'The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 5' DVD Review

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea) was once a big city detective. He moved to Brokenwood awhile back because he wanted to get away from the big city ways. What he didn’t know about this New Zealand town was that murder and mayhem go hand in hand in this charming little town. The locals are easily led to do criminal activities even though Brokenwood could come off as idyllic to some. Shepherd has finally been accepted to the community. He works alongside Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland) and DC Sam Breen (Nic Sampson). Sims is a native of Brokenwood.and seen much of all the stupidity that goes in this quaint little town.

This time around Shepherd and his team are investigating the death.of an amusement park owner. The ride he is murdered on is the haunted house. It seems that maybe a bachelorette party has gone terribly wrong in another episode. Another episode has a wills beneficiaries being targeted with some terrible happenings and finally someone gets electrocuted in what was an asylum that has been abandoned for some time.

One of the great factors of this series is the spectacular scenery. The show is filmed in the New Zealand countryside which something very special to the show. Another factor of this show is that the townspeople are wonderful. They are so filled with passion and when it wakes up from its sleepy surface it can erupt into some truly horrific crimes.

The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are superb. Acorn brings series 5 of the 'Brokenwood Mysteries' to DVD on March 5th, 2019. This is definitely one for your personal library and you will enjoy watching it over and over. This series is humorous at best with just a touch of compelling mystery that will keep everyone glued to the TV. So don’t waste any time and pick this one up so you can learn the hidden secrets of this quaint little town in New Zealand and find out just how backwards they really are.

'Mystery Road' DVD Review

The Australian outback is one of beauty and danger. Emma James (Judy Davis) is a local police sergeant who has an interesting case to solve. Two boys have gone missing from a remote cattle ranch  James calls in an indigenous detective by the name Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen) to help with the case. The two don’t see eye to eye on how to approach the case of the missing boys. Adding to the troubles is the arrival of Swan’s daughter (Madeleine Madden). Swans daughter has many problems to deal with and this simply adds to the frustration between the the two policemen.

The investigation proceeds along with more problems than good news. The detectives find out many secrets about their little backward town. In doing so they inadvertently open up a can of worm that they really don’t want to deal with. When all is said and done the two will look at the towns past to find justice in the present.

The Australian outback is a land that for the most part is barren but the scenery can be breathtaking. The dangers can come in many ways but when a corrupt town adds to the dangers then anything is possible. Mystery Road also stars Deborah Mailman, Tasha Zalar, John Waters and Aaron McGrath. The six episodes makes for wonderful viewing and you will want more to watch. The show is a wonderful crime drama that you will watch from beginning to end in one sitting.

Acorn brings this beautiful show to us on DVD on February 26th, 2019. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. Along with the acting and the scenery this makes for one that you will want to add to that collection in your DVD library. 'Mystery Road' is one of those programs that you may also want to consider giving as a gift to that special someone. Enjoy.

'Ackley Bridge Series 2' DVD Review

'Ackley Bridge' is a school that lies in a town in northern England. The community is a mixture of whites and Pakistani residents. The two cultures collide and come together to make some interesting stories and challenges. The headmistress Mandy (Jo Joyner) brings to the school a strict academic discipline that drives the teachers and students crazy. An English teacher named Emma (Liz White) is a free spirit who is having an affair with another staff member who is married. The students also have interesting lives for instance Missy (Poppy Lee Friar) whose mother is a drug addict and Missy must must take care of her. Nasreen (Amy-Leigh Hickman) is one of the better students who hides her true sexuality behind an engagement that is nothing more than a sham.

This drama looks at the two cultures very openly and truthful. This show also looks at how the families intermix and whether they can actually get along. In this modern age we see this real life connection more and more and we must all learn to live together. As we watch the TV screen and see the stories unfold we can understand what is actually happening on a daily basis in our lives. We wonder if Nasreen can come to terms with who she actually is and come out of the closet so to speak. Can Missy find help for her mom and still achieve the academic success she Kong’s for. The question that must be answered is whether teachers and students will be able to achieve the success that headmistress Mandy has introduced to the school.

Acorn brings this wonderful series to DVD on February 12th, 2019. The sights and sounds are superb and the quality of the DVD is excellent. This very much down to earth story will keep you glued to the screen. This is a definite must for your personal library.

'Bang Series 1' DVD Review

Gina (Catrin Stewart) lives in a decaying run down steel town in the southern part of Wales. She is part of the local police force and has a promising future. Her brother Sam is a loner who has gone down a very different path. The two have been at odds since the death of their father some 12 years earlier. Their father died under questionable circumstances and his murder continues to be unsolved all these years later.

Sam's life takes a turn when one day he finds a gun and it brings a certain amount of confidence that he has been lacking. Always being a petty any crook with the gun Sam begins to commit some very daring crimes. Gina on the other hand is involved in a local car salesman’s murder. As time goes on in the case the police find a gun that leads to the gun that Sam found this linking him to the murder. Gina makes it her goal to find the true owner of the gun so that Sam won’t be charged with murder. What makes this an even more sordid take is that as Gina digs into the case some information becomes known about her fathers murder that causes problems in her own troubled family.
Our story blends family drama with a very detailed murder mystery. The story also stars Jack Parry-Jones, Nia Roberts and Gwyneth Keyworth.

