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	<title>TV of the Absurd &#187; Reviews</title>
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		<title>Dark Shadows: A Small Soap Inspires Big Dreams</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2012/04/21/dark-shadows-a-small-soap-inspires-big-dreams/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2012/04/21/dark-shadows-a-small-soap-inspires-big-dreams/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Apr 2012 01:23:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Haunted TV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=2048</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When I was a child, I dreamed about living at Collinwood. Sure, the place was over run with vampires, ghosts, werewolves and nasty human beings, but it wasn't the stuff of nightmares for me. I loved everything about Dark Shadows. I wanted to explore The Old House with Willie Loomis. Smell the salt air at [...]]]></description>
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			<a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftvoftheabsurd.com%2F2012%2F04%2F21%2Fdark-shadows-a-small-soap-inspires-big-dreams%2F"><br />
				<img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftvoftheabsurd.com%2F2012%2F04%2F21%2Fdark-shadows-a-small-soap-inspires-big-dreams%2F&amp;style=normal&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br />
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/darkshadowsbb.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2049" title="darkshadowsbb" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/darkshadowsbb-210x300.jpg" alt="" width="210" height="300" /></a>When I was a child, I dreamed about living at Collinwood. Sure, the place was over run with vampires, ghosts, werewolves and nasty human beings, but it wasn't the stuff of nightmares for me. I loved everything about <em>Dark Shadows</em>. I wanted to explore The Old House with Willie Loomis. Smell the salt air at Widow's Peak with Josette. I wanted to have a drink with Joe Haskell at the Blue Whale and have dinner with Elizabeth and Carolyn at the main house.</p>
<p>A half hour a day of <em>Dark Shadows</em> wasn't enough for me. So I honed my writing skills penning my own fan fiction while listening to the soundtrack album, surrounded by photos torn from <em>Tiger Beat</em> and <em>16 Magazine</em>.</p>
<p>My family wasn't surprised by my obsession. For many years, my bedroom was decorated in Universal Monsters' style. I had a full collection of Aurora monster models (built by me), monster movie posters on the walls and a bookshelf full of spooky tales. One shelf was nothing but gold spines -- <em>Dark Shadows</em> tie-in novels which I bought at the Berlin Auction as soon as they came out.</p>
<p>I suppose the big question is why? Why was I, and so many others, crazy about <em>Dark Shadows</em>? Maybe because it was unlike anything else on TV at the time. It was spooky and cool and romantic in its own quirky way. Victoria and Maggie were girls I could relate to. They were normal girls who wandered into an extraordinary situation and I wanted to trade places with them in spite of the danger.</p>
<p>And while most people were fascinated with Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), I had a soft spot for Willie Loomis (John Karlen). Oh, I know. He was a whiny, conniving, ne'er do well who got what he deserved when he tried to rob a Collins' coffin, but I still adored him. And I continued to adore him as he changed characters and personalities through the run of the show and the later movies.</p>
<p>There are more than 1,000 episodes of <em>Dark Shadows</em>. Many of the cast members were there throughout much of the run, often playing different characters in different eras and alternate worlds. We've lost quite a few of them, most recently<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-j-mann/jonathan-frid_b_1438196.html"> Jonathan Frid</a>, but also Grayson Hall, the regal Joan Bennett, Louis Edmunds and Dennis Patrick. But still carrying the torch on behalf of the show we have Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, and my dear John Karlen just to name a few.</p>
<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/dark-shadows.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2052" title="dark shadows" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/dark-shadows-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>We also have MPI, they've done an amazing job keeping the lights burning at Collinwood. They just released the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007PZ6SYK?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B007PZ6SYK&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;qid=1335054315&amp;sr=8-1">entire series in one incredible collection. </a>131 discs in a coffin-shaped case. When lined up, the discs form an image of Barnabas in his coffin, which right at the moment, is a little too disturbing for me, given Mr. Frid's recent passing.</p>
<p>If the full set is a little rich for your blood, pick up one of their greatest hits collections.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Z7Z3PO?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393177&amp;creativeASIN=B006Z7Z3PO&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;s=movies-tv&amp;qid=1335054764&amp;sr=1-1"><strong>Dark Shadows: The Best of Barnabas</strong></a> includes 9 episodes spanning from 1967 to 1970. Each episode has a new introduction by Lara Parker. You'll see the first time Barnabas meets Maggie Evans, a romantic encounter with Josette, a suspicious moment with Quentin and an alternate universe episode with Willie the writer wanting to interview Barnabas for his book.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Z7Z3ZO?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393177&amp;creativeASIN=B006Z7Z3ZOhttp://"><strong>Dark Shadows: Fan Favorites</strong> </a>also features 9 episodes with new introductions. You'll see Angelique put her spell on Barnabas, see his return to Collinwood after being released from his coffin, watch him hunt a werewolf with Julia and save Maggie from a fate worse than death.</p>
<p>If you've read this far, you probably know that Johnny Depp is starring as Barnabas Collins in a big budget movie remake of <em>Dark Shadows</em>. It's a Tim Burton film so it's quirky and funnier than most people had imagined when it was announced. I've no doubt that it will be entertaining, a fun homage to the series. But there will never be anything like the original <em>Dark Shadows</em>. Pick up one of the "Best of" DVDs and experience it for the first time, or the first time in a long time. It's a show everyone should see at least once.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>CatDog: Season One, Part One [DVD Review]</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/26/catdog-season-one-part-one-dvd-review/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/26/catdog-season-one-part-one-dvd-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:08:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=1883</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the 1990's, Nickelodeon reinvented the cartoon genre with a brand new collection of edgy, modern shows that brought all new meaning to the word wacky. A psychotic chihuahua teams up with a nitwit cat in The Ren &#38; Stimpy Show, a wallaby and a cow learn about the ways of the world in Rocko's [...]]]></description>
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			<a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftvoftheabsurd.com%2F2011%2F10%2F26%2Fcatdog-season-one-part-one-dvd-review%2F"><br />
				<img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftvoftheabsurd.com%2F2011%2F10%2F26%2Fcatdog-season-one-part-one-dvd-review%2F&amp;style=normal&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br />
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CatDog_S1P1_Shout.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1885" title="CatDog_S1P1_Shout" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CatDog_S1P1_Shout-212x300.jpg" alt="" width="212" height="300" /></a>In the 1990's, Nickelodeon reinvented the cartoon genre with a brand new collection of edgy, modern shows that brought all new meaning to the word wacky. A psychotic chihuahua teams up with a nitwit cat in <em>The Ren &amp; Stimpy Show</em>, a wallaby and a cow learn about the ways of the world in <em>Rocko's Modern Life </em>and three comical monsters go to scare school in <em>Aah! Real Monsters.</em> And then there was the crazy brainchild of Peter Hannan known as <strong><em>CatDog</em></strong>.</p>
<p>As the title suggests, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BUA1JE?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B005BUA1JE&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;qid=1319668579&amp;sr=8-1"><em><strong>CatDog</strong></em></a> features a creature that is half cat, half dog with an extended, rubbery body connecting them just past the front paws on either end. Like all brothers, these two both love and despise each other depending on the moment. Dog (voiced by Tom Kenny) can hardly abide Cat's taste in books and music and Cat has had enough of Dog's propensity to chase trash-trucks. Even though they must be the same age, Cat is the "older" brother, always looking for a way to make life better for the both of them, and always ready to help when his counterpart needs a paw (or two.)</p>
<p>Dog is the baby brother who needs constant looking after. He's very much a victim of his primal instincts so food and fun are high on his list from the time he wakes until the time they go to sleep in their communal bed.</p>
<p>As with all good cartoons, CatDog have a variety of antagonists for our heros to deal with. The Greasers Dogs are a street gang who get their kicks making fun of CatDog. Rancid Rabbit is the stereotypical angry boss who blows his stack whenever CatDog is near and there's my favorite, Eddie the Pulverizer who is voiced by <em>A-Team</em>'s Dwight Schultz.</p>
<p>From an adult viewpoint, it's not as well-written as <em>Rocko's Modern Life</em>. The stories are based on repetitive humor such as repeated attempts to sneak into a taco restaurant that are constantly thwarted. It is the kind of humor kids will enjoy and if you have siblings that can't get along, <em>CatDog'</em>s obvious message might help the situation.</p>
<p>The<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BUA1JE?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B005BUA1JE&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;qid=1319668579&amp;sr=8-1 "> new DVD release of CatDog</a> features the first ten episodes of the first season. It includes "Mush, Dog, Mush" where Cat enters Dog in a sled race, "The Collector" where Cat gets wrapped up in his Mean Bob action figure collection and "Work Force" where CatDog go to work at the Kavity Crunch cereal factory.</p>
<p>Now here's a clip to get you in the mood for some great 90's Nickelodeon!</p>
<p>&nbsp;<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TA6MMC12uDQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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		<title>Warner Archive: Don&#8217;t be Afraid of the Dark</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/25/warner-archive-dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/25/warner-archive-dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:13:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Haunted TV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=1871</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I've always dreamed of owning an old, spooky house with oddly-shaped rooms and secret cubbies. As long as it didn't come fully equipped with a collection of creatures who call my name in the dark. That's the problem Kim Darby faces, when she moves into her grandmother's old home in the 1973, TV movie Don't [...]]]></description>
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			<a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftvoftheabsurd.com%2F2011%2F10%2F25%2Fwarner-archive-dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark%2F"><br />
				<img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftvoftheabsurd.com%2F2011%2F10%2F25%2Fwarner-archive-dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark%2F&amp;style=normal&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br />
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dont-be-afraid-dark-dvd.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1875" title="dont-be-afraid-dark-dvd" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dont-be-afraid-dark-dvd.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>I've always dreamed of owning an old, spooky house with oddly-shaped rooms and secret cubbies. As long as it didn't come fully equipped with a collection of creatures who call my name in the dark. That's the problem Kim Darby faces, when she moves into her grandmother's old home in the 1973, TV movie <a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2365520-10280984?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbshop.com%2Fon%2Fdemandware.store%2FSites-WB-Site%2Fdefault%2FProduct-Show%3Fpid%3D1000180329%26affiliate%3Dcommissionjunction%26src%3DCJP&amp;cjsku=1000180329">Don't Be Afraid of the Dark</a>.</p>
<p>Kim plays Sally, a stay-at-home wife dedicated to her upwardly mobile husband (Jim Hutton). Though he's not sold on the merits of country living, Sally happily dives into the task of turning the quaint building into a showplace where she can have cocktail parties with her granny-gown wearing friends. (Granny-gowns were all the rage in 1973.).</p>
<p>To help her with the job, she hires a temperamental, shi shi, interior designer and Uncle Charlie (Willian Demarest) to do the carpentry work.</p>
<p>Sally discovers a small, dark room off the kitchen that was once her grandfather's study. The two by four room has a fireplace which has been bricked up with great vigor and the ash door has been bolted shut. Uncle Charlie tells Sally that it must stay that way but he won't explain why. He should have told her that building a fire in a room the size of a VW bus would be akin to relaxing in front of a metal smelting furnace, but no, he has to be contrary and make her curious.</p>
<p>As soon as he leaves, Sally pries the bolts off the ash door and peers in. It's a bottomless chute and from this angle she sees that unbricking it would be hard. Never mind the fact that the fireplace has no floor, so no place to actually put the burning logs, but that's apparently not important.</p>
<p>What is important, is that Sally has inadvertently set <em>them</em> free.  At first, they're nothing but squeaky, whispered voices who are a little too excited about the possibilities. Then they go on the attack.  They grab Sally's dress as she walks down the stairs and steal her napkin at a dinner party. When she finally gets a glimpse of the two-foot beasts, she freaks out in front of her guests who all think she's gone mad.</p>
<h2>But I Want To!</h2>
<p>The creatures are truly a thing of wonder in this movie. They have fat, furry bodies and heads that look like a moldy pumpkins. They move beautifully because they're real. Diminutive actor, Felix Silla, who played Cousin Itt on <em>The Addams Family</em> fills out one of the three monster suits. The set designers then created large scale objects such as books and phones to make the creatures look even smaller as the crawl around spying on Sally.</p>
<p>The best scene in the movie takes place in the bathroom. Sally is in the shower, when the creatures come out of the closet. They use a coat hanger to turn off the lights, then one grabs a straight razor with intentions of doing some damage. "No, don't hurt her," whispers the leader. "But I want to!" razor boy whispers back. It's truly creepy and so much fun.</p>
<p>As Sally spirals downward, her husband gets more annoyed than concerned. She's jeopardizing his shot at full partner at the agency and he wants her to knock it off. Her solution, sell the house which angers not only the designer but the whispering creatures as well. They up their terror campaign, but they don't count on Sally's best friend, Barbara Anderson, the one person who believes Sally's story.</p>
<p>In the end, its a full-on battle for Sally's soul as the creatures find ways to eliminate everyone around her. Her only weapon against them is light but these sneaky little monsters are out to prove a point. Flashlights and candles won't help you. You should be very afraid of the dark.</p>
<p>Warner Archive has recently released a remastered version of this excellent TV movie. It's scary without being gruesome and full of chilling cat and mouse play between Sally and her not-so-inner demons. The movie is available through Warner Archive's burn-on-demand program. <a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2365520-10280984?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbshop.com%2Fon%2Fdemandware.store%2FSites-WB-Site%2Fdefault%2FProduct-Show%3Fpid%3D1000180329%26affiliate%3Dcommissionjunction%26src%3DCJP&amp;cjsku=1000180329">Visit their movie page</a> to see a sample of the remastered film quality which is much better than the clip I've included below.</p>
<p>Spoiler alert: This clip does show the creatures, so don't watch it if you'd rather be surprised!<br />
<P><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/B0fh5iZYWpQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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		<title>American Pickers: Volume Two on DVD</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/19/american-pickers-volumn-two-on-dvd/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/19/american-pickers-volumn-two-on-dvd/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:51:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=1863</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you love collecting stuff, then you should be on American Pickers like a like a duck on a June bug. This History Channel series is the folksy cousin of Antiques Roadshow but with a lot more personality. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz run Antique Archaeology and their shop couldn't be more aptly named. By [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/American-Pickers-Vol-2-DVD-F.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1866" title="American-Pickers-Vol-2-DVD-F" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/American-Pickers-Vol-2-DVD-F-212x300.jpg" alt="" width="212" height="300" /></a>If you love collecting stuff, then you should be on <strong>American Pickers</strong> like a like a duck on a June bug. This History Channel series is the folksy cousin of <em>Antiques Roadshow</em> but with a lot more personality.</p>
<p>Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz run Antique Archaeology and their shop couldn't be more aptly named. By "picking" small towns all over the US, they've managed to uncover some amazing treasures and every week they take you along for the ride. In the vernacular of the show, "rusty gold" is a thing of beauty. Old gas station signs that are pitted and warped, bicycles from the turn of the century, oil cans and motorcycle emblems - condition isn't always a prime concern when you're looking at a piece of Americana. And Americana is what <em>American Pickers</em> is all about.</p>
<p>Each episode is a mini-history lesson with trivia pop-ups that tell you the story behind a brand or an object. But more importantly, the show gives you a look into the history of ordinary people and it turns out, they're not so ordinary after all. The finds are fun, but the folks are fabulous. Some of them live on dozens of acres, every inch of it filled with stuff. Others have turned their passion for collecting into a museum that will never be seen by more than a hundred people. And then there are the eccentrics, like the guy who dug an underground tunnel in order to have more room for his stuff.</p>
<p>Mike and Frank have no qualms about getting their hands dirty. They'll climb to the top of any pile if it means finding that one amazing item they've never seen before. Sometimes it's huge and heavy, like the old film projector they bought from a woman who's dad was a pioneer in the industry. Sometimes it's small, like the A.C. Gilbert James Bond Aston Martin tin toy car they find in "Gordon's Gold Mine." And just when you think you've seen it all, they find something completely wacky like a folding bathtub.</p>
<p>If you are a collector, you may be put off by the price haggling that is a huge part of the show but remember, these guys are running a business so they've got to make a profit. And considering that most of what they buy is rotting away in a shed somewhere, any price is a good price. But you can't tell that to folks like Robin. He wants to liquidate the inventory from his antique store that went belly up, but when the guys try to buy the good stuff, he tells them it's not for sale. It's amazing to see how emotionally attached people (myself included) are about stuff that other see as junk. At least with Mike and Frank on the job, these objects will find their way out of storage and into the hands of a collector where they'll be protected and enjoyed.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QP4CNC?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B003QP4CNC&amp;ref_=sr_1_2&amp;qid=1319064257&amp;sr=8-2">American Pickers: Volume Two</a> includes the first eight episodes of the second season. There are no extras on the DVD and that's a shame, because it would be nice to get a look at objects that didn't make the TV edit, learn more about the history of some items, or even spend more time in the van with the boys. Their nonsensical banter is always amusing from Frank's practical jokes to Mike's conversations starters (Who is hotter? Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga?).</p>
<p>On the upside, the DVD is currently <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QP4CNC?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B003QP4CNC&amp;ref_=sr_1_2&amp;qid=1319064257&amp;sr=8-2">under $10.00 on Amazon </a>and it would make a great gift for anyone who collects anything.</p>
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		<title>Fact of Faked Takes on the White Sands UFO</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/19/fact-of-faked-takes-on-the-white-sands-ufo/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/19/fact-of-faked-takes-on-the-white-sands-ufo/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:46:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Haunted TV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aliens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fact or faked]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ghosts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syfy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ufo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=1851</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Fact or Faked team returns tonight with the first of six new episodes where they try find out the secrets behind some very compelling video footage. First up is a famous UFO video from White Sands, New Mexico. In the video, which you see below, a saucer-shaped object speeds through the air, bounces off [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/NUP_146313_0200.jpg"><img src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/NUP_146313_0200-300x240.jpg" alt="" title="Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files" width="300" height="240" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1856" /></a><strong>The Fact or Faked</strong> team returns tonight with the first of six new episodes where they try find out the secrets behind some very compelling video footage.<br />
<P>First up is a famous <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1881852008?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393177&amp;creativeASIN=1881852008&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;qid=1318903948&amp;sr=8-1">UFO video from White Sands, New Mexico</a>. In the video, which you see below, a saucer-shaped object speeds through the air, bounces off the ground then rises up only to crash completely. <P><br />
The video was taken in 1996 and though many would like to believe it's an actual UFO, the more likely answer is that it's some kind of missile test from the White Sands military base. Tonight, the Fact or Faked team puts several theories to the test in an attempt to recreate the actual footage.</p>
<p><Center><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gPGXobJ-pYY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center></p>
<p><P><br />
In one attempt, they use a model flying saucer on a set of guide-wires then force it to bounce using gravity and a spring release. It's quite an elaborate set up and it's unlikely that an amateur could have faked the footage that way. Still, it's fun to watch, because it's similar to the method used to create the Jupiter II landing in Irwin Allen's <em>Lost in Space</em>. FBI agent Ben Hansen, journalist Jael and tech-specialist Devin are like little kids when it comes to rockets and blowing things up, so they have a great time working out the origins of this video, even though they had to be roasting in the desert sun.</p>
<p>The second half of the episode is devoted to a ghostly apparition captured at the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0874171334?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393177&amp;creativeASIN=0874171334&amp;ref_=sr_1_2&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1318905309&amp;sr=1-2">Tonopah Cemetery</a> in Nevada. At the turn of the century, <a href="http://www.tonopahnevada.com/about.html">Tonopah</a> was a prosperous mining town. They even had a luxury hotel with baths, steam heat and elevators. But in 1911, tragedy struck. A small fire broke out at the bottom of a mine shaft and 17 men were killed from either breathing the toxic fumes or falling to their deaths when they tried to escape. The victims were all buried in a lonely little cemetery which is said to be haunted by the spirit of man who died trying to rescue others.</p>
<p>The video in this case, is a moving figure caught on a full spectrum camera by a ghost hunting crew. The figure pops up from behind a tomb, moves a few yards then vanishes. At the same time, there is a growing glow at the far end of the frame, which corresponds with the site of a nearby highway. </p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tbedYU-oAjU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<P>Lead scientist Bill Murphy, joins stunt expert Austin Porter and photographer Lanisha Cole as they attempt to recreate the footage on a dark and spooky night. They start with the most likely scenario, that of another person walking around in the dark, then proceed to a hypothesis that requires a convoy of emergency vehicles with full-on lights and sirens.<br />
<P>Both cases are fascinating both from a historical and paranormal perspective but are the accompanying videos fact or fakes? Find out when you tune in to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TL2VUS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=B004TL2VUS"><strong>Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files,</strong></a> tonight at 10:00 on Syfy.<br />
<P>FACT OR FAKED: PARANORMAL FILES -- "Humble, Texas" --  Pictured: (l-r) Devin Marble, Lanisha, Bill Murphy -- Photo by: Kim  Christensen/Syfy. © NBCUniversal, Inc.</p>
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		<title>Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season DVD</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/12/chuck-the-complete-fourth-season-dvd/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/10/12/chuck-the-complete-fourth-season-dvd/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:33:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drama & Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=1831</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On October 21, Chuck returns to television for one last hurrah. This, the show's fifth season will be the show's last and this time the Save Our Show campaigns won't help. Before the season begins, catch up on anything you missed with Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season, now on DVD and Blu-Ray. It was a [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chuck-dvd.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1834" title="chuck dvd" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chuck-dvd-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>On October 21, <strong>Chuck</strong> returns to television for one last hurrah. This, the show's fifth season will be the <a href="http://tv.ign.com/articles/116/1168153p1.html">show's last</a> and this time the Save Our Show campaigns won't help.</p>
<p>Before the season begins, catch up on anything you missed with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003R0MF5I?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B003R0MF5I&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;qid=1318442731&amp;sr=8-1">Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season, now on DVD </a>and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003R0MF5S?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B003R0MF5S&amp;ref_=tmm_blu_title_0&amp;qid=1318442731&amp;sr=8-1">Blu-Ray</a>. It was a big season for the head of the Nerd Herd. Not only did he have to work extra hard to keep his spy life from leaking into his normal life, but he also had the added pressure of being head-over-heels in love! As the wedding bells start to chime for Sarah and Chuck (<a title="Round and Round with Zachary Levi and Joel David Moore" href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2008/01/29/round-and-round-with-zachary-levi-and-joel-david-moore/">Zachary Levi</a>), Chuck's missing mother surfaces (Linda Hamilton), and vicious arms deal Alexi (Timothy Dalton) throws everyone for a loop.</p>
<p>There's plenty of action and even more laughs as Chuck's pals at the Buy More get into the spy biz, whether they're aware of it or not.</p>
<p>The DVD includes all 24 hour-long episodes from "Chuck Versus the Anniversary" to "Chuck Verses the Cliffhanger." There's also a mildly amusing gag reel and the usual Declassified (aka Missing) scenes.</p>
<p>Also included is the webseries "The Chronicles of Jeff and Lester's Quest for an Elusive Video Game" and Blu-ray owners will have access to "The Top Secret Chuckapedia Interactive Experience." Say that five times fast.</p>
<p>If you want to learn more about how TV shows are made, check out the featurette, "Chuck Versus Directing." Here, the cameras follow Zachary Levi as he steps behind the big cameras to direct an episode.The featurette spends a lot of time with Zach's support team and at times it gets too elementary. Still, it's nice to see what goes on behind the scenes of this hard-working, but warm and friendly set.</p>
<p>Chuck's pal Morgan, Joshua Gomez, gets his own featurette this time around and it's beyond wacky. It's called "Operation Gomez: Spying on the Cast" and it's all about how the actor is using his new on-screen spy skills, to protect his castmates in real life.</p>
