Oz (Season 4) DVD Review

Nominated for 2 Emmys, including Best Casting for a Series, Oz is widely regarded as one of the best prison dramas ever created. The brainchild of creator Tom Fontana (former writer for such hit TV shows as Homicide: Life On The Streets and St. Elsewhere), Oz was one of a number of a highly successful HBO original series to premiere in the 1990s, keeping good company among such shows as Sex And The City and The Sopranos. Premiering in mid-summer 1997, Oz quickly built a large and loyal following of voyeuristic viewers hypnotized by the series' vivid depiction of no-holds-barred prison life. Following six critically acclaimed seasons, Oz was cancelled in early 2003, but lives on via DVD

Oz is the street name for the Oswald State Penitentary, a rough and hardened prison where survival of the fittest is the prevailing law. But the focus of Oz is Level 5, an experimental cell block deemed Emerald City that's managed by Unit Administrator Tim McManus (Terry Kinney) and th ick-skinned Warden Leo Glynn (Ernie Hudson). One of the prisoners, wheelchair-bound convicted murderer Augustus Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr. of Lost) narrates for the viewer, tying together the various storylines that play out within the prison. In an atmosphere of well-governed anarchy, prisoners come and go (some paroled; some murdered), prison guards uphold their duty (while some are corrupt), and various groups (such as Muslims, Aryans, Latinos, Italians, gangstas, gays, etc.) compete for power over each other and over the prevalent drug trade rampant within the walls of Oz. Tobias Toby Beecher (Lee Tergesen) plays the everyday man, having been convicted for manslaughter while driving drunk, and his character's experiences force the viewer to place himself in the shoes of the inmate. Other notable characters include Prisoner Miguel Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo), Prisoner Bob Rebadow (George Morfogen), Prisoner Vernon Schillinger (J.K. Simmons), Prisoner Kareem Said (Eamonn Walker ), Prisoner Tony Masters (Steven Wishnoff), Officer Diane Whittlesey (Edie Falco of The Sopranos), and Father Ray Mukada (B.D. Wong of Law & Order: SVU). Together, they form a solid cast that makes Oz one of the best original cable dramas ever produced

The Oz (Season 4) DVD features a number of dramatic episodes including the season premiere A Cock and Balls Story in which two weeks have passed since the riots between the Muslims and Aryans. Warden Glynn meets with both the blacks and the whites, getting assurances from each side that if he ends the lockdown, the violence will stop. Meanwhile, Beecher tries to locate Schillinger's son Hank in an effort to bring peace between the two Other notable episodes from Season 4 include A Word to the Wise in which, among other things, Rebadow tries to kill Busmalis while he sleeps, and Famous Last Words in which Emerald City survives a bomb scare when the aforementioned device turns out to be a dud

Below is a list of episo des included on the Oz (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 25 (A Cock and Balls Story) Air Date: 07-12-2000
Episode 26 (Obituaries) Air Date: 07-19-2000
Episode 27 (The Bill of Wrongs) Air Date: 07-26-2000
Episode 28 (Works of Mercy) Air Date: 08-02-2000
Episode 29 (Gray Matter) Air Date: 08-09-2000
Episode 30 (A Word to the Wise) Air Date: 08-16-2000
Episode 31 (A Town Without Pity) Air Date: 08-23-2000
Episode 32 (You Bet Your Life) Air Date: 08-30-2000
Episode 33 (Medium Rare) Air Date: 01-07-2001
Episode 34 (Conversions) Air Date: 01-14-2001
Episode 35 (Revenge is Sweet) Air Date: 01-21-2001
Episode 36 (Cuts Like a Knife) Air Date: 01-28-2001
Episode 37 (Blizzard of '01) Air Date: 02-04-2001
Episode 38 (Orpheus Descending) Air Date: 02-11-2001
Episode 39 (Even the Score) Air Date: 02-18-2001
Episode 40 (Famous Last Words) Air Date: 02-25-2001

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a b log where you can find more reviews like this one of the Oz (Season 4) DVD.

