Tin Man (Miniseries)

DG is a waitress from a small town in Kansas. She lives with her parents. She tries hard, but she has trouble fitting in. She listens to her parents fantastic stories about another land. A freak storm blows up a tornado and events lead to DG and her mom and dad being separated in a strange land called the ‘Outer Zone’ or the OZ. DG recognizes the land from her father’s stories. DG must find her parents during her search she finds she has much more to do.

I overlooked this Syfy Miniseries when it came out because I thought it would be just another Wizard of OZ remake trying to upstage the original. What I have found is that this is its own movie. The story line is roughly based on the original Wizard of OZ but is very different and quite fun. It might not be the greatest movie for very small children but many of us big children really liked it.

Available On: Tv.com, Amazon, Netflix

Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough, Raoul Trujillo, Kathleen Robertson, Richard Dreyfuss

Magic Beyond Words, The J.K. Rowling Story

I finished this movie and turned to my spouse and said, “You should watch this movie!” I really enjoy the Harry Potter books and films and it does my heart good to see someone who had a rough go early on succeed. J.K. Rowling has gone beyond succeeding…you might even say her carreer has been magical. I wish I could thank her for the many pleasant hours spent with her works.

I don’t really know what J. K. Rowling’s life was like apart from what has been written and in video I have seen. If her life was like depicted in this film she is beyond extraordinary. This film is well done and though there are sad parts you can count on a happy ending.

Cast includes: Poppy Montgomery, Emily Holmes, Janet Kidder, Paul McGillion, Antonio Cupo

Available on: Netflix, Amazon

Counting Cars

This is a show for people who like nice cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Especially if you like seeing old vehicles resurrected and restored to better than new. This showcases the skill of the folks at Counting Cars in Las Vegas, NV. following their projects to a shiny, mechanically perfect completion and the problems they face getting projects finished. The show is also about the people involved as far as what they do and how they get along.

As with most of these type of shows the drama between people is often obviously planned, and usually overplayed. That is a turn off but putting up with that soap opera BS(means ‘bad stuff’ kids) is the price to pay for the wonderful vehicular art presented. I enjoy this show a lot.

Cast includes: Danny Koker aka. The Count,

Available on: Amazon, Netflix

American Pickers

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz travel all over America in their Mercedes Sprinter van looking for people with cool stuff they can look threw and pick out and purchase items they can sell and make money on. In the beginning they are based in Le Claire, Iowa at a shop called Antique Archeology, and later at a second location in Nashville, Tennessee. Frank Fritz has his own place in Savanna, Illinois called Frank Fritz Finds. In later episodes they switch to a Ford Transit van.

It is fun to watch these folks digging through stuff and coming up with treasures. A lot of the stuff looks like junk but I get surprised when they say what the value actually is. Maybe my spouse will let me collect more junk now! Maybe if I get her off of ‘Hoarders‘ first…hmmm…

Cast includes: Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, Danielle Colby-Cushman, Lauren Wray, Robbie Wolfe, Dave Ohrt

Available on: Amazon, Yidio, Google Play, Netflix

American Restoration (TV Series)

From the History Channel.

American Restoration is the daily operation of Rick’s Restorations in Los Vegas, Nevada. Rick’s Restorations restores all manner of antiques and collectibles. The variety of items that come through the shop is amazing. The techniques used to restore items is both entertaining and informative. There are even short ‘how to’ segments done by Rick explaining the best methods to use to accomplish desired results.

American Restoration, Counting Cars, Pawn Stars, and American Pickers are all offered by the History channel and cast members often have cameos on other shows. I can’t stand an excess of profanity and unrealistic emotional outbursts in reality shows and this show has achieved a balance of those that allows me to enjoy the program. I enjoy this show.

Cast Includes: Rick Dale, Tyler Dale, Kowboy, Brettly Otterman, Kyle Astorga, Ted Hague, Ron Dale, Kelly Mayer, Rick Harrison, Austin ‘Chumlee’ Russell, Danny Koker, Corey Harrison, Bob Yuhas, Chris Matthews, Horny Mike, Niko, 

Available on: Amazon, Google Play, Yidio, Netflix

Psycho-Pass – Season 1

The show fallows Akane Tsunemori, a new inspector of Unit One. Tsunemori hunts criminal with other criminals called Enforcers. Enforcers are given special guns called Dominators designed to only kill people with a high Crime Coefficient. On Tsunemori’s first day she shoots Kogami, a talent criminal. She is accompanied by Ginoza, her superior who looks down on Enforcers, and Masaoka (previous detective) and Karari (Enforcer). She is assigned to be Kogami’s handler for missions. The main antagonist is a criminal named Makishima, who’s psychology yields a low crime coefficent, which them from shooting him with the Dominators.

