KOOL TV

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO 'INSPECTOR MONTALBANO'

2012-02-11T02:57:00.000-08:00

A new style of crime-fighting: Luca Zingaretti is INSPECTOR MONTALBANO. Image: RAI TELEVISION.

They've conquered the world with icons like Sophia Loren, The Mafia, Pizza and Ice Cream, and now Italy goes one step further, as it's RAI television company gives us the continuing adventures of their top small-screen TV detective Inspector Salvo Montalbano, the often grumpy but lovable rogue- also an astute and adaptive cop- as played by actor Luca Zingaretti, from the imaginative and delightful book series created by Andrea Camilleri. A full ten episode run of the series, mixing drama and light comedy, has finally been purchased by the acclaimed UK BBC 4 channel, screening weekly from tonight (and critically helping to fill in the popular strand left vacant by another popular European series, BORGEN, which ended its triumphant first season run last week).

It's presence will also help viewers annoyed by the recent axing of another Italy based detective series, the successful ZEN, which previously starred Rufus Sewell, made by BBC 1. INSPECTOR MONTALBANO will surely be a welcome tonic that truly captures the flavour of Italian life and crime, mixing romance with bloodshed, humour with occasional grim revelations, against a sunny and beautifully picturesque backdrop of old and new world within the fictional city of Vagata, filmed in Sicily, as only its originators know how. The previous two feature length episodes of the series ("Excursion to Tindari" and "Montalbano's Croquettes") re-shown last year on BBC 4 had been very enjoyable with viewers, and KOOL TV looks forward to seeing what escapades befall our hero and his memorable team of detectives come casanovas, over the next few months- a warm and hopefully inventive set of ingredients to fight against the cold, dark nights of Winter.

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO is also available on Region 4 DVD release.

HUMAN VALUES? 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON TWO CONTINUES...

2012-02-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

That memorable and truly shocking scene for Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) from the mid-season finale of THE WALKING DEAD. Images: AMC/FX.

C'mon, admit it, you were just as totally gobsmacked, surprising and heartbroken as I was by the closing minutes to the mid-season finale of THE WALKING DEAD Season Two last year, weren't ya? What a brilliantly poignant, played and directed sequence, eh? And now, after what had previously been a slow burning first half, things look set to intensify story-wise within the Zombie apocalypse drama's second batch (showing in the US from 12th February, and in the UK, on the UK's FX and HD channels, from 17th February), as old time values former veterinarian Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson), emotionally devastated by recent events, orders our already fractured, often personality clashing heroes to immediately leave his family's farmhouse estate following the death of his once friends and loved ones-a situation that Sheriff Rick (Andrew Grimes) and his Gypsy-like group of survivors-already in an equally terrible state after having had to kill one of their own- are just not willing to accommodate. And it will be at this weakest point in their lives so far, as emotional division, mayhem, gun play and violence erupt, that the Zombie hordes will surely make an unwanted en masse re-appearance against one of Humanity's few outposts...

Tough decisions for Rick and Herschel (Scott Wilson) in mid-season opener Nebraska.

Season Two clips: The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 8 Nebraska Trailer - February Return - YouTube

Interview: Melissa McBride, Norman Reedus and Steven Yeun Talk THE WALKING DEAD Season 2 and Walking Dead Season 2 Interview - YouTube

Our band of weary heroes as they looked at the beginning of Season Two.

Don't worry, those Zombies will back anew soon...

Beyond this popular year, which had record smashing ratings with its opening episodes (despite some behind the scenes and critical frictions), work commences apace behind the scenes for the AMC quickly commissioned Season Three, lasting a longer run of sixteen episodes this time, of which a new town set and leagues of Zombies have put been put into preparation on location in Georgia, described by insiders as "Zombie Central." The IMDB site has also reported that a new character, not from Robert Kirkman's original graphic novels, Philip Eagle (played by Marvin Duerkholz), will be around to add to the character drama. As to whether the books popular Governor, and mass Zombie killer, Philip Blake, will be in it, though, hasn't been fully confirmed but looks more than likely.

I'm not sure if it's an official AMC poster for the series or not, but I like it!

Season One of THE WALKING DEAD is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

TIMESCAPE! 'FRINGE' SEASON FOUR RESUMES...

2012-02-03T03:48:00.000-08:00

Time is relative! The cast of FRINGE return. Images: FOX/WARNER BROTHERS.

That intriguing and intoxicating mixture of character drama and alternate universes sci-fi thrills FRINGE, co-created by wunderkid J.J. Abrams, resumes its fourth season on SKY ONE HD in the UK next Wednesday, and its seemed like ages since timeslipped, no longer in non-existence Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), madcap scientist daddy Walter (John Noble) and spunky FBI heroine Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) were last on our screens. And die-hard fans watch out, this new batch looks likely to pummel our heroes emotionally once again. If you think Peter had a bad time of it recently, and almost giving Walter a self induced lobotomy in the process, wait and see what the series writers and producers have planned for poor Olivia this year. There's also the return of those pesky and highly dangerous Shapeshifters in their new combustible configurations, plus a welcome Season One enemy back to frustrate and bewilder: MAD MEN and SHERLOCK HOLMES Professor Moriarty, the always reliable Brit star Jared Harris as the time war waging David Robert Jones, possibly alongside 24's first Bauer baddie Michael Massee. And, in counter-balance, let's not forget our always party crashing friends who transform chaos into order (and get it right most of the time): the baldy men known as The Observers. Plus, the lovely and cute Astrid (Jasika Nicole) finally gets a chance to shine in her own story alongside all the other multiple versions of our series main characters, too - who says TV series writers can't have fun!-like the black gloved scientist Nina Sharp (Blair Brown), finally getting more evil, and some fun chin-wagging rivalry between Peter and his FRINGE division 'replacement', Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel).

Here's a few images from upcoming episodes (make the most of these new stories as a fifth season for FRINGE has not yet been guaranteed by its makers FOX, so there is the possibility that this may be our final run (sniff..)), in a half season of complex and absorbing adventures which include a time-trapped town you can't escape from (GROUNDHOG DAY times a thousand!), the search for a killer who uses a toxin not yet created on Earth, and an on-the-run mental patient with important links to Olivia's past....

Trouble for Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick), Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Lincoln (Seth Gabel) in the episode Enemy of My Enemy.

Peter mixes with his alternate universe friends in Enemy of My Enemy.

Olivia (Anna Torv) and Lincoln receive some important news in Back to Where You've Never Been.

Walter (John Noble) shares his thoughts with Peter and a girl with psychic powers in an upcoming episode.

Olivia's on the case in the episode Forced Perspective.

Jared Harris makes a welcome return as evil-doer David Robert Jones.

Episode previews: FRINGE - Preview #1 from "Making Angels" airing FRI 2/3 - YouTube
FRINGE - Preview #1 from "Enemy Of My Enemy" airing FRI 1/20 - YouTube
Fringe Promo 4x10 "Forced Perspective" HD - YouTube
Fringe Sneak Peek 4x09 "Enemy of my Enemy" - YouTube
FRINGE - Preview #1 from "Forced Perspective" airing FRI 1/27 - YouTube
Fringe - Finding Season 4 - YouTube

Seasons One to Three of FRINGE are available on DVD and Blu-ray from WARNER BROTHERS.

JAMES BOND: THE FIRST IMAGE FROM 'SKYFALL'

2012-02-02T06:29:00.000-08:00

Daniel Craig is Bond, back in action for SKYFALL. Image: METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER/COLUMBIA PICTURES/EON PRODUCTIONS.

It's gonna be a great 50th Anniversary year for all fans of Ian Fleming's iconic and enduring creation of James Bond 007, as this first officially released picture intriguingly shows a new look Daniel Craig as Bond-unshaven, his Walther PPK weapon held high, and more determined than ever- investigating a deadly complex in Singapore, for the upcoming, eagerly awaited new blockbuster adventure SKYFALL, written by John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, directed by Brit star Sam Mendes, no stranger to working with Craig from their gangster epic ROAD TO PERDITION, opposite Tom Hanks.

The main cast of SKYFALL: L-R Javier Bardem, Berenice Marlohe, Naomie Harris and Daniel Craig. Image METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS and SONY STUDIOS.

The plot for the new movie is still shrouded in secrecy but, linked to an apparently unexpected spy satellite landing plot (part of the SKYFALL of the title), it all starts with a bang, as the tragic and terrifying deaths of numerous MI5 members in a London attack launches Bond on a worldwide hunt for the murderers (which may involve Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes), who have links to a haunting event from his boss M's past...

Expect the first trailer for the film to hit cinemas by at least June. We can't wait!

Behind the scenes of London filming:
Daniel Craig gets to grips with a Range Rover while shooting latest Bond installment, Skyfall | Mail Online
Bond arrives in... Bognor? New movie Skyfall gets new shooting locations as producers are forced to cut budgets | Mail Online
James Bond Skyfall girls: Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe take on 007 | Mail Online

Check out our previous feature on SKYFALL here: A "SKYFALL" FOR JAMES BOND 007 | KOOL TV

Fifty Years of Bond various: JAMES BOND MOVIES: Why we said no to Dr No being a monkey and other revelations | Mail Online
James Bond actors reunite: Four of 007's leading ladies turn up for new exhibition | Mail Online
James Bond movies: Moonraker to Casino Royale - choose your favourite poster | Mail Online
james bond | Search Results | Mail Online

BOND on Blu-ray-the entire film series. Trailer: Celebrating 50 Years of James Bond on Blu-ray - YouTube

Press launch: James Bond Directors Michael Apted, John Glenn and Martin Campbell talk 007 on Live @ CES - YouTube

Order here: James Bond - 22 Film Collection [Blu-ray] [1962]: Amazon.co.uk: Sean Connery, Daniel Craig, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, George Lazenby: Film & TV

KOOL TV WANTS ON BLU-RAY: 'THE WEST WING'

2012-02-02T02:58:00.000-08:00

We the People. The wonderful cast of THE WEST WING. Images: WARNER BROTHERS.

As American presidential electoral fever escalates and the candidates and their gleaming beautiful smiling wives (plus their legions of Spin Doctors and Lobbyists) begin making the rounds of promises, shaking hands and kissing babies, I thought it'd might be nice to tribute the event with a classic picture of the main cast of the wonderful political fantasy drama THE WEST WING, created by the talented Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin back in 1999. Lasting seven quality seasons up to 2006 and consistently displaying the finest writing/producing in Hollywood TV, realised by a wonderful cast bringing us a winning and sophisticated mixture of politics and heart-of fascinating if sometime flawed White House crew trying to do the right things in the face of so many of the worlds many problems- it's a show that I think many of today politicians could still learn a lot from in the ideals and trust department. Surely, even now and for the most part, Martin Sheen's charismatic, determined and quirky President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlett remains the ultimate romanticised political hero/safe pair of hands vision of the iconic position that the world, not just America, would like to have as its commander-in-chief.

Title sequence: The West Wing - Opening Titles in High Definition - YouTube

A man to trust. Martin Sheen as President Bartlett.

OK, so you can get the entire series in very cheap collection sets these days, but what about a Blu-ray release (not just in HD online, as it is in the US)? And, having not been seen on terrestrial or digital UK television in a while now, I think the show is deserving of a complete re-run regardless- which I'm sure new audiences will surely enjoy. How about it, SKY ATLANTIC or MORE4?

Join the FACEBOOK petition to get the series on Blu-ray: I want 'The West Wing' on Blu-ray

The entire seven seasons of THE WEST WING are available from WARNER BROTHERS DVD.

KOOL TV REVIEW: "DOCTOR WHO: THE SENSORITES" DVD

2012-02-01T03:34:00.000-08:00

DOCTOR WHO: THE SENSORITES

Available on DVD from 2ENTERTAIN

Reviewed by Scott Weller

A spaceship trapped in orbit around a mysterious planet, with its human command crew under telepathic control from an unusual alien species: this is the intriguing and atmospheric situation the TARDIS crew, headed by the late, great William Hartnell as the Time Lord DOCTOR WHO, lands in during the start of The Sensorites, the latest black and white classic DOCTOR WHO adventure newly released from the BBC and 2ENTERTAIN.

With the lock to their ship stolen by the aliens soon after their arrival, the time team have no choice but to find out why their human colleagues are so resented, and unravel a plot that endangers the Sensorites on the planet Sense Sphere: not only from an outside force yet to be fully ascertained, but also from a bitter and xenophobic Sensorite working from within the city’s elite…

BBC DVD trailer: DOCTOR WHO - THE SENSORITES TRAILER - COMING SOON DVD TRAILER (COPYRIGHT BBC AND 2 ENTERTAIN) - YouTube

A talented writer with sadly few film and TV credits, Peter R. Newman’s script has a good science fiction concept that comfortably sustains itself across six episodes, with a basic but interestingly developed alien society rare for early sixties British sci-fi. It’s a story for intelligent children and families that’s firmly of the era, but has held up decently nearly fifty years on.

The alien Sensorites make their first appearance. Images: BBC.

With their large heads and fluffy half Santa beards, the Sensorites of the title are a unique race of aliens to be seen in the shows early but rapid production development. Peaceful, mostly timid creatures, fearful of loud noise and darkness, whose planet has been inflicted with a deadly plague, the aliens are resentful of the humans whom they once trusted, but deep down retain their values as a kind and benefactory lot. Though their writer/creator voiced his disappointment at the time with their ultimate on-screen appearance, I think they’ve held up pretty well as an alternative side to nasty’s like the iconic Daleks and the Cybermen. (As a nice later tribute, modern WHO’s scripting Svengali Russell T. Davis would refer to the race as planetary cousins of his own creations, the popular multi-appearing Ood.)

In the shows realisation, he may not be in the esteemed caliber of WHO stalwarts of the period like Douglas Camfield and Derek Martinus, but series Associate Producer Mervyn Pinfield’s direction is workmanlike and functional, whilst Frank Cox’s handling of later episodes proves better and tighter reined. There’s also some inventive set design from Dalek visualist Raymond P. Cusick, who makes the best available use that he can of the then Riverside’s Studio’s small production confines.

The Doctor (William Hartnell) and Susan (Carole Ann Ford) confer with the creatures.

Of the shows main stars, William Hartnell, all clasping lapels and mixing bumbling grandfather qualities with stern authoritarianism, has a bit of fumbly start during the early episodes with regards to remembering dialogue (and he has a helluva lot to remember, too!) but comes into his stride and impresses greatly from the second episode onwards. WHO fans owe Hartnell so much for the series enduring appeal, alongside a superb original TARDIS companion trio accompanying him for that 1963-64 year.

Stranded in the TARDIS with Doctor Who and his grandchild Susan from the pilot episode onwards, but now firmly along for the ride of their lives in the space/time continuum, the excellent and audience friendly Earth school teachers Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill-who doesn’t appear in the middle episodes of this story, having been given a well-deserved holiday at the time by the producers!) resonate with viewers as a brave and resourceful pair, and as likable as ever.

For this one time, Carole Ann Ford as Susan also manages to get out of her teenage screamer persona (which the actress would frustratingly carry since the second story), with this adventure giving her a bit more to do and presenting us with a welcome return to the more alien side of her character and her abilities: there’s an intriguing moment where she talks about her home world (not yet named Gallifrey) of whom she’s been exiled from, and she gets to show off her telepathic abilities with the Sensorites.

