Category: Movie / Television

The Office

I’m re-watching The Office (I own the Blu-rays for the entire series).

The cut scenes are all really good and could have extended any given episode quite a bit. I just hit “Play All” for the cut scenes and they are like an extra episode I haven’t seen before.

There are already multiple extra mini-episodes that were web exclusives at the time, so it sure is nice to see even more pranks on Dwight!

It is sobering, though, that this second season I’m on right now is almost twenty years old. They were still making Saturns and Pontiacs when this was on-air!

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey have a podcast (Office Ladies) where they talk about every episode in detail, and interview their fellow cast mates and other people associated with the show. It is fun to listen to the behind-the-scenes stories.

I discovered The Office online through iTunes, back in maybe 2006 or 2007. It was three dollars to buy each episode, and I’d heard enough about it that I gave it a shot. I remember it as one solid night of “Just One More Episode”, but it was probably a few nights after work of just watching this show on my computer, which was a new thing in itself.

I did realize, though, that the episode where Ryan burned a pita in the kitchen’s toaster oven, causing a panic… I did that once (a long time ago) with some microwave popcorn. Nothing causes panic like a room full of smoke at work, rightly so. But it was funnier when it happened in The Office.

There is a new series by The Office creators called The Paper, but I have no urge to watch it until it is good and done, and hopefully hits physical media. Oscar from The Office is in it. I found all seasons of Parks and Recreation at the thrift store a few years ago, I never finished that series. Not as good as The Office, but worth watching, as I remember it. Chris Pratt when he was still an unknown actor, that should be interesting to watch again now that I know where his career took off to, I like that guy.

Band of Brothers on Blu-ray

Every time I re-watch my DVD version of Band of Brothers, I look up how much it is on Amazon… too much. Worth it, but if I buy it, I’ll find a the Blu-ray copy at the thrift for next-to-nothing. Well, I finally saw it today, and took it home! (After paying for it, of course!)

I saw the two DVD versions that have been there for three weeks now (how?) and when I first saw this one, I thought that there were now three copies… nope! The DVD version isn’t bad, but a bit grainy sometimes when they are in the dark. I’m likely to re-watch this soon, now that I finally have it on Blu-ray! I do have to find a home for my DVD version now, however.

This is the best thing that has ever hit the small screen, hands-down. It should be required viewing for the historical benefits, much less the entertaining aspect of it.

24

I’m watching “24” again, something I do every few years. I cancelled my cable a few months back and don’t have any streaming services as I have plenty of things to watch off of physical media. Originally, I started watching “24” during season 4, and then had to go to the video store to rent seasons 1-3, when they were available, and I would go every day until they were if they were rented out. (Like an addict?) After that, every year from season 5-9, I would go to Target on release day and buy the new season on DVD/Blu-ray, and a few times I took three days off to watch it. So much fun!

V: The Original Miniseries Soundtrack

After spending a lot of time attempting to find some information on the intro track for “V”, I fired off an email to the creator and director of “V”, Kenneth Johnson. I knew he had a web site, so, I might as well. I had a response within the hour, and he said he’d just send me a copy of the soundtrack! Very cool.

And, just for reference, the original four-hour miniseries is an outstanding piece of work. The second miniseries is really good, aside from one plot-line. The weekly series was a goofy joke, due to NBC interference and massive budget cuts. The 2009 re-boot lost the spirit of the original and I’ll never watch it again, very disappointing. Kenneth Johnson was only involved in the first miniseries, and it shows.

Indiana Jones: Missing

The first four Indiana Jones movies just disappeared from the Disney+ Streaming service. We all know this happens from time-to-time, licensing ends, deals expire, etc. (This is a First-World problem, of course.)

I have experienced and recognize the benefits of streaming, and for most people it is just what they need, but at the same time there is something to actually owning a physical copy as opposed to paying for permission to watch from a limited selection for a limited time under limited terms.

Streaming is wonderful until somebody flips a switch for reasons beyond our understanding, leaving us confused and frustrated. We shouldn’t have to be Indiana Jones just to find the Indiana Jones films.

Of course, that would be okay if that were to happen to the last Indiana Jones movie.

https://screenrant.com/indiana-jones-movies-disney-plus-removed/