I was unsure if I was going to like this series since I’m not used to detective anime shows, but it was good. I think Kogami and Makishima were my favorite characters in the show. But after the first couple episodes I really got into it. I’m really looking forward to seeing the next season.

Available On: Netflix.

Futurama

Fry is a pizza delivery boy. Moments before the year 2000, Fry is frozen in time for the next 1000 years.  In the year 3000, he refuses to return to being a delivery boy, and meets a new friend named Bender by accidentally stepping into a suicide booth. They both live and decide to mooch off of his living distant nephew, Dr. Farnsworth, incidentally Dr. Farnsworth is looking for a delivery team for Planet Express. Leela the career assignment officer decides to abandon her job, and joins Fry and Bender on the Planet Express team. Fry meets Dr. Zoidberg the Planet Express doctor who is an lobster-like alien, and Amy Wong a rich engineering student at Mars University. The main plot revolves around the Planet Express company and it’s employees and the central group (Fry, Leela, and Bender).

Voice Actors: Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, and David Herman.

WE LOVED THIS SERIES! Mostly me though. I was so thrilled when I saw the ending, which is a real tearjerker and an utter surprise at that. Even though this show had lots of crudeness it was maybe one of the best endings to a TV series that I’ve ever seen. I was very pleased that it didn’t end on a cliff hanger.

Available on: Netflix, Google Play, and Amazon.

House (TV Series)

Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) an unconventional doctor with amazing skills at a fictional hospital (Princeton Plainsboro) in New Jersey. He works as the head of Diagnostic Medicine with his team working on the most puzzling cases, . He deals with constant pain from muscle damage by popping pain relievers. His physical disability causes him to be depressed and moody, as a result Dr. House is not exactly a ‘people person’, quite the contrary, he is frequently quite offensive to people around him but his medical brilliance and dedication tend to overshadow his rudeness.

I love watching House even if it’s the reruns, but I think it might be an acquired taste for many. The cases they face can be quite amazing! I was surprised how good Hugh’s American accent was, since he is British, it was spot on.

Cast includes: Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, Peter Jacobson, Kal Penn, Olivia Wilde, Amber Tamblyn, Odette Annable, Charlyne Yi

Available on: Netflix, Google Play, Amazon

Crossing Jordan (TV Series)

Jordan Cavanaugh is the only child of a widowed and retired ex-cop. She is a forensic pathologist who can’t help getting involved in the cases of the deceased victims she sees in front of her everyday. She is a rule breaker when it is necessary, and is very direct when dealing with people. Dr. Jordan works in the Boston morgue with a crew of unique individuals who are all great at what they do.

I don’t have the foggiest idea how I missed this show when it first aired. Crossing Jordan is a forensic procedural drama. It is well acted, and well written. It is fun to watch.

Cast includes: Jill Hennessy, Miguel Ferrer, Ravi Kapoor, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Valentine, Jerry O’Connell

Available on: Netflix, TV.com, TV Muse

Longmire (TV Series)

Walt Longmire(Robert Taylor) is the sherrif of the fictional Absaroka County in the state of Wyoming. He leads his office against the criminal element in his area. Walt is a widower but has one grown daughter. With only four police officers available the Sherrif’s office personnel are in high demand even though it is a rural area. With big ranches,indian reservations, and industry nearby racial, and environmental tensions cause problems too.

The Longmire TV series is based on the book series called The Walt Longmire Mysteries written by best selling author Craig Johnson. The show obviously has a old west feel with all the western trappings such as horses, cowboy boots, and cowboy hats. The main character even reminds me a bit of Matt Dillon(James Arness). As a matter of fact the show is a lot like Gunsmoke just adding in a few modern conveniences and production advances. I like it.

Cast includes: Robert Taylor, Katee Sackhoff, Bailey Chase, Adam Bartley, Cassidy Freeman, Lou Diamond Phillips

Available on: Google Play, Amazon, Netflix