Acorn brings this wonderful series to DVD on February 12th, 2019. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This gripping thriller will be an excellent addition to your personal library. It will be a wonderful series to watch on those rainy Sunday afternoons. For that matter it will be a joy to watch anytime. See where the brother and sister end up and if they can save their relationship and eventually find the murderer or murderers.

'800 Words Season 3 Part 2' DVD Review

This New Zealand comedy/drama is about an Australian newspaper columnist named George Turner (Erik Thomson) and his family. Turner and his family settled in the coastal town of Weld, New Zealand. George’s friend Woody (Rick Donald) gets married and this gets George’s thoughts to the idea of dating again. Years earlier George’s wife passed away and he just hasn’t been interested in getting involved with anyone. Unfortunately for George this gives the locals reason to gossip unmercifully about his choice.

George’s teenage children also are having problems in their relationships. Shay (Melina Vidler) is still struggling to get over her nasty breakup. Arlo (Benson Jack Anthony) takes his love life to the other extreme and begins dating two girls at once. As George tries to begin dating again the local gossip turns to how George’s wife died years earlier. Some of the revelations about her death are not very flattering for the Turners.

As with some small towns the thought of being taken over by neighboring communities Weld fears the possibility. Many communities grow so fast that without even realizing it that the quaint small town feel gets lost. Fear begins to take over and communities are torn apart.
The shows scenery is breathtaking. The humor and heartfelt moments make this one of the best family shows around. Jonny Brugh, Michelle Langstone, Emma Leonard, and Bridie Carter also star in this wonderful show.

Acorn brings this wonderful show to DVD on February 5th, 2019. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are perfectly superb. This family show is one that will bring the whole family together. This is one of Acorns most popular show. So watch what happens with the Turners love lives. From George, Shay, and Arlo the story line makes you feel like you are right there.

'Humans 3.0' DVD Review

Since the first computer, man has considered the creation of the computerized human. The idea came about for this creation to become the servants to man. The thought was that this would alleviate some of the work that man has to do. As time went by and computers became more sophisticated the dream would become reality. In 'Humans 3.0' the creation of humanoid servants becomes the norm.

Synthetics as they are called have gained a certain amount of consciousness, unfortunately for the humans this is on a global scale. Humans have a certain amount of distrust against Synthetics because they really don’t have a clue as to what Synthetics are capable of. Many humans have begun to trust these new creatures and want to help them become normal citizens. In other words to give them rights. A human Lawyer by the name of Laura (Katherine Parkinson) is fighting for Synthetics rights before a rather high profile government commission. There are other humans named Mia (Gemma Chan) and Max (Ivanno Jeremiah) who are running a place for Synthetics to live. These three humans are trying to accommodate the new Synthetics while getting them established in a humanoid world.

Friendships are becoming normal between the two life forms Humans and Synthetics. Max has a friend named Leo (Colin Morgan) who is a Synthetic. Max has become a leader in this new world and has trouble with his feelings of friendship with Leo. Trouble comes when a bomb goes off at a Synthetics friendly bar. Tensions were high but now with this terrorist act, tensions has become volatile. Niska (Emily Berrington) is searching for The bomber  but what she finds out is going to have consequences that is going to turn the world upside down for Synthetics and Humans alike.

Acorn brings this wonderful show to DVD on January 29th, 2019. The sights and sounds are exquisite and superb. The quality of the DVD is excellent. This is definitely one show that must be seen as we become closer ourselves to having Synthetics among our population. Definitely pick this one up and enjoy.

'Picnic At Hanging Rock' DVD Review

It’s Valentine’s Day 1900 at Appleyard College, a finishing school for young ladies. The school itself is a mansion in an isolated area of Australia. A small town is nearby and usually all is very peaceful but on this day much will change. Hester Appleyard (Natalie Dormer) runs the school and has allowed some of the girls and their teachers to go on a small excursion to Hanging Rock. This would usually be a no brainier but on this day three girls and one of their teachers will go missing. It’s not like the missing ladies fell of the rock or something they simply have vanished.

The school along with the police and some of the townspeople are all involved in the search. Appleyard is doing her best to keep the school open but with this tragedy rumors and innuendo abound all over the place. The townsfolk have begun to question whether this school should even be in the area. Secrets along with some theories as to what happened to the ladies become the talk of the town. The hysteria builds each day as the girls stay missing and some begin to think that the school along with the town will be affected forever due to this tragedy.

The cast includes Anna McGahan, Yael Stone, Samara Weaver, and Don Hany. Dormer does a beautiful job as the headmistress. This Australian Victorian thriller will keep you glued to your seat. The suspense is unbelievable and strong. Acorn brings this wonderful thriller to us on DVD on November 27th, 2018. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are superb and beautiful. This will definitely make a wonderful addition to that personal library of yours. It will also make a wonderful gift to your special friends this holiday season. So don’t waste any time and pick this one up quickly. You will be watching it over and over as there will always be some part that you missed on the first viewing. This thriller keeps you coming back for more. Enjoy.