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: oz season 4 dvd review
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Will & Grace (Season 4) DVD Review

Premiering in the Fall of 1998, Will & Grace has become one of the most celebrated shows of its time. Nominated for 49 Emmys, and winner of 12 (including Outstanding Comedy Series in 2000), the show follows the lives of two best friends who live together. With a plethora of other award nominations - 24 Golden Globes, 14 SAG Awards, and 6 People's Choice Awards, Will & Grace continues to light up the small screen with its unique brand of comic humor and groundbreaking sitcom format

Debra Messing stars in the role of Grace Adler, a straight interior designer who moves into an apartment with her best friend Will (Eric McCormack). Friends since college, Will is a successful lawyer who also happens to be gay (thus, keeping their relationship from becoming a permanent romantic one). Having dated before Will came out of the closet, the two maintain a more intimate relationship than mere casual friends. The comic sequences involving the two are complimented by Will's flamboy antly gay friend Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) and Grace's sarcastic, alcoholic assistant Karen Walker (Megan Mullally)

The Will & Grace (Season 4) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere The Third Wheel Gets the Grace in which Will returns from vacation to find that Grace's relationship with her neighbor, Nathan, has steadily grown into something serious. But Nathan has a problem when Will and Grace's friendship seems to be closer than his relationship with Grace Other notable episodes from Season 4 include Star-Spangled Banter in which Will and Grace feud over their choice of candidates in the city's election for mayor, and Cheatin' Trouble Blues in which Will presents his parents with a surprise cruise for their anniversary, but is troubled to learn they are both involved in secret affairs

Below is a list of episodes included on the Will & Grace (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 72 (The Third Wheel Gets the Grace) Air Date: 09-27-20 01
Episode 73 (Past & Presents) Air Date: 10-04-2001
Episode 74 (Crouching Father, Hidden Husband) Air Date: 10-11-2001
Episode 75 (Prison Blues) Air Date: 10-18-2001
Episode 76 (Loose Lips Sink Relationships) Air Date: 10-25-2001
Episode 77 (Rules of Engagement) Air Date: 11-01-2001
Episode 78 (Bed, Bath & Beyond) Air Date: 11-08-2001
Episode 79 (Star-Spangled Banter) Air Date: 11-15-2001
Episode 80 (Moveable Feast: Part 1) Air Date: 11-22-2001
Episode 81 (Moveable Feast: Part 2) Air Date: 11-22-2001
Episode 82 (Stakin' Care of Business) Air Date: 12-06-2001
Episode 83 (Jingle Balls) Air Date: 12-13-2001
Episode 84 (Whoa, Nelly) Air Date: 01-10-2002
Episode 85 (Grace in the Hole) Air Date: 01-17-2002
Episode 86 (Dyeing is Easy, Comedy is Hard) Air Date: 01-31-2002
Episode 87 (A Chorus Lie) Air Date: 02-07-2002
Episode 88 (Someone Old, Someplace New) Air Date: 02-28-2002
Episode 89 (Something Borrowed, Someo ne's Due) Air Date: 03-07-2002
Episode 90 (Cheatin' Trouble Blues) Air Date: 03-28-2002
Episode 91 (Went to a Garden Potty) Air Date: 04-04-2002
Episode 92 (He Shoots, They Snore) Air Date: 04-11-2002
Episode 93 (Wedding Balls) Air Date: 04-18-2002
Episode 94 (Fagel Attraction) Air Date: 04-25-2002
Episode 95 (Hocus Focus) Air Date: 05-02-2002
Episode 96 (A Buncha White Chicks Sittin' Around Talkin') Air Date: 05-09-2002
Episode 97 (A.I. Artificial Insemination: Part 1) Air Date: 05-16-2002
Episode 98 (A.I. Artificial Insemination: Part 2) Air Date: 05-16-2002

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Will & Grace (Season 4) DVD.

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: will and grace season 4 dvd review
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Sin City Antagonist Fatalism or the Ultimate Good vs Evil?

The Sin City DVD blew my mind, or maybe I should say, warped my mind. I haven't been a great fan of Graphic Novels, but this movie encouraged me to purchase a few of the Sin City books. Frank Miller's now famous, series creations have taken us into the world of a bizarre surreal environment of death, destruction and gallows underbelly lifestyles.

Is the story telling and artistry supposed to show a world we hope would never exist in our white bread world? Or is it an ultimate achievement of good (disguised as part of the underbelly) trying to subdue evil? I prefer to think the latter.

The film itself is a work of pure cinematography genius. With the classic film noir overlay and the visual tricks and special effects, it looks as if you would open the Sin City graphic novel and have the pages come to life. This, I do believe, is the closest I have seen a movie come to the actual artwork and content of the original paper versions.

The very concept and style of Sin City, whether it be the movie or the novels, is not for everyone. The plot and violence are very graphic and definitely not for younger audiences. But as graphic as the movie is, due to the nature of the moving comic book background, it doesn't bring out the reality and gore that could have been pictured. Personally, I enjoyed this toning down. I would hate to think that I could actually condone this kind of violent activity.

Robert Rodriguez in collaboration with series creator, Frank Miller have ingeniously intertwined four of the Graphic Novels into the making of Sin City. The Customer is Always Right, opens the movie even before the credits starts. Then The Hard Goodbye, Big Fat Kill and That Yellow Bastard make up the rest of the movie.

