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Justice League: The New Frontier is a marvelous PG-13 direct-to-DVD venture that takes DC’s superheroes well beyond “SuperFriends” and well beyond the Cartoon Network’s 21st century “Justice League.”
Hourman is a corpse, Batman a fugitive. Hal Jordan’s introductory sequence is capped with Jordan introducing a bullet to a clueless Korean bastard’s brainpan. Diana of Themyscira rescues Vietnamese women from their rape cages, stands by while the women ventilate their former captors with semi-automatic weapons, takes the girls out for a drink, then argues with Smallville’s Clark Kent about it.
Gratifying also is the fact that “Frontier” features as its central character Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern, who didn’t get to join “Justice League Unlimited” because his character was literally dead in the print DC Universe of the era.
Jordan was introduced to the readers of 1959 as a daredevil test pilot with Ferris Aircraft, and “Frontier” is an aviation-happy exercise that blends DC iconography with the spirit of real-life “Right Stuff” test pilots Chuck Yeager and Alan Shepard. It reminds us of how many superheroes carried pilot licenses: Jordan's wingmen come to include the Blackhawks, Bruce Wayne (Batplane!), Oliver Queen (Arrow Plane!), Ace Morgan (of The Challengers of the Unknown), and (a pre-Doom Patrol) Larry Trainor. Diana arrives in her blood-soaked inviso-plane. Even Barry Allen, the silver-age Flash, is outfitted with a nifty jetpack.
The whole movie is only about 75 minutes long and rockets with grace between dozens of DC icons. I love that Diana’s plane is, for once, truly invisible. I love that Will Magnus shows up but doesn’t get around to creating the Metal Men. I love that Ray Palmer shows up but never gets around to becoming The Atom. (The cover of my DVD is a bit of a cheat: Captain Marvey, Black Canary, Supergirl, Speedy, Metamorpho and the Metal Men barely make cameos, and only in the epilogue.)
It probably adds up to the best DC superhero cartoon yet made and leaves one thirsty for R-rated animated versions of “Watchman,” “The Authority,” “Miracleman,” “Global Frequency,” “Kingdom Come,” “Wanted” and “The Ultimates.”
The single-disc DVD version is $12.99 and comes with these extras:
* Audio commentary with Darwyn Cooke, who wrote and drew the graphic novel on which the movie is based. Learn that Colonel Kurtz from “Apocalypse Now” inspired his use of Wonder Woman in the story. Learn that Brooke Shields, who voiced aerospace heiress Carol Ferris, was Cooke’s favorite actor in the piece. Learn that Cooke has no idea why King Faraday was not in the scene in which Barry Allen was almost captured. Learn that Cooke has issues with some of the pacing of the film’s final battle.
* Audio commentary with executive produce Bruce Timm, supervising producer Mike Goguen, voice director Andrea Romano, director David Bullock, screenwriter Stand Berkowitz, and DC Comics exec Gregory Noveck. Learn that David Boreanaz recorded his bits weeks after everybody else did. Learn that early versions of the screenplay eliminated both Lois Lane and Wonder Woman, but Cooke insisted they be restored. Learn that the versatile Phil Morris, who plays King Faraday (and “Seinfeld” lawyer Jackie Chiles), is an avid comic collector.
* Documentary “Super Heroes United: The Complete Justice League History.” (41:03). Bruce Timm, Mark Waid and even Stan Lee recount the saga of superhero team-ups and shared universes. Learn that the Justice Society became a “League” because DC editor Julius Schwartz was a baseball fan. Learn that Marvel’s Fantastic Four were created because DC’s team-up book “Justice League of America” was selling so well. (Monstrous Ben Grimm was part of the team because horror – not superheroes – was hot at Marvel at the time.) Learn that Cooke’s Superman was inspired by the one in “The Dark Knight Returns.”
* “Sneak Peak: Batman Gotham Knight.” (10:09) A look at DC’s next animated DVD movie, due this summer and comprised of six interlocking stories by six anime directors. Deadshot, Killer Croc and Scarcrow all seem to figure prominently in the project.
