntress and crime is her prey. Teenaged Dinah is the youngest of the group, learning as she goes and gifted in clairvoyance. And overseeing the awesome threesome’s high-tech nerve center is Batgirl. Left wheelchair-bound by The Joker, she has reinvented herself as Oracle, the team’s cyber expert. Huntress, Dinah, Oracle: They are the Birds of Prey. Fighting together. Living together. And soaring into adventure together in 13 breathtaking live-action episodes.

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Witchblade: The Complete Series (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)Not only was it one of the most complex series in the history of cable television, Witchblade was easily one of the most underrated. Witchblade debuted in a full-length television pilot on TNT and then after its initial success became a full-fledged series in 2001. In many ways the show was ahead of its time. It managed to be both science-fiction (when the genre was suffering from unoriginal sequels and poorly made remakes), fantasy (before the genre was validated by The Lord of the Rings and Pan's Labyrinth) and added a healthy dose of cop drama. The intricate plotlines featured such esoteric subject matter as psychic visions, cloning, abnormal psychology, time travel, reincarnation, demonic possession, mythological motifs, multiple conspiracies, occult philosophical ideologies, and also benefited from clever pop-culture in-jokes.
The series was brought to life by strong acting from a diverse, if not at times dysfunctional cast. Witchblade also featured a greatly varying soundtrack (this DVD does not include all of the artists I've named here; see my comment for further explanation) that included everyone from The Crystal Method to Peter Gabriel, from Rob Zombie to Enya, from Three Dog Night to U2. The series burst off the small screen with great visual flare, the special effects were almost on a par with the first Matrix film, and the camerawork was equally impressive.
There have been some fans of the comics who have complained about the many differences between the show and the comics. But as I was at the time unfamiliar with the comics, I enjoyed the show from a fresh, purely objective perspective. I also think that most fans of the source material understood that this was not an adaptation in the strictest sense but more of a loosely inspired series that dealt with some of the same themes.
And now fans of this cult classic can enjoy their favorite comic book-inspired heroine on DVD... at last.
The characters include:
Sara Pezzini- A New York homicide cop and the "Blade-wielder"
Danny Woo- Sara's partner and close friend.
Jake McCartey- Sara's rookie partner in training.
Gabriel Bowman- A young occult/novelty shop owner and close friend of Sara's.
Kenneth Irons- A billionaire who may be more than he seems.
Ian Nottingham- A mysterious bodyguard/assassin in Iron's employ.
Black Dragons- A group of assassins who underwent experimental training.
White Bulls- A secretive fraternity of corrupt vigilante cops.
Here is the entire listing of episodes, including the pilot film (which is also included):
Season One
0. Witchblade: The Movie
New York homicide detective Sara Pezzini encounters a mystical weapon that can only be wielded by women. She is also introduced to the enigmatic billionaire, Kenneth Irons and his stoic bodyguard/assassin, Ian Nottingham.
1. Parallax
Sara uncovers a plot involving a group of elite assassins, called The Black Dragons, who plan to kill billionaire Irons.
2. Conundrum
After a supermodel is found dead, Sara must discover the identity of the killer, which leads her to a former "Blade-wielder".
3. Diplopia
A serial killer is stalking members of the art community and patrons of a gay bar but the primary suspect seems to have a perfect alibi.
4. Sacrifice
An Irish rocker comes to town and a killer takes inspiration from his lyrics, all the while Sara may be falling in love with the dreamy singer.
5. Legion
A man who may have killed a priest claims that he's possessed but the clues point to corruption within the church itself.
6. Maelstrom
Sara's lover, the Irish rocker Conchobar, is kidnapped by corrupt counter-terrorists and Sara sinks into violent desperation.
7. Periculum
The Witchblade tests Sara, at her most vulnerable, while pulling her deeper into its mysterious past.
8. Thanatopsis
Ian Nottingham goes renegade and targets Sara's rookie partner, Jake, who he believes to have betrayed her.
9. Apprehension
A corrupt vigilante force within the NYPD, called The White Bulls, has its sights on Sara while she must protect a witness to their violence.
10. Convergence
A psychotic rapist/killer is on the loose and only Sara can stop him but she's busy evading The White Bulls.
11. Transcendence
Nottingham dies to save Sara but then is resurrected in an even more deadly and unpredictable incarnation.
Season Two
1. Emergence
After turning back time itself Sara must face the consequences and solve a murder involving a live porn site.
2. Destiny
Kenneth Irons obtains The Lance of Longinus with which he intends to confront Sara and take back the Witchblade.
3. Agape
A dangerous new street drug is at the heart of an investigation and Jake takes the blame for a drug bust gone very wrong.
4. Consectatio
Nottingham is possessed by Irons and puts out a hit on Sara and the assassins he's hired are the uber-elite Black Dragons.
5. Static
A series of strange incidents leads to a subliminal influence, in the form of white noise, which may have instigated murder.
6. Nailed
A homicidal, serial child-rapist is released from prison and his next victim is Danny's niece.
7. Lagrimas
Sara falls in love with the perfect man, but is this mysterious stranger really what he appears to be?
8. Hierophant
A mysterious criminal mastermind is uniting rival crime syndicates and all the clues to his identity point to the most unlikely person of all.
9. Veritas
A secretive political schism hunts down Gabriel and Sara after they come across a roll of film that reveals them as murderers.
10. Parabolic
An enigmatic young vigilante takes out members of a cult devoted to hatred and Sara must choose aid her in bringing them down.
11. Palindrome
Sara is reunited with Conchobar while investigating an underground fight club that worships violent primitivism.
12. Ubique *
Sara's dreams may be premonitions of her greatest challenge yet and all she loves will hang in the balance.
* The Season Two finale was never intended to conclude the show's plotline, however as the series was canceled the story was left sadly incomplete.
I hope you will check out one of the coolest shows in recent years. "Rock on dot com!"

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