There’s a decent supporting cast including Stephen Dartnell, Ilona Rodgers and Lorne Cossette as the trapped human astronauts, whilst later to be CRACKERJACK star Peter Glaze gives a good performance as the lead Sensorite City Administrator villain.

The Doctor's in danger as he explores the alien city's aqueducts.

It may be nearly fifty years old and a little slow in places to the Nintendo and iPod generation (and probably best watched in 2 episode batches for the younger modern fans of today), but The Sensorites is an intelligent, competent production that’s also a fine addition to the almost near completed releases of Classic WHO.

On the extras side, there’s a short but charming documentary called Looking for Peter, where presenter/comedian Toby Hadoke goes on a quest, with the help of some of his WHO buddies, to find out more about the shows elusive writer, Peter R. Newman, a fun cast and crew commentary with surviving cast and crew members, two nice featurette interviews with then vision mixer Clive Doig about the pride and perils of working on old style early sixties WHO, a basis stills gallery, covering images mostly from the first two episodes of the story, and the show many realised set designs, plus the usual info texts, PDF material (some lovely original Radio Times material and behind the scenes bits from designer Cusick) and a fun COMING SOON trailer for the ambitious three-story release from the REVISITATION series (this time comprising the classic The Robots of Death, Tomb of the Cybermen and The Three Doctors).

Regarded as the forgotten story of William Hartnell’s mostly excellent first season of DOCTOR WHO, The Sensorites arrival on DVD, as usual with a first rate B/W vidfire transfer and sound restoration, will hopefully lend itself to some deserved re-appraisal by fans. It’s another solid edition to the BBC 2ENTERTAIN line of classic WHO stories, and a fine entry for the Hartnell era.

KOOL TV RATING: Story 3.5 out of 5. Extras 4 out of 5

With thanks to the BBC/2ENTERTAIN

FAGS, SLAGS AND BLAGS! THE RETURN OF 'THE SWEENEY'

2012-01-31T07:37:00.000-08:00

In to battle with the new SWEENEY: Ben Drew and Ray Winstone. Image: VERTIGO FILMS.

"We're the Sweeney, son. And we haven't had any dinner!"

Often imitated but never bettered, the gritty, iconic and influential seventies ITV series THE SWEENEY, starring the irrepressibly realistic and much loved portrayals by John Thaw and Dennis Waterman as The Flying Squad's top coppers, Regan and Carter respectively, remains the kipper tied, flare streaking, villain beating granddaddy of all British police drama series. Though an early nineties spin-off featuring the return of Dennis Waterman as Carter sadly never materialised, a new re-imagined version of the Ian Kennedy Martin created series will soon be shooting and shouting its way onto cinema screens in the not too distant future (possibly September), with everyone's favourite cockney actor, Ray Winstone, primarily best known for his portrayal of anti-heroes or characters living and operating within the deeper shades of grey, in the likes of TV's ROBIN OF SHERWOOD (where he was the violent headcase with a heart, Will Scarlet) and his popular detective series VINCENT, as well as in hit films like SEXY BEAST, 44 INCH CHEST and NIL BY MOUTH, bravely taking on the role of Regan in the much anticipated modernised movie from VERTIGO FILMS, brought bang up to date with what will hopefully be both style and substance from popular rising star British director Nick Love, who handled the glossy and enjoyable eighties Brits in Spain crime drama THE BUSINESS and the controversial football hooligan saga THE FOOTBALL FACTORY.

Aiding the reliable and always watchable Winstone is a relative newcomer to acting, but not to the entertainment world in general, Ben Drew (best known by his name as the singer Plan B), who'll playing the young and street-wise thief taker Carter, soon becoming Regan's most trusted friend and crime fighter. The film, which will also star CAPTAIN ACTRESS Hayley Atwell, HOMELAND'S Damian Lewis and Steven Waddington, from a script by Love and John Hodge, looks set to continue the original TV series pen chance for atmospheric location shooting across London, and will surely boast the heavy violence, car chases and gun play that made the original so beloved (it looks like the film will indeed open with an intense robbery gone wrong/ shooting battle between Regan and robbers across the streets of West End London (The Sweeney 2012 - YouTube). A long time coming, and almost cancelled due to numerous budgetary obstacles that had to be overcome (you'd think that the project, with all its prior success, would be a strong gamble worth taking by investors!), to say that this new version of THE SWEENEY is anticipated by the original series intrigued fans, both old and new, would be an understatement!

The original seventies SWEENEY duo: Dennis Waterman as Carter and John Thaw as Regan. Image: ITV/FREEMANTLE MEDIA.

Let's truly hope that this lives up to the potential for a franchise series of great British genre films, to match previous crime saga gems like the aforementioned SEXY BEAST and the classic THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY...

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: 'HUSTLE's KELLY ADAMS

2012-01-30T07:17:00.000-08:00

In the business of deception, Kelly Adams of HUSTLE certainly has our attention. Image: BBC/KUDOS/GRESHAMBLAKE.COM

In the real life world of modern London, distraction crimes by thieves and con artists are sadly on the rise: a fact which is both annoying and frightening for the victims who suffer it on a daily basis. However, if I was ever to be distracted by anyone within the make believe, alternate fantasy world of London, as seen in the hit BBC/KUDOS series HUSTLE, please let it be by the lovely English actress Kelly Adams, who, as stilettoed vixen and razor sharp con artist/femme fatale Emma Kennedy, knows how to help her teammates (including younger brother and fellow grifter, Sean (Matt Di Angelo)) hit their creative mark and make sure that their mission to rob from the best (well worst) of society comes to successful fruition! Along the way, she's also been a mistress of disguise, appearing as anybody from a cleaning lady or leggy secretary to Aussie megastar Kylie Minogue, whom she did an uncanny impersonation of-and looked stunning, too!- during the opening episode of Season Six a couple of years back.

Memorably impersonating Kylie Minogue in HUSTLE Season Six. Image: BBC/KUDOS.

Almost pixie-like in size, with a cute sense of mischief on screen, and most definitely one of the boys on numerous occasions, the lovely Miss Adams, who previously appeared in the long-running BBC hospital soap HOLBY CITY and recent films like the Tom Hardy starring BRONSON, has much in common with her HUSTLE counter-part in the likes of intelligence and charm, too. With her model looks, if she'd been acting in the sixties she'd have made a great AVENGERS girl, or a fine DOCTOR WHO companion now. And, as HUSTLE comes to its end this season, the actress is about to depart England to make way for sunnier climes and a career launch in the US (the right time for her to do it, too, what with the current success of HUSTLE on the BBC AMERICA channel).

Kelly as Emma, with her HUSTLE team-mates for the final series. Image: BBC/KUDOS.

Having stolen British men's hearts, KOOL TV wishes Miss Adams success for the future, and looks forward to seeing her in equally popular series to rival or improve on HUSTLE.

Previous seasons of HUSTLE are available on DVD. The final season continues its run on the UK's BBC 1 HD channel.

YEAR OF HELL! 'THE CLONE WARS' SEASON FOUR CONCLUDES...

2012-01-29T03:27:00.000-08:00

Back from the dead? The evil Darth Maul returns in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. Images: LUCASFILM/CARTOON NETWORK.

The curtain of darkness begins to pull itself ever tighter around our freedom fighting Jedi and Clone Trooper heroes as the fourth series of the hit George Lucas produced, US CARTOON NETWORK showing THE CLONE WARS series approaches the home straight for its final collection of episodes. And a stunning batch they surely look, too. We've already had incredible strides in animation and storytelling this year with some superbly ambitious and thoroughly entertaining multi-part storylines, made in the best STAR WARS tradition by Animation Director Dave Filoni and his team, including the Kadavo Slaves arc, which saw Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano suffer badly against the whips of the Zyggerian Trade Slavers and their Queen in their bold mission to free captured slaves from Kiros, and the Battle for Umbara, which saw the Clint Eastwood-esque Captain Rex and his men going down a dark path as they take on a corrupted Jedi Master on a planet swathed in darkness. In this final eventful batch, getting ever closer to the final evil witnessed in the movie EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH, the stakes are raised to the Nth Degree, with STAR WARS meeting PRISON BREAK for four daring adventurous episodes, as Obi-Wan goes undercover, and becomes bald in the process!, to infiltrate a massive prisoner escape of bounty hunters orchestrated behind the scenes by the evil Sith Lord Count Dooku. There's also a new plot to kidnap galactic leader Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (voiced by the late British actor Ian Abercrombie, who sadly passed away this week) on his home plane of Naboo-the lush fairy-tale like world of palaces and hills seen in EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE (now back in cinemas for the next generation of families to experience, and in 3D!), plus the return of the Prequel Trilogy's most popular and thoroughly aggressive baddie from Dathomir, the horned devil-like Darth Maul, who seemingly escaped prior decapitated death at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber in PHANTOM (we can't wait to see how that happened!) and has returned to wreak his own personal brand of havoc on the Jedi, alongside his newly re-united brother, the equally fierce and battle bloodthirsty Savage Opress (once more voiced by Clancy Brown).

Check out the ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY video preview of Maul's return:'Star Wars: The Clone Wars': Darth Maul | Inside TV | EW.com

A bald Obi-Wan, undercover against the evil Cad Bane, in Friends & Enemies.

Pariah Sith assassin Asajj Ventress takes on the fearsome General Grievous.

In enemy sights: Obi-Wan is the target of an assassin in Deception.

Jedi hero Anakin Skywalker mourns the death of a mentor in Deception.

Along the way, watch out for returning old favourites like the crafty bounty hunter Cad Bane, evil droid General Grievous, the pariah Sith apprentice Asajj Ventress, who continues her quest for lightsaber-wielding justice against Count Dooku for betraying her, and her all-female family: the witchcraft/mystical energy using Nightsisters, led by the mysterious, future predicting Mother Talzin. Oh, and there's gonna be a big army of the undead, too!

More dark side villainy comes in the form of the menacing Savage Opress.

Frustratingly, SKY MOVIES in the UK has abandoned THE CLONE WARS this year, and from now on (presumably to save money whilst they buy up pretty much every other major current American series known to mankind!), though it's hoped that, prior to an eventual DVD and Blu-ray release by WARNER BROTHERS later in the year, it may at least appear on the British CARTOON NETWORK by Easter-time.

Seasons One to Three of THE CLONE WARS are available on Blu-ray and DVD from WARNER BROTHERS.

THE WRATH OF KAAN! DON CHEADLE'S 'HOUSE OF LIES'

2012-01-27T05:24:00.000-08:00

Big fish! Don Cheadle and the cast of HOUSE OF LIES. Images: SHOWTIME.

In today's modern world with all its boom or bust mentalities, no company bosses out there seem to be able to make and take critical business decisions without guidance from that mysterious and elusive domain belonging to the management consultant-the territory of the smarmy, well-dressed egos, who, for the most part, do very little for a great deal of money, which makes their advantageous "it can't happen here, but it does!" world of profit earning and low-risk enterprise easy pickings in becoming a fine black comedy satire, of which the new SHOWTIME series HOUSE OF LIES, created by Matthew Carnahan (and based on the book 'House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Then Tell You the Time'!), looks set to critically fulfil that function and provide us with some razor sharp storytelling and characterisation taking things up a notch in the growing genre.

He's got all the aces! Don Cheadle as Consultant Marty Kaan!

Be honest, could you resist Kristen Bell?

Film star Don Cheadle, already mixing comedy and drama in past projects like the OCEAN'S ELEVEN saga (I've forgiven him for his terrible attempt at a British accent!), and more recently opposite Brendan Gleeson in the quirky Irish cop themed THE GUARD, may be in one his smoothest and savvy roles yet as the likably ruthless, take-no-prisoners big shark in the fish pond management consultant/spin doctor Marty Kaan, who'll do anything above and below the law (that they can get away with!) to makes sure that outside multi-national companies and their mostly weak-willed bosses know that they need his advice in order to survive and thrive. Along for the ride and the lucrative commissions, Kaan has an equally competitive and no less goal reaching team to assist him, including the lovely ex-HEROES/VERONICA MARS star Kristen Bell-no stranger to dipping her toes in both high drama and high comedy, as the devious blond temptress Jeannie Van Der Hooven. Outside his hire 'em and fire 'em world of enterprise and mind games, Marty also has a continuing battle royale on his hands with his fiery wife, Monica (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES Dawn Oliveri)-his major business rival- and has to content with his opinionated and psychoanalyst father, Jeremiah (Glynn Turman), who helps keep the peace where possible between the separated duo and helps look after their son, Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.), a smart kid who's proving to be just as inventive and adaptive in his growing pains as his old man. As they say, "like father like son!"

Trailer: House of Lies - House of Lies Trailer - YouTube

Garnering mostly prositive reviews, the 12 episode season run, which has just started States-side and includes in its guest cast THE WEST WING's Richard Schiff, will be airing on the UK's SKY ATLANTIC channel from the Summer.

"MAKE IT SO!" 'STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION' ARRIVES ON BLU-RAY

2012-01-26T03:29:00.000-08:00

Born for adversity. The new Enterprise crew of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Images: CBS TELEVISION.

Last night, those kind people at CBS TELEVISION, and their publicity teams, invited KOOL TV to an exciting screening of the upcoming, keenly anticipated STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION taster Blu-ray (comprising three specially selected fan favourite episodes: the feature-length launch story Encounter at Farpoint, Season Three's Klingon drama of family honour and intrigue: Sins of the Father, and the acclaimed Season Five tale The Inner Light), and seeing in the start of the company's ambitious and painstakingly re-mastered and restored picture and sound quality- season by season- of the ground-breaking and much beloved series in the new format, with a full showing of the 1987 pilot episode Encounter at Farpoint.

Trailer: Star Trek TNG - HD New Trailer 2012 - YouTube

And I have to say that, from the quality of just this episode, fans of the NEXT GENERATION, and the adventures of its crew headed by intrepid explorer Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played with style and authority by Patrick Stewart) are in for an absolute treat. The picture quality transfer of the new film print was outstanding, with stunning detail and colour depth that I'd never seen before, which really bought out all the hard work done by the shows dedicated and long-serving behind the scenes team (especially with the costume designs of the alien Q (played by John de Lancie, who makes his first appearance in the show) and the Enterprise crew (the Blu-ray is so sharp you can see the texture of the fabrics). INDUSTRIAL LIGHT AND MAGIC's pioneering original pre-CGI model effects for the pilot have not been tampered with-they didn't need to be- also look better than ever (watch out for Q's chain mail energy wall that traps the Enterprise, and the ship's landmark saucer section separation as FX highlights). Story-wise, the opener may be slow by today's fast paced viewing standards, but there are lots of fine introductory moments for our new cast, along with a lovely passing of the torch scene moment between CLASSIC TREK veteran DeForest Kelly as Dr. McCoy and the android Mister Data (Brent Spiner, whose characters green eyes have never looked greener on Blu-ray!) which remains as one of the spin-off series most touching scenes.

Pristine condition! The new crew on the bridge of the Enterprise.