The double-disc DVD version is $16.99. Warners didn’t provide the second disc, so I’m not sure what you get for that extra four bucks.
The Blu-ray edition is $20.95. Again, Warners didn’t forward a copy of this edition, so we cannot speak to its extras.
Something consumers need to know about the 1982-83 first season of “Newhart”: it was different from all of the series’ subsequent seasons. Season one was shot on videotape. Innkeeper/author Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) did not host a talk show. The Stratford Inn’s maid was wealthy, virtuous Leslie Vanderkellen (Jennifer Holmes). The neighboring Minuteman Cafe was run by a chronic liar named Kirk Devane (Steven Kampmann), who was in love with Leslie. Larry (William Sanderson) and his silent brothers, Daryl and Daryl, had nothing to do with the café. Leslie’s materialistic cousin, Stephanie (Julia Duffy), appeared in only one first-season episode. TV producer Michael Harris (Peter Scolari) was nowhere in sight.
I remember thinking that this series was not as good as “The Bob Newhart Show” with Suzanne Pleshette and Bill Daily, but I also remember that I watched every episode of “Newhart” religiously.
“Comanche Moon,” which aired on CBS last month, is the fifth miniseries following the characters introduced in 1989’s “Lonesome Dove,” the others being “Return to Lonesome Dove” (1993), “Streets of Laredo” (1995) and “Dead Man’s Walk” (1996). Which is to say nothing of “Lonesome Dove: The Series” (1994) and “Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years” (1995).
Simon Wincer, who directed the original “Lonesome Dove” (as well as less-distinguished works like “Lightning Jack,” “Operation Dumbo Drop” and “Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles”) directs from a teleplay by the Oscar-winning writing team of Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana (“Streets of Laredo,” “Dead Man’s Walk,” “Brokeback Mountain”), adapted from McMurtry’s 1997 novel.
Karl Urban plays Woodrow F. Call, previously played by Tommy Lee Jones, Jon Voight, James Garner, Lee Majors and Jonny Lee Miller.
Steve Zahn plays Gus McCrae, previously played by Robert Duvall and David Arquette.
Linda Cardellini plays Clara Forsythe, previously played by Anjelica Huston, Barbara Hershey and Jennifer Garner.
Val Kilmer, who plays the talking car on “Knight Rider,” is in it too.
The critical reaction:
USA Today gives it two stars (out of four) and says:
… Leisurely paced, inconsistently performed, and produced on what seems to be a buck and a half, Comanche Moon doesn't so much complete the Lonesome Dove saga as cheapen it. … for the most part, it just feels phony, lifeless and halfhearted — which probably explains why CBS is throwing it up against American Idol. …
Entertainment Weekly gives it a “B-plus” and says:
… It's gutsy to take on roles made famous by Duvall and, in Urban's case, Tommy Lee Jones, but the actors have the good fortune of working from a character-rich script by McMurtry and Diana Ossana (who won Oscars for their Brokeback Mountain screenplay). …
The New York Times says:
… Mr. Jones gave Woodrow the air of a man battling desires buried deep inside him. Mr. Urban just seems neutered, which goes a long way to making “Comanche Moon” feel as if it were created from Styrofoam, its foundation easily blown across the prairie. … Unlike “Lonesome Dove” “Comanche Moon” is imperfectly cast, and I found myself regretting for the first time the appearance of the wonderful Rachel Griffiths. …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… there aren't a lot of reasons to watch this one, though it has its moments … "Comanche Moon" casts no spell; it's a pedestrian job … Diffuse, episodic and sometimes just daft, "Comanche Moon" lacks purpose -- and at great length. As a prequel to "Lonesome Dove," it is almost doomed to a lack of resolution, and most every story line here quietly expires in a puff of "Huh?" …
The Washington Post says:
… could well be that "Comanche Moon" is the best "Lonesome Dove" movie since the first … can't match the vitality of the original and lacks the star power -- and yet it probably has a larger number of captivating sequences than any other miniseries of recent years, plus a few performances that are knockouts. First among them is Val Kilmer, fat and grizzled as Capt. Inish Scull …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
… Those who have seen the original miniseries or its sequels know many of the characters here and will know what will happen to them. Those who don't know the other "Dove" films won't be disappointed, however: "Comanche Moon" has its own appeal, thanks in large part to the script, Simon Wincer's skillful direction, some exquisite cinematography and, most of all, several outstanding performances. …
The Dallas Morning News says:
… What Mr. McMurtry does so well is draw unusual, genuine characters, and the better you know them, the more engaging they become. But with Comanche Moon, that will require sitting through a slower Sunday night installment before the people and the events take hold. …
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer says:
… It's time to accept that network television can no longer do right by the sweeping epic miniseries. They daid, suh. And if you demand proof of that, sit through the opening night of the six-hour "Comanche Moon." No one who has anything better to do should do that, but if you're stubborn enough to not believe one person's word, you're welcome to this thing. No harm in sampling natural alternatives to Ambien, right? …
The Boston Herald says:
… this three-night oater is hobbled by terrible production values and some fatal miscasting. Val Kilmer and Rachel Griffiths (“Brothers & Sisters”) are the biggest offenders. … a confusing mush of Western myth. This horse is going right to the glue factory.
The Boston Globe says:
… For the first hour of "Comanche Moon" … it looks as though the three-part miniseries might be a fabulous botch, a smorgasbord of bad acting and Western-movie stereotypes that's awesome in its awfulness. But gradually, the miniseries settles into a more mediocre middle ground that is merely tedious, simplistic, and disjointed, like a six-hour episode of "F Troop" without Larry Storch. …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… blessed with some powerful scenes but too much lightweight patter. It's as if McMurtry and Ossana were so concerned about comparisons to the classic from which it's spun that they made sure it feels less like an homage than its own seriocomic creation. What results isn't worth three nights of anyone's life, even if it carves a collection of memorable moments into the mix. …
Variety says:
… tedious, at times cartoonishly bad prequel … Without putting too fine a point on it, the performances are pretty awful. Zahn is miscast, Urban ("The Lord of the Rings") nearly nonverbal, while Kilmer and Griffiths are so over the top, they seem to be performing in a "Saturday Night Live" spoof. Ditto for the large Native-American cast, whose dialogue sounds inordinately stilted even in translation.
Herc’s Popular Pricing Pantry
$19.99: Season Eight!
60% Off!!
The third and final and completely wonderful third season of “Veronica Mars” (the one with the 12-minute fourth-season “Veronica FBI” pilot among its extras) continues to sell at the moment for $19.99!! That’s 67% Off!! (It was $37.99 a few weeks ago.) The first two seasons have been momentarily encheapened as well:
$19.99 Veronica Mars: Season One <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$19.99 Veronica Mars: Season Two <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$19.99 Veronica Mars: Season Three <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
Warner Bros. Home Video’s girlish generosity, it turns out, is not limited to Keith and Leann’s brainy daughter. All four seasons of “The O.C.” are available for $16.99!! That’s a whole season for a dollar less than the “Epic Movie” DVD and 72% off on the latter two seasons (the ones with Taylor Townsend and the mini-Coop and the episode that tells you how it all ends).
Also, all seven seasons of “Gilmore Girls” are down to $19.99 per season.
