Media Notes: Roundup for September 2018

 These are the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during September 2018.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise):

• Saw II (2005. Horror. Thriller). TubiTv added some of the Saw movies this month, so I figured sure, why not. This is the second installment in the series where Detective Eric Matthews, portrayed by Donnie Wahlberg, needs to try to rescue eight new victims trapped in a factory. To complicate things, one of the victims is the detective's son. This second installment is still a good entry in the series before the series became more about the traps and gore and a bit less about the puzzles. In this one, if rules were followed, victims still stood a chance. Good twist at the end.

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• Supermarket Sweep (Game show. 1965-2003). I continue watching the 1990s run, with some 2000s, hosted by David Ruprecht, which ran on Lifetime Channel and later on Pax TV, on YouTube this month. See the June roundup post for more comment on this show. One thing I find amusing are small details, specially for the shows in the 1990s; it seems like a more innocent time. Plus some of the products featured are no longer on the shelves or as popular as they were back then. Watched 12 episodes. 
• Iron Chef (Japan). (1993-2001). I keep watching these via YouTube. 
• Rice Battle. Masayoshi Kimura, a disciple of Chen Kenmin, Chen Kenichi's father, challenges.  
• Rice Battle 2. This episode marks the 2-years anniversary of the show. It also is the time when the format of judging went from 3 judges tasting to four, and they added the overtime battles for ties. 
• Pumpkin Battle. Kensuki Sakai, a chef who cooks fine Italian food out of a food cart, challenges Iron Chef Italian Kobe. 
• Potato Battle 4. Kentaro the food critic challenges Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi. He happens to also be the son of Katsuyo Kobayashi, a female chef and cooking show hostess who challenged previously. She also challenged Chen in her battle. 
• Sherlock Holmes (1984-1994. Granada Television Series). The main branch of my local public library had the run of the "Return of Sherlock Holmes" part of this series starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, a favorite of mine. The "Return of Sherlock Holmes" set features four volumes, and they start when Holmes returns after the fall at Reichenbach Falls. (On a side note, I have found other episodes online as well, and I will note when I watch those). 
• "The Empty House." It has been three years since Sherlock Holmes fell in Reichenbach Falls. Watson has moved on back to his medical practice, and he works part time as a police surgeon. When Lord Adair is murdered, Watson and Inspector Lestrade attempt to solve the case. Suddenly, Holmes reveals himself to Watson, and the hunt is on. 
• "The Abbey Grange." Lord Eustace Brackenstall, a wealthy man and last of his line, is found murdered out in Kent. The local inspector calls in Sherlock Holmes, but by the time Holmes arrives, Lady Brackenstall has given account of the event, describing the men that murdered her husband. It seems an open and shut case, but Holmes is not quite ready to let it go. He perseveres, finding a trail of violence, a burnt dog, and evidence pointing to a culprit other than the local gang that the lady blamed for her husband's murder. 
• "The Second Stain." When a very secret letter is stolen from a British government official, the official and the Prime Minister enlist Holmes and Watson to find it before war breaks out if the letter becomes public. A suspect is murdered, and now Holmes has to dig deep to find it. However his powers of observation and deduction save the day. A very nice puzzle for the detective to solve.  
• "The Six Napoleons." Holmes and Watson are asked to investigate a case of murder and the breaking of six busts of Napoleon throughout London. Holmes needs to figure out what the connection is. A classic story well dramatized. On a trivia note, Marina Sirtis, known for her role as Counselor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation, makes an appearance in this episode.