Media Notes: Roundup for January 2019

 

These are the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during January 2019.

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). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available):

• The Cabin in the Woods (2011. Horror, with a bit of comedy). I got curious about this film when I saw one of those best of horror lists online (can't remember where) recommending this. Initially, it starts like any other common horror film: bunch of college kids head out on vacation to a cabin in the woods. The college folks are even fairly stereotypical: a slutty female, a jock, a stoner, another nerdy girl, and a more scholarly guy. However, the movie soon takes a seriously deep twist as they discover there is way more inside and around that cabin.  The stakes get a lot higher as the great truth is revealed. As in many good horror movies, you do get bits of humor here and there. The last act of the movie there is a lot of detail. You may find yourself looking closely to get them. This movie shows that movie makers can still make a good horror film. If you have not seen it, and you like horror, you need to see this one. Via TubiTv. 
• The Iceman (2012. Crime. Drama. Biography). Movie tells the story of Richard Kuklinski, a Mafia serial killer from the late 1960s into the 1980s. Captured in 1986, his family had no idea what he really did; that's how well he kept the secret from them. The film does portray him somewhat sympathetic. It still presents him as a cold killer, but at least from accounts I have read, the guy was a true psychopath who kept his family under a very tight control. Still, the movie is good enough to watch, but do keep in mind it is "based on a true story." I found it interesting. It does capture the time period fairly well. According to the credits, it is based on Anthony Bruno's book The Iceman: the True Story of a Cold Blooded Killer and on the documentary The Iceman Tapes: Conversations with a Killer (link to full interviews record). Movie does feature some known actors such as Ray Liotta, Chris Evans, and David Schwimmer. Michael Shannon portrays Kuklinski. Via TubiTv.

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:

• American Justice (1992-2005. Crime. Documentary). Documentary series that once aired on A&E and was hosted by Bill Kurtis. The series looked at various forms of crime, and the ending of each episode usually the justice system prevailed. Via YouTube.
• "Mob Hitmen." Episode 63 in the series looks at mob hitmen with a focus on Philadelphia. Episode makes it a point to dispel the Hollywood myth of the well armed and well trained hitman. In reality, more often than not, hitmen worked out of need or convenience, whoever could get closest to a target. Any and all loyalties were out when an order to kill someone was given. In the time period the episode presents, of 50 "made men" or so, 30 or so died in mob wars. 
• Endeavour, Series 1 (2013. Mystery. Crime. Drama.). The second spinoff series of the Inspector Morse series. This time we go back in time to see a  young Morse start his career as a Detective Constable. We begin to see some of the quirks and brilliance we will later see down the road. He is a college dropout, fan of opera, a bit impulsive but also begins to show signs of becoming a good detective. Here he is mentored and encouraged by Detective Inspector Thursday who sees the potential in him no one else does or wants to see. Via DVD from my local public library.
• Pilot episode. In this episode, we meet Morse for the first time. He is brought into Oxford when they are short on detectives, and soon he is involved in a murder case of a young girl. The more he perseveres, the more obstacles and corruption he finds along the way to get to the truth. However, it is his keen sense of observation, deep thinking, and attention to detail that help him solve the case, with support from DI Thursday. A great first case.  
• Endeavour, Series 2. (Mystery. Crime. Drama). This series includes four episodes.  Series continues to be very good and compelling.
• In the opening episode, "Trove," it has been four months since the last series. Morse got shot and was almost killed. He now returns to duty but DI Thursdays worries about his mental state. Meanwhile, they get to investigate an apparent suicide but they soon discover there is a lot more along with a robbery, and Morse gets a brush at high corruption amongst the elites of Oxford. 
• Note that the second series ends in a serious cliffhanger as the evil corruption in high places hinted at the start of this series surfaces. By the closing episode, "Neverland," no one knows who can be trusted.  
• Endeavour, Series 3 (Mystery. Crime. Drama). Series contains four episodes. 
• In opening episode, "Ride." Morse returns after the end of Series 2 where he was arrested for a crime he did not commit. The opening glosses over the inquiry, and while he is cleared, Morse is still traumatized. However, he cannot afford to stay out of detective work for long as a new case draws him back in. It is a case of some very rich people, some fair performers and magicians, and a con.  
• The series is now moving into the 60s decade, a time of free love, communes, and social activism, and we see this in the second episode, "Arcadia." A wealthy merchant's daughter is kidnapped for extortion, but it turns out there is much more to it, including homicide. Also in this episode, Detective Sergeant Jake finds true love, and he leaves the force to go to the U.S. with his bride. 
• In "Prey," there is a tiger on the loose, or so it seems given how victims are found. But it turns out there is more to it than just a wild animal. And in "Coda," the local mafia chief dies, and underlings are racing to see who can fill the vacuum. Within that, a bank robbery goes wrong, and there is a reason for that too. And DI Thursday faces the passing of time as his children are now adults and making out on their own. Overall, this continues to be a great series, and it manages to keep a feel for the original as well. 
• Endeavour, Series 4 (Mystery.Crime. Drama). This series starts after the finale of Series 3; it contains four episodes. DI Thursday's daughter has left in light of the trauma of the bank robbery at the end of Series 3, and no one knows where. The 60s are now in full swing, and we get rock and roll, drugs, free love, and religious extremists trying to stop time and progress. Along the way in the episodes, we get bits and pieces of various historical events and references. Also in this season, adding to the mystery and adding a bit of an ominous feeling, episodes end right before the credits with a pair of old hands drawing a single Tarot card.
• In "Game," a new machine, a computer, is going to play a chess game with a Russian chessmaster and scientist. However, murder is happening, and there may or not be a connection to the computer team. 
• In "Canticle," The Wildwoods are the latest teen heartthrob band. They are cool. They are hip. They do a good bit of drugs too. They seem to have it all, including the attention of a right wing conservative Christian widow on a crusade for decency, including banning music like The Wildwoods. However she herself may have a skeleton or two in her closet as well. Meanwhile, people start dying connected to the band.  
• In "Lazaretto," Superintendent Bright suffers from an ulcer and gets hospitalized. His luck that he gets put in bed number 10, which has a reputation that those assigned to it tend to die. Meanwhile, Thursday and Morse have another murder to solve, plus they work to keep a criminal under witness protection alive. But that is the least of the mysteries in this hospital. 
• In "Harvest," it is the fall equinox. A scientist goes missing in a rural town, a town that so happens to be next to a nuclear power plant. Is there a connection? And Morse gets a job offer to go work at The Met (Metropolitan Police, in London). Oh, and we finally get to see who has been laying out the Tarot cards at the end of the episodes in this series. Overall, a tense but good end to this series.  
• Endeavour, Series 5 (Mystery. Crime. Drama). This set contains 6 episodes. The late 1960s are in full swing. As a curious detail, some of the episodes end with references to specific historic events, which help you place the time period. Also you get a few other historical references if you pay attention. In this season, a new mob of Black folks, mainly Jamaican, move in to overtake the local mob led by Nero. Meanwhile, Cowley Police Station is getting consolidated, and so the station will be shut down, its officers sent to other assignments. Within that context, we get various murders and mysteries still taking place ranging from old actors to the military to Cold War espionage.  Overall, the series continues to be interesting, enjoyable, and quite engrossing. Unfortunately, Series 6 is coming out in UK in February of 2019, which means it will be quite a while before it gets to the U.S., let alone on DVD. Still, best way to watch this is on DVD with no ads, and you can watch it all at once. In a final note, this series often makes references, some very subtle, to the original series Inspector Morse. I may, while I wait for new episodes, go back and watch Inspector Morse once more.