The Couch Potato Report – January 12th, 2008
This week The Couch Potato Report peels Henry the VIII, eagles and sharks, the Cosbys, and a film about a man who lied about sailing around the world.
Henry VIII was King of England and Ireland, from April 21, 1509 until his death in 1547.
Henry was the second monarch of the House of Tudor, succeeding his father, Henry VII, and the younger Henry is the main subject of this week’s HOT POTATO, the 4-DVD Box Set for the television series THE TUDORS.
THE TUDORS – THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is an Emmy Award-nominated CBC television series that is based upon the early reign and marriages of King Henry VIII.
Based upon…this is not a documentary series, it is a series meant to entertain.
And it does entertain.
The series has a good cast, an interesting script, incredible costumes,…and sword fighting!
If you are a historian, or study the British Monarchy as a hobby, this probably isn’t the series for you, as some of the facts that are given are quite inaccurate – for instance King Henry VIII had two sisters, Mary and Margaret, THE TUDORS only gives him Margaret…and that is just one example, but there are many more.
However, if you are just looking for a 10 part series that is full of attractive actors and seasoned professionals to entertain you, something that isn’t just a stuffy retelling of history, then this is the show for you.
I didn’t love the THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON of THE TUDORS, but I was entertained by it…and I am looking forward to the SECOND SEASON.
I am also looking forward to SEASON TWO of the hilarious television show FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, about a musical duo from New Zealand living and trying to succeed in New York starring Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement!
That show’s second series is expected later this year.
For fans of the show in the meantime, there is EAGLE VS. SHARK is a quirky little film from New Zealand, starring Jemaine as a man on a mission.
Okay, to be clear, EAGLE VS. SHARK is not an action film, or a full-blown tale of revenge. It is a love story between two socially awkward misfits.
No, EAGLE VS. SHARK isn’t a great film, but if you enjoy movies that are just a little bit different from what we usually see, then this is a great little romantic comedy for you!
I have seen it twice now, and each time I had fun, and laughed while I watched it.
Up next this week is DEEP WATER is a real life documentary about Donald Crowhurst, a man who lied about sailing around the world.
In 1968 the Sunday Times of London newspaper sponsored a race to see who could circle the globe, alone in a boat, without stopping.
Prizes were offered for the sailor who finished first and the one who finished fastest.
Nine sailors entered the race and DEEP WATER focuses on three of them, but primarily on an amateur sailor and eccentric inventor named Donald Crowhurst, a man who never should have entered the race.
It tells his story through photographs, archival film footage; news reels; audio tapes, 16mm film, ship logs, diaries and interviews with family members and friends.
Now I love the sea, and I enjoy any opportunity to watch films and documentaries about it, but DEEP WATER is one of the slowest films I have ever watched about a subject that I found to be so interesting, I mean, Crowhurst was wearing a tie and slacks as he set off on the race, that is hardly seafaring gear!
I wanted to know more about the man, the race he was in, and his fate, as I still find it all fascinating…but somehow the filmmakers didn’t effectively succeed in telling his story, and the result is a documentary that I am glad I saw, but had higher hopes for.
DEEP WATER is not a complete failure, but it isn’t a success either.
Finally this week, two DVD Box Sets that are a complete success!
VOLUME 5 AND 6 of THE COSBY SHOW!
SEASON FIVE is when Sondra had the twins, Denise was gone to Africa, and all eyes landed on Vanessa and Theo.
There were also some great special guests, like Sammy Davis, Jr.
In SEASON SIX of THE COSBY SHOW, future superstar-teen idol Raven Symone joined the cast, and after a few seasons away Lisa Bonet came back as a regular.
And of the many guest stars in this season, my two favourites were BB King and The Muppets!!
More than twenty-four years after they originally aired, SEASONS FIVE and SIX of THE COSBY SHOW are still entertaining, and funny, and still good for the whole family!!
In the year 2032, I wonder if anyone will say that about any of the shows that are on the air now?
I wonder.
VOLUME 5 AND 6 of THE COSBY SHOW, the not quite successful documentary DEEP WATER, the quirky New Zealand film EAGLE VS. SHARK and the entertaining, but not historically accurate THE TUDORS – THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON are all available now on DVD.
Coming up in two weeks on the next Couch Potato Report
Regina born Leslie Nielsen joins the cast for SEASON TWO of the television series ROBSON ARMS; KENNY VS. SPENNY – SEASON THREE allows the guys to battle each other once again; THE HUNTING PARTY is one of the most surprisingly entertaining films of last year; 3:10 TO YUMA is an interesting remake of the western classic starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale; TORCHWOOD is a great British Science Fiction Series; and then there is WONDER WOMAN – THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, an 11-Disc Box Set featuring every episode from the television show’s three year run.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in fourteen days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!
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