Topic: Tom's Random Reviews

[Tom]

The Office: Season Seven (2010/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Studios Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Writing: Length: 586 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:


Plot:
In the seventh season of this Primetime Emmy® Award-winning series, inappropriate behavior is business as usual, but big surprises are in store! Dwight is now the owner of the building and he may be letting this power go to his head; Andy is courting Erin, who is dating Gabe; Jim and Pam are struggling with being new parents; and a parade of ghosts of girlfriends past haunt Michael, leading to his final days at Dunder Mifflin.

Catch the antics of all 24 laugh-out-loud Season Seven episodes of "...TV's funniest half-hour" (Rick Kissell, Variety), developed for American television by Primetime Emmy® Award winner Greg Daniels. This memorable season features guest appearances from Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone), a cameo from Ricky Gervais (The Invention of Lying) and an unforgettable hour-long season finale with Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), James Spader (Boston Legal) and Catherine Tate (Doctor Who), all vying for Michael Scott's old post. Plus, see hours of bonus features, including extended episodes, deleted scenes, bloopers, webisodes and more, in this must-own five-disc collection.

Awards:
Won:

Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series ("Stress Relief": Jeffrey Blitz)

Nominated:

Golden Globe (2009)		Actor - Television Comedy or Musical Series (Steve Carell)
Golden Globe (2010)		Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical (Steve Carell)
Golden Globe (2009)		Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)		Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Awards (2010)		Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Steve Carell)
Primetime Emmy Awards (2010)		Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series ("The Cover Up": Steve Carell)
Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)		Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Rainn Wilson)
Primetime Emmy Awards (2010)		Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series ("Niagara": Greg Daniels, Mindy Kaling)
Teen Choice Awards (2009)		Choice TV Actor - Comedy (Steve Carell)
Teen Choice Awards (2009)		Choice TV Actress - Comedy (Jenna Fisher)
Teen Choice Awards (2009)		Choice TV Show: Comedy

Extras:

• Bonus Trailers
• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes
• Webisodes

My Thoughts:

This season had a slow start, but it turned out great again. This is the season where Steve Carell left the show towards the end. The storyline they have given him to write him out of the show was the right way to go.
Also Ricky Gervais finally made two cameo appearances this season as David Brent. In the first he ran across Michael Scott and was joking with him.
The second was a Video CV where he applies for the manager job after Michael Scott left. I would have liked him interacting with the complete Office cast though.
Will Ferrell had a few episodes where he had taken over from Michael. He did a good job.
Sadly Pam and Jim didn't get a good storyline this season. I always liked their scenes together.

#	Episode	Rating
01	Nepotism
02	Counseling
03	Andy's Play
04	Sex Ed
05	The Sting
06	Costume Contest
07	Christening
08	Viewing Party
09	WUPHF.com
10	China
11	Classy Christmas
12	Ultimatum
13	The Seminar
14	The Search
15	PDA
16	Threat Level Midnight
17	Todd Packer
18	Garage Sale
19	Training Day
20	Michael's Last Dundies
21	Goodbye Michael
22	The Inner Circle
23	Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager
24	Search Committee

[Tom]

There is one line I forgot to mention that I really liked. It was one of the last things that Michael Scott (Steve Carell) said. He said to the camera crew, that if this is ever coming out that they should tell him. This finally answers the open question, why they never were consequences of this documentary like there was in the original The Office and the German version "Stromberg". I always guessed this was the reason but nice that it was finally addressed.

[Tom]

Being Erica: Season Two (2009/Canada) IMDb | Wikipedia Just Bridge (Netherlands) Director: Writing: Length: 540 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: Dutch

My Thoughts:

Another great season I enjoyed very much. I have gone on and ordered the third season now.
Some interesting direction the premise took this season. This series is definately worth to be checked out. No wonder they planning to do a UK and a US remake. I hope they manage to bring something new to the table instead being a simple rip-off.

#	Episode	Rating
01	Being Dr. Tom
02	Battle Royale
03	Mama Mia
04	Cultural Revolution
05	Yes We Can
06	Shhh... Don't Tell
07	The Unkindest Cut
08	Under My Thumb
09	A River Runs Through It... It Being Egypt
10	Papa Can You Hear Me?
11	What Goes Up Must Come Down
12	The Importance of Being Erica

[Tom]

Being Erica: Season Three (2010/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Just Bridge Entertainment (Netherlands) Director: Writing: Length: 585 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: Dutch

My Thoughts:

Another great season. In the beginning I wasn't sure I'd like the direction this season was going, but it turned out okay.
The second to last episode was a great episode, which really felt like a season finale. Including the feeling to want to see how it now continues. And I thought, great that there is another episode. I get to see it continue. But as it turned out it really was the season finale, and the last episode was a christmas special, which obviously disregarded the episode before that. It was obviously set before the finale. It's a typical special, which doesn't further the storyline and just takes the characters and setting to "teach" you the meaning of christmas. Not a bad episode, but I was left disappointed that I didn't get to the story continue.
Now I have to wait a long time to see it. The fourth (and last) season hasn't even aired yet in Canada.

#	Episode	Rating
01	The Rabbit Hole
02	Moving On Up
03	Two Wrongs
04	Wash, Rinse and Repeat
05	Being Adam
06	Bear Breasts
07	Jenny From the Block
08	Physician, Heal Thyself
09	Getting Wiggy With It
10	The Tribe Has Spoken
11	Adam's Family
12	Erica, Interrupted
13	Fa La Erica

[Tom]

Just came to me: if you enjoy a TV series with time-traveling doctors, you should check out "Being Erica" 

[Achim]

Time-traveling doctors...? What is the idea being that? They go back to heal people so they don't die too early...?

