There was an unusual rise of Christian based television shows in the mid to late eighties, and my absolute favorite as a child was “Highway to Heaven.” I already was a huge fan of Michael Landon in “Little House on a Prairie,” so as a young boy I tuned right in to see Landon team up with old co-star Victor French in what was one of the best hours of television during my youth. Even as an atheist, “Highway to Heaven” can be appreciated for being an interesting and entertaining drama as Landon plays the enigmatic Jonathan Smith.
Category Archives: Collector’s Den
The Carol Burnett Show: Christmas with Carol (DVD)
The “Christmas with Carol” DVD from Time Life isn’t much of a visit to the show’s best comedy offerings, as it’s mainly a singing and dancing compilation, but it definitely puts on display why Carol Burnett is such a wonderful comedian with a humongous fan base. This compilation of two “Carol Burnett Show” Christmas specials, along with chosen holiday segments in the extras features really isn’t based around the comedy of the show, so much as the whimsy. Carol Burnett has a love for Christmas, and doesn’t partake in the classic segment comedy, but fills her two episodes with musical numbers and sweet comedy skits.
Merry Christmas, Splat…And More Winter Stories (DVD)
It’s very interesting how the “Merry Christmas, Splat” winter tales compilation clocks in at under forty minutes, but really provides a good time. It’s four very entertaining and somewhat calming children’s tales, all of which inspire wonder, excitement, and really celebrate both winter, and Christmas.
Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) [Blu-Ray]
Producer: Larry I love your script.
Larry Cohen: Thank you!
Producer: I mean, Aztec Cults, ritual murders, a crime investigation, it’s wonderful.
Larry Cohen: I also have David Carradine and Richard Roundtree in mind to star.
Producer: Excellent. Just throw in a large monster for no reason and we’ll make your movie!
Larry Cohen: Great! I’ll… wait–what?
Producer: There has to be a large monster wreaking havoc. “King Kong” is still big after all. And make it look like a featherless chicken. That’s the ticket!
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) (Extended Edition) (Blu-ray/UltraViolet)
For a movie with the subtitle “An Unexpected Journey,” Bilbo Baggins really does get a huge notice ahead of time. In fact he has enough notice to run away from his home and let the dwarves wait at his door step. Director Peter Jackson really has his work cut out for him, as he has to adapt “The Hobbit” while also trying to remind the audience that this is connected in a large way to “Lord of the Rings.” So, he shoe horns in a cameo from Frodo Baggins, as played by Elijah Wood, and we then enter in to the rather long story afoot.
WWE: Raw 20th Anniversary Collection – The 20 Greatest Episodes Uncut & Unedited (DVD)
What with WWE celebrating the twentieth anniversary of their flagship series “Raw” this year, the company that gave us Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant offers fans the chance to revisit twenty years of the show. Rather than all of the episode from every show since 1993, WWE compiles twenty of the “best” episodes from “Raw” that fans may just enjoy re-visiting in all of their uncut and un-edited glory.
Saturn 3 (1980) [Blu-Ray/DVD]
Director Stanley Donen’s “Saturn 3” is one part killer robot horror film, one part love triangle thriller, and one part Christian biblical nonsense. The couple Adam and Alex live in their own Garden of Eden and are tempted by their own snake in the grass that begin building a rift between then. Meanwhile they’re tormented by a sentient force, and have to battle a really boring killer robot that most likely wants to kill the men and marry Farrah Fawcett. I was never quite clear on what was going in the final fifteen minutes, to be honest.