Life

Blu-ray Review: ‘Born to Be Wild,’ ‘Frozen Planet’ Offer Fascinating Glimpses Into Natural World

BrianTT — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:13:56 -0400

CHICAGO – Blu-ray was made for nature documentaries like “Born to Be Wild” and “Frozen Planet,” both recently released on the HD format and on DVD. As “Chimpanzee” plays in theaters and “Frozen Planet” still holds places in some DVRs since its Discovery Channel airings, nature documentaries seem to be as big as they’ve ever been. Both of these are strong entries in the popular genre.

To be fair, they serve different purposes. “Born to Be Wild” is more for the little ones or the whole family with its G rating and sweet focus on the positive impact that we humans can have on the natural world. Where “Born to Be Wild” is a perfect entry for kids with short attention spans (the IMAX movie runs 41 minutes), “Frozen Planet” is for those looking for something a bit more dense and challenging (you could fit “Born” into its running time of nearly six hours almost nine times). Both use HD in that beautiful way that allows the technology to serve one of its most important functions — taking us on realistic journeys around the world that we couldn’t otherwise take. Nature fans should pick them both up.

Born to Be Wild was released on Blu-ray and DVD on April 27, 2012.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

“Born to Be Wild”

Blu-ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

Synopsis:
Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman narrates the documentary adventure Born To Be Wild, an inspired story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals. Born To Be Wild transports you into the lush rainforests of Borneo with world-renowned primatologist Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas, and across the rugged Kenyan savannah with celebrated elephant authority Dr. Dame Daphne M. Sheldrick, as they and their teams rescue, rehabilitate and return these incredible animals to the wild.

Special Features:
o Wonderfully Wild Webisodes: Borneo, Kenya, Camp Leakey, Coming Home to Tsavo, Wild Filmmaking, Caregivers

Frozen Planet was released on Blu-ray and DVD on April 27, 2012.
Photo credit: BBC Home Video

“Frozen Planet”

Blu-ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

Synopsis:
From the Emmy-winning team behind Planet Earth and The Blue Planet, this is the original 7-part BBC Series, Frozen Planet, narrated by world-renowned naturalist David Attenborough.

The Arctic and Antarctic remain the greatest wildernesses on Earth. The scale and beauty of the scenery and the sheer power of the elements are unmatched anywhere else on our planet. Using the latest camera technology, Frozen Planet captures unimaginable imagery above and below the ice, including previously unfilmed animal behavior, and follows the extraordinary fluctuations that accompany the changes of seasons. Frozen Planet paints a portrait that will take your breath away, at a moment when these otherworldly regions of our planet may soon be changed forever.

Special Features:
o Science At The End Of The Earth - A Look at Scientific Exploration At The South Pole
o Freeze Frame - Seven “Making Of” Featurettes, One At The End Of Each Episode
o Production Video Diaries - A Set of 47 Revelatory Video Shorts
o Frozen Planet: The Epic Journey - The Greatest Moments Of Frozen Planet
o Music Only Viewing Option

“Born to Be Wild” and “Frozen Planet” were released on Blu-ray and DVD on April 17, 2012.

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

TV Review: USA’s New ‘Fairly Legal’ Works Due to Charming Lead

BrianTT — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:29:39 -0500

CHICAGO – The second wacky legal show debut of the week (after NBC’s awful “Harry’s Law”) is the fairly good “Fairly Legal,” a show that works largely due to the incredible charm of its lead, Sarah Shahi (“Life”). Continuing the formula that has turned the USA network into one of the biggest TV success stories of the last decade, “Fairly Legal” is what critics like to call “promising.” It’s far-from-great but could get there with some work.

Television Rating: 3.5/5.0

The USA formula is simple — beautiful people playing quirky characters. Jeffrey Donovan (“Burn Notice”), Piper Perabo (“Covert Affairs”), Mary McCormack (“In Plain Sight”), Matthew Bomer (“White Collar”) — Sarah Shahi fits perfectly in the network’s line-up of genetically-blessed lead characters and she brings the same charisma and likability that she did to the sadly-underrated “Life.” She’s great and the main reason to check out “Fairly Legal.”

Sarah Shahi in Fairly Legal
Photo credit: USA

Shahi plays Kate Reed, a litigator who left the world of injustice behind to become a mediator. She works at the company founded by her father, who has recently passed at the beginning of the premiere. The company is now being run by her stepmother Lauren (Virginia Williams), a woman with a different worldview than Kate. She also butts heads (and other body parts) with her ex-husband/lawyer (Michael Trucco) while relying on her supportive assistant Leonardo (Baron Vaughn).

Fairly Legal
Photo credit: USA

The first episode features introductions to all these relationships along with a couple of cases for Sarah to mediate. It opens with a very-clever scene in which Sarah mediates a store robbery to a successful end for all sides. She can find a way to make everyone happy no matter the situation. In the premiere, she tries to come to terms with her stepmother’s management of the company while also mediating a couple of cases, including an unusual one involving a mysterious car accident.

The plot of the premiere feels a little bloated to pull it to an extended running time for the first episode. We get a lot of shots of Kate staring off into the distance and it feels like the pilot could have been tighter at a typical 44-minute length. Most of the best USA shows (“Royal Pains,” “Burn Notice”) are also some of the most well-paced on television. “Fairly Legal” doesn’t have that rhythm quite yet although it could develop it.

While Shahi is easily the best thing about the show, Williams, Trucco, and Vaughn are certainly not bad. They could develop into interesting supporting characters, something the program is going to need to work. “Burn Notice” is nothing without Sam and Fiona. “Royal Pains” needs a little Boris every now and then. “White Collar” doesn’t work without Mozzie. As much as the network has built their success around fascinating, gorgeous leads, the best programs are distinguished by their supporting casts and that’s another element that feels a bit underdeveloped in the premiere of “Fairly Legal.”

Ultimately, the pilot of “Fairly Legal” passes the only test that it needs to: I’ll watch it again next week. The most important element of a program like this one, especially on USA, is in place in Sarah Shahi’s performance. Only time will tell if the program around her can rise to her level.

‘Fairly Legal,’ which airs on USA, stars Sarah Shahi, Michael Trucco, Virginia Williams, and Baron Vaughn. The show premieres on January 20th, 2011 at 9PM CST.

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

Blu-Ray Review: BBC Earth’s ‘Life’ Miniseries Proves Impossible to Resist

mattmovieman — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:52:04 -0400

CHICAGO – No network or film company has ever come close to equaling the nature documentaries produced by BBC’s Natural History Unit. From 1979’s “Life on Earth” to 2001’s “The Blue Planet” and 2006’s “Planet Earth,” the BBC has electrified viewers worldwide with its stunning and often humbling images of life on our planet. This is the type of programming that Blu-Ray players were made for.

The network’s latest miniseries, simply titled “Life,” is unquestionably its most spectacular achievement yet, purely in terms of its visual brilliance. Though some longtime viewers may recognize various animal subjects and factual tidbits recycled from previous shows, the footage (shot over a three-year period) has a crystalline clarity that makes its predecessors look positively murky in comparison. It’s flat-out painful to view the gorgeous shots taken of the Great Barrier Reef, in light of the recent oil spill. “Life” doesn’t need to include any preachy messages because its images already speak multitudinous volumes.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

Each episode in the ten-part series focuses on the survival instincts that living things have acquired and evolved in order to adapt to their environment. While underwater, a blind star-nosed mole blows a bubble that it subsequently inhales in order to capture the scent of nearby prey. A male Vogelkop bowerbird attracts females by building an elaborate “bower,” complete with a lawn and various natural decorations. A young ibex outwits its predator by standing atop a rocky precipice that could only hold…well, an ibex. A school of sardines move together like a singular organism, proving there truly is strength in numbers. A giant bullfrog excavates a channel that allows his tadpoles to leave a crowded puddle and enter a main pool where they can flourish. It’s easy to see what attracted Walt Disney to exploring the human characteristics in animal life forms. When an elephant attempts to save her baby from getting stuck in the mud, she ends up pushing her in further, until the no-nonsense “grandma” elephant pushes her daughter aside, and allows the little tyke to get out herself.

Copper sharks feed on sardine shoals off South Africa in a scene from the BBC Earth series Life.
Photo credit: © Alexander Safonov

If there’s one major drawback to this Blu-Ray edition of “Life,” it’s the American narration by Oprah Winfrey (as presumably the voice of Mother Earth). The instant recognizability of her voice, coupled with its teacherly assurance, is a constant distraction. When a seal gathers her newborns for a swimming lesson, Oprah sings, “Time for school!” Is a British accent simply too difficult for an American audience to comprehend? The original narration was written and delivered by longtime BBC broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough (brother of Richard), whose voice has a gravitas and wisdom no celebrity guest can match (not even Morgan Freeman).

While the majority of the footage was filmed on location, some shots have been clearly staged by the filmmakers. How else could camera crews get up-close-and-personal with a strawberry poison dart frog the size of a fingernail, or capture footage of a Common Basilisk walking on water, from the POV of the water? Only one of the show’s staged shots is revealed and deconstructed in the special features. It comes near the beginning of my personal favorite episode (“Plants”), in which the entire growing season of a woodland is captured in a single continuous take. State-of-the-art high-speed cameras combined with masterful time-lapse photography allow these plants to pulsate with life like never before.

