Doc Martin – Season 3 DVD Review (Region 2)

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Shown on ITV in the UK Doc Martin is the story of a city doctor who is moved to a rural seaside town. There really is no need to watch the previous seasons and you can jump right into the third season without needing to worry about continuing storylines. What you in short have is a comedy drama starring Martin Clunes of Men Behaving Badly fame playing the serious Dr. Martin. The only doctor around who has a blood phobia. 
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Blade: The Series – Jill Wagner Interview

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To celebrate the DVD release February of Blade: The Series in the US we had the chance to talk to the lead actress in the show Jill Wagner.

Blade: The Series stars Kirk ‘Sticky Fingaz’ Jones as Blade the vampire hunter. Plus there is Jill Wagner as Krista Starr a newly turned vampire playing both sides and the head vampire Marcus Van Sciver played by Neil Jackson. Blade is supported by Shen (Nelson Lee) and Marcus has Chase (Jessica Gower).

How did you come to be in Blade: The Series?
My manager gave me the script on a Sunday. I auditioned for it on a Monday, callbacks were Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday was the studio test and Friday was the network test. I found out Friday on my way home from the Network test that I got the part and that Sunday I moved to Vancouver to begin filming. It was quite fast process.

What did the audition entail?
Four scenes, a few with Blade (Sticky [Fingaz] read with me in the network test).

Tell us about your character Krista Starr.
She is a war vet. She is a bit of a tomboy and a lets just way she’s not afraid to run with the boys. She is hardened by the news of her brothers murder and seeks revenge. She could be seen as the victim in this series but I try to show her stronger side. She goes through an emotional roller coaster throughout the series. She was a great character to play.

Your character guides the audience through the world of Blade and the vampires. Did you find it hard to play someone torn between the two sides working for Blade and living with them?
Yes. I was always thinking as Krista and finding it hard to even smile at Marcus after what he had done. She leads two lives. Good and Evil.

Did you ever have second thoughts about being involved with a sci-fi show? Knowing sci-fi fans are more critical than other audiences?
No not at all, I have always loved sci-fi and the stunt work that comes with it really attracted me. I love to hear what the fans say…good and bad. Sometimes it helps me to think about certain things in a different light.

Do you have a favorite fight from the show?
Probably the last episode when I fight Chase.

Did you find it hard to do the action sequences the role required?
No.

It’s said that you have a gun collection, did this help you prepare for a high action role?
Of course, however you never get fully comfortable with pointing a gun at someone or vice versa.

What was your funniest experience when filming the series?
Neil [Jackson] was carrying me out of the ritual room from the 1st episode and he forgot to turn my body to fit through the door and about took my head off. The set was silent until everyone heard me laugh, them the jokes poured in. Neil was always the funny one on set.

What are your best memories from making Blade?
Hanging out with the cast and crew on set from day to day. We had such an amazing group all around.

Is there a part of Krista’s past you wish had been covered more?
Yes, her life and experiences in the military. My dad was a marine (war vet) so I always wanted to play a character who had been in the military.

Were you familiar with the Blade franchise before the show? If so in what format: Comics/Movies?
I had seen and was a fan of the movies.

Are you a fan of any other vampire shows/movies/books?
Bram Stoker was my favorite.

The season ended in a cliffhanger. Could you tell us what you know about what was to be the second season’s storyline and how the cliffhanger was to be resolved?
I wish I could tell you. I knew nothing.

Are there any current plans for a second season?
I think there were some talks about having another TV movie that wrapped up the cliffhanger… not sure if that is still in talks though.

Do you know if you will be making a third appearance in Stargate: Atlantis, if so when can we expect it?
I believe so, have no clue when though, but as soon as I know I will post it on my Myspace page at Myspace.com/jillwagner

Do you have any upcoming projects?
A Sci-fi thriller movie called Splinter coming out in Jan or early Feb.

Blade: The Series – The Complete Series arrives on Region 1 DVD on February 12th. The pilot House of Chthon is available now on both Region 1 and 2 DVD.

CSI New York Season 3 Part 2 (Region 2 DVD) Review

CSI New York 3.2

 

As the newest CSI New York half season set, 3.2 provides some longer storylines to keep things fresh. While CSI is famed for closed in single episode storylines, the second half of the third season provides some interesting story arcs. You have a few nods to previous episodes such as Gary Sinise’s character, Detective Mack “Mac” Taylor, after arresting a dirty cop before. This story continues as he is investigated for being suspected to push a suspect off a rooftop in handcuffs off a roof even though he insists the man jumped. Plus there are a few other long storylines to give more depth to supporting characters.

The best episodes of the set are “Sleight Out of Hand”, about a magician performing tricks over three nights and people dying the same way as the trick. Plus the season finale where a group of men break into the lab for a heist. This gives Gary Sinise a good excuse to do a thinking man’s Bruce Willis in a Die Hard impersonation. Out of the 3 discs in the set, there is only one episode which isn’t really worth watching, which isn’t bad by anyone’s standards. In terms of the DVD set, only one extra is included. It is a visit by one of the cast members to a real training facility where members of law enforcement see faked crime scenes and dead bodies. It lasts for quite a while in running time but is really a one or two watch maximum. Overall, CSI New York 3.2 is a great set. While the extras are not great in number it is is a very entertaining set and easily worth a place in anyone’s DVD collection even if not a normal CSI fan, or trying to recover from CSI overload.

Verdict: +

 

CSI Miami Season 4 Part 2 (Region 2 DVD) Review

CSI Miami 4.2

 

The arrival of the second half (3 Discs) of season 4 of CSI Miami is very welcome indeed. For those not in the know, Crime Scene Investigation: Miami follows Lieutenant Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and his team of investigators The end of season four provides an ending to a number of story arcs that have been going on for quite a while and present a few new ones. The good thing about these half season sets is that they present questions and then answer them right away.

Season four’s second half has a few must see episodes like Horatio’s vendetta against a drug cartel and the lengths both sides go to get the other. There are a good number of interesting stand alone episodes too, and a story to complete the season where the FBI come in and take over the lab after money goes missing.  DVD extras are non-existent and that’s a real shame. You would hope for at least something on a modern season boxset but not this time. Overall 4.2 is a must own for the episodes, but its makers should be ashamed for the lack of extras. 

Verdict: +