The Enterprise encounters the malevolent Q in the series opener.

The late DeForest Kelly, playing an aged Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, makes a nostalgic cameo with Brent Spiner as Mister Data.

So, all you TREKKERS out there, prepare to be phaser stunned by The Next Level of THE NEXT GENERATION (the legend of watching crummy washed out VHS and DVD copies finally vanquished!), which, as the next seven years unfold, will surely prove to be a continuing and stylish tribute to its creator Gene Roddenberry (and we can't wait to see what classic episodes from the shows Third Season, including time-travel epic "Yesterday's Enterprise" and Borg-busting "Best of Both Worlds" part one, will look like in their new-look!).

The journey "Where No One Has Gone Before" begins anew on Blu-ray!

Get the taster Blu-ray disc here: Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level Blu-ray Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV

A KOOL TV look back at the making of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Season One:
"WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE!" - THE BIRTH OF "STAR TREK : THE NEXT GENERATION" | KOOL TV

Check out these great features on the upcoming Blu-rays here: TNG :: TrekCore
Star Trek: The Next Generation Blu-ray is “to honour the fans” | SciFiNow

Patrick Stewart talks about STAR TREK: BBC News - Hardtalk - Stewart: Star Trek was 'going to be a failure'

BEYOND BAUER! KIEFER SUTHERLAND HAS THE "TOUCH"

2012-01-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

A new destiny for Martin Bohm (Kiefer Sutherland) and son Jake (David Mazouz) awaits in the new series TOUCH. Images: FOX.

It looks like 2012 is going to be a great year for fans of Kiefer Sutherland. Not only has the popular actor confirmed that he will be (finally!) returning to play patriot counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer, now outside the States- still working in real-time- and globe-trotting onwards in the spectacular fight against the worst of the worst baddies for the 24 movie, shooting from April, and hopefully for theatrical release at the end of the year or into 2013, but the greenlight was also given at the end of last year by FOX for a full season order of his new family/fantasy TV series vehicle TOUCH, created by popular HEROES/CROSSING JORDAN visionary Tim Kring.

In a nice change of pace from playing the angry, ballistic missile speeding action hero that is Jack B.-and an attempt by the actor and series creator to bring more emotional resonance to the small screen, TOUCH has Kiefer playing Martin Bohm, a family man who discovers that his 11 year old special needs son, Jake (David Mazouz), has the incredible ability to predict the future before it happens: a condition that will surely bring the best and worse of humanity knocking on their door, and beyond, as father and son have the ability to save lives and right wrongs (possibly before they even happen), alongside all the other potential knock-on effect consequences their actions will involve down the line...

Trailer: Touch - Trailer (HD) starring Kiefer Sutherland - YouTube

TOUCH gives KOOL TV yet another fine opportunity to put up a picture of lovely Brit actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw!

The series, which premieres its pilot episode on January 25th (before its full debut in March), also stars the lovely ex-UNDERCOVERS star Gugu Mbatha-Raw (a series regular) as a social worker who becomes involved in the life and protection of the child, and also Danny Glover, always a fine character acting presence, as a professor who helps guide the Bohm's in their new lives. Plus, appearing in the pilot episode, comes LOST's cool and dangerous"Smoke Creature" manifestation, Titus Welliver, as a stranger who holds the key to saving a group of lives at a specific time.

Let's hope that this series truly has the touch necessary to deliver a compulsive storyline and engaging characters without bogging the viewing audiences down in too much saccharine and sentimentality. If it can capture the same kind of balance that made the first and best series of Kring's HEROES so landmark, then it'll surely be a major winner!

AHEAD OF THE PACK! DUSTIN HOFFMAN HAS "LUCK"

2012-01-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

Never tell him the odds! Dustin Hoffman stars in LUCK. Images: HBO.

No stranger to exploring the seedy side of the American underworld, with its intriguing characters and all-encompassing tentacles into business and entertainment, iconic film and TV genre crossing writer/director Michael Mann, with an already legendary string of TV hits like MIAMI VICE and CRIME STORY under his belt, as well as atmospheric and action-packed film dramas like the epic HEAT, PUBLIC ENEMIES and COLLATERAL, returns to the small screen once again with what looks set to be another stylish and memorably addictive series, this time combining all his favourite aforementioned ingredients and launching them into the exciting and darkly menacing behind the scenes world of the seemingly glamorous "Sport of Kings", for HBO's upcoming series LUCKY, co-created with the striking creative presence of DEADWOOD/NYPD BLUE's David Milch. A new dynamic duo of genre trend setters, in their combined behind the scenes collaborative process they've gone on to garner an incredible all-star group of lead actors for the project (including Jill Hennessy, Michael Gambon (who has the look that US castings directors just love using), Dennis Farina (a Michael Mann acting veteran), Joan Allen (her first TV series work), Nick Nolte (playing a Kentucky racing trainer) and MURDER ONE's Jason Gedrick), headed by the welcome snaring of one of the best of the best in character acting: Dustin Hoffman, in a first of a kind role for him on television, playing the type of individual we've always enjoyed watching him become in the past, if now a more heightened and dangerous presence. In LUCKY he is the influential and admired/feared (in equal measure) crime boss Ace Bernstein, now out of prison having taken the rap for other members of his money amassing cartel brotherhood and well and truly owed a new and successful life in the gambling industry linked to the world of the California Horse Track. Bernstein may be bitter, but he's also clever, shadily manipulative, disreputable and, most of the time, a likably unlikable, and dangerous, rogue: a welcome and far cry from all the character roles he's had in light and frothy films of the last few years. More of this please...

Hoffman as the newly released gangster Ace Bernstein.

Here's a few trailers: Luck Season 1: Breeders Cup Trailer - YouTube
Luck Season 1: Blood Trailer - YouTube
Luck Season 1 Trailer - YouTube
Luck - Behind the Scenes - YouTube

Bernstein with Mob frontman and friend Gus Economou (Dennis Farina)

A nine part story of lady-luck, hubris, love, money, power and ambition, where angels and demons mix violently amidst what will surely be an addictive adrenaline visual rush of colour and energy, look out for LUCK's series debut proper in the US from January 29th (its pilot episode having already aired to critical success last month) and from February on the UK's SKY ATLANTIC.

KOOL TV HEROINE OF THE WEEK. "SOUTHLAND"s REGINA KING AS DETECTIVE LYDIA ADAMS.

2012-01-18T07:48:00.000-08:00

L.A.'s finest! Regina King as Detective Lydia Adams in SOUTHLAND. Images: TNT.

Last years season of the hit Los Angeles police drama SOUTHLAND was hard on all of its main series characters with regards to its realistic, often brutal story lines and subplots (and just the way we viewers like it, too!), but especially the case for the always likable detective Lydia Adams, played with confident and amiable ease by Regina King. Yep, it was a pretty cruddy time for Lydia: firstly, she suffered an unwarranted suspension period after the partner she enjoyed working with and cared for, Detective Russell Clarke (Tome Everett Scott), prior injured and facing a rough time for the future on an invalid pension, ended up betraying her confidence and trust for good, making a lot of money out of some stolen celebrity murder crime scene pictures that she had taken, then she had an on and off relationship with her new female partner, the fiery Mexican Josie Ochoa (Jenny Gago), who, just as they were finally establishing an effective working partnership, accused her of being a "cradle snatcher" when she found out she was dating her police officer son- Lydia, for a short period, having been previously unaware of his parentage. And then, towards seasons end, having no choice but to single-handedly, and extremely bravely, take on a loony-tune machine gun wielding maniac in a tensely atmospheric warehouse/factory building siege situation. Meanwhile, outside of her work (which she most of the time adores), her romantic life remains at its lowest ebb, with her mother Enid (LOST's L. Scott Caldwell), now returned from overseas, continuing to enjoy more between-the-sheets relationship action than she is!

On the night-watch: Officers Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) and John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) and Detectives Lydia Adams (Regina King) and Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy).

And yet, despite all this, Lydia Adams is a born survivor-one of the best and brightest of the LA PD, who'll take things on with determination and natural ability. She's brilliant at her job: gutsy, one of the boys in some respects, and intuitive- not afraid to pursue a line of enquiry to the end wherever it takes her, and however it affects her and her relationships. She's also a caring and compassionate woman whom viewers resonate with and respect-check out last seasons tragic storyline where she comforted a key witness to a murder dying from a ricocheted bullet in the brain. Despite a long and strong list of film and TV credits over the past ten years, this may well be Regina King's finest role yet, and one she was born to play. We look forward to future developments for Lydia (including working with her new partner: Southland Regina King Dorian Missick New Partner N0ew Mentor - YouTube), alongside further deepening character acting opportunities for Miss King, within the new series, which has just started its new fourth season run on the TNT channel States-side (and which will hopefully come to the UK's MORE4 channel by at least late Summer).

Lydia is firmly in the driving seat for the now airing SOUTHLAND Season Four.

Season Four promo: Southland Season 4 promo - YouTube

That SOUTHLAND- created by Ann Biderman: one of US television's best and standout series of the last few years, and with its talented actors and behind the scenes team - was not nominated in the Golden Globe Awards this year, or for the Emmy's last, was, in my book, damned frustrating. Let's hope that 2012 finally provides the effective wake-up call that gets the attention of the industry insider voters!

THUNDERBALLS! THE RETURN OF "ARCHER"

2012-01-17T03:53:00.000-08:00

From ARCHER with love! Images: FX.

That barely comptent spy with the inflated ego, drink problem and mommy issues- ARCHER: an agent for the ISIS organisation who, unlike James Bond and Napoleon Solo, has a license to bore to death, is back for more animated comedy delights in Season Three of the offbeat and highly enjoyable comedy series/adult spoof of all our favourite secret agent heroes, heroines and eye patched baddies, about to begin new episode screenings in the US on FX from January 19th (and presumably on FIVE USA in the UK in the not too distant future, too).

Burt Reynolds is captured, but can Archer be bothered to help?!

This time around the series gets more of a story arc with Sterling Malory Archer (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin), codenamed Duchess, missing in (in)action since the murder of his fiancee on their wedding day (sound familiar?), literally having to be forced back to his day job after enjoying life as a Pirate King on a tropical island! From then on in, the trials and tribulations of being all-things spy worsen as strong willed mum Malory (voiced with gusto and biting superiority by Jessica Walters) begins dating Burt Reynolds (yes, the real Burt Reynold, who makes a welcome guest star turn in the series!), much to her waywardly vain son's dismay. And look out for an upcoming episode with BREAKING BAD's Bryan Cranston, too, who'll be lending his vocal range as a baddie astronaut later in the season, for a two-part plot which sends Archer into space!

Clips: Archer only on FX - Longest Yard - YouTube
Watch an Exclusive Scene from Archer! - YouTube
Archer Season 3 What Would Archer Do? Promos - MovieWeb.com
"Archer" Returns to FX for Season 3 on January 19, 2012- Animation News Discussion Cartoon Community - toonzone news

ARCHER Seasons One and Two are also available on Blu-ray and DVD from TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT.

MELTDOWN! "EDGE OF DARKNESS" RETURNS...

2012-01-16T04:03:00.000-08:00

On the brink of sanity. Ronald Craven (Bob Peck) remembers his late daughter in EDGE OF DARKNESS. Images: BBC.

Rightly regarded as one of the seminal drama presentations of the BBC, launched from it's original transmission in November 1985, Troy Kennedy Martin’s eco/political thriller/ mystery character drama EDGE OF DARKNESS (now showing on the UK’s VIRGIN TV ON DEMAND viewing service) continues to live up to it's superb reputation as a true and flawless masterpiece of television, not just within the circles of television production of the UK but anywhere in the world, with a superbly structured and emotionally resonant six part script, crisp dialogue and memorably carved characters, alongside a fine cast of actors- most notably from a bitterly determined and weary, haunted eyed Bob Peck as Detective Ronald Craven, a very young and responsible Joanne Whalley as his daughter Emma- unexpectedly and savagely murdered in front of her father in what at first appears to be a terrifying revenge attack from one of his past criminal enemies- and the bulky and powerful presence of Joe Don Baker as Darius Jedburgh, a gung-ho, loose cannon CIA agent and friend of Craven’s who, in a memorable love/hate partnership of cynicism and professionalism, investigate the true reason for Emma’s death, on a journey sending them deep into the corrupting heart of UK and American politics- a “special relationship” of business power never more complex and life-threatening- and to the core of a dangerous “hot cell” within a damaged nuclear storage facility…

The new eco warriors: Craven with CIA rogue Darius Jedburgh (Joe Don Baker).

Alongside this top level acting trio bringing to life an outstanding and worthy tale (which even has hints of sci-fi in its mix) of our very worst fears for planet Earth’s future, there’s also a fine cadre of supporting players portraying friend and foe, including Zoe Wanamaker, John Woodvine, Charles Kay and Ian McNeice – a true cream dream of the Thespian crop.

EDGE’s role as a modern morality play is more relevant than ever in its revealing, scary and disturbing social and geo-political messages, but at its heart it’s a personal and powerful study of grief, isolation and the almost loss of sanity experienced by Craven with the murder of his daughter. In all areas of this fine-tuned storytelling, the series is backed up with evocative, sometimes nightmarish cinematography from top notch talent Andrew Wearing and gritty, sometimes fiercely assured direction from then rising star Martin Campbell, at home in both character, atmosphere and action environs, and who’d soon after completing the series go on to become a most wanted movie director of modern blockbusters like JAMES BOND (helming two of its best films: GOLDENEYE and CASINO ROYALE) and the Antonio Banderas starring ZORRO adventures. It would also be fair to say that everyone involved in this production would go onto bigger and equally ambitious productions on the strength of EDGE’s quality, especially series music composer, Michael Kamen (sadly passed in 2003), who provided the memorable and bittersweet main theme alongside legendary guitarist Eric Clapton.

Craven with daughter Emma (Joanne Whalley), a young woman with dark secrets...

So good that once it was shown on BBC 2- to later award-winning acclaim and strong audiences- the BBC immediately put it on it's premiere, bigger audience BBC 1 channel as well (so as to capitalise on its deserved success), the eventually made and revised modern US movie version of EDGE, starring Mel Gibson, appearing in 2010, and once more directed by Campbell, failed to capture the originality, drama and success of its original initiator, and proved to be a well made but overall disappointment: no doubt suffering from a major case of having too many behind-the-scenes cooks spoiling the creative broth. The loss of planned lead co-star Robert De Niro probably didn't help, either. So, just get all that out of your mindset as you immerse yourself in the dark and tragic canvas that is the original BBC drama: a fine and moving testament to the acting legacy of the late Bob Peck, who died in 1999 at the far too young age of 54.

Craven discovers the terrible truth about the Northmoor facility...

And at night, as you peek out of your windows from an interrupted sleep, watch out for those un-marked freight trains and their cargo's as they travel slowly along the railway lines to their unknown destinations. After watching EDGE, I guarantee you'll never look at them in the same way again!

EDGE OF DARKNESS is available on DVD from 2ENTERTAIN.

KOOL TV CLASSIC IMAGE: "STEPTOE AND SON"

2012-01-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

How the other half live! Harry H. Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell as the unique pairing of STEPTOE & SON. Image: BBC.

Shepherd's Bush's finest Rag and Bone family partnership, cantankerous Albert and son Harold Steptoe, desperate to do better for himself and escape the shackles of looking after his old man, continue their war of words and ideals in the classic Ray Galton and Alan Simpson created series STEPTOE AND SON. Certainly living up to its reputation as one of the the true British comedy greats of the BBC during its noteworthy golden age of television from the mid-sixties to early seventies. and now celebrating its Fiftieth Anniversary in 2012 (which we hope will be a lavish affair by the TV corporation, and at least some special DVD releases), the scripts for the nearly twelve year running series (and also spawning two very enjoyable spin-off films) were always first class, and beautifully brought to life by respected actors Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett (two fine examples of the importance of great Casting Directors in TV), whose love/hate relationship on-screen was not only shared by the characters being watched every week on the corner box but sadly existed off-screen between the actors, too, over a lengthy period of time. Despite the behind the scenes problems, however, the laughter the show brought cannot be underestimated and must always be valued. Another strength, and unique string to the series bow, was its pathos and bittersweet life observations which will never date, where you could always certainly relate to the characters and their troubles and frustrations-just like real life you can't choose the family you live with!

Though the early black and white seasons of the show, sprung from a test pilot episode for the COMEDY PLAYHOUSE series, are highly regarded, for me personally it would be the colour years of the show in the early seventies that remain the absolute standouts, standing up to the test of time particularly well, especially during the mid-eighties when the show was repeated in a prime-time BBC 1 slot and garnered huge ratings figures of up to ten million viewers (with many older viewers not having seen it in reruns for years, whilst younger children got to enjoy the seres and main characters for the first time, and wanted to see more). My personal favourite colour episodes have to include And So to Bed... (Harold wants to improve his lovelife and buys a water bed, with disastrous results when Albert gets near it!), The Seven Steptoerai (Harold has a run in with the local gangsters, and it's up to Albert and his Bruce Lee movie loving pensioners to get him out of danger), The Desperate Hours (two on the run fugitives (including a brilliant performance from the late Leonard Rossiter) break into the Steptoe's abode and stay the night-with the pairs soon discovering that they have a lot of emotional baggage in common!), Divided We Stand (Harold, so frustrated with his father, decides to split the house in half, so as to make a life for himself! But he hasn't reckoned on Albert's determination to have the best for himself!), Upstairs, Downstairs, Upstairs, Downstairs (where Harold suspects foul-play regarding his bed-ridden father after someone keeps stealing his downstairs secret stash of pink Liquorice Allsorts!) and Men of Letters (Albert and Harold clash over working for the local church magazine, whilst Albert's crossword contribution causes chaos to clean living religious folk!).

If you've never seen the series before, especially today's younger viewers, it's well worth a look-in. US viewers reading this blog might not know the series by its title in the UK, but they'll certainly know it in its American TV incarnation as SANFORD & SON during the seventies (of which up to 16 episodes were adapted from the original BBC series).

Classic Episode clips:

1/3 Steptoe & Son...The Desperate Hours - YouTube
1/3 Steptoe & Son...Divided We Stand - YouTube
1/3 Steptoe & Son...The Seven Steptoerai - YouTube
1/3 Steptoe & Son...And So To Bed - YouTube

You can get the complete series of STEPTOE & SON on BBC DVD here: The Complete Steptoe & Son [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Harry H. Corbett, Wilfrid Brambell: Film & TV

BACK IN THE FIRM WITH "THE GOOD WIFE"

2012-01-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

Leggy litigator! Julianna Margulies returns as THE GOOD WIFE. Image: CBS.

KOOL TV ends its week's showcasing of powerful and attractive ladies in new and recurring series (all of whom firmly live up to Destiny's Child's Independent Women musical coda!) with the return of the lovely Julianna Margulies, having resolutely broken her ER stethoscope once and for all, as litigator turned mother then back to litigator Alicia Florrick for the new third series of THE GOOD WIFE, airing in the UK from tonight, and wittily declared by the GUARDIAN newspaper website, gamely trying to get stronger viewer interest in this stylish and intelligent series, as one of the best drama shows on television you've probably never watched!

This season, though, let's hope that situation changes for the better for the MORE 4 channel, as the CBS drama, created by Robert King and Michelle King, kicks into further gear with a new batch of intriguing, thought provoking and stylish episodes, backed up with slowly addictive character arcs, as Alicia, now a third-year associate at the highly competitive and powerful dog eats dog legal firm realm of Lockhart-Gardner, continues to work hard and play hard whilst still trying to be a good mother to her two children: she's certainly the truest definition yet of a multi-tasker! And, within such a complex life, the "play hard" aspects of her life are ably showcased by her developing special relationship with law firm partner Will Gardner (Josh Charles), whilst still trying to erase the shadows and legacy left by her deceitful ex-husband: the man with the conniving smile, Peter Florrick (Chris Noth).

Trailer: The Good Wife Season 3 Promo 3 EXTENDED /Addicted to Love - YouTube

Guest stars this year include the return of Michael J. Fox as the crafty and razor sharp lawyer Louis Canning, as well as other heavyweight notables the likes of F. Murray Abraham, the lovely Parker Posey, HOUSE's ex, Lisa Edelstein, and AMERICAN PIE's "dipper" Jason Biggs, whilst plots include Alicia involved in an English libel case (good luck with that one!), dealing with a race murder, the death of a key witness, the shooting of a husband by his policewoman wife, and taking on the might of a belligerent US military defence contractor with very powerful political friends behind the scenes.

It looks like the legal book lined corridors of Lockhart-Gardner are going to be very busy this year!

Seasons One and Two of THE GOOD WIFE are also available on DVD from PARAMOUNT.

KOOL TV WANTS ON BLU-RAY: "GERRY ANDERSON'S NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET"

2012-01-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

Clashing colours! The heroic Captain Scarlet and SPECTRUM take on the evil Captain Black and the Mysterons in THE NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET. Images: ITV

Abysmally treated and under-appreciated by the ITV network which put the series in terrible, cut to pieces early weekend morning and mid-afternoon weekday time slots when it actually deserved a much better airing to wider and more appreciative family audiences in an assured early evening slot, GERRY ANDERSON'S NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET, the re-imagined CGI version of the iconic Gerry and Sylvia Anderson sixties puppet series CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS, was a terrific and innovative experiment that lasted two seasons in 2005 and 2006 (though only Season One was screened by ITV (let's face it, despite its sterling co-funding, the channel wasn't sophisticated enough to know what to do with the show or trust it to find an audience!)) and would prove the first fully and expensively made UK CGI series out of the starting gate and ahead of the pack, appearing several years before George Lucas came along with his own equally pioneering CGI series, THE CLONE WARS, from 2008 onwards.

And this new SCARLET wasn't just kid's stuff, either, retaining the originals quite sophisticated tome as well as proving just as violent - characters good and bad died in horrible, but inventively realised, ways, whilst the series enemy combatants, the alien Mysterons (enraged with Humanity after a disastrous First Contact situation had previously gone tragically wrong) were basically using savage terrorist/guerrilla-style war tactics against the peoples of the Earth, its resources and the SPECTRUM operation, whose brave colour coded men and women would lead the spirited fight back. The series was also more serious and less humorous than other previous and future Anderson adventure series forays, too, though the actual concept of our Mysteron-ised lead star (no longer voiced in the same Cary Grant- inspired way by Francis Matthews, but now bearing a more Americanised twang from Wayne Forester instead) being indestructible, killed before our eyes every week, then literally coming back to life to fight anew, would prove pretty freakish an idea if you think about it! Fortunately, beyond those mild zombie-like concerns, the series, alongside scripts from some fine TV writers including DOCTOR WHO/SARAH JANE ADVENTURES writer-to-be Phil Ford and Brian Finch, would continue to happily smother us with notable, then ahead of their time, CGI visuals and action whilst retaining the formats core essence, from the technology (the Spectrum Cloud Base being so good that DOCTOR WHO's lead writer Russell T. Davis would celebratory rip it in off in the David Tennant era!), ships (like the Spectrum Rhino TRU tank and the ships piloted by those plucky and wonderful Angels girls: Destiny, Harmony and Rhapsody) and weaponry that had long become an iconic and commercial toy-selling fixture of children's television history which all of the Anderson shows have overall enjoyed and sustained over fifty years.

Original teaser/test trailer: Captain Scarlet CGI Trailer from 2000 - YouTube
Behind the scenes of the new show: Gerry Anderson Presents "The New Captain Scarlet" - YouTube
New Captain Scarlet - Trailer (2) - YouTube

A new Captain Scarlet for a new TV series re-birth.

A consistent seller on DVD, and enjoying a very loyal fan base, I've often felt that the CGI SCARLET series still hasn't reached its full potential with the viewing public, especially modern children whom I know would greatly enjoy it. Gerry Anderson-always striving to provide quality modern entertainment- may now be proceeding with a new CGI version of the his universally loved THUNDERBIRDS (though intriguingly, and wisely, keeping the visuals in the same style as the original puppet work), but, in the build up to that resurrection, I think that 2012 would be a great and effective time to re-promote the adventures of Earth's finest immortal super agent across both classic and modern series on Blu-ray, and in the deserved highest standards possible.

Spectrum is still green!

Check out the highly detailed series episode guide here: NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET EPISODE GUIDE

Buy the series here: Home - Play.com (UK) - Free Delivery

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "UNFORGETTABLE"s POPPY MONTGOMERY

2012-01-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

Total Recall! Poppy Montgomery is the memory fuelled Carrie Wells in UNFORGETTABLE. Images: CBS TV.

With her red-headed sex appeal, ever pouty lips and shapely, kick ass figure, the determined and more confident new-look for American actress Poppy Montgomery clearly shows within her equally shiny new star vehicle, the mystery drama/cop thriller series UNFORGETTABLE, showing exclusively on the UK's SKY LIVING HD channel from tonight at 9pm, and a positive step away from the previous role she had as part of an ensemble in the also hit drama series WITHOUT A TRACE (as the talented blond haired FBI agent/ people tracker, the intriguingly named Samantha Spade!), and her recentish biopic portrayal of celebrated HARRY POTTER author J.K. Rowling.

In this new CBS show, Montgomery plays Carrie Wells, a fiery and subtly enigmatic former police detective from Syracuse, blessed with a rare ability: Hyperthymesia, a rare medical condition which has given her incredible and flawless cognitive memory abilities where she can see, remember and recall everything and every experience she's ever had, and a gift that certainly makes her capable of giving Benedict Cumberbatch's snootily clever version of SHERLOCK HOLMES a run for his money in the mental agility and detection stakes, as well as giving Casino bosses a terrible headache in the gambling stakes! Snappily introduced atop Lady Gaga's "Born this Way" single, Montgomery makes a strong mark in the pilot episode's opening scenes, ably proving herself a series lead.

Trailer: Poppy Montgomery - Unforgettable - Meet Carrie Wells - YouTube

Carrie with partner-in-detection, Al Burns (Dylan Walsh).

Co-starring with NIP/TUCK's dedicated ex-surgeon Dylan Walsh, as Detective Al Burns, whom her character is re-partnered with despite the fact that the pair were ex-lovers (see the complex verbal fireworks that ensue!), upcoming episodes from the first twenty episode season being investigated by Carrie include the continuing, and haunting, sub-plot involving her teenage sisters murder (the only event that the heroine can't quite remember in detail), uncovering the truth behind a destroyed crime scene area, and taking on the usual corrupt cops that always seem to be lurking somewhere within the depths of the numerous New York City police departments. Developed for television by Ed Redlich and John Bellucci for CBS, from the original short story The Rememberer (written by J. Robert Lennon), UNFORGETTABLE is a well-made and glossy series, which, with its strong lead performance from Montgomery- another strong American female role of note from these last few years, looks set to have all the ingredients to make it a perfect new series addition for the dominant SKY LIVING channel and its equally dedicated core UK viewership. With the hopeful potential for some intriguing storylines and further character development-it could be the next MEDIUM-type success if it plays its cards right, its current solid ratings success in the US looks likely to see in a second season...

Check out UNFORGETTABLE's official site here: Unforgettable - Brand new and exclusive - Sky Living HD and Unforgettable on CBS.com

COSTA DEL NIGHTMARE! "MAD DOGS" SERIES TWO

2012-01-09T06:31:00.000-08:00

Head-ing for trouble, those MAD DOGS (left to right: Max Beesley, Philip Glenister, John Simm and Marc Warren) are probably wishing they'd gone to Florida! It's time for Season Two of MAD DOGS. Image: LEFT BANK PICTURES.

Literally in it up to their necks in bovver, those four mid-life crisis friends (Woody (Max Beesley), Rick (Marc Warren), Baxter (John Simm) and Quinn (Philip Glenister)) continue having the worst time you could ever experience on a holiday island, returning for the second series of SKY ONE HD's inventive and high quality black comedy/drama series MAD DOGS (from next Thursday 19th). And things looked particularly bleak last year for Quinn, who, having shot the crooked police woman Maria (Maria Botto), valiantly decided to sacrifice himself to the looming presence of Spanish hitman Dominic (Tim Woodward) so as to let his three friends escape to Ibiza-and even further away if possible!- from the trouble they had accidentally, and foolhardily, got themselves ensconced in during the four terrifically enjoyable and surreal episodes of Season One, which quickly went on to garner strong ratings and very loyal audience appreciation.

With the aforementioned Quinn's fate having looked decidedly sealed, this new season literally picks up mere minutes after that inventively shot and acted closing scene, going into a new scenario described by the cast as "a bit of a road movie" that looks set to multiple everything bad by a factor of twenty, and within a bold and even more ambitious storyline which the shows producers promise is more explosive and inventive than what had been seen previously in Season One, introducing a plot that brings more death and rigor mortis (of which Rick had prior become an expert in the field!), that 3 million euros of drug money, an exploding caravan, and a strange and surely to be iconic new character called "Wheezy"- described in the press as an "obsessive, oxygen tank carrying OAP." It'll be interesting to see if this new character creation can possibly top the deadly and highly memorable antics of actor Tomas Pozzi, seen last year as the brilliant little "Tony Blair" killer!

Once more written by creator Cris Cole, and now directed by James Hawes, best known for his inventive work on the BBC's DOCTOR WHO and MERLIN, here's the current trailer for the series, with added goats and religious iconography no less: 'Mad Dogs': Series 2 teaser trailer

THE NEXT "IRON LADY" OR A "WOMAN OF STRAW"? "BORGEN" SEASON ONE

2012-01-07T04:16:00.000-08:00

Fielding press fire, Birgitte Nielborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen) takes to the political spotlight in BORGEN. Images: DBC.

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Well, rising star politician turned Prime Minister Birgitte Nielborg (played by the lovely Sidse Babett Knudsen) is going to find out whether this is true the hard way in the new Danish political drama series BORGEN, created by Adam Price, showing in double-bill episodes starting from tonight on the UK's BBC 4 (and BBC HD): a channel which continues to deserve its great success and accolades in showcasing great overseas drama within their now unique and unmissable Saturday night strands, having first hit the big-time when they lucked out with the incredible popularity and general addictiveness that was the original and best version of THE KILLING. In fact, one of BORGEN's likely strengths is that its from the same producers/writers of that show, which had strong doses of government intrigue and skulduggery hard-wired into its sub-plots, so we can expect high quality writing and characterisation, strong casting and atmospheric direction within the cold, often repressed, but intriguing climes of Denmark. Borgen is the actual setting for the show, the name of the Danish parliament (also known as the Gothic sounding "The Castle"!) where all the drama begins for the aforementioned Nielborg, a sharply intelligent and determined woman whose rise to fame in the political arena as both a politician and role-model wife/mother sees her quickly having to live up to the strong ideals she promised her constituents when originally elected to office. But with so much corruption, power plays, forged alliances, frightening Spin Doctors and back stabbing from both colleagues within her own party and from her bitter, revenge fuelled rivals, is it possible to maintain such a strong defencive wall to forge ahead with what needs to be done, and at the same time maintain a healthy and happy family life against the pressures and consequences of office? Will the unwanted road to compromise surely become inevitable?

Family values. Birgitte with husband Phillip (THE KILLING's Mikael Birkkjaer) and children at a press frenzy.

Terrific series title sequence: Borgen - Title sequence & identity on the Behance Network

With a strong and believable central performance from Knudsen, and fine acting support from the likes of Johan Philip Asbaek as Birgitte's clever Spin Doctor Kasper Jull, and Birgitte Hjort Sorenson as his ex-girlfriend, fiery and ambitious newswoman Katrine Fonsmark, adding interest to the series concurrent sub-plot strands, its no wonder that BORGEN's original ten episode run, dubbed by some critics the "Danish West Wing" would go on to great critical and public acclaim within its home territory, along with sure-fire second and third season commissions. Plans are also underway for a re-make by the US TV channel NBC, following the prior AMC success in adapting THE KILLING, where it will surely be intriguing to see who they cast in the lead role, and whether the chosen actress can live up to what has been established on screen by the charismatic Knudsen...

Birgitte holds her own in a political debate during the opening episode.

Birgitte with her main men: advisers Bent Serjo (Lars Knutzon) and Kasper Juul (Johan Philip Asbaek)

BORGEN will also be released on DVD in the UK from 6th February from AMAZON: Borgen - Series 1 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Johan Philip Asbæk, Mikael Birkkjær, Søren Malling, Thomas Levin, Emil Poulsen, Freja Riemann, Adam Price: Film & TV).

Season Two of BORGEN is also available on DVD outside the UK.

KOOL TV REVIEW: "DOCTOR WHO - U.N.I.T FILES" DVD

2012-01-05T03:30:00.000-08:00

DOCTOR WHO: U.N.I.T FILES – INVASION OF THE DINOSAURS and THE ANDROID INVASION

Released as a double DVD (three discs) from 2ENTERTAIN

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Monsters from the dawn of time and creatures from the farthest reaches of deep space threaten Humanity, and only the Time Lord alien known as The Doctor, alongside his trusty friends from the Earth-based military organisation U.N.I.T, led by the stalwart Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (the much missed Nicholas Courtney), can gallantly save the day in two lively new DOCTOR WHO adventures released by the BBC and 2ENTERTAIN- Invasion of the Dinosaurs and The Android Invasion – part of the U.N.I.T. FILES box set sprung from the well that was the shows seventies peak of success, and written by two of the series most distinctive writers-Malcolm Hulke and Dalek creator Terry Nation, both of whom would put their indelible mark on WHO’s long term story-telling history.

Invasion of the Dinosaurs gets things off to a fine start with the eerie atmosphere of a deserted London: it's people evacuated due to a menace not revealed to the newly arrived investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith (the always lovely and talented actress Elisabeth Sladen) and The Doctor (in his third Dandy’ish incarnation, played with charm by Jon Pertwee) until the mid-part of the opening episode. As the tale of unfolds, we soon discover that the menace is Dinosaurs: the extinct beasts having been literally scooped from time and planted in modern day London with a purpose, as a group of well meaning but deranged scientists and politicians, as well as a traitor working within the heart of U.N.I.T itself, plan to bring about a new Golden Age for the planet, which threatens the Human Race with annihilation!

DVD trailer for both stories in the box-set: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsKe8sFqb7Q

The U.N.I.T family of Invasion of the Dinosaurs - L-R: Sgt. Benton (John Levene), Captain Mike Yates (Richard Franklin), The Doctor (Jon Pertwee), The Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen). All WHO images: BBC.

Though it’s in the beginning of its necessary end during this phase of the shows history (the final coffin nail delivered by the end of Tom Baker’s ultra-confident and much different in style second season), all of the UNIT regulars get a good share of the storytelling in Invasion (though sadly less so in the later The Android Invasion), especially Richard Franklin, receiving some well-deserved character development as Captain Mike Yates, and the always amiable John Levene as loyal Sgt. Benton, who not only gets to be a good solider but provides some welcome light comedy moments.

Malcolm Hulke’s last script for WHO also turns out to be one of his best (his hatred of officialdom and politicians clearly showing once again, alongside other firm elements of his scribing talents that would help define the Pertwee era to the viewing masses), with some good twists and turns, backed up with sterling direction from Paddy Russell (one of the BBC’s first female directors) and a fine guest cast including such acting stalwarts as John Bennett, Peter Miles, Martin Jarvis and ALLO ALLO’s Carman Silvera.

The very wonky dinosaurs of the title!

With such strong elements highlighted it’s just a terrible shame that the most important element of the production-the actual visual effects realisation of the Dinosaurs-are so shoddy. I remember vague images from watching this tale as a kid in its original 1973 BBC 1 transmission, as well as the two superb and evocative pieces of cover art for the adaptations of this story in Target Book form. Sadly, re-watching the episodes after so long, the on-screen creatures fail to live up to such great imagery and artistic ambition held in the mind: a factor that would plague WHO in its classic series history, primarily down to lack of time and money.

Granted, there are a couple-just a couple! - of creature shots that look okay, but in this new digital age of effects and CGI wonders, Jurassic Park it certainly ain’t! A pity, as the man assigned the visual effects work- a freelance veteran, Clifford Culley- was a talented professional who had done some excellent model work on the previous seasons highly successful epic six-parter Planet of the Daleks. On the plus side, however, both this and the accompanying release have some inventive and fine for their time electronic effects.

Of the supplementary materials, the Invasion behind the scenes documentary, presented and co-written by Matthew Sweet, reveals an intriguing look at the time in which the story was made and makes a worthy examination of the shows strengths and weaknesses during the early seventies. There’s also some good deleted scenes material from a longer edit of one of the episodes and a lengthy interview with the much-missed Elisabeth Sladen from 2003: a welcome treat and a lively reminder of the talented lady who always gave good interview anecdotes. Also a nice curio is Jon Pertwee’s visit in the Whomobile Car (specially created for the actor, and which would soon see use in two of his final season stories) to Billy Smart’s Circus in 1973/4, and a Weetabix cereals TV advert for their then DOCTOR WHO collectible card series.

The Doctor is attacked by a very nasty Pterodactyl.

A final special treat for fans is that Episode One of the tale is now available to see in an optional colourised version alongside the surviving black and white copy (it’s original colour master having been accidentally junked due to the tales first episode being given a different title-just Invasion (so as not to give the game away as to who the monsters were to viewers), and similar to the Patrick Troughton B/W story of the same name from 1968, of which several of its episodes were wiped or destroyed alongside it by the BBC in the same time period). This new colourisation, ambitiously handled by the shows dedicated Restoration Team with the best affordable technology currently available to them, is a decent job that bodes well for the future in restoring copies of other Pertwee’s stories that currently only exist in black and white or partial colour form.

Moving into regeneration mode now, and The Android Invasion. Almost a forgotten story in many ways from Tom Baker’s second year, sandwiched between what would later be regarded as several classic tales, the second adventure of the box set sees a more traditional take on the invasion of Earth plots that Classic DOCTOR WHO always did with gusto, as the Rhino-like alien Kraals use various means-duplicate human androids, space suited drones who fire weapons from their fingertips, and a deadly virus- to wipe out any resistance, in a grand scale plan of which the Doctor (the dominant and inspiring Tom Baker) and Sarah Jane literally walk into unawares at first…

The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) is captured by Kraal robot servants in The Android Invasion.

Always capable of spinning intriguing yarns with super openings, Terry Nation’s four-part tale proves a good, fast paced romp despite a seemingly rushed ending- a grand mixture of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Avengers (of which Nation had been a Script Editor for a season)- in a thankfully Dalek-less tale, breezily directed by Barry Letts, that would be initiated by the now fully settled in new producer Philip Hinchcliffe and legendary story editor Robert Holmes, both of whom wanted to take the series in a bolder new dramatic dimension and not have the Time Lord stranded in one particular path of Earth history. Android is the story which daringly says adieu to what’s left of the U.N.I.T family that’s available (including the late Ian Marter’s portrayal of loyal and bumblingly heroic Doctor Harry Sullivan)- the organization’s penultimate appearance (with a brief battle with a Krynoid plant monster to come in this seasons finale, The Seeds of Doom) until it re-emerges in a bigger fashion during the Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy’s era in 1989…

It’s lower budget, in-studio production values may show at times, but Android counterbalances this, like the prior London-set Invasion, with some of the shows best location shooting in picturesque Oxfordshire. The film work of these seventies WHO stories looks great-it’s a pity that the whole Classic Series couldn't have been shot entirely in that format. (Both stories also have accompanying Now and Then documentaries that nicely delve into their heavy use of location filming.)

The villainous Kraals behind The Android Invasion.

Forwarding to the disc extras, Android’s behind the scenes documentary, introduced by Nicholas Briggs, is of a good standard despite only a few of the original program’s cast and crew being available to talk about it’s making, plus there’s a nicely produced featurette on the series most iconic producer, Phillip Hinchcliffe, who enthusiastically talks about his packed career in film and TV post WHO, in an interview conducted by his daughter Celina. Across both story bonus discs there’s the usual informative and lively audio commentaries (including a rare commentary track from John Levene for Invasion’s fifth episode), Radio Times magazine listings, production information, PDF materials, a fun Coming Soon trailer for the Hartnell era The Sensorites, a couple of Easter Eggs, and photo galleries (Invasion having some great images I hadn’t seen before).

Sarah rescues The Doctor from Kraal torture.

Seeing them listed on paper, to many of the shows die-hard fans the two titles comprising this new release may be considered poor in comparison to so many great and classic stories of the Pertwee/Tom Baker eras, but this welcome release is more than a fine showcase for everybody’s favourite alien fighting military organisation during a most fondly remembered era of DOCTOR WHO. Technical limitations of the time may hinder the enjoyment of young fans blindsided by modern WHO, but the overall storytelling is strong (if sometimes implausible, I agree, alongside a few plot holes), with high calibre main and supporting casts hard at work. Watching these tales again you can't help but admire and enjoy their conviction in front of and behind the scenes in conveying these adventures to the mass audiences.

Overall, the U.N.I.T FILES box set is a good value gig of TV entertainment, with both lead WHO actors, with Elisabeth Sladen as their companion, at the very top of their powers and popularity, presented in episode re-mastering’s that are of the best standard you’ll ever see on DVD.

KOOL TV RATINGS: OVERALL EPISODES: 7.5, OVERALL SECONDARY FEATURES CONTENT: 8

Order the U.N.I.T FILES box set from AMAZON here: Doctor Who - U.N.I.T Files (Invasion of the Dinosaurs and the Android Invasion) [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney: Film & TV

DOING TIME ON "ALCATRAZ"

2012-01-03T03:49:00.000-08:00

Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia), Det. Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) and Agent Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill) investigate the mystery of ALCATRAZ. Images: FOX.

One thing's for sure about modern film and TV creative mastermind J.J. Abrams, he certainly knows all about islands, in particular the one he critically help shape for the iconic fantasy/adventure series LOST in its first three seasons. Now, he and his BAD ROBOT production company, in association with FOX, have got their creative guns aimed firmly at the real life ex-prison island of Alcatraz in their new series of the same name. And yes sir, as always with Abrams, this isn't going to be a simple drama about the facilities incredible and indomitable legacy as in inescapable jail for the majority of its hardened and dangerous criminals. The sci-fi/supernatural elements of storytelling that have become a firm trademark of his producership over the last eight years keenly return to latch themselves to the new shows format, devised by another LOST writing alumni Elizabeth Sarnoff- as a team of investigators, headed by gutsy Detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones), who already has family links to the island via her father (Robert Forster), alongside Alcatraz expert Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia, getting a well deserved lead role after his fine work on LOST as the always amiable, numbers beleaguered Hugo Reyes (aka Hurley), our window, and emotional barometer, to the characters of that series) and the enigmatic, secrets keeping government agent Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill, in another recent foray into the world of television since the TWIN PEAKS-esque HAPPY TOWN) prepare to solve the inexplicable mystery concerning 300 plus prisoners and guards once ensconced within its creepy interior who suddenly make an inexplicable return from their disappeared past back to the present day. Just how and why this has happened-and what its ramifications will bring to both America and the quirky investigative team- will surely be revealed in a deliberately suspenseful and audience teasing way by the shows writer/producers for the duration of its first season (and hopefully beyond).

Trailer: ALCATRAZ - First Look Trailer - YouTube

With a storytelling mix surely echoing facets of THE 4400, LOST, PRISON BREAK, FRINGE and THE GREEN MILE, let's hope ALCATRAZ, premiering in the US from the 16th January with a double episode launch, gets the new viewing season off to a great start and escapes the shackles of its TV ratings requirements, satisfying viewers with a strong, but hopefully not too confusing, storyline, alongside interesting characters capable of lifting it beyond other similar styled fantasy fare.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM KOOL TV!

2011-12-24T02:51:00.000-08:00

Deck the halls with bells and Homer! THE SIMPSONS at Xmas! Image: copyright Matt Groening/FOX.

To get us all in the festive spirit, here's a few Xmas TV related clip offerings to enjoy, plus the return of some old favourites for the new year...

24: Jack Bauer interrogates Santa: Jack Bauer Interrogates Santa Claus - YouTube

THE SIMPSONS XMAS MESSAGE: The Simpsons Christmas Message - YouTube

ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES XMAS SPECIAL: "Danger UXD" Classic episode: Only Fools And Horses - Danger UXD - YouTube

CHARLIE BROWN AT XMAS: A Charlie Brown Christmas (The Meaning of Christmas) - YouTube

Peter Griffin has certainly got Santa's attention in FAMILY GUY. Image: FOX

FAMILY GUY (contains adult humour): FAMILY GUY - "All I Really Want For Christmas" - YouTube

A MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS: A Muppet Family Christmas Part 1 of 5 - YouTube

DAVE ALLEN AT XMAS 1994 (contains adult humour): Dave Allen Xmas 1994 Part 1 - YouTube

DOCTOR WHO 2011 XMAS SPECIAL trailer: Exclusive DOCTOR WHO 2011 Xmas Special Trailer - YouTube

Patsy (Joanna Lumley) and Edina (Jennifer Saunders) are back to cause more life chaos in ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, with three new specials. Image: BBC.