[Tom]

Time-traveling doctors...? What is the idea being that? They go back to heal people so they don't die too early...?

From the overview of my first season review:
"Just as she's on the verge of despair Erica meets the mysterious therapist Dr. Tom. He offers her a solution – the opportunity of a lifetime – to go back to her past and face her greatest regrets."

(click to show/hide)

Later it is revealed, that Dr. Tom is not the only time-traveling doctor/therapist.

I just wanted to express, that if using the words "time-travelling doctors", it could be, that not Doctor Who, but Being Erica is meant

[Achim]

  So I obviously only skimmed the synopsis

I had thought that Erica is the time traveler, instead it seems her past is explored via the doctor. I like the concept.

[Tom]

I had thought that Erica is the time traveler, instead it seems her past is explored via the doctor. I like the concept.

Erica travels through time but not of her own ability. The doctor sends her through time and she usually is in her "old" body (most of the time). You could say it's similar to Quantum Leap, but she revisits only her own past. The doctor himself also appears as a mentor in the past. I can really recommend it.

[Achim]

I have a lot of stuff to go through already, but may put in on my wish list for now. Is it drama or comedy...?

[Tom]

I have a lot of stuff to go through already, but may put in on my wish list for now. Is it drama or comedy...?

It's a dramedy. Like I would classify series like Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me.

[Tom]

I just found out, that the first episode of season 4 of "Being Erica" (which will start airing next week) will be called "Doctor Who?"

[Tom]

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (2010/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Splendid Film (Germany) Director: Daryn Tufts Writing: Daryn Tufts (Writer), Daryn Tufts (Story By), Benji Smith (Story By) Length: 84 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78 Audio: German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Subtitles: Dutch, German

Stars:
Christopher Gorham as Ethan
Chantel Flanders as Catie
Kelly Packard as Suzy
Carol Kane as Barbara
Alyssa Milano as Jesse

Plot:
Jesse meets Ethan, someone she could finally fall in love with, but then she meets Troy, and now she has a dilemma.

Extras:

• Bonus Trailers
• Scene Access
• Wendecover

My Thoughts:

A rather typical romantic comedy (I expected nothing more), but I must admit that ending surprised me. It put the whole movie into a different light, something which I enjoy. For fans of Alyssa Milano I think it's safe to check this one out. It's also nice to see Michael Landes again. I am not sure if I saw him in anything since I first saw him as Jimmy Olsen in the first season of Lois & Clark (except in the short-lived series "Union Square"). Christopher Gorham was fitting as the love interest.

Rating:

[Tom]

Tron (1982/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: Steven Lisberger Writing: Steven Lisberger (Screenwriter), Steven Lisberger (Story By), Bonnie MacBird (Story By) Length: 92 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.20 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: Commentary, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Stars:
Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn/Clu
Bruce Boxleitner as Alan Bradley/Tron
David Warner as Ed Dillinger/Sark
Cindy Morgan as Lora/Yori
Barnard Hughes as Dr. Walter Gibbs/Dumont

Plot:
A hacker is literally abducted into the world of a computer and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program.

Awards:
Won:

Saturn (1982)

Best Costumes (Eloise Jensson, Rosanna Norton)

Nominated:

Academy Award (1982)		Best Costume Design (Elois Jenssen, Rosanna Norton)
Academy Award (1982)		Best Sound (Michael Minkler, Bob Minkler, Lee Minkler, James LaRue)
BAFTA (1982)		Special Visual Effects (Richard Taylor, Harrison Ellenshaw)
Saturn (1982)		Best Animated Film
Saturn (1982)		Best Science Fiction Film
Young Artist Awards (1983)		Best Family Feature – Animated, Musical or Fantasy

Extras:

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Infoblatt
• Interviews
• Photo Gallery
• Scene Access
• Storyboard Comparisons
• Trailers

My Thoughts:

I has been a long time since I saw this one. Sadly this movie just doesn't hold up. Not only have the effects aged much more than I have remembered, the production seems rather amateurish. Even the acting is bad. The first few minutes I was not even sure, if the movie has already started, or if I am watching an amateur parody of it.

Rating:

[Tom]

Gantz (2010/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Sunfilm Entertainment, Tiberius Film (Germany) Director: Shinsuke Sato Writing: Hiroya Oku (Original Material By), Yûsuke Watanabe (Screenwriter) Length: 129 min. Video: Widescreen 1.85 Audio: German: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 Subtitles: German

Stars:
Kazunari Ninomiya as Kei Kurono
Kenichi Matsuyama as Masaru Kato
Yuriko Yoshitaka as Tae Kojima
Kanata Hongo as Joichiro Nishi
Natsuna as Kei Kishimoto

Plot:
After trying to rescue a man on the subway tracks, two teens wake up in a room dominated by a mysterious black sphere that sends them to hunt down and kill aliens hiding on Earth.

Extras:

• Featurettes
• Interviews
• Scene Access
• Wendecover

My Thoughts:

In short: It's a good live-action adaption of the source material (a manga). I enjoyed it.

I was surprised though how far along with the story they got here. They left out a lot of stuff to do so. I expected the second film to end around the point in the story, where the anime adaption did. But they already covered every major story point of the anime in this first film. Except of course the last few episodes of the anime, which diverged largely from the manga to conclude the story (as the manga is still ongoing).
They were even elements in this movie taken from later storylines from the manga. Mainly the second love interest, which probably will be a big part in the second movie.

Rating: