What to Watch: Sept. 3-9, 2013

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Revolution
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

“Revolution: Season One”

NBC’s “Revolution” was one of the most divisive shows of 2013, a program that started like a rocket, looking like it could be NBC’s first long-term hit in years, but then started to fade. I heard from people every week on my radio show that they had given up on it due to slow plotting, bad dialogue, or disappointing characters. And yet it kept enough of its audience to get a second season. Can it rekindle some of that magic of a year ago? I think the cast and creative team are strong enough that it could and this hit-and-miss first outing could just be growing pains. You may want to catch up before the rocket takes off again.

From my season one premiere review: “ Could it all turn into melodramatic hokum? Certainly. But with this charismatic of a cast, this engaging of a premise, and this talented a production team, I’m pretty confident that people will be talking about “Revolution” well into next year.”

Special Features:
o Revolution Cast And Creative Team At The 2013 PaleyFest
o An In-Depth Look At The Revolution Pilot
o Creating A Revolution: A Look At Revolution’s Breathtaking Landscapes Through The Eyes Of The Visionary Artists Who Created Them
o 5 Webisodes
o Gag Reel
o Deleted Scenes

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, iTunes, Amazon Instant, Netflix

The Vampire Diaries
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

“The Vampire Diaries: Season Four”

Warner Bros. pulls out all the stops for a show that I never got behind — and I’ve tried a few times (and, for the record, find what I’ve seen of the spin-off, “The Originals,” more engaging). This is a case where even though I’m not a big fan of the program, I’m happy that fans of the show are being treated well with a robust Blu-ray set that includes excellent HD transfers and interesting bonus material. You even get Ultraviolet copies of the entire season so you can watch it on the go. WB understand their audience, giving them numerous options for viewing and treating the ones willing to spend the most on a Blu-ray box set the best of all.

Special Features:
o Inking the Brotherhood: The Hunter’s Mark
o Creating Silas’s Island
o Blood, Boys and Bad Behavior: Becoming a Vampire
o The Evolution of Elena Gilbert
o The Vampire Diaries: The Ultimate Prop Master
o The Impact of a Single Show: The Vampire Diaries — Fan Video
o Second Bite: Gag Reel
o Unaired Scenes
o Fan Gallery: Fan Created Artwork

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, Vudu, iTunes, Amazon Instant

The Lords of Salem
Photo credit: Lionsgate

“The Lords of Salem”

Oh, Rob Zombie, you crazy bastard, you. Zombie may be the most talented director who has never made a good movie. I hate what he did to the “Halloween” franchise in ways that make my skin crawl. And yet “Lords of Salem” makes clear that the man has some visual talent. His take on a Ken Russell-esque tale of possession in the legendary Salem has some great imagery but he’s just not there as a writer and he’s got to stop casting his wife in major roles. She plays the lead here with all the charisma of an Old Navy cashier.

Special Features:
o Audio Commentary With Writer/Producer/Director Rob Zombie

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, Vudu, iTunes, Amazon Instant

Bad Milo!
Photo credit: Lionsgate

“Bad Milo!

This week’s still-in-theaters entry in What to Watch (we’re going to include at least one every week) is something that’s likely to catch your attention if you’re flipping through new releases in Vudu or iTunes. Wait, is that movie about a demon that lives in Ken Marino’s ass? I’d watch that. And Gillian Jacobs and Stephen Root are in it too? Awesome. Hold up, dear readers. While the concept of stress manifesting itself to the point that a demon climbs out of your ass and kills your enemies is one with which I can relate, “Bad Milo!” is a one-joke movie and it’s not a very well-told joke. Don’t bother.

Where to Watch: On Demand, Vudu, iTunes, Amazon Instant

The Office
Photo credit: Universal

“The Office: Season Nine”

I used to love “The Office” but, like most people, I gave up on the show ever returning to its glory about halfway through the eighth season, when two things were clear — Steve Carell did more writing than we ever knew & the people he left behind had no idea how to creatively replace him. While I’m way down on this ineffective final season of a once-great show, Universal does know how to treat their fans well, offering well-transferred, bonus-packed sets. Now your “Office” collection can be complete.

Special Features:
o Behind The Scenes Panel Discussion
o Never Before Seen Audition Tapes
o Over 2 Hours Of Deleted Scenes
o Finale Table Read
o Blooper Reel
o Cast Farewells

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, iTunes, Amazon Instant, Hulu

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com