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS XMAS SPECIAL CLIP 2011: Ab Fab Christmas Special 2011 (Absolutely Fabulous) - YouTube

PORRIDGE: Christmas Carols: Slade's Christmas carols - Porridge - BBC - YouTube

OUTNUMBERED XMAS SPECIAL 2009: Outnumbered Christmas Special 2009 - BBC One - YouTube

And check out last years Xmas TV special blog here: IN MEMORY OF XMAS TV PAST.... | KOOL TV

Matt Smith leads the Christmas charge for the BBC in the new DOCTOR WHO Xmas special: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe. Image: BBC

And look out for the new, and sadly final, series of HUSTLE. Image: BBC.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL KOOL TV READERS EVERYWHERE!!

See you in 2012...

MEN, WOMEN AND HOUNDS: THE RETURN OF "SHERLOCK"

2011-12-23T04:27:00.000-08:00

Old enemies get an intriguing revisionist spin in the new second season of SHERLOCK, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Images: BBC

Worldwide fans of the new re-imagined SHERLOCK HOLMES series created by those two BBC "Wunder-kids" Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss won't have long to wait now to see how the Baker Street sleuth (played with steel eyed, cold hearted modern day superiority by Benedict Cumberbatch) and his loyal companion Doctor John Watson (a pre and post HOBBIT Martin Freeman) get out of their first cliffhanger battle against the scheming and quite mad Professor Moriarty (Andrew Scott). Arriving on New Year's Day on BBC 1 HD, the first of three tales linked to classic Arthur Conan Doyle adventures will surely be a fine start to the channel's new season of 2012 programming.

Here's the BBC promotional blurb:

BBC One’s much praised, multi-award-winning drama Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, returns for an eagerly awaited second series of three, 90-minute films – A Scandal In Belgravia, The Hounds Of Baskerville and The Reichenbach Fall.

Holmes with Irene Adler (Lara Pulver) in A Scandal in Belgravia.

The contemporary re-imagining of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic, co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, caused a sensation in the summer of 2010, delivering an audience of more than nine million viewers who tuned in to watch Sherlock and John Watson navigate a maze of cryptic clues and lethal killers in three thrilling, action-packed adventures.

At Dartmoor, the duo investigate The Hounds of Baskerville.

In episode one of this new series, compromising photographs and a case of blackmail threaten the very heart of the British establishment but, for Sherlock and John, the game is on in more ways than one as they find themselves battling international terrorism, rogue CIA agents and a secret conspiracy involving the British government. But this case will cast a darker shadow over their lives than they could ever imagine, as the great detective begins a long duel of wits with an antagonist as cold and ruthless and brilliant as himself: to Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler will always be THE woman.

The mad genius of Holmes arch-enemy, Moriarty (Andrew Scott).

Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Sherlock Holmes, with Martin Freeman as John Watson, Mark Gatiss as Mycroft, Rupert Graves as Inspector Lestrade, Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson, Andrew Scott as Moriarty, Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper and Lara Pulver as Irene Adler.

Trailer for the new series via THE GUARDIAN: Sherlock: watch an exclusive trailer for the second series – video | Television & radio | guardian.co.uk
BBC Sherlock Series 2 Preview - YouTube
Sherlock Series 2 BBC Teaser - YouTube

New images via DIGITAL SPY: 'Sherlock': 'A Scandal In Belgravia' - In Pictures - Sherlock News - TV - Digital Spy

PIP'S PROGRESS - THE DARK ROAD OF "GREAT EXPECTATIONS"

2011-12-22T03:38:00.000-08:00

The all-star cast of the BBC's lavish new adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Images: BBC.

No one can make lavish and engrossing costume drama quite like the BBC, as has been proved time and again with so many critically acclaimed and popular audience hits like 2005's beautifully made BLEAK HOUSE and its successor LITTLE DORRIT, as well as going back to the late seventies and early eighties with their Sunday Afternoon Classics strand, produced by Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks, encompassing such iconic adaptations of THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP and OLIVER TWIST amongst its accomplished entries. Now comes a new version of Charles Dickens beloved, emotionally complex GREAT EXPECTATIONS, deemed one of the great British novels of all time, and set around the mysterious Satis House and the adventures of the orphan Pip, guided into his destiny as a gentleman by an unknown benefactor.

Trailer: Great Expectations Trailer - BBC One - YouTube

Gillian Anderson continues to carve out a fine character acting career.

With an all-star cast portraying the books memorable characters, including Gillian Anderson (can she possibly top her sterling work from BLEAK HOUSE?) as the ghostly and manipulative Mrs Havisham, wandering the corridors of her equally decayed estate in her crumpled fading wedding dress, Ray Winstone as the escaped fugitive Abel Magwitch, POIROT's David Suchet as the clever and malevolent lawyer Jaggers, and, playing the all-important lead role of Pip, THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH star Douglas Booth, hopes are high for Dickens fans, who admire the authors seemingly timeless and resonant storytelling showing us a mirror to the very best and worst of the Human condition, that this new adaptation will be of the highest calibre yet.

Check out the lovely BBC site for the three part series here: BBC One - Great Expectations

Here's the recent DAILY MAIL article: GREAT Expectations: Gillian Anderson leads an all-star cast in the BBC's festive adaptation of Charles Dickens classic | Mail Online

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "THE AVENGERS" LINDA THORSON

2011-12-21T05:17:00.000-08:00

Linda Thorson would never look more lovely as Tara King than in THE AVENGERS classic episode All Done with Mirrors. All images: OPTIMUM RELEASING/ CANAL + Image UK LTD.

Becoming a new AVENGERS girl to Patrick Macnee's definitive TV screen persona of super cool English gent John Steed was always going to be a tough acting gig, but none more so than also following on from the equally formidable presence of Diana Rigg, whose two year stint on the show alongside the star as Mrs Emma Peel, with her sharp and lively portrayal, fighting prowess and wardrobe style, had already captured a generation of fans. Announced to the world in a flurry of press camera lightbulb flashes in late 1967, the very young 20 year old Canadian actress Linda Thorson, chosen for the enormous responsibility by the series 1968 season original producer John Bryce, would play Tara King, a fellow spy working with Steed: like Emma Peel had been, if a little less experienced. Ultimately Tara would be an altogether more feminine, innocent and slightly less individualistic character, who would have a much closer and admiring relationship to Steed than had been seen from either her predecessor Peel or the earlier Cathy Gale, who often had an very antagonistic relationship with her crime fighting partner in it's black and white years.

Patrick Macnee introduces the blond Linda Thorson to the world press in Chelsea in 1967.

The duo filming the new title sequence for the series.

Passing the torch: Emma offers some advice on Steed to Tara in The Forget-Me-Knot.

Originally a blond on screen, both Thorson the actress and Tara King the character would get a creative shake-up with the return of the vitally needed original AVENGERS film series producers Albert Fennell and Brian Clemens, replacing Bryce's ultimately disastrous producer-ship on the opening three episodes of the new seventh season (his plans to make the show more grounded from its prior fantasy elements not working at all!). The talented behind the scenes duo, who ultimately knew what made the series work the most with audiences, quickly initiated a new look for the actress, making the character more subtly sexy and heroic, introducing a new fighting style to compliment her more feminine appeal (helped by stunt talents Joe Dunne and Cyd Child) whilst also visually giving her dark hair and a better, more suited to her figure wardrobe (designed by Alun Hughes). It was also a further shrewd move to give Linda/Tara a proper introductory episode to help viewers ease in with the series style transition, of which Diana Rigg would enjoy a one-off return bridging tale that saw Emma Peel sadly depart and Steed happily consoled in his new relationship with Tara King in the iconic, if a little sad, The Forget -Me-Knot.

The new look Tara would go on to gain a devoted fan following.

Introducing Linda Thorson: The Avengers Girl About Town 1967 - YouTube

THE AVENGERS title sequences: The Avengers Alternative Series 6 Opening Titles and Closing Credits - YouTube and The Avengers TV intro (1968) - YouTube

Soon, with the first half a dozen of the new episodes filmed, Thorson's early nerves in the role disintegrated and Tara King would positively shine in the re-tailored series, now fully back on track with its delightful and vibrant new pairing. UK audiences were quickly accepting and enjoying the new enthused leading lady, who, alongside the protective and charming Macnee (who has never given himself the acting credit he thoroughly deserves for playing Steed), would make the most of some of the series finest episodes, and their unique and memorable mixing of high concept action, comedy and visual flair.

Tara is ready for action in the episode Noon Doomsday.

All things must eventually come to an end, however, and as the series rating sadly declined in the US due to enormous pressure from competitive network shows, THE AVENGERS wrapped their last bold adventure in May 1969 (and literally heading off into outer space, too!). Both Thorson and Macnee would eventually reprise their iconic roles for a 1975 French commercial advertising champagne (a reunion that would prove so popular it would quickly lead to the birth of THE NEW AVENGERS. But that's another story...).

Enjoying some quality champagne time during the series.

Beyond Tara King, Thorson continues to stretch her lengthy legs as an actress, returning to the theatre and lots of television work in both the UK and US, and from wide ranging series like the domestic farm soap EMMERDALE FARM to the final frontier in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. With the emergence of THE AVENGERS onto the home video and late DVD market from the late nineties onwards, of which the classic series returned to entertain cult audiences and re-engage positive critical evaluation across the world, she would become one of the series greatest and most attractive promotional ambassadors, right up to its recent fiftieth anniversary.

Re-united: Thorson and Macnee for THE AVENGERS video tape release in the nineties.

Life after Tara! Thorson continues acting and modelling.

Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!

All the surviving episodes of THE AVENGERS are available on DVD from OPTIMUM RELEASING.

APOCALYPSE NOW! "MILLENNIUM" SEASON THREE

2011-12-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

FBI agents Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) and Emma Hollis (Klea Scott) make a stand against the darkness in the final season of MILLENNIUM. Images: FOX.

The time is near...

Unexpectedly bought back for a renewed third season by TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX, the surprised but delighted behind the scenes crew of the unique horror/thriller series MILLENNIUM would quickly reform to work out how they were going to get out of the prior world apocalypse scenario created at the end of Season Two by departed producers James Wong (now a firm creative fixture on AMERICAN HORROR STORY) and Glen Morgan: an inventive pairing allegedly estranged with series creator Chris Carter, who apparently would go on to voice his unhappiness with certain aspects of their one season creative tenure.

Thinking that his original series idea had seemingly veered off course, Carter was determined to bring back more of the elements that had made his original first season so unique, though there was also a chance to develop the show into a new direction that also combined some of the stronger storytelling aspects of Season Two which he had liked, linked to the continued prophecies of the Millennium and what they may bring for the strong but mostly isolated figure of series lead character Frank Black, as played by the shows greatest asset: the intense and totally absorbing lead star presence of Lance Henriksen, whose grizzled double lined face added character depth and possessing eyes of kindness, yet coldness, that could pierce your soul if you looked into them for too long, and now sporting a shocking thatch of grey hair as he recovers from the terrible incidents of the recent past.

Five months after the eventually Seattle contained Marburg variant virus epidemic/outbreak, which cost the lives of seventy people, of whom he knows the Millennium Group was responsible, Frank, now a single parent after the death of his beloved Catherine from the almost Armageddon, is now living in Virginia with his daughter Jordan (an impressive series performance from the fun and precocious Brittany Tiplady, who shines in several Jordan-centric episodes in year three and continues to have a charming and endearing on and off screen relationship with Frank/Henriksen), and has a new job: back at the FBI as a consultant, re-hired by his old friend Assistant Director Andy McClaren (Stephen E. Miller). He’s also undergoing regular psychiatric reviews for his mental health, which had almost been destroyed after two previous years fighting the darkness and corruption of humanity.

Klea Scott makes a welcome addition to the series as new heroine Emma Hollis.

Unfortunately, it isn’t long before Frank is back in conflict with the Millennium Group, operating even more slyly and manipulatively behind the scenes than ever before, who still want him and his cognitive paranormal abilities – his “gift”- as a member of their organisation, whose primary shadowy role model face continues to be his ex-friend Peter Watts (a creepy and often intimidating performance from LOST’s Terry O’Quinn), whom Frank now has a very hostile and aggressive relationship with after the events of Season Two, and making him now more determined than ever to uncover and reveal the truth behind the group and its plans to control the world. Caught in the middle of this intense conflict is the new and intriguing character of FBI Agent Emma Hollis, as played by Klea Scott, a welcome and fresh tonic for the series who, in her early casting, shone above all the others in her reading for the character of the FBI agent and defied the kind of blond bimbo requirements that the network actually wanted for the new series-Scott would prove a brave and right hiring stance by Chris Carter and his team that echoed their prior against type original casting choice of Gillian Anderson for the pilot episode of THE X FILES.

Dedicated, bright, intelligent and brave into danger, Emma is trying to make sense of the senseless. She’s slightly world weary, and her personal life is a wreck (even more so now that she is looking after her Alzheimer riddled ex-military man father). Spurred on in her absorbing work by the unsolved murder of her older sister in 1978 (another presumably unconscious link to THE X-FILES? Scully’s sister Melissa was also murdered in that show), Hollis soon proves an eager to learn, if slightly reckless, compatriot to Frank, of whose abilities she is fascinated by, and the pairing, if a new take on the kind of relationship seen between Mulder and Scully in THE X-FILES, proves likable, interesting and different to what was seen in MILLENNIUM’s previous season-and also a conscious move to try and win over new audiences not previously familiar with the series.

Frank and Emma attend another gruesome crime scene.

In many instances Frank tries to protect his new partner from some of the dark mysteries and truths behind the things he see, but, later on, Emma, more willing than ever to believe in what's going on with humanity and the Millennium Group, ultimately feels she’s being betrayed, often misled and left out by him as the power plays against his secret enemy intensify. As Emma’s well plotted character arc plays out, will she ultimately be strong enough on a personal level to handle the stresses and strains to come linked to her friendship with Frank and their investigations? And just what pressure will be exerted against her by both the Millennium Group and Peter Watts?

Working alongside Emma in the opening two-part serial, and other occurring episodes over the series, is her ambitious rising star agency colleague Barry Baldwin (Peter Outerbridge), soon clashing with Frank (who quickly sees that Baldwin does not possess the ability to look beyond the norm or be dedicated and clever/bold enough to make important leaps of intuitive insight), and not won over by the ex-profiler’s “gifts” to see into the minds of the killers. Soon enough, there is also a building and disapproving antagonism and resentment towards Hollis, too.

Getting off to a bang quite literally- several bangs in fact: a house exploding and a terrifying plane crash- mans inhumanity to man and the impending dread and worry associated with the then arrival of the Millennium are fears that continue to be well amplified by Carter and his team throughout this new series, where a wide and diverse variety of more visceral and experimental storytelling makes the Third and final year of Millennium an interesting viewing experience. The spectre of doom and chaos, alongside the darker aspects of Humanity, that made Years One and Two so noteworthy is still within the series format, gaining momentum as the episodes go on, mixed with increased thriller elements. There's even a look back into the early origins of the Millennium Group that we know today within the horrors of World War II and the emergence of the Atomic Bomb.

