DVD Pick of the Week - April 17, 2007
I'm going out on a limb this week, and I'm choosing a DVD set I haven't seen for my "Pick of the Week" (minor mix-up at the PR firm) -
Not Just The Best Of The Larry Sanders Show. Though this is a dreaded "best of" release (please, please continue with the series in seasons sets), there are tons of bonus materials on the release. Garry Shandling is joined by Peter Tolan for commentary on two episodes, with Todd Holland and Judd Apatow doing one episode a piece. There's a documentary about making the series, deleted and extended scenes, alternate takes, and interviews with Alec Baldwin, Ellen DeGeneres, David Duchovny, Tom Petty, Jerry Seinfeld, Sharon Stone, Jon Stewart, Carol Burnett, Penny Johnson, Wallace Langham, Scott Thompson, Janeane Garofalo, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Sarah Silverman, Jeremy Piven, Bob Odenkirk and Linda Doucett. Those special features join 23 episodes of the series on 4 discs. The only thing that would make this set better? Well, that would be the rest of the season 2 episodes. I've been told that Shandling was the one who wanted to do this big "best of" set instead of continuing with the season sets (season 1 came in in 2002!), but the fans really, really want the entire series released. Please Mr. Shandling, please give us season 2.
Paramount is also releasing a trio of long over-due sitcoms next week as well; second seasons of
Mork & Mindy,
Happy Days and
Laverne & Shirley. There aren't any bonus features on the set, and all three contain a warning that some of the music has been changed, but fans who have been dying to watch more episodes will likely pick these up. Hopefully it won't be another 3 years between seasons 2 and 3.
I'm also very interested in BCI's
Shadow Warriors DVD set, which actually just arrived at my door while I was typing this sentence. Here's a synopsis of the show:
"In 1651 during the Edo Period, the 11 year old Ietsuna becomes the fourth Shogun, leading his influential chief retainers to plot against each other to take the reins of power. The Hattori family, a clan of Iga Ninjas who were former vassals and protectors of the previous Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu have since fallen from grace. Their third generation ancestor, Hattori Hanzo (Sonny Chiba) is now working as the master at public bathhouse in Edo City. Fearing further political upheaval and instability, the Shogun's right hand man, Masayuki Hoshina once again calls upon the unique skills and services of Hattori Hanzo's Ninja Clan. During the day, they masquerade as ordinary citizens, but at night they ride forth as the "Kage No Gundan," the secret "Shadow Army" who opposes all those who dare to threaten the authority of the reigning Shogun."
Ninjas and Shogun warriors...oh yeah, bring it on! Just a warning though, this show is in Japanese with English subtitles, but that just means you don't get a cheesy English dub, which is good, right?
