'Loch Ness Series 1' DVD Review

Annie Redford (Laura Fraser) is what you would call a small town Detective. Living along Loch Ness has its good and bad, and like all villages a little bad comes to haunt them from time to time. A man’s body is found at the bottom of a cliff. At first it looks like it might have been an accident but it finally comes to light that this is no accident. DCI Lauren Quigley (Siobhan Finneran) arrives to take over the case along with forensic psychologist Blake Albrighton (Don Gilet). As one would think the locals are completely offended about the interference.

When more bodies are found it is clear that the locals would clearly be in over their heads. Both teams come to an agreement that the shores of Loch Ness has a serial killer to deal with. As the case begins to get bigger and more intense the whole town becomes involved. Our local detective Annie becomes more involved in the case and to the detriment of her personal life she slowly pushes away her family. She has no patience with her husband and daughter and this does not sit well with them.

As the village slowly begins to fill with grief and terror it makes for some interesting viewing. Each towns member begins to look at each other as they might be the killer and they could be sitting right next to them. Annie who is a novice at murder investigation wants to solve this case and to bring to justice the monster who is killing off its villagers. Unfortunately she must fight the outside law enforcement who want to run the show.

Acorn brings this murder mystery to DVD on October 3rd, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This crime drama would be an excellent addition to ones personal library and would be a joy to watch over and over. So, don’t waste any time and pick this one up to see whether the small town can solve the murders before the city law enforcement can. Enjoy.

Hurricane Irma: A Personal Story

It was Saturday September 9th, 2017, Hurricane Irma was leaving the Cuban coast and heading towards Florida. At the time I wasn't worried, though I should have been scared shitless. I had lived in my trailer for the last 13.5 years and had survived four hurricanes so far. The problem was that this wasn't a Charley or Jeanne or even a Frances. This was Hurricane Irma and it had devastated the Caribbean and had been called the worst storm known to the Atlantic. Irma had brought death and destruction and it was going to hit my home and I had a gut feeling it was not going to be good.

My friends Angela and Bill Gibron had said I could stay at their house to ride out the storm. I really didn't want to leave my home but I knew this was going to be different. I wanted to stay one more night because for some some reason I had grown to enjoy being on my own. I guess you could call it freedom but I just enjoyed relaxing in my home. Bill was getting nervous and he didn't want Angela picking me up the next morning so I conceded and left my home with my cats Sox, Lemmy and Sonny. The kids, as I call them, were calm. That should have told me something was up, but I didn't catch on to there sixth sense.

Saturday night was okay. I slept on the living room couch and the kids were set up in the laundry room. The storm hadn't reach the Florida Keys but it was getting closer.  Bill was debating about leaving because most of the weatherman were saying that we were going to get some major flooding and wind. We decided to stay and hunker down in their house and ride out the storm. Sundays weather wasn't bad. The day was long, and finally around 5:00 or 6:00 in the afternoon the winds began to pick up. I wasn't worried I had lived through several hurricanes in my 56 years and this one was just another. Up to this time I had always liked a good hurricane party.

The night came and Angela's father Bob went to bed. Bill was already lying down and trying to relax. Angela and I were sitting in the living room talking trash as we had off and on for some 55 plus years. You see I have known this girl she she was a baby. Her father was my Mom's boss way back when they both worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance.

Night became morning as the storm passed and all that had happened was some branches had come down. The next morning her father and I picked up the yard and all seemed right with the world. I received a call from my neighbor Brian and the news wasn't good. My roof had come off and was in two other yards. We decided to go and see my trailer on Tuesday as the city of Tampa still had curfews and such and we just didn't feel comfortable driving across town when a lot of debris was still on the roads. I honestly thought that even with the roof off the trailer could still be salvageable.

The trip back to home was fine. Yes, there were limbs and trash in the roads but we made it. I saw the roof on the ground and as I got to my steps I saw that part of my floor had collapsed. I could live with that. It could be repaired. As I opened the door there was my ceiling on the floor in the kitchen and living room. My heart stopped beating and I was devastated. I looked around at what I had lost and my mind went blank. I still thought even with all this I could still call this place home. I came upon two of the maintenance men and told them what had happened. I never said anything about leaving for good, but for some reason they told management that I was leaving and nothing was done to even try and save my belongings. They could have put a tarp over my roof and that would have at least helped, but they did nothing. We had showers for the next two days and when I returned Friday September 12th the water was all over the place. I knew then that I was homeless or at least at the mercy of my friends.

For some 38 years I had lived on my own and now I wouldn't be for awhile. It hurt. It hurt bad. Please don't get me wrong my friends are cool and I love them to death, but I really hadn't ever felt that feeling of freedom lost, at least not like this. You see, I had become a victim and that sucked. I lost practically everything and it didn't need to happen. Irma was not the storm it was in the Florida Keys or the Caribbean. My trailer took the brunt of the storm in the trailer park. Everyone else came out alright. So I guess this time it was me who lost. During all those other Hurricanes I was the one that skated through the storm but not this time.