Though Producer and Series One and Two writer Ted Mann is sadly no longer with the show, most of the series previous and dedicated series writers and story editors would return, including Michael Duggan, Patrick Harbinson and Chip Johannessen, veterans of the Chris Carter universe, who would additional be executive producers, and contributing strong episodes, whilst Marjorie David, Ken Horton and Frank Spotnitz add further creative weight. Michael R. Perry would also give us some of the most memorable episodes of that final year...

The series directorial style remains consistently strong, confident and atmospheric from the likes of series regulars Thomas J. Wright, Paul Shapiro and later CSI director Ken Fink.

Behind the scenes, Henriksen has fun with guest stars KISS during the episode ...Thirteen Years Later.

Alongside the further heavy delving’s into religion and other types of Armageddon prophesizing being added to the mix, of which Frank is tested by dark and sinister forces like never before, Season Three still has the chance to tell the odd quirky story mixing horror with humour, especially with the Halloween transmitted episode, …Thirteen Years Later, another Michael R. Perry tale and almost a kind of prototype SCREAM in the way it mixes comedy and horror (of which Lance Henriksen continues to have a fine deadpan knack for comedy delivery), alongside a fine guest cast which sees in a fun appearance from the US mega-rock band KISS, and includes V’s Jeff Yagher playing an actor playing Frank Black! The lighter touch continues further with the modern fantasy Omertà, which is a perfect Xmas tale involving Frank and Jordan, on a seasonal holiday to try and recover from the loss of Catherine, discovering a dead gangster alive and well and being cared for by a group of young mute empaths in the nearby forest. A very nice performance from Jon Polito as the gangster Eddie Scarpino is a highlight, which also features a beautiful and evocative score-one of the shows best- from series composer Mark Snow.

Links to the series past also continue with the return of previous plot strands and support characters, like the Season One and Two character of Detective Bob Giebelhouse (played by Stephen James Lang), THE WIRE’s CCH Pounder as Millennium member Cheryl Andrews in episode Skull and Bones, and finally, most importantly, Megan Gallagher, who makes an important one-off return to play the ghostly figure of Catherine Black, bringing closure to her storyline and relationship with her husband, in the excellent The Sound of Snow. Other strong guest stars for the run would include BUFFY’s James Marsters, SPACE: 1999’s Barbara Bain, BABYLON 5’s Andreas Katsulas, Arye Gross and Juliet Landau.

Despite the many fine episodes, as the series darkening end eventually approached, Henriksen would eventually prove slightly disappointed with the Millennium Group’s final confirmation as baddies, as well as frustrated with the way the series and his character seemed to have veered away from how it was originally conceived by Chris Carter back in its premiere year. Writing plans that might have strengthened the developments of the series finale into a fourth year would surely have gained greater enthusiasm from the lead star, but these ambitions were ultimately not to be.

Sadly, despite solid ratings that would be a veritable goldmine in today’s challenged TV audience environment, they weren't enough to guarantee FOX’s enthusiasm for a fourth season of MILLENNIUM, despite the impending event then being only six months away. Not officially cancelled, more like quietly killed off, it would be Frank Spotnitz’s idea to being some sense of closure to Frank Black and Jordan’s destinies in an episode within the seventh season of the upcoming THE X-FILES, as its episodes approached the start of the Millennium, with an ultimate episode, titled Millennium, that eventually proved to be a mixed success both critically and with fans, not only of MILLENNIUM but also THE X-FILES, and which the series writer would later testify was a difficult challenge to pen and satisfy all parties.

Frank Black returns to aid Agent Fox Mulder in THE X-FILES episode Millennium.

Set on the eve of the Millennium, the crossover tale sees a mental institute observational Frank helping Mulder and Scully fight undead members of the Millennium Group: the new Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The series goes into creepy Voodoo mode in a script by Vince Gilligan and Chip Johannessen, spookily directed by MILLENNIUM series regular Thomas J. Wright- always a safe pair of hands visually- as they try to give the series an exciting and memorable wrap up within the confines of THE X-FILES, and in the process picking up the threads six months after the series closed, and providing information on what happened in the six months between the series conclusion and this episode.

Ultimately the final results are an enjoyable, if hardly classic, wrap-up, with the episode eventually becoming more famous with the press of the time for the finale scene showing Mulder finally kissing Scully: an early foreshadowing of the loving relationship they would start a season later...

No longer shown by SKY TV in the UK (who, for no apparent reason, had gave up the ghost after its showings of Years One and Two), and abandoned by the terrestrial ITV channel after its premiere season, Year Three of MILLENNIUM would eventually hit British shores several years on from the original US screenings, shown in its entirety on the cable/satellite SCI-FI CHANNEL (which had at the same time also purchased the one season only THE X-FILES comedy spin-off, THE LONE GUNMEN), though the season’s opening two episodes, involving a plane crash, would end up being shown later in the series run, in the wake of the previous horrific events of 9/11 which were still so fresh and disturbing in the public eye. Prior to the full season screening, FOX had also released a successful compendium tape of Year Three's final two episodes, along with THE X-FILES episode.

Season Three of MILLENNIUM may not have totally lived up to the standards of its impressive opening year, but it was nonetheless a well made and acted series. A worthy sister series to THE X-FILES, but with its own unique, if changing, identity, MILLENNIUM was often a brave and innovative television of the type that, despite elements of reproduction by other later television series rivals, remains more creative, thought provoking and genre-setting as time goes on…

Here’s a look at KOOL TV’s favourite episodes from Season Three…

Frank and Emma join forces to investigate an unusual airplane crash in The Innocents.

The Innocents/Exogenesis: (Opening two-parter) A link between a house explosion and the crash of a passenger jet leads Frank and FBI agent Emma Hollis in a race against time to protect a group of blue eyed female seers capable of looking into the future, whose recent predictions endanger the world dominant plans of the Millennium Group.

Skull and Bones: Investigating a mass-grave site found beneath a highway, Emma discovers more about the Millennium Group and Peter Watts. A nice showcase for Klea Scott in a well-made and atmospheric episode that sets up many important sub-plots eventually to be played out successfully by seasons end.

Human Essence: Now a pariah from the FBI, Emma travels to Vancouver and gets caught in a nightmare underground existence as she searches for a missing friend heavily involved in a world of drugs and prostitution, and who claims that missing people are turning into monsters via a deadly new strain of heroin. Another very atmospheric tale, laced with grim menace, and a further fine episode for Klea Scott to get centre stage.

Frank confronts child-killer Max Brunelli (Tom McCleister) in Through a Glass, Darkly.

Through a Glass, Darkly: Warning a local town prison service not to release a convicted child killer and sex offender, Max Brunelli, who's served a twenty year sentence, back into the community, Frank’s worries seem to come true when another young girl disappears in mysterious circumstances. Has the released man regained his frightening ways, or is there more going on that first thought? A well scripted tale with a memorable central performance from guest actor Tom McCleister.

Borrowed Time: A train accident, two strange drowning’s on dry land and Jordan mysteriously collapsing into a returned case of life threatening meningitis. How is all this connected to a mysterious man who seems to be present at each occurrence?

One of the seasons superior episodes: an unusual, almost TWILIGHT ZONE-ish script from Chip Johannessen –and one of his very best- ultimately about life’s checks and balance and a tense and sometimes disturbing story about life and death, with some great acting from Henriksen and little Brittany Tiplady, whose life hangs on the brink throughout. There’s also fine guest support from a charismatic Eric Mabius and a pre-STAR GATE Amanda Tapping.

Lucy Butler (Sarah Jane Redmond) returns in Antipas.

Antipas: Satan's greatest sexually charged disciple and recruitment officer, Lucy Butler (played by Sarah Jane Redmond with the kind of distinction and feminine power to make men worry!) is back to inflict more pain and conflict against Frank Black, trapping him in the affairs of a state prosecutor- about to hit the big time in politics (a Clinton/ Kennedy-like figure)- and his family, whom she is manipulating in her guise as the Nanny from Hell (literally!). There’s shades of THE OMEN II (of which Henriksen made an appearance back in 1979) and TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER in an enjoyable if barmy episode from Chris Carter, where the supernatural elements are quite broadly present (and watch out for the horrible snake, too!), whilst Redmond is as creepy, dangerous and devilishly clever as ever. Sadly, a fourth season re-match between Lucy and Frank was never to happen…

Frank is consoled by the vision of his dead wife, Catherine (Megan Gallagher), in The Sound of Snow.

The Sound of Snow: Frank’s investigation into the unexplained deaths of two people in bizarre circumstances linked to a tape cassette playing unusual White Noise interference soon threatens to send him to the edge of sanity and death in this very memorable episode with a finale twist. Here, writer Patrick Harbinson, in between charting the disturbing experiences of the White Noise and it's mysterious originator, also gets the chance to delve into the nitty-gritty of what exactly happened back story-wise in the almost apocalyptic happenings between Seasons Two and Three: a series of events that also see the welcome return of actress Megan Gallagher for one last appearance in the series, of which her on-screen partnership with Henriksen shines once more.

Seven and One: Receiving a snapshot of his drowned demise, and plagued with foreboding visions of helplessness, a vulnerable and paranoid Frank is surely being victimised by a new voyeur of evil? Or could it all be his imaginings? As it looks like our Frank is finally on the verge of mental collapse, Emma does her best to discover the truth. But are untouchable powers of a very different order at work here? Seven and One is at times a baffling, but ultimately well-made episode from Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz that lets viewers make their own conclusions about its events, with great moments of suspense and atmosphere from director Peter Markle. Frank’s drowning and Emma being buried alive (pre-KILL BILL 2!) are standout moments amongst the Millennium prophecies…

Emma and Frank survive a deadly trap in Goodbye to All That.

Via Dolorosa and Goodbye to All That (Two part Season Finale): Serial killer Edward Cuffle is executed in front of Frank’s eyes, so who is the copycat successor getting his sexual and sadistic bent on murdering wealthy couples? And what links do both ultimately have in relation to the Millennium Group? As Frank tries to dot the complex dots together, Emma’s Alzheimer’s ridden Father gets worse, leading to dangerous temptation and a possible cure from Peter Watts. But how high a price must she pay in order to save her family?

Friends become enemies and enemies become friends in this satisfying finale to the season, packed with some surprising and gruesome moments that recall the best of Season One, alongside a literally smashing moment in the story’s second part between Frank and Peter Watts, as the format game board changes again for a series that sadly never came back for a fourth run, and ends on a defiant note as Frank is forced out of the FBI and into a new and uncertain future with Jordan, on the run from the Millennium Group and what may be looming on the horizon…

Chris Carter doesn't ultimately write the script for the finale, which is instead spread across four key series writers (Marjorie David, Patrick Harbinson, Ken Horton and Chip Johannessen), but it’s a fusion that works well, with the two-parter proving to be a solid and successful ending: it's first part taking us back to the shows serial killer origins, mixed with the conspiracy elements linked to the Millennium Group that had been so successful in Season Two, of which part two paves the way for a death and a fate not confirmed for two of the series characters, alongside some memorable final imagery from director Thomas J. Wright.

All three seasons of MILLENNIUM are available on DVD from FOX

THIS IS WHO WE ARE- a superb site which also has the largest database of MILLENNIUM facts, information, articles, screencaps, media and much more. Link: http://millennium-thisiswhoweare.net/ This excellent looking tribute also has a community forum and is home to the Virtual Seasons of the show, the fan-film Millennium Apocalypse and everything from the kitchen sink to a fridge with a plate of kidneys! Link: http://www.tiwwa.info/

Lance Henriksen has a great news website which is in the process of being revamped: http://www.lancehenriksen.info/

Sarah-Jane Redmond's Official Website can be found here: http://sarahjaneredmond.com/

"DOCTOR WHO" - 2 FOUND, 106 AWOL! THE HUNT FOR MISSING CLASSIC TV CONTINUES...

2011-12-19T05:09:00.000-08:00

The late, great William Hartnell as the original DOCTOR WHO. Images: BBC.

It was terrific news last week that two long believed wiped episodes of classic Black and White DOCTOR WHO, from the Time Lord incarnation eras of William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton, had been returned to the BBC Archives, via a private film collector/ex-videotape engineer, for eventual release on DVD some time next year (Two More Lost Episodes Of Doctor Who Recovered | SFX and BBC - Doctor Who - Missing Episodes Recovered! (Updated) - News & Features).What's even more intriguing, however, was that it came from someone who previously thought that the BBC already had the episodes in the archives when they hadn't for over forty years! This creates the need to make people across the UK and beyond (many overseas TV channels like Australia, Canada and even Nigeria played bought in television programmes from Blighty) even more aware of the fact that so much classic British series and historical event television, not just WHO, are missing from the BBC archives, some of which might have escaped a near eight year mass junking period by the corporation in the late sixties and early seventies.

The Doctor and companions Steven (Peter Purves) and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) encounter the Chumblies in Galaxy Four, long missing from the BBC, of which an episode was recovered last week.

A couple of Atlantean fish people, as seen in the Patrick Troughton story The Underwater Menace, of which another lost episode has been found.

If anyone out there knows someone who may have had some old film cans given to them, has contacts with film collectors/people who have worked in television during the sixties to eighties who may have copies or saved items from destruction, or if there are other retired engineers out there who can help track down rarities, then please get in touch through the links below, and help us save/preserve TV history.

Thank you!

Missing TV episodes list: Missing-Episodes.com - The Missing Episodes Index

FACEBOOK site for the British Film Institute linked: Missing Believed Wiped

Back to WHO, here's a link to the missing episodes out there (Doctor Who missing episodes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) and a pictorial look at some of the classic adventures which fans, and the BBC, are desperate to find...

The Doctor and Marco Polo (Mark Eden) meet Kublai Khan (Martin Miller) in the long missing classic story Marco Polo.

The Doctor takes on the game playing ethereal menace of The Celestrial Toymaker (Michael Gough).

Patrick Troughton's first story as The Doctor, Power of the Daleks, is also missing.

The classic monster tale The Macra Terror has long been rumoured to exist in its entirety in private hands.

The original final battle with the Daleks, in Evil of the Daleks, exists only as a few surviving clips.

Second Doctor companion Victoria (Deborah Watling) is terrified by the emergence of The Ice Warriors, of which there are still two missing episodes.

Jamie (Fraser Hines) and the army are terrorised by remote controlled Yeti in the one episode surviving The Web of Fear.

The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) demonstrates the first use of the Sonic Screwdriver to Victoria in the completely missing Fury from the Deep.

There are also some excellent animated reconstructions of lost WHO episodes here: doctor who reconstruction - YouTube

WORKING LUNCH! "THE BOOTH AT THE END"

2011-12-18T03:51:00.000-08:00

Man or monster? Xander Berkeley works from THE BOOTH AT THE END. Image: FX.

One of the nice things about going through the weighty TV magazine guides at Christmas time in search of good programming is the rare, occasional chance to discover a promising series coming soon that you never previously knew about. One such example, showing over five nights on the UK's FX HD channel, is THE BOOTH AT THE END (airing from Boxing Day). Sounding like an intriguing anthology show/TWILIGHT ZONE-esque morality play mixed with fantasy and the supernatural, this mini series sees the excellent character actor Xander Berkeley (probably best known as the ambitious and seedy baddie Percy in NIKITA, the manipulative but heroic George Mason in 24 and a really nasty turncoat Presidential protection agent betraying Harrison Ford in AIR FORCE ONE) portraying a mysterious figure known only as The Man, who, working from the back of a diner, has the incredible ability to grant flawed and desperate individuals their greatest desires.