<p>If you've never seen <strong>Chuck</strong> before, you can start with this season on DVD but you'll probably end up pretty confused. Then again, this season has some great guest stars such as Steve Austin, Lou Ferigno, Robert Englund, Summer Glau and of course, Linda Hamilton. And hey, if you can't follow the story, the action and laughs will sustain you.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003R0MF5I?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B003R0MF5I&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;qid=1318442731&amp;sr=8-1">Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season is available now on DVD</a> and<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003R0MF5S?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cynthiaboris&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;camp=213733&amp;creative=393185&amp;creativeASIN=B003R0MF5S&amp;ref_=tmm_blu_title_0&amp;qid=1318442731&amp;sr=8-1"> Blu-ray</a>. Remember that <a href="http://www.nbc.com/chuck/">Chuck moves to Friday's </a>at 8:00 for its final season and that begins on October 28 on NBC.</p>
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		<title>Alphas: Not so Super Heroes Makes for a Fun New Syfy Show</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/07/09/alphas-only-slightly-super-heroes/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/07/09/alphas-only-slightly-super-heroes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:44:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[alphas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syfy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=1746</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ordinary people with extraordinary powers come together in the name of truth, justice and the American way. Could be Heroes, could be X-Men, could be the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. But Syfy's new series Alphas is more like The Champions and since most of you have never seen that show, this will be new ground [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/NUP_141340_0216.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1749" title="Alphas" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/NUP_141340_0216-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>Ordinary people with extraordinary powers come together in the name of truth, justice and the American way. Could be <em>Heroes,</em> could be <em>X-Men</em>, could be the <em>Mighty Morphin Power Rangers</em>. But Syfy's new series <a href="http://www.syfy.com/alphasseries/">Alphas </a>is more like <a href="http://thechampionsfan.homestead.com/">The Champions </a>and since most of you have never seen that show, this will be new ground for you.</p>
<p>The series stars David Strathairn as Dr. Lee Rosen, a neurophysiologist / therapist / boss who oversees a group of crime solvers called "Alphas." Each member of the team has a special power that they've kept hidden from the world and no one in their everyday life knows what they really do with their time each day. What makes the series unique is that the powers aren't really "super." They're actually more like what you see on <em>Fringe,</em> mutated version of explainable abilities. No one flies, runs faster than a speeding bullet or lifts a bus with one hand.</p>
<p>Bill Harken's (Malik Yoba) skill comes from an over-active fight or flight reflex. When he gets stressed, this former FBI agent has the strength of ten men (but I don't think he can lift a bus.) The downside is that the bursts of energy take their toll on him physically and he has anger management problems which keep him from working effectively with the team.</p>
<p>The other man on the outs is Gary Bell (Ryan Cartwright of <em>Bones</em>). He is a high-functioning teenage autistic who sees electromagnetic frequencies. That means he can visualize radio, TV and cell signals. From his point of view, he's constantly sorting through the data that streams past his eyes. To the rest of the world, he's an anti-social misfit with finger ticks and no focus.</p>
<p>Nina Theroux (Laura Mennell) has the ability to make people think what she wants them to think as long as she can look them in the eyes.  Rachel Pirzad (Azita Ghanizada) can heighten any one of her senses but only at the expense of another.</p>
<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/NUP_141342_0256.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1750" title="Alphas" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/NUP_141342_0256-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a>In the pilot episode, the group is tasked with solving a locked room murder. The victim: an informant in police custody. The killer: Cameron Hicks, a grocery clerk who just might be an Alpha. Warren Christie (Luther from the "Dead Man's Blood" episode of <em>Supernatural </em>and Greggy from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/In-This-Home-On-Ice/dp/B003YDR2WY/"><em>Happy Town</em></a>) plays Hicks. His skill is the ability to coordinate his mind and body to a point where he has perfect aim. So perfect, he can throw coins into a soda machine from across the room. The downside for Hicks is that he freezes under pressure, oh and he also can't remember assassinating anyone.</p>
<p>Alphas strays from the normal super hero formula mostly because there are no super villains. At least, not in the pilot. It's more like <em>Bones</em> with a <em>Fringe</em> twist than <em>Smallville. </em>The characters, even at their worst, are extremely likeable. Ryan Cartwright steals every scene he's in with his patience-sapping portrayal of autistic Bell and Christie is. . . well. . he's hunky, so there's that. For the male viewer, imagine sexy Nina making you do everything she wants simply by whispering the words.</p>
<p>Alphas is funny, endearing and action-packed. It's just the right thing to cap off a night of light, scifi fun which includes all new episodes of Eureka and Warehouse 13.</p>