I have been depressed, scared, hurt, confused, paranoid, and many other words in the last two weeks. The one word that does always come to mind is LUCKY. You see many others lost life and much more. I can rebuild and move on and that is why I'm telling my story. It's humbling when you lose everything and have to start over at my age. It's humbling when you have to ask your government for help. It's humbling when you have to ask your friends for help. I've cried a lot in the dark not wanting to let people hear or see me.

We started a Go Fund Me page where people can donate money to help me get back on my feet. So far we have received money and food from the government. The Go Fund Me page has brought in money and I should be fine but I could still use some help financially. I want you to know that it hurts to ask but I honestly don't know what else to do. I have found a second job and that will help even though its only part time. I hope and pray that anyone reading this will never have to feel the way I do right now.

I thought I had experienced rock bottom years passed when I was younger but now I know what it feels to literally almost have just the shirt on my back. I simply wanted to let you know the need is real and if you can help I wouldn't say no. We will be OK my cats and I. We will survive as I always have. We will see another day and it will be because of the kindness of friends and strangers. From Tampa, Florida I send love, best wishes, and Thanks.                                     

Line Of Duty, Series 4; DVD Review

Thandie Newton joins this intense crime drama as DCI Roz Huntley. As the newcomer, her superiors are looking at her and her work with intense scrutiny. The team is trying to track down a serial killer. When they capture a suspect the chief forensic investigator has his doubts about the man's guilt. He goes around Huntley to AC-12 believing that Huntley is not following procedure and is ignoring key evidence. Superintendent Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) listens to the complaints of the chief forensic investigator and sneaks a spy into the team. DS Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) goes undercover in Huntley's  team and reports directly back to Hastings. Huntley also gets some heat from DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) which does nothing more than to make her feel even more uncomfortable.
As more time goes by suspicions against Huntley begin to mount. The case takes on a face of its own and begins to be very complex and finally the whole team comes under fire for all the distractions that have thrown the case in a tailspin.

There are more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride in this show and you must be right there involved or you'll miss something. Acorn brings this electrifying crime drama to DVD on September 26th, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are out of this world. This will definitely be one for that personal library and you will go back time and again see these stories over and over.

'Line Of Duty' is one of the best to come to BBC and Acorn in a long time. You are enthralled and mesmerized by the detail of the stories and you will be on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. So don't waste any time and pick this one up as soon as it comes out and get ready to sit back and enjoy a great crime drama. Enjoy.

'Janet King, Series 3: Playing Advantage' DVD Review

Marta Dusseldorp comes back for another series as the senior crown prosecutor 'Janet King'. This wonderful Australian drama takes a look at the seedy side of  professional sports. The story opens with the death of a young cricket player. He committed suicide but it opens up the door to a whole bunch of nasty. King joins a National Crime Commission whose job is to look into reports of gambling and organized crime and it's affiliation with professional sports. The death of a key witness who was willing to talk to Kings team throws a big monkey wrench into the system.

King also has another pitfall with this investigation when an estranged member of her family is looked upon with interest as a possible link in the investigation. The story continues to unfold when King begins to see the seedier side of professional sports. There is match fixing and drugs. Money laundering and murder are also part of the system. For most of us who've looked at or played sports all our lives look upon this drama with open mouths. As much as we realize that there is always a dark side to everything we simply just don't want to believe it.

Acorn brings this wonderful drama to DVD on September 26th, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. 'Janet King' is an award winning program that is always a joy to watch. This will make an excellent addition to your personal library and you will easily want to watch it as soon as you pick it up.

Australia has in recent years been one of the better markets for legal drama and 'Janet King' is one of the best. Marta Dusseldorp is one of the best and with each consecutive series she just keeps getting better. So don't waste any time and pick this one up you will not be dissatisfied and will probably be watching it over and over. Enjoy.

'The Heart Guy, Series 1' DVD Review

Hugh Knight (Rodger Corser) is a gifted heart surgeon in Sydney, Australia. If you want to speak plainly this guy has one charmed life. He is a bit arrogant in that he believes that because of his talent he can get away with anything. Well,one day all of this wonderful life he has led comes tumbling down around his feet. He is caught in an incident that involves drugs and alcohol and he is placed on probation. He is allowed to be a GP but can never perform surgery again.

Knight feels the loss and heads back home to Whyhope, Australia. He hasn't been going back to his hometown regularly and it is a big change. He begins working at a hospital that has little funds to work with and he and the rest of the staff are always scrambling for materials to do their jobs properly. He has a killer boss (Hayley McElhinney) in that their is no-nonsense at all. Knight struggles to get his bearings or re acclimate himself to his hometown but soon realizes why he left. His mother (Tina Bursill) is a very politically minded individual whose ambition overshadows everything else. His father (Steve Bisley) is a very distant person who you could say is emotionally stunted. Knight also has to deal with his ex-girlfriend Charlie (Nicole da Silva) because she married his younger brother. 

