Media Notes: Roundup for December 2019

This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during December 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):

• Deadpool 2 (2018. Action. Adventure. Comedy. Comic Books). The sequel to the first one. In this one, Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool needs to protect a mutant teen from the time traveling mutant cyborg Cable. However, that mission is not as simple as it seems, specially when you are dealing with time travel and Deadpool. This is the kind of based on comics films we need more. It is entertaining, funny, and a good ride. I do hope they make a sequel, and if they do, that they can keep up the goodness overall. Definitely enjoyed this one. Via DVD from public library. 
• American Yakuza (1993. Crime. Drama. Action). Viggo Mortensen stars in this film as an undercover FBI agent who manages to infiltrate the highest levels of the Japanese Yakuza. When the FBI decides to let the Italian Mafia just ambush the Yakuza in order to eliminate them by stepping out of the way, Agent Brandt's loyalties are severely tested. It is a very slow building drama; the action really happens in the last hour or so when the chaos breaks out. The movie does go into the real meaning of things like friendship, brotherhood, and honor.  The friendship between Brandt and Shuji, the Yakuza man he saves that introduces him to the family, is the highlight. If nothing else, the viewer can feel the conflict of loyalties as much as Mortensen's character. Worth a look. Via TubiTv. 
• Jack Frost (1997. Horror. Comedy. Fantasy) Not to be confused with the other cute Jack Frost movie starring Michael Keaton. This one is a horror film where a psychopath left for death after a freak accident with a genetic material transport; he returns as a murdering snowman to get revenge on the sheriff that arrested him.  The opening credits sequence where the uncle tells the little girl a scary story before bedtime is a bit cute and amusing. Movie is one of those horror movies with comedy elements, mainly in the way the victims are killed. It is not terribly gory, and it can be a bit cheesy to be honest. Let's be more honest: it also often telegraphs who is getting killed next, often the more unlikeable people, and you root for the bad guy to kill them at that point. Movie overall is not too horrifying, and the humor is fairly light. Overall, a corny B movie, kind you might watch on late night on cable. Via TubiTv.
• Operation Finale (2018. Drama. Historical). A dramatization of the Israeli operation in the early 1960s that kidnapped Adolf Eichmann, Nazi architect of the Final Solution, from his hideout in Argentina to bring him to justice in Israel (violating Argentina's sovereignty by the way, but that is quickly forgotten). A good slow suspenseful drama with good performances, featuring Ben Kingsley in the role of Eichmann and Oscar Isaac as protagonist and one of the Mossad agents who caught Eichmann. Overall, worth a look but do keep in mind it is a drama, not a documentary. Via DVD from public library.

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:

• The Muppet Show (Season 3: 1978-1979). I managed to watch the last available season on DVD of this classic show.  A pity that Disney, which now owns this, has not released the rest. This season features among other guest stars Jean Stapleton, Alice Cooper, Gilda Radner, Loretta Lynn, Rachel Welch, and Sylvester Stallone. A wonderful and fun series that looking back I realize was not just fun but also exposed children of all ages to all sorts of cultural genres. Via public library DVD.
• Sherlock Holmes (1984-1994. Granada Television Series). I watched some later parts of this back in September and October of 2018. I continue watching some more of this favorite series. Via YouTube.
  
• Dragnet (television series. 1967-1970). The series created by Jack Webb. This is one I find entertaining to watch, but it may also seem seriously quaint nowadays. Series can be now a look into what seems a more innocent time. Also, like many of these old shows, if you look closely, you can see a now very famous actor as a young actor starting out once in a while. Show can be a bit moralistic at times, which given how times have changed can seem outdated or cheesy but it was a different time. It is still interesting to watch. I do like seeing the start of episodes where Friday narrates and tells viewers about what Los Angeles was like back then. The drug episodes, where they deal with illegal drugs, seem seriously preachy and outdated, especially in light of marijuana getting legalized across the United States and acceptance changing in the nation. Via streaming.Some highlights: 
• "The Grenade" (aired originally 1967). A very young Jan-Michael Vincent (credited as Michael Vincent, way before Airwolf) appears in this episode.
• "The Big Neighbor." (aired originally in 1967). This is not so much about a crime. Bill, Joe Friday's partner, invites Joe to his house for dinner and to watch a game. Not so good for Bill, his neighbors knowing he is a cop come to him with all sorts of small problems. It is an episode that helps humanize police officers a bit. 
• "The Christmas Story" (originally aired in December 1967). The show's Christmas episode, and one of my favorites. When a baby Jesus is stolen from a church's manger, Friday and Gannon need to solve the case before Christmas arrives. It is heartwarming story.  
• In Episode 148 (aired in October 1969 originally), Friday and Gannon are working community relations to help recruit new police officers. Among those in an audience they speak to is a young O.J. Simpson (the brief cameo is uncredited). Also, the lieutenant that Friday and Gannon report to in the episode is Rafer Johnson, who was a gold medalist in decathlon in the 1960 Olympics who went on to become an actor. 
• In the "Vice" (DR 30, 1969) episode where Friday and Gannon are busting a convention's gambling ring, one of the agricultural equipment salesmen, who helps run the gambling ring, is portrayed by G.D. Spradlin. Some folks may know Spradlin from his portrayal of Senator Pat Geary in the The Godfather, Part II. Spradlin appeared in different roles in two other Dragnet episodes.