I for one was impressed with the casting and how the actors seemed to fit the characters to perfection. I am starting to see a pattern though, in that certain actors are starting to show up in various comic book relat ed movies of the new Hollywood features. The Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) from Daredevil, for example, is also a character in Sin City. Do you think you can spot him? He is pretty hard to miss.

It looks like by now, Jessica Alba may be vying for the Title Queen of the Comic Book Movies (ha ha). She also came out this year in The Fantastic Four and will be in the sequel when it comes out.

With the new outcry for realistic comic book character movies and the new Hollywood technologies that make them possible, it looks like the original character creators want to reap some of the exposure. Stan Lee, of Marvel Comics fame, manages to get a cameo appearance every now and again in his character creation movies. And now, in Sin City, Frank Miller was justified in putting his mug on the wide screen. He appears as the, shall we say, sinister priest that Marv (Mickey Rourke) decides he is justified in blowing away. How many more comic book character creators do you think we will see in cameo rolls as more movies are produced?

If you are an avid fan of Frank Miller and, in particular, Sin City, then you will quite probably feel this one of the best movies to come out of Hollywood in 2005. If you are unfamiliar with the entire Sin City theme and series, advance with caution and don't watch it with the young or the young at heart (ha). The movie, in my mind, is definitely a visual sensation. And I hear that Sin City II may be ready for us in the summer of 2006. Enjoy.

Dave Gieber is the owner and editor of a website built around one of his childhood passions. Learn the basic essentials to comic book collecting success with this free 5-day course: Sin City

Author:: Dave Gieber
Keywords:: sin city, frank miller, graphic novels, robert rodriguez, jessic a alba, Comics
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

United Flight 93: The Movie Tells it All

Flight 93 the Movie is a depiction of the September 11, 2001 flight, which was taken over by the Victims of the hijackers and crashed before the Victims could regain control. It is an emotionally packed movie and even more so as it is so reality based and a docu-drama. Some of the Flight Victims families are very glad to see their loved ones portrayed as heroes and very happy to remind the world of that fateful day when we were attacked by International National Terrorists, as they killed innocent folks minding their own business.

This movie honors the Victims and rallies our resolve to remember the fallen and not give up on the fight against international terrorism. To remind you; on that United Flight 93 all 40 passengers died, while many used their cell phones to call their families for the last time and many knew they were doomed and said; I love you and good bye.

The writer and director of the movie is Paul Greengrass and it is sure to be a big hit. Although there are many who do not approve of this movie or the violence it depicts, in fact 27% to not approve or feel the movie is appropriate, while over 42% surveyed not only approve of the movie and say it is appropriate, but believe the story must be told on the Big Screen. What do you think?

Lance Winslow

Author:: Lance Winslow
Keywords:: United Flight 93, The Movie, Victims, Greengrass
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Will LOST Ever Be Found?

The rumors of its demise sadly over-calculated, LOST has settled into ratings numbers that secures it in the company of the best dramas on television. Had LOST managed to hold onto the 23million-plus it had in the beginning of its second series, I doubt ABC would be able to afford to produce it at this point. Any clue on what Matt Fox might demand for his LOST paycheck knowing the largest television audience in history was tuning in?

The fact of the matter is, LOST set records: Most Emmy nominations for a new series, and wins to boot; Most viewers for second season premiere; and, of course, one of the best cliff hangers in television history What is in the hatch?

Aside from all of this, the show has literally reinvented the internet fan community on such a scale that some sites, TheTailsection and LostPedia, found themselves featured players in the Alternate Reality Game The Lost Experience that was released to ease the game between season two and three.

The fact that the doomsayers have started to come out of the journalistic woodwork with tails of faltering numbers and disenchanted fans is nothing short of proof that malcontentism is alive and well.

With its incongruity of surreptitious plot twists and startling, sometimes jarring, changes of locale, the show has shown no sign of slowing down from its unique approach of leave continuity behind writing, which for this author is perfectly okay. Id love nothing more than to see LOST evade resolution for another ten seasons, if they could do it effectively, but, alas, that is not the goal of the men and women behind LOST; they claim to have planned a beginning, middle, and end, that will span four-to-five seasons at best. With that assurance, the criticism that LOST is a train with no rail is nonsense. Despite bold attempts to explain LOST (Lost for newbies for instance.), however, that end seems no-more closer than it did two weeks ago when we all watched a prone man, bloodied and disoriented, open a green eye onto an island of mystery for the first time.