Life was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on June 1st, 2010.
Photo credit: BBC Earth

“Life” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 1.77:1 aspect ratio) and is accompanied by English, French and Spanish subtitles. The four-disc set includes all ten episodes (each averaging 43 minutes in length), as well as an additional episode functioning as a making-of featurette. It’s an out-and-out shame that Attenborough’s original narration isn’t offered as an alternate audio track, though viewers are provided the option of viewing the episodes without Winfrey’s narration (unfortunately, the intrusive score remains). However, Attenborough’s voice is heard loud and clear in the special features, which consist primarily of ten “Life on Location” featurettes that expand on the behind-the-scenes footage (these were also offered in the show’s initial Blu-Ray release). They provide uncommonly intimate portraits of nature documentarians at work, and are as unforgettable as the series itself. While capturing the first-ever filmed footage of Komodo dragons attacking a water buffalo, cameraman Kevin Flay finds himself torn between excitement for his achievement and primal empathy for the animal being slowly destroyed before his lens. There’s an equally touching moment where sea lions tug at the heartstrings of filmmakers who are waiting to watch them be eaten. Such is “Life.”

Among the eighteen minutes of deleted footage are sequences that were most likely cut in order to avoid terrorizing younger American viewers (this ain’t no “March of the Penguins”). Baby penguins are devoured by leopard seals, the eggs of a collared iguana are gulped by a snake and a school of sardines are wiped out by sailfish. The most visually breathtaking scene, by far, is the one involving a massive grouping of flamingoes that engage in a courtship march. There’s also brief segments on grass and wheat, but thankfully, not mold. “Planet Earth” fans will especially be interested in a promo for BBC’s next nature series, which inevitably tackles the topic of mankind. And no, it will not be a rip-off of “Babies.”

‘Life’ is released by BBC Earth and is narrated by Oprah Winfrey. It was produced by Martha Holmes and executive produced by Michael Gunton and Catherine McCarthy. It was released on June 1st, 2010. It is not rated.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
matt@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 Passes to First Episode of ‘Life’ From ‘Planet Earth’ Creators

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:15:20 -0400

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV, we have 10 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Challenges of Life,” which is the first episode of the new series “Life” on Discovery Channel! “Life,” which is narrated by Oprah Winfrey, comes from the creators of “Planet Earth”.

“Life” will air on Discovery Channel on Sundays at 7 p.m. from March 21 through April 18, 2010.

To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Challenges of Life” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question below. That’s it! This screening is on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago. Attendees at this screening get free popcorn and soda! Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

“Life” on Discovery Channel from the creators of “Planet Earth”.
Image credit: Discovery Channel

Here is the “Challenges of Life” plot description:

Kicking off “Life,” the episode “Challenges of Life” provides an overview of the extraordinary strategies our planet’s animals and plants have developed to stay alive as individuals and as species.

In Kenya, three cheetah brothers have invented a new way of hunting. Rather than tackling small prey on their own, they have learned that by joining forces they can bring down big game such as ostriches.

A pod of bottlenose dolphins in Florida has also made a breakthrough. To catch their fast-swimming prey, one dolphin creates a “mud ring” by beating its tail in the soft silt as it swims in a circle. As the mud mushrooms in the water, the ring gets smaller and fish become trapped. Panicking, they jump out of the water – right into the waiting dolphins’ mouths.

In Brazil, brown-tufted capuchin monkeys demonstrate an extraordinary level of skill when cracking open the palm nuts they love to eat. They pick the nuts, strip them of their husks and leave them to dry. After a few weeks, they transport them to a huge, anvil-like rock and smash them with a harder hammer stone. It can take eight years for a capuchin to perfect the complex art of nut smashing.

In every animal’s life there comes a time when its mind turns to breeding. The stalk-eyed fly has a mind-boggling technique. It sucks in air bubbles and blows them through its head to push its eyes out… on stalks! These are vital for winning females because males with the widest eye span get the most attention.

The “Life” trailer can be watched now below.

To secure your free tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required. Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this question:

If you could have any skill for surviving in the wild, what would it be?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 10 admit-two passes randomly via e-mail for our “Challenges of Life” Hookup. Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

NBC Shakes Up Schedule With Six New Scripted Series

BrianTT — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:36:01 -0400

CHICAGO – NBC held a special “in-front” announcement yesterday, two weeks in front of the standard upfront presentations and revealed six news series for the fall while leaving some beloved programs up in the air. On the bubble shows “Southland” and “Heroes” were renewed, but the jury is still out on “Chuck,” “Medium,” “Law & Order,” and “My Name is Earl”.