<p>It all begins this Monday, July 11 on Syfy.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>The Manchurian Candidate on Blu-Ray</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/06/19/the-manchurian-candidate-on-blu-ray/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/06/19/the-manchurian-candidate-on-blu-ray/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:04:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=1726</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When it comes to political thrillers, The Manchurian Candidate is as solid and tense as it gets. The 1962 film stars Frank Sinatra as a Korean war vet who is troubled by a nightmare in which he and his fellow soldiers are brainwashed by the Koreans. (Including the always marvelous Khigh Dhiegh.) Afraid that his [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/manchurian-candidate-blu-ray.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1729" title="manchurian candidate blu-ray" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/manchurian-candidate-blu-ray-234x300.jpg" alt="" width="234" height="300" /></a>When it comes to political thrillers, <strong>The Manchurian Candidate </strong>is as solid and tense as it gets. The 1962 film stars Frank Sinatra as a Korean war vet who is troubled by a nightmare in which he and his fellow soldiers are brainwashed by the Koreans. (Including the always marvelous Khigh Dhiegh.) Afraid that his nightmares might actually be memories, he digs a little deeper and finds that his pal Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is behaving strangely and that leads him to an assassination plot and a very unlikely puppet master.</p>
<p>At the time of the filming, Frank Sinatra was close friends with President John F. Kennedy and it was Kennedy's enthusiasm for the project that convinced him to take on the roll. The relationship between the two men was fodder for<a href="http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/manchurian.asp"> rumors that Sinatra pulled The Manchurian Candidate</a> off the shelves in response to Kennedy's assassination because of the similarities between the movie and the actual events. Other reports say that the movie's disappearing act was purely coincidental, but there's no denying that much of what is in the movie fits the<a title="Cover-Ups and Conspiracies: Big and Small" href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/02/14/cover-ups-and-conspiracies-big-and-small/"> conspiracy theories </a>that popped up after Kennedy's death.</p>
<p>As for this new Blu-ray release, it's good news and bad news. The good news is that the film transfer is excellent. This is a black and white movie, very dark (both literally and figuratively) and this new transfer is sharp with the blackest of blacks. There's also an updated audio track, but since this isn't a "bam" "pow" action movie, there isn't much point.</p>
<p>The Blu-ray comes with a short list of features, but as far as I can see, they've all been brought over from the earlier DVD of the film. The commentary by John Frankenheimer is worth listening to. There's also a 1988 interview with Frank Sinatra, George Axelrod and John Frankenheimer which gives you insight into how the film came about. The quality is poor but it's a piece of history, so it's good to have.</p>
<p>There are also a few features that look like they were made specifically for the DVD release, two with Angela Lansbury where she talks about her work on the movie and specifically about a particular moment which I don't want to spoil. Also included is a short interview with William Friedkin giving his thoughts on the film. You'll also find the theatrical trailer, but for such a classic movie, it's a shame there isn't more.</p>
<p>The most perplexing thing about this Blu-ray release is the lack of a navigational opening screen. When you put in the disc, it begins playing the movie and you have to use the pop-up menu to access the special features. Why? If there were no special features, I can see rolling right into the film, but it's annoying to see the movie playing while you're searching for settings or the proper featurette.</p>
<p>The bottom line is, if you own this movie on DVD, don't bother with this upgrade unless you can get a really great deal on it. If you've never seen the movie, then go ahead and pick it up. It retails for $44.95, but you can get it for <a href="http://t.co/DBvGMeC ">under $15.00 on Amazon. </a></p>
<p>One word of warning, don't plan on reading, texting or surfing the web while you watch. <a href="http://t.co/DBvGMe"><strong>The Manchurian Candidate </strong></a>is full of tricky twists and intentionally confusing imagery, so be sure to give it your complete attention. And while you're waiting for the movie to arrive, why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>The Monsters of Supernatural&#8217;s Second Season</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/06/07/the-monsters-of-supernaturals-second-season/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/06/07/the-monsters-of-supernaturals-second-season/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:15:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Haunted TV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supernatural]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tvoftheabsurd.com/?p=1707</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In Season Two of Supernatural, Sam and Dean Winchester faced off against a whole slew of ghosts, ghoulies and things that went bump in the night! We got our first good look at the deals demons make ("Crossroad Blues") and another shapeshifter made life miserable for Dean ("Nightshifter"). Sam had his heart torn out, almost [...]]]></description>
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				<img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftvoftheabsurd.com%2F2011%2F06%2F07%2Fthe-monsters-of-supernaturals-second-season%2F&amp;style=normal&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br />
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/f4c5689f4f_Supernatural_2Bluray.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1710" title="f4c5689f4f_Supernatural_2Bluray" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/f4c5689f4f_Supernatural_2Bluray-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>In Season Two of <em><strong>Supernatural</strong></em>, Sam and Dean Winchester faced off against a whole slew of ghosts, ghoulies and things that went bump in the night! We got our first good look at the deals demons make ("Crossroad Blues") and another shapeshifter made life miserable for Dean ("Nightshifter"). Sam had his heart torn out, almost literally, by a wolf in pretty lady clothing ("Heart") and A tattooed djinn gave Dean a taste of the life he would have led if mom hadn't burned on the ceiling ("What Is and What Should Never Be").</p>