But what's the catch?

Trailer: The Booth at the End - Trailer.flv - YouTube

Originally created as a web series in 2010 by rising star Christopher Kubasik, and directed by Jessica Landaw, with a guest cast that includes Berkeley's real-life wife, Sarah Clarke (who also played Jack Bauer's nemesis/ex-lover Nina in 24), THE BOOTH AT THE END looks both intriguing, menacing and subtly atmospheric. Certainly, American webisode series, despite their low budgets, are now starting to attract high calibre talent in front of and behind the cameras, in part due to the creativity of the storytelling compared to a lot of the trash airing on mainstream channels. This relatively new mediums soar in popularity beyond the Internet now adds credibility and esteem to buyers like FX, whose faith in and enthusiasm for showing the series at this important time in the TV viewing calender shouldn't be under-estimated.

And besides, who doesn't like seeing creepy things going on at Christmas!

"THE GAME'S AFOOT!": "THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES"

2011-12-16T04:56:00.000-08:00

The world of legendary detective Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and Dr. Watson (David Burke), as seen in the classic 1984 series: THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. Images: ITV.

As Robert Downey Jr's playing of Sherlock Holmes returns to movie cinemas with a once more cheerful, brazenly amok quality around Baker Street: guns blazing, punches throwing and fighting crime with the kind of steam punk quirky technology that wouldn't be out of place on CSI, and whilst British thesp' (or "luvvie") Benedict Cumberbatch returns to the BBC in January 2012 to play a more cerebral and instinctive modern-day version of the character for Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss's "re-imagining" of the character (a series and lead performance from Cumberbatch apparently much loved by Steven Spielberg- though I think a lot of the compliment is fond lip service to his friend Moffat, who worked with the director on the script for TINTIN), let's not forget at this time of year the greatest and most respectful interpretation yet of the original classic character, so enduringly created by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and played with relish, charm and gusto by Jeremy Brett for over ten years from 1984: THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, a series beautifully crafted by the dedicated writers and producers of GRANADA TV in the the UK, working closely at the time with the Conan Doyle estate.

A superb and iconic performance from Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes.

An actor known and popular to audiences in both the UK and the US, Brett's enthusiasm for the series and the iconic role could be seen right from the start, and he'd soon prove the perfect choice to play the intriguing and definitely energy consuming part. Alongside him would be another talented character actor, David Burke, who would give the previous bumbling character of Dr. John Watson, often seen in prior films and TV as a bumbling comedy character, a well deserved overhaul, layering the part with credibility in his companion role alongside Holmes and making him both amiable and experienced, as well as possessing a fine and warm sense of humour and a lively enthusiasm for the criminal investigations alongside Holmes, which that the sleuth would be both enjoying and annoyed by in equal measure. Like their book counter-parts, they would be a fine pairing.

Here's KOOL TV's look back at the most popular episodes from those first two seasons...

Holmes with one of his greatest intellectual adversaries, Irene Adler (Gayle Hunnicutt) in A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA.

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA: (Opening episode) Holmes is contacted by a masked man of nobility to save a Royal House from ruin at the hands of an elegant and talented woman, Irene Adler (a memorable performance from Gayle Hunnicutt). Soon enough, Holmes realises just what a formidable and adaptive opponent he has come up against.

SCANDAL is a sterling first episode that beautifully sets the tone for the series and introduces one of Holmes greatest intellectual and most mysterious of adversaries, whom he would later refer to as "The Woman".

Next in danger? Holmes and Watson confer with Helen Stoner (Rosalind Ayres) in The Speckled Band.

THE SPECKLED BAND: Holmes and Watson travel to an off-beat country estate to investigate the bizarre incident of a young girl who died from within a locked and seemingly impregnable room. From his determinations, the Baker Street detective soon finds himself up against the sadistic and brutal wiles of Dr Grimsby Roylott (an overpowering and impressive performance from Jeremy Kemp), in one of Conan Doyle's best and most memorable tales, brought to life with eerie atmosphere and dread by director John Bruce.

Violet Smith (Barbara Wilshere) is not yet aware of The Solitary Cyclist.

THE SOLITARY CYCLIST: Holmes and Watson are called in to investigate the distress of a young cyclist who is being stalked by a mysterious figure on a local road. What follows from the investigation is a creepy and disturbing revelation as to the identity of the "stalker" as well as his menacing plans for the girl.

THE DANCING MEN: The young wife of a Norwich squire is plagued with strange drawings of dancing men. As the illustration markers intensify, driving the girl almost to the brink of emotional damage, Holmes discovers that they are a secret code that must be cracked with all speed if he is to prevent a specially orchestrated murder.

A business relationship turns to terror for Dr. Trevelyan (Nicholas Clay) and Blessington (Patrick Newell) in The Resident Patient.

THE RESIDENT PATIENT: A bright and successful medical student, working under the auspices and enterprise of Mister Blessington (Patrick Newell), soon discovers that his employer is acting both irrationally and showing mysterious concerns and dread by the visitors coming and going from his surgery. As Holmes is brought in to investigate, a tangled web of danger and murder is soon imparted...

A strange case leads to the gravest of dangers for Holmes and Watson in The Red-Headed League.

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: Holmes look into a pawnbroker conned into working for a shady business enterprise: The Red-Headed League, turns from a somewhat genial and quirky investigation into a dramatic and dangerous battle of wits against his looming adversary-his opposite in the world of criminal enterprise- Professor Moriarty (as played with brooding menace and pure evil by the superb Eric Porter). A great script from series format developer John Hawkesworth, alongside capable direction from John Bruce, add to the episodes impeccable cast performances.

Holmes and Watson travel to Switzerland in The Final Problem.

THE FINAL PROBLEM: Having survived several assassination attempts in London and Paris, Holmes, joined by Watson, flees to the beautiful mountain scenery of Switzerland as he sets in motion a plan to defeat Moriarty once and for all. But the master of crime has escaped Holmes ingenuity and followed him to his secret hideaway, where the ultimate destiny of a final hand to hand conflict awaits for the pair at the legendary Reichenbach Falls.

The Final End? Sherlock Holmes fights Professor Moriarty (Eric Porter) at the Reichenbach Falls.

THE FINAL PROBLEM, with its almost surreal final sequence showing Holmes and Moriarty hurtling to their deaths over the falls, would bring the second series of THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES to a stunning and satisfying end. Just as Conan Doyle had originally planned this adventure to be the finale tale for Holmes serialised career back in 1893, it was also a period of uncertainty for GRANADA, too, as to whether there would be any more filmed SHERLOCK HOLMES series made, due to the shows high production costs of the time. Fortunately, in both universes, the popular and persuasive power of the readers/audiences ultimately changed Holmes final fate, and a return to crime-fighting for the adventurer was soon on the horizon...

All episodes of the Jeremy Brett SHERLOCK HOLMES series are available on DVD from ITV STUDIOS.

SPARE PARTS! THE ALIEN INVADERS OF "UFO" RETURN...

2011-12-15T06:50:00.000-08:00

A classic seventies movie poster for several episodes of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's UFO TV series that were released theatrically in Italy. Image: ITC.

Sadly, for the last six or so months, there's been very little news on the upcoming cinematic re-imagining of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic TV sci-fi adventure series U.F.O.- it's now apparently set for release in 2013, and has a new behind the scenes team financially backing it, although special effects man turned director Matthew Gratzner is still going to be behind the camera directing it next year. It's also not confirmed whether HEROES Ali Larter or FRINGE's Joshua Jackson are still involved in the movie, either, but we can but hope that they are (did anyone notice the lovely U.F.O. reference in a recent FRINGE episode? Walter Bishop had to open Peter's childhood toys and found a U.F.O. seventies lunchbox!).

Whilst we wait for more in-depth press releases/info come, why not check out our newly revised feature on the classic series, here: UNIDENTIFIED FLYING RE-MAKE!! | KOOL TV

KOOL TV REVIEW: "OEUVRE - DREW STRUZAN"

2011-12-13T04:31:00.000-08:00

Creating movie poster magic is his speciality: Drew Struzan. Image: TITAN BOOKS

OEUVRE - DREW STRUZAN

By Drew and Dylan Struzan

Published by TITAN BOOKS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

The power of the written word should never be underestimated, nor that of the intrinsic value of the artistic form, especially in the intriguing and diverse world of commercial entertainment. Within that realm one man reigns supreme in his artistic career as a top illustrator of movie posters and commercial art: Drew Struzan.

It's rare that people can achieve personal, professional, artistic and commercial success all in one go within their continuing lifetime and experiences, but then Struzan is no ordinary talent, clearly enjoying the best of all worlds in the perfect job, and perfect life, he was meant to have, as shown in his latest compendium of iconic artwork- OEUVRE – DREW STRUZAN- written and compiled by both the artist and his wife Dylan, and which proves a fine and fitting testament to his incredible and well deserved achievements so far in the commercial illustration business, and whose beautiful and impressive work

past, present and future, before Photoshop sadly killed the fine art of movie conception and realisation, would create an important visual channel into the hearts and minds, young and old, of the general movie going public, especially in the all dominant American cinema-going market.

Struzan's iconic art for STAR WARS - EPISODE VI: REVENGE, later renamed RETURN, OF THE JEDI in 1982/83. Image: LUCASFILM.

Some readers may not necessarily know Struzan’s name but they will certainly recognise his incredible artistic skills as being amongst the forefront of some of the most evocative and beautiful movie poster art ever seen for some of the world and for some of Hollywood’s greatest films over the last forty years. From STAR WARS to INDIANA JONES, and other enduring cinematic masterpieces like BLADE RUNNER, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and E.T.: THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL, as well as populist hits like the early HARRY POTTER movies, etc., to right up to the present day, including promotional art for ambitious hit television series like the atmospheric new classic THE WALKING DEAD, Struzan’s work spans all genres and is much beloved and trusted by actors and film-makers: beloved by fellow visualists including pioneers like Frank Darabont, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and iconic actors like Harrison Ford-of whom Struzan is the only artist the film star likes handling his movie poster art, especially when it concerns the adventures of the legendary Indiana Jones. Struzan is certainly one of the most collectible artists of his generation, too; Darabont regards Struzan as one of the top three greatest movie illustrators of all time, whose gorgeous and involving work has in some places proved better than the film’s they’ve promoted!

The superb rendering of Harrison Ford and the cast of INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM. Image: LUCASFILM/PARAMOUNT.

From undeserved impoverished conditions and regular isolation as a child, Drew Struzan found his love of illustration a natural way of garnering life skills and worked hard to make ends meet. Soon finding his independent feet within the music industry at the right time and place, his career rainbow quickly blossomed into his love and natural flair for movie poster illustration, coming to the fore in the mid to late seventies, of which an artistic legend and integrity fuelled personality was born...

Eddie Murphy's grin captures New York in COMING TO AMERICA. Image: PARAMOUNT.

With the previous THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN collection having been such a critical and commercial success, this new selection contains his most defined and beloved work yet, OEUVRE shows us a wonderful world of love, colour, and excitement, youthful spirited innocence, mystery and danger, as you explore the books vast thematic range and cross a wide variety of genres: from comedy, to drama, to action and adventure. There’s a beautiful style and epic quality to Struzan’s work that captures the films so well and resonates strongly with the eye.

The fun and inventive poster art for the BACK TO THE FUTURE Trilogy. Image: UNIVERSAL.

Beyond the incredible poster work-containing many items/projects I wasn’t previously aware of his association to- there’s also a look at other areas of Struzan’s prolific and sumptuous artistic career: his work in books, trading cards, special comic book covers, stamps and plates devoted to classic inspirational heroes of celluloid music and real life, from film stars to royalty, alongside an intriguing look at the artists life and career so far, his thought processes and how he handles and enjoys his craft as an artist, alongside his loyal wife Dylan.

One of Struzan's commercial illustrations, featuring the immense movie career of the TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX film corporation.

There's also a personal look at the artist beyond the movies: his imagery and interpretation of the beauty of a life in all its facets. From the joy of being with his wife and family, to friends and children, and to the mystery and fulfilment of the human body, and the incredible wildlife of planet Earth. All of this proudly and justifiably part of the overall rich tapestry of a true one/off talent at the very top of his game...

The fun poster art for John Carpenter's comedy/action epic BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA. Image: UNIVERSAL.

The creative joy of all these pieces coming together will be shared by the reader as they peruse its nostalgic and celebratory image selections, where Struzan’s spirit, imagination and Joie de Vivre will continue to resonate wherever good art is appreciated…

Gruesome zombies on the loose in Struzan's TV poster work for the recent THE WALKING DEAD. Image: AMC.

The book may be called Oeuvre but Struzan is not saying goodbye with this volume. Think of it as the most ambitious of his collected works so far. The visual language of his stunning work, alongside his integrity, depth of humanity and emotional resonance, will continue to make its mark and flourish long after we’re gone…

Beautifully published by the UK’s TITAN BOOKS, OEUVRE – DREW STRUZAN is truly a coffee table book/portfolio to savour, as well as one that friends and family will surely be fighting over to look at and admire during the holiday season.

Drew Struzan: a self portrait.

KOOL TV RATING: 4 out of 5

Check out a gallery of classic Struzan work here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO MAGAZINE: DREW STRUZAN

Get hold of your copy of OEUVRE - DREW STRUZAN here: Drew Struzan: Oeuvre: Amazon.co.uk: Drew Struzan, Dylan Struzan: Books

KOOL TV CLASSIC IMAGE: APE-DOM!

2011-12-12T05:21:00.000-08:00

Monkeying around with the classic PLANET OF THE APES film and TV series, courtesy of MAD MAGAZINE circa 1973. Image via Doug Gilford's MADCOVERSITE.COM

In the simian domain that is the PLANET OF THE APES, the main rule of law is that "Ape shall never kill Ape!", even if one is wearing an Alfred E. Neuman MAD MAGAZINE mask!

The top sci-fi franchise, which mixes satire, futurist warnings, action and adventure, has always been a critical and commercial success for it's makers TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX since it was launched as a big screen film adaptation in the late sixties, but it has recently received an intriguing injection of creative re-imagining that has proved popular with the next generation of young movie-goers: RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, now available on Blu-ray and DVD, proved more successful than anyone could have anticipated, and whose box office taking worldwide have guaranteed that a further sequel will be on the cards, as talented British character actor Andy Serkis returns as the CGI enhanced Caesar, the talking ape/genius who continues to lead the monkey revolution against their inhuman Human masters.

Movie trailer: Rise of the Planet of the Apes Trailer - YouTube

Simian conquest! A new vision of PLANET OF THE APES. Image: FOX.

Look out for APES II by 2013 at the latest.

Check out our previous Classic PLANET OF THE APES features here:
MONKEY BUSINESS ON THE "PLANET OF THE APES" | KOOL TV

TIME TO "GO APE!!" ONCE MORE | KOOL TV