TV-on-DVD Calendar
Last Week
Coach 3.x
Cops: 20th Anniversary Edition
Dragonball Z 4.x
Father Ted: The Complete Series
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Vol. 1 (2002)
It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown: Deluxe Edition
Lillie: The Complete Miniseries
Rides 4.x Vol. 2
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.x Vol. 1
Walker: Texas Ranger 4.x
This Week
B.L. Stryker 1.x
Comanche Moon: The Complete Miniseries
The Color Honeymooners Vol. 2
Dark Shadows: The Beginning Vol. 3
Extras: Finale Special
Family Affair 5.x
The Fugitive 1.x Vol. 2
Ghost Hunters 3.x Vol. 2
Hotel Babylon 1.x
Highlander: The Source
The Invisible Man (2000)
Justice League: The New Frontier (1-Disc)
Justice League: The New Frontier (2-Disc)
Justice League: The New Frontier [Blu-ray]
Newhart 1.x
Punky Brewster 4.x
The Red Green Show 1999
Rough Diamond: The Complete Series
Smurfs 1.x Vol. 1
State of Play: The Complete Miniseries
Next Week
Archie's Funhouse: The Complete Series
Ben 10 3.x
Doctor Who: Destiny of the Daleks
Doctor Who: Planet of Evil
Flight 29 Down 2.x
Flight 29 Down Hotel Tango: The Series Finale
The Hogfather
Human Giant 1.x
The Kill Point: The Complete Miniseries
The Love Boat 1.x Vol. 1
Magnum, P.I. 8.x
The Pink Panther Vol. 6
Rides 4.x Vol. 3
SNL: Best of 2006/2007
SNL: Lost & Found in the '80s
Sorrell & Son: The Complete Miniseries <--- NEW!!
Storm Hawks: Collector's Set
Trading Spaces: Specials
March 11
Fantastic Four Vol. 3
Five Days: The Complete Miniseries
Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1976
Lil' Bush 1.x
Love American Style 1.x Vol. 2
Michael Palin: New Europe
The Mod Squad 1.x Vol. 2
One Foot in the Grave 3.x
One Foot in the Grave 4.x
Sam & Max: Freelance Police: The Complete Series
South Park: Imaginationland
Stargate SG-1: The Ark of Truth
30 Days 2.x
Tin Man: The Complete Miniseries
Tom & Jerry Tales Vol. 4
March 18
Adventures of Robin Hood 1.x
Battlestar Galactica 3.x
Bionic Woman Vol. 1
Bozo: Best Of Vol. 1
Bump! European Highlights
Bump! Scandanavia
Corneil & Bernie: The Complete Series
Dennis The Menace - Trouble, Trouble Everywhere
Greek: Chapter One
Justice League: The New Frontier [DVD/HD-DVD]
Married With Children 8.x
McHale's Navy 3.x
Pebbles & Bamm Bamm: The Complete Series
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 1.x
The Real McCoys: Best Of Vol. 1
Route 66: Three Episodes
Steve Canyon: Special Edition
The Untouchables 2.x Vol. 1
The Wild Wild West 4.x
March 25
Arthur 10.x
Baldwin Hills 1.x
The Catherine Tate Show 2.x
Day Break: The Complete Series
Frisky Dingo 1.x
The Invisible Man (2000) 1.x
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors Vol. 1
Midsomer Murders 10.x
Mike Douglas Show: Moments and Memories
Noble House: The Complete Miniseries
Painkiller Jane: The Complete Series
Party of Five 3.x
The Price Is Right: Best Of
The Shield 1.x (Slimset)
The Shield 2.x (Slimset)
The Shield 3.x (Slimset)
The Shield 4.x (Slimset)
The Shield 5.x (Slimset)
Sliders 4.x
Suburban Shootout: The Complete Series
Tripping The Rift: The Movie
Upright Citizen's Brigade: Asssscat
The Vice 1.x
Wings 6.x
April 1
Alvin and the Chipmonks Collections
Becker 1.x
Dino Squad Vol. 1
Dino Squad Vol. 2
Doctor Who: Timelash
Doctor Who: Time Warrior
Father Knows Best 1.x
John From Cincinnati: The Complete Series
Law & Order Special Victims Unit 6.x
Martin 4.x