Now, the question is with this Dramedy is whether Knight can live the straight and narrow or will he succumb to his evil ways and lose everything. Acorn brings this wonderful show to DVD on September 19th, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are fantastic. This entertaining look at what some are calling the 'Doc Martin' of Australia is definitely a keeper and should be added to your personal library. So, sit back and enjoy another great show out of Australia and see what life can be like when all is going right and when lets say it falls in the crapper. Enjoy. 

'Decline And Fall' DVD Review

Paul Pennyfeather (Jack Whitehall) is a theology student at Oxford University. He is a very low key kind of guy. He is striving to join the priesthood and live out his life serving the Lord. One day one of the school's rather low life social club pulls a prank and Pennyfeather is involved and expelled from the university. Stuck in a bad situation and not one of the rich kids Pennyfeather has to come up with a game plan. He takes a position in a run down boarding school as a teacher but soon is pushed to his limits.

Dr Fagan (David Suchet) runs the school and realizes he is going to have problems with Pennyfeather but doesn't get rid of him. Unexpectedly his luck begins to change when one of his students mother comes for a visit. Now this woman is a wealthy, beautiful and from America but she makes such an impression  on Pennyfeather that he actually begins to think that his luck just might be changing. Eva Longoria plays the mom and does a beautiful job.

Evelyn Waugh wrote this wonderful story and it has become a classic over  the years and it's the first television adaptation of the novel. The wonderful thing about this show is that it actually pulls off a great job. This is a beautiful comedy and is a joy to watch. Co-Stars in this miniseries are Gemma Whelan,  Douglas Hodge, Vincent Franklin, Tim Pigott-Smith and Stephen Graham.

Acorn brings this wonderful comedy to DVD on September 12th, 2017. The quality of the DVD are excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This would make a wonderful addition to that personal library. So as we wind down from the summer and fall takes over this is an excellent series to watch and get a laugh. Enjoy.

'Rake, Series 3' DVD Review

Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh) is a very capable lawyer working out of Sydney, Australia. He's always  skirting the thin line between observing the law and breaking it. This time he's being held in prison on manslaughter charges. He's been inside for some time but fellow lawyer Scarlet (Danielle Cormack) is able to win an appeal and he has been let out. Now, Cleaver is very excited to be on the outside again as he has been surrounded by many of his old enemies while he was in prison. Cleaver learns rather quickly that some things have changed since he has been locked up. For instance, Scarlet is now operating her own practice, a friend of his has an unnerving diagnosis, and what's worse is that Cleaver who already had a rather dubious reputation, but now has a very seriously damaged reputation. Cleaver learns that not even the criminals want him as a lawyer. This is something that could put him out of business.

Finally, Cleaver gets a big case and it involves casino mogul Tikki Wendon (Genevieve Lemon) and former Attorney General Cal McGregor (Damien Garvey).  A big corruption scandal takes place and it gets Cleaver back into the game. What makes this an interesting case is Cleaver and McGregor's rather dubious past relationship. In other words, McGregor wanted to break Cleaver and now has to depend on him to help him out.

'Rake' is an excellent show and always has some good laughs to it. Cleaver is a very capable lawyer but always lives on the edge so to speak. This is definitely one of the best coming out of Australian TV. Acorn brings this wonderful show to DVD on September 12th, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are beautiful. This is definitely one for your personal library. Series 3 has some great guest stars like Cate Blanchett, Magda Szubanski, John Noble and Robyn Nevin. So don't waste any time and pick this one up. Enjoy.

'The Churchills' DVD Review

British historian David Starkey presents a detailed look at two of England's greatest war leaders and both of the men are Churchills. Winston would defeat German Leader Adolf Hitler but his relative John Churchill would take on and defeat the Sun King Louis XIV of France. What really is great about this documentary is that Winston would write a book Marlborough: His Life and Times which was about his ancestor John. Some people feel that it was through this writing that Winston would rise from a mere politician to becoming the great statesman that the world would get to know.

John Churchill would become an inspiration for young Winston who worked on Marlborough for about a decade. Winston was a writer and a historian and for some people one of the greatest leaders of England.

David Starkey shows us through his work on 'The Churchills' that these two men who lived hundreds of years apart were able to enlighten us about the foundations of these two men. John would take down a European leader who wanted to rule Europe in a Dictatorship. Winston would go up against Adolf Hitler who had at one point defeated most of the countries of Europe and would actually want to take over the planet. Winston learned through his ancestor what was needed to take Hitler down and defeat him.

Starkey is able through his background as a member of London's Society of Royal Antiquities and his years of teaching history that we can learn from the past and apply to the present or future. Athena brings this fantastic look of two of England's greatest leaders to DVD on September 5th, 2017. The DVD quality is excellent and the sights and sounds are great. This is worth the look and would be an extremely valuable addition to your personal library.

The family Churchill has inspired many and also it is an honor to be able to see just what members of such a distinguished family can do for each other hundreds of years apart. So don't waste any time and take a good look at history and enjoy.