<p>Personally, my favorite monsters from Season Two were the old fashioned ghosts that wrecked havoc in a variety of ways. In "Playthings," the ghost of a little girl haunts an old hotel in order to keep her little friend from moving away. In "The Usual Suspects," the ghost is trying to do good by helping the police catch the man who murdered her, and in "Roadkill," two ghosts play a cat and mouse game with Sam and Dean in the middle. The best ghost story is "Folsom Prison Blues." Here, the nasty ghost of a nasty nurse finds easy prey behind the locked cell doors. Dean almost becomes a casualty himself until he manages to get to the salt shaker on his lunch tray which he uses to drive Nurse Ratched away.</p>
<p>If you ever come face-to-face with a ghost, take a few tips from the Winchesters. First, try to find out who it is and why they're there. If the ghost turns violent, salt and iron are both good temporary deterrents, but if you want to stop the phantom menace for good, you've got to find, then salt and burn the bones. Which, I'm pretty sure, is illegal in most states.</p>
<p>Want to relive Season Two of <em>Supernatural </em>in glorious Blu-ray? Now you can. The new boxset comes out on June 14. <strong><em>Order your copy of Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray here today: </em><a href="http://bit.ly/k3Lbpz">http://bit.ly/k3Lbpz</a> !</strong></p>
<p>Trivia: Did you know that Ronald in "Nightshifter" was originally written as a darker, survivalist guy? Listen in as Ben Edlund talks about how Chris Gautier brought a sweet side to the Mandroid man.</p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uph1xJvwmIs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Disclaimer: <em>I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray, but I would have done it anyway because I'm a big fan!<br />
</em></p>
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		<title>The Terminator Blu-Ray Book Edition [Review]</title>
		<link>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/06/06/the-terminator-blu-ray-book-edition-review/</link>
		<comments>http://tvoftheabsurd.com/2011/06/06/the-terminator-blu-ray-book-edition-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:06:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cynthia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[When James Cameron and his crew set out to make The Terminator in the early 1980's, I'm sure they hoped it would be a success, but they probably never imagined it would become a blockbuster franchise and an American movie icon. And though most people can quote a line from the movies or ID Arnold [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/terminator-blu-ray-book.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1702" title="terminator-blu-ray-book" src="http://tvoftheabsurd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/terminator-blu-ray-book-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>When James Cameron and his crew set out to make <a href="http://amzn.to/mDMftK">The Terminator </a>in the early 1980's, I'm sure they hoped it would be a success, but they probably never imagined it would become a blockbuster franchise and an American movie icon. And though most people can quote a line from the movies or ID Arnold Schwarzenegger in a TV parody, I'd bet that less than half of those people have actually seen the original movie and that's a shame.</p>
<p>On the upside, <em>The Terminator </em>is the one that set up the premise, and thus is required viewing in my book. As Sarah Connor, Linda Hamilton is average in T1 and I mean that in a good way. You feel for her because you understand her. She's not the buffed out, gun-toting mama we see later on, she's a normal, hard-working single girl who gets pulled into a nightmare through no fault of her own.</p>
<p>The action sequences are gripping and the final battle with the skeletonized Terminator still holds up today.  Schwarzenegger, who is the bad guy in the first outing, is dull and cold and just mechanical enough to believe he's not human. A formidable force, he takes licking after licking and keeps on kicking.</p>
<p>The downside of T1 is the 80's. The hair, the clothes, the styling of the film, it's very distracting in spots and really dates the movie in a bad way. Luckily, Cameron insisted on using a thrumming, techno score instead of going with popular music of the era. A score that is so intentionally grating, it adds to the tension you feel as you watch the film.</p>
<p>The other downside is the film's structure. It slows down considerably in the middle and the dialogue isn't as snappy and clever as it is in T2.</p>
<p>Turning to this new (May 10, 2011) release of The Terminator on Blu-Ray, it's all about the packaging. Instead of a traditional plastic DVD case, the disc is housed in a pocket in the back of a small, hardbound book. In 24 pages, they give you a short history of how the movie came to be, single page bios on the leads and Terminator trivia. There are a few behind-the-scenes photos, but mostly the photos are shots from the film.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, MGM made no effort to clean up the picture on this film and it's not worthy of being called Blu-ray. The quality is much better than the direct from VHS retrospective that's included, but nowhere near as good as it deserves to be. On the other hand, the sound is insane. We have a simple dual speaker set up and were blown away by the depth of the effects sounds on the uncompressed PCM 5.1 setting. The dialogue suffers some and was better at the regular 5.1 setting but it was fun to feel the ottoman shake when the heavy machinery rolled by Reese and his pals.</p>
<p>The special features are the same ones from previous releases. 7 Deleted Scenes, "Creating The Terminator: Visual Effects &amp; Music" and "Terminator: A Retrospective." All great features if you haven't seen them.</p>
<p>Bottom line is, if you already own the movie, don't bother upgrading. But, if you're giving the movie as a gift (Father's Day!) to someone who doesn't have it on Blu-ray, the book packaging is nice bonus.</p>
<p>You can pick up <a href="http://amzn.to/mMWSia">The Terminator: Blu-Ray Book Edition on Amazon</a> for around $20.00.</p>
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