Murder She Wrote 8.x
New Street Law 2.x
That '70s Show 8.x
The Tomorrow Show: John, Paul, Tom & Ringo
April 8
The Cosby Show 7.x
The Cosby Show 8.x
Deadliest Catch 3.x
Def Poetry 6.x
Fortysomething: The Complete Series
Hell's Kitchen: Raw & Uncensored 1.x
The Last Detective 4.x
Living With Ed 1.x
Matlock 1.x
Meerkat Manor 2.x
Mythbusters Vol. 3
Nanny 911 1.x
Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition
Rock of Love 1.x
Sense & Sensibility (2008)
Sense & Sensibility (2008): Collector's Edition
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 6.x
Three Sheets 1.x
April 15
Alien Nation: Ultimate Movie Collection
American Dad Vol. 3
College Hill: Interns
The House of Venus Show 2.x
I Remember Nelson: The Complete Miniseries
Melrose Place 4.x
Sea Hunters Vol. 2
A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila 1.x: Unrated
SpongeBob SquarePants: Pest of the West
Woody Woodpecker Vol. 2
April 22
Big Ideas For A Small Planet 1.x
Laverne & Shirley 4.x
Oban Star-Racers Vol. 1
Tim and Eric, Awesome Show, Great Job! 1.x
April 29
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones Vol. 3
Beverly Hills 90210 4.x
The Big Gay Sketch Show 2.x
The British Empire in Color <--- NEW!!
Burke's Law 1.x
Cheers 9.x
Dark Shadows: The Beginning Vol. 4
Intelligence 1.x <--- NEW!!
I-Spy 1.x
I-Spy 2.x
Paranormal State 1.x
Roswell 1.x (Heigl Edition)
Roswell 2.x (Heigl Edition)
Roswell 3.x (Heigl Edition)
Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1971): The Complete Series
A Touch of Frost 13.x
The Waltons 7.x
May 6
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin Vol. 2 <--- NEW!!
Allo Allo 8.x
Avatar 3.x Vol. 3
The 4400 4.x
The Invaders 1.x
;
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
May 13
The Adams Chronicles: The Complete Miniseries
The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers Vol. 1
Chase 1.x
Crossing Jordan 1.x
DNA 1.x/2.x
Drawn Together Uncensored 3.x
Epic Conditions: The Weather Channel
Epic Conditions: The Weather Channel (Blu-ray)
Garfield: A Cat and His Nerd
The Magnificent Seven: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
Mission: Impossible 4.x
The Rat Patrol: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
Saturday Night Live 3.x
Sinatra: The Complete Miniseries
Speed Racer: The Next Generation Vol. 1 <--- NEW!!
Two and a Half Men 3.x
May 20
The Bill Engvall Show 1.x
Cranford: The Complete Miniseries
Exes and Ohs 1.x
Gomer Pyle USMC 4.x
JAG 6.x
The Jeff Corwin Experience 2.x
The Muppet Show 3.x
The New Maverick: The Pilot
The Richie Rich/Scooby Doo Hour Vol. 1
Robot Chicken: Star Wars
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ninja Tribunal <--- NEW!!
24 1.x Special Edition <--- NEW!!
May 27
Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything
Cory in the House: New & Improved Edition
DeGrassi: The Next Generation 6.x
The Grand: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
Gunsmoke 2.x Vol. 2
He-Man Vol. 2
Honeymooners: Color Episodes Vol. 3
Holocaust: The Complete Miniseries
MonsterQuest 1.x
Rawhide 3.x Vol. 1
June 3
Doctor Who: Beneath The Surface
Doctor Who: The Sea Devils
Doctor Who: The Silurians
Doctor Who: Warriors of the Deep
June 10
Waiting For God 3.x
June 24
My Boys 1.x
August 19
Brotherhood 2.x
October 14
Chris & John To The Rescue 2.x
Selected season-sets containing
some of Herc’s all-time favorite TV!!
