THE PLOT THUS FAR

Caillou Learns Patience- Rushing the Raspberry: Caillou realizes good things are worth waiting for when he decides to help Mommy grow a raspberry bush. Wait to Skate: When Daddy builds an ice rink in the backyard*Caillou comes to realize the importance of being patient. Caillou’s Hiccups: Caillou learns not to make a mountain out of a molehill when he gets a bad case of the hiccups! Caillou in the Garden -Caillou’s Camel Ride: After learning more about camels*Caillou overcomes his fear of this unusual animal. It’s Not Too Big For Me!: Caillou learns to recognize his limits after attempting to sled down the “Big Hill”. Caillou’s Flying Saucer: When Caillou thinks he’s seen a flying saucer in his yard he learns to look for evidence in an effort to prove – or disprove – his theory.-  Caillou the Snowman- Snowflakes: Caillou eagerly awaits the first snowfall of winter*and imagines himself building the biggest snowman in the world. Caillou Shoots! He Scores!: Caillou wants to play hockey with Billy and the other big kids*but he can’t keep up. Daddy tells him that if he keeps practicing he’ll be really good in no time. Tobogganing: Mommy can’t find Caillou’s toboggan for the playschool trip. Miss Martin tells him that a cardboard box slides just as well as a toboggan on snow. Once they get to the hill his bobsled box works just as well as all the other- kids’ sleds.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“Let’s Go Sledding” is the latest Caillou adventure. The little guy learns patience and to understand his limitations as a Charlie Brown looking kid. It’s kind of odd since the program wants to teach kids how to be better people, but it is constantly focusing on how fragile the title brat has turned out to be. I’m not sure if morbidity is something that your kids pick up on, otherwise you might have an interesting conversation at the end of this disc. Still, it’s worth checking out.

The DVD comes with coloring pages and activities as the special features. The A/V Quality is strong with a supportive transfer and a Dolby audio track. The Dolby track doesn’t get much back channel action outside of the few major crowd scenes. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to parents of young kids.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

THE PLOT THUS FAR

Matt Bomer excels again as charming con man Neal Caffrey in another engaging season of crime solving and high-stakes heists! Facing the uncertain future of his partnership with FBI Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), Neal sheds his tracking anklet and disappears into thin air. But the Feds aren’t done with him and Neal is hardly ready for retirement. Back in action, Neal ponders the future as Season Four delves deeper into the stunning secrets of his mysterious past. Packed with seduction, intrigue, and more of everything you love about TV’s sexiest show, White Collar will have you glued to the edge of your seat. Let the games begin!

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“White Collar” has turned into your typical USA show in its fourth season. It’s practically alien to any non-fans, while the material stays as self recycling and back patting than ever before. If you’ve been here since the pilot, then you’re in on the ground floor. However, I’m starting to tire of Neal a little bit. The feds keep bringing out Neal for the same crap every year and the plot is running thin. If this show had Mark Harmon and they targeted America’s seniors…I could see it lasting longer.

What I also like about this show is the theme of being torn between getting exactly what you want, albeit getting it illegally, and settling into a normal, legal, life. Neal Caffrey has always been a conman, and it is second nature to him to get what he wants by illegal means. When working for the FBI he has to fight this urge, but settling into a legal life also gives peace of mind. He doesn’t have to lie and run. He’s trying to tell himself that he just wants to escape the trappings of a normal dull life, but does he truly believe this? At least, experience seems to prove him wrong on many accounts.

The DVD comes with deleted scenes, commentary and a gag reel as the special features. The A/V Quality is strong with a supportive transfer and a Dolby audio track. The Dolby track kicks into 5.1 surround when it needs to, but most of the action is upfront. Still, I’d love to see an HD release of this show. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

THE PLOT THUS FAR

Journey to a thrilling ancient world in this epic new series about history’s bravest and most brutally fearsome warriors…VIKINGS. Ragnar, a would-be Viking chieftain, longs to fulfill his destiny as an explorer and conqueror, alongside his ambitious brother Rollo and loyal wife Lagertha. But as Ragnar leads daring raids in distant realms across the ocean, treacherous forces in his Norse homeland conspire against him. Faced with shocking betrayals and the temptations of a mysterious seductress, Ragnar must wage war on the battlefield — and within himself — to protect his freedom, family and life. Includes 9 episodes with extended and alternate scenes.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“Vikings” is a fairly realistic depiction on what Norse life was probably like at this timeline, the spectacular countryside with its majestic forests and rivers, and the depictions of the Vikings themselves. Savage, eager to loot and plunder, but nevertheless bound by a sort of code of honor. Their acts are savage and the chieftan seems more like a medieval Godfather who uses his power for his own personal gain and who is not above killing somebody on the spot if he is displeased with his actions. The storyline is fairly literate and not the usual mindless adventure that too many of these movies present to us, and the characters are convincingly drawn and likely motivated.

The sets are impressive and believable and the direction and framing of each scene is obviously set by a skilled hand. The characters are all interesting and likable and the acting is top notch. The only negative I could draw on was that there could have been a bit more action in the first episode but what action there was was very well done. My advice to you, just watch and enjoy it for what it is and don’t be out off by the history buffs.

The Blu-Ray comes with deleted scenes, commentary, featurettes and Blu-Ray interactive exclusives. I played around with the Armory featurette and that was fun. I couldn’t quite get the Discovery: Journeys of the Vikings to work for me. The 1080p transfer is superb, but the real winner is the glorious DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track. This might be the best Blu-Ray out there for a History Channel show. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

THE PLOT THUS FAR

Glee: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Season 4 of the exhilarating Emmy-winning series* finds Rachel and Kurt in New York City, Finn with a surprising new career, Will and Emma at a crossroads and Sue confronting a shocking situation! Meanwhile, tension mounts as the kids in New Directions head for Regionals, facing new challenges. Featuring exciting new cast members, electrifying musical numbers, and superstar guests like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson and Whoopi Goldberg, Glee remains TV’s most enthralling, most topically relevant show.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

Glee started off as a show where teacher Will Schuester tried to start the Glee Club, because of the nostalgia he had of being in a Glee Club when he was younger, so he enlists a load of different characters with colourful personalities and talent. Problem? They are low on the ‘high school social ladder’ deemed as losers, where obviously the jocks and cheerleaders are high up this ladder. Now in Highschool shows/movies this is fairly common, and for a high school musical TV show like Glee, this isn’t a huge surprise.

One of the strong aspects of the show is that we have Finn who is the captain and quarterback of McKinley High and he joins the Glee Club, and he has to balance that out with be captain of the football, and also be dad with his pregnant girlfriend Quinn. I state that this is a ‘strong aspect’ because Glee is a show that has comedy and drama. You have the pregnant girlfriend, characters who are gay, but remain in the closet due to fear of backlash, thus it is not completely ‘over the top’ buffoonery as I have heard people proclaim.

The problem is Glee is clogged with these relationships and they could have better use for other main characters. The Mercedes and Rachel Feud, on who gets the lead had become redundant, and instead of wasting time on some relationship, it could be use to add more to characters. Some characters have felt like recurring characters instead of main ones. Characters like Rory had no significance after one episode and this had led to its gradual downfall. The entire fourth season is made up of only that. So many people run in and off the show that you can’t keep up. Ryan Murphy left for FX to work on the show he cares about and it shows since Glee has jumped the shark.

The Blu-Ray comes with featurettes, deleted scenes and musical junk. As you expect, the DTS-HD 5.1 track is stunning. However, I saw a lot of shimmer and minor digital noise on the 1080p transfer. It’s not bad, but it did stand out to me. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!