So, if you want to find out more about Lost or even about Lost for newbies we recommend you clicking this link http://www.buddyTv.com

Author:: Groshan Fabiola
Keywords:: buddy Tv
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Beauty And The Beast (DVD) Review

Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Beauty And The Beast is one of Disney's greatest animated achievements. Its massive success reinvigorated the Disney animation juggernaut which had been dormant for decades, launching the release of smashing blockbusters such as Aladdin, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo. Taking home two Oscars for Best Music (Original Score and Original Song), the film launched a trend in Disney animation by blending musical numbers (with cartoon choreography), an aspect that would become a staple of film after film for the remainder of the decade. In short, Beauty And The Beast is a landmark production just as remarkable today as when it was first released

Following the Disney tradition of transposing well-known fairy tales from the pages of a book to the sparkle of the big screen, Beauty And The Beast follows the life of Belle (Paige OHara), a beautiful bookworm maiden who captivates her towns most eligible bachelor, Gaston (R ichard White). Dissatisfied with life in her small French villa, Belle grows especially tired of the conceited and self-absorbed Gaston, who is unable to fathom the idea that Belle does not welcome his affections.

Meanwhile, The Beast lives in solitude in a long-ago abandoned castle, having had a spell cast upon him because of his inability to love. The spell turned the handsome prince into an ugly beast, and it turned all of his servants into dinnerware, candlesticks, and other inanimate objects. When Belles father, Maurice (Rex Everhart) makes a wrong turn, he inadvertently unites the lives of Belle and The Beast. After spending much time with Belle, the bitter and hardened Beast begins to soften. He and Belle fall in love, but Gaston and his fellow village marauders arrive at the castle walls and demand the return of Belle, threatening to kill The Beast

The highlight of Beauty And The Beast is the musical number Be Our Guest, which features an entire dining ha ll filled with dancing teacups, plates, and eating utensils. The sequence forged the way for similar scenes in Aladdin (A Whole New World) and The Lion King (Hakuna Matata). Directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise not only create a perfect transition from song to story, but they also manage to introduce innumerable humorous lines into musical sequences, especially with the early song bandied about by the rival for Belles hand, Gaston.

One of the top films of all-time (thats from any genre, not just animation), Beauty And The Beast remains one of Disneys most heralded creations. It tells the classic love story of the beast with a good heart and does so with vivid characters, a world-class musical score, and animated visual images that would make Walt Disney proud. Critically acclaimed and extremely successful at the box office, Beauty And The Beast is a true blockbuster in the traditional sense of the word. An awe-inspiring film that launched a new generation of animated Disney masterpieces, Beauty And The Beast is the quintessential must-see film

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Beauty And The Beast (DVD).

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: beauty and the beast dvd review
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Quality TV Shows

It seems I am frequently caught up in discussions with people regarding the poor quality of TV shows in recent years. Sometimes it feels as if you are lucky because you found one night a week with some decent shows. While I still feel the overall quality of TV shows is mediocre at best I think there are two shows out there right now that are very good and epitomize what America is all about. Those shows are American Idol and The Biggest Loser.

I am not saying I like everything about these shows because I dont. I do not like when American Idol puts people on the air that are clearly there only to try and get on the air. It takes away from the people with the real talent. What I like about this show is it gives people the chance to live a dream of theirs that they might never have had the chance to realize. Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, and Carrie Underwood are probably the biggest stars to come from the show so far. Kelly Clarkson is a big star, she is selling o ut arenas for her current tour. She sells many CDs and she is played all over the airwaves. Same goes for Clay Aiken, except he is not on tour right now. Carrie is more part of the country scene but still popular for that genre of music.

What I dont like about The Biggest Loser is that they put these people in front of America and virtually no clothes when getting weighed. It seems to me that would be very embarrassing. However, the positives outweigh the negatives in my opinion. This show helps a group of people learn how to change their lifestyles so they can become, and remain, healthy people. It shows the audience how difficult it is to make the changes and what they go threw while trying to make the changes. It doesnt just affect those 16 people on the show that season either. It has made an impact on many people across the country. Offices have Biggest Loser contests, families begin losing weight together, etc The impact is on society in general.

Both of these shows, in their own ways, shows what is possible with some hard work and determination. Hard work and determination is what our country was built on. These shows help to give people hope and they provide people with motivation to help them achieve their dreams. If this is not the sign of a good television show than I do not know what would be.

Scott Bianchi operates http://www.best-internet-bargains.com He writes on a variety of topics. If you would like to be added to his distribution list for his new articles when they are published just send an email to articles@bestinternetbargains.com.

Author:: Scott Bianchi
Keywords:: American Idol, Biggest Loser, lose weight, Singing, reality tv
Post by History of the Computer | Computer s afety tips