$12.95 Dinner For Five 1.x (10 episodes)
$14.99 The Bob Newhart Show 1.x (24 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$16.99 The OC 1.x (27 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$16.99 Friends 1.x (24 episodes)
$19.99 ER 1.x (26 episodes)
$19.99 Rocky & Bullwinkle 1.x (26 episodes)
$19.99 Gilmore Girls 4.x (22 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$19.99 Veronica Mars 1.x (22 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$20.49 The Tick: The Complete Series (nine Episodes)
$21.99 The Mary Tyler Moore Show 1.x (24 episodes)
$22.49 The Rockford Files 1.x (22 episodes)
$22.99 The Larry Sanders Show 1.x (13 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$22.99 Newsradio 1.x/2.x (29 episodes)
$22.99 The Venture Bros. 1.x (13 Episodes)
$23.49 The Tick Versus 1.x (12 episodes)
$23.99 Wonder Showzen 2.x (eight episodes)
$24.98 Moonlighting 1.x/2.x (25 episodes)
$24.99 Hill Street Blues 1.x (17 episodes)
$25.99 The Wild Wild West (28 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$26.99 The Andy Griffith Show 5.x (32 episodes)
$26.99 Soap 1.x (25 episodes)
$26.99 Cheers 1.x (23 episodes)
$26.99 South Park 1.x (13 episodes)
$27.99 Murder One 1.x (23 episodes)
$27.99 Seinfeld 3.x (23 episodes)
$27.99 Angel 5.x (22 episodes)
$27.99 Futurama Vol. 2 (19 episodes)
$27.99 Curb Your Enthusiasm 1.x (10 episodes)
$27.99 Oz 1.x (eight episodes)
$28.49 St. Elsewhere 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.49 Columbo 1.x (nine TV-movies)
$29.99 The Dick Van Dyke Show 1.x (31 episodes)
$29.99 The Simpsons 2.x (22 episodes)
$29.99 Wonderfalls: The Complete Series (13 episodes)
$31.99 Taxi 1.x (22 episodes)
$33.99 The Office 3.x (24 episodes)
$33.99 Kung Fu 2.x (23 episodes)
$34.99 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 4.x (22 episodes)
$34.99 Mission Impossible 1.x (28 episodes)
$34.99 Firefly: The Complete Series (14 episodes)
$36.99 Northern Exposure 3.x (23 episodes)
$36.99 Undeclared: The Complete Series (17 episodes) <--- NEWLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$37.99 My So-Called Life: The Complete Series (17 Episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$37.99 The Wire 1.x (13 episodes)
$39.99 The West Wing 1.x (22 episodes)
$40.49 Brideshead Revisited (11 hours)
$41.99 Lost 1.x (24 episodes)
$42.49 Fawlty Towers: The Complete Series (12 episodes)
$44.99 24 1.x (24 episodes)
$44.99 Battlestar Galactica 1.x (13 episodes plus miniseries)
$44.99 The Sopranos 1.x (13 episodes)
$45.99 Alias 1.x (22 episodes)
$54.99 Carnivale 1.x (12 episodes)
$54.99 Once and Again 1.x (22 episodes)
$54.99 Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (18 episodes)
$54.99 Six Feet Under 1.x (13 episodes)
$54.99 From The Earth To The Moon (12 episodes)
$58.49 SCTV Network 90 Vol. 1 (Nine 90-minute episodes)
$59.99 Deadwood 1.x (12 episodes)
$62.99 Star Trek 2.x (26 episodes)
$62.99 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 3.x (26 episodes)
$62.99 Star Trek: The Next Generation 3.x (26 episodes)
$63.92 Monty Python's Flying Circus: The Complete Series (45 episodes)
$68.99 Rome 1.x (12 episodes)
$69.99 The Twilight Zone 1.x (36 episodes)
$72.99 Twin Peaks: The Complete Series (30 episodes)
$74.99 The Prisoner: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
Get ‘Em While Toshiba Makes ‘Em!!
They Play DVDs Too!!
$82.97: 1080i HD-DVD Player!!
$132.99: 1080p HD-DVD Player!!
$5 Coen Bros.!!
Box Sets 50% Off!!
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