Of course, the focus of the peacock network in yesterday’s presentation was on “The Jay Leno Show,” which will air five nights a week in primetime, reducing time slots for new and returning programming. Consequently, if your favorite show doesn’t make it to the fall, blame Jay.

The NBC event did not unveil the actual complete schedule, just making a few announcements about new programming, so there are still a few question marks about some of its bubble shows but struggling “Southland,” “Heroes,” and “Parks and Recreation” did get the reprieve for the fall. They said they would decide soon on the other four.

Southland
Photo credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

With six new shows and half of the bubble programs already returning, along with five hours of programming gone to Leno, one has to wonder where all the shows will go. Don’t expect all four bubble shows to come back. Industry insiders are placing bets on “Chuck” and “Medium,” with the latter probably returning mid-season. Yes, this means that the original “Law & Order” may finally be done. However, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” has already been renewed.

Even though they touted six new shows, only three will premiere in the fall with the others serving both as mid-season replacements but also clearly as back-up in case “The Jay Leno Show” bombs.

Chuck
Photo credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

We did find out a bit about the schedule. “Heroes” stays put on Mondays with a new show between it and Leno. “The Biggest Loser” kicks off Tuesdays and could be two hours long or launch new programming in between. “SVU” is probably going to be on Wednesdays with another drama. Thursdays will stay largely unchanged unless a new comedy replaces the faltering “My Name is Earl”. Finally, two reality shows will precede Leno on Fridays. Woohoo.

“SVU” may have been renewed but the return of its stars is still in question with negotiations still ongoing with stars Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay. Marc Graboff, co-chariman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Music Studios said to the LA Times, “Our offer is on the table and we hope they accept it. The show’s coming back with or without them.”

Official NBC renewals include “Southland,” “Heroes,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Parks and Recreation,” “30 Rock,” “The Office,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” and “Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday,” which will return for six episodes.

Official NBC cancellations tragically include the underrated “Life”. Also gone are some of the more lackluster new shows of the last few years including “Lipstick Jungle,” “Kath & Kim,” “Knight Rider,” “Kings,” “My Own Worst Enemy,” and “Crusoe”.

Official descriptions of the new NBC programming, courtesy of Mediaweek:

Day One
Photo credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

DRAMA

“Mercy”
The daily events inside a hospital are seen through the eyes of three nurses. Taylor Schilling (Dark Matter), Jamie Lee Kirchner (Rescue Me) and Michelle Trachtenberg (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) star.

“Parenthood”
Based on the 1989 Ron Howard theatrical, four grown siblings share the “headaches, heartaches and joy” of being parents. Peter Krause, Maria Tierney and former Coach star Craig T. Nelson lead the ensemble cast. (Footnote: Parenthood, a failed half-hour comedic version of the movie aired briefly on NBC in the fall of 1990).

“Trauma”
First responder paramedics are the focus of this medical drama set in San Francisco. Derek Luke (Notorious), Cliff Curtis (10,000 B.C.), Anastasia Griffith (Damages) and Jamey Sheridan (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) star.

“Day One”
A diversified group of survivors strive to rebuild society after a global catastrophe has devastated the world. The cast includes Adam Campbell (Date Movie), Catherine Dent (The Shield), Julie Gonzalo (Eli Stone), Carly Pope (24) and Addison Timlin (Cashmere Mafia).

Community
Photo credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

COMEDY

“100 Questions”
A woman (Sophie Winkleman) looking for love joins an online dating site and revisits various times in her life as she takes a 100-question compatibility test. Directed by Emmy winner James Burroughs (Cheers, Will & Grace).

“Community”
A band of misfits is the focus of life at fictional Greendale Community College. Chevy Chase and Joel McHale (The Soup) star.

NON-SCRIPTED

“The Jay Leno Show”
The soon-to-be former host of The Tonight Show heads to prime-time in a nightly hour featuring comedy skits, big stunts and well-known segments like “Headlines” and “Jaywalking.”

“The Marriage Ref”
Comedy Legend Jerry Seinfeld is the creator and producer of this non-scripted look at marriage as celebrities, comedians and sports stars decide who is right…and who is wrong…in real-life disputes between real-life spouses.

“Breakthrough With Tony Robbins”
Best-selling author and philanthropist Tony Robbins attempts to inspire people to search out the tools to forever change their lives.

“Who Do You Think You Are?”
A different celebrity each week embarks on a journey of self discovery, revealing stories that are often linked to events in American history.

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