Monday, May 11, 2009

The Waltons, Season 9, The Final Season

One of my favorite shows of all time was The Waltons. While I had many struggles as a kid, one of the things I could look forward to in my adolescence was the hope of peace and family that was illustrated in The Waltons. From 1972 until 1981 this television series captured the hearts of multitudes of viewers. I remember watching the show at my grandparents’ house in my troubled years. I will never forget my grandfather and I getting into a rather serious argument because he had another show he wanted to watch during the times The Waltons aired. He wasn’t up for new shows and he wasn’t going to change his mind. I would recall those arguments for the rest of the time my grandfather lived because it wasn’t long after that he and my grandmother became a huge fan of the show. It was a show we would share together, and I in return shared moments of what I hoped family could be. I lived with my grandparents for good reason, and while things were far from perfect on the nights The Waltons aired, I found moments of peace in a difficult life during a difficult time.

To the delight of many, Warner Brothers recently released Season 9, The Final Season of The Waltons. This 22 episode DVD is one that will please not only those original fans of the show, but it will draw in new fans to the series. While the show finished its last season around the top 20 in the Neilson Ratings, it had previously been as high as a #2 show on network television. Some would say it may be the best family series ever. It would be hard for me to argue that particular point.

While I was pleased to revisit the last season of the Waltons, and despite the numerous cast changes over the years, there were some of the typical issues related to some of the WB releases as of late. The series while still providing a quality story line up until the end offers little new to the DVD release. There are no remastering and no special features. While the visual quality of the transfer is easy to view, it is lacking in any high quality that some may be accustomed to. What remains is quality story telling and an ability to portray the characters. While there were changes over the years with some of the characters, most of the actors were able to remain in their roles over the 9 seasons, and not only did those actors remain constant in their characters, we see some of those characters develop and progress. There is especially strength in the development of the female characters, especially the Walton daughters.

Season 9 of The Waltons starts off addressing many issues the series is noted for. This season address issues from the remnants of racism, to the growth and strength of women. We follow the family near the conclusion of World War 2 and the turmoil the family goes through, from the women back home to the sons and others who are involved in the war. The Waltons, just like in the early days of 1972, continued its subtle ways of addressing social and religious themes until the completion of the series in 1981.

The Waltons continued to use as a back drop the importance of faith in not only the rural American Family, but the lives of most Americans in the 1940’s, the time frame the series took place. One of the brilliant aspects of The Waltons, is while it is made in the 1970’s and early 1980’s the show did a fabulous job of replicating the era it is made in. I believe that is one of the things that had many individuals like my grandparents loving the show, it showed in a realistic way what life was like during depression and 1940’s during World War 2. It portrayed the strength of family and for many the importance of things like religion. It isn’t unusual to see the characters turn to their faith and to prayer when trouble comes about. You even see in this season, just like others, religious issues, specific to Christianity addressed and the characters struggle with those issues, whether it be interfaith marriage, or the struggle of how African American’s were treated by many during the time frame.

As a DVD buff, I have to admit, I continue to be disappointed at the lack of special features on many of the WB DVD’s. I loved The Waltons and so many of the themes of this television show is especially relevant today. The show has more to offer and the concluding season of The Waltons is as appropriate today as it was almost 30 years ago. Among those is again, the importance of family. We see a family that loves each other, helps each other, values parents, while at the same time, valuing the concept of serving others and pulling together resources to help each other and their neighbor out.

All of those years ago that I watched The Waltons, I realize now I wasn’t that good of a person. I sometimes wonder if I am now. I do know the value of loving others, serving and speaking up for the disadvantaged is something I learned someplace. While my faith is important to me, I can’t help but wonder if those images of my youth, before discovering my faith, weren’t somehow influenced by The Waltons. I think they were. The value of loving and serving others is something many appreciate; a review of The Waltons is a good way to rekindle some of those feelings. While there is not always good from “The good ol’ days,” sometimes we need to realize, that not all was so bad either. Remembering this classic television show is one of those things that isn’t so bad, in fact, it is pretty darned good.

While the retail price of this DVD set runs around $40, you should be able to find it at various locations for around $30 or even less. Despite the lacking of special features on the DVD, the double sided discs (which I really don’t like) it is still worthwhile because the times, the reminders and the stories are worth it. If looking for earlier seasons, you can find those for less than $20 with a little searching; now those seasons, they are really worth it. Enjoy it and until next time; “Good night John Boy.”

The following is a film clip from Sesaon 9 of The Waltons. Just click on the video, if the video don't appear, just click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5qekcPImbw


The following is 10 minutes from the episode The Carousel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZArxQCN1KKQ


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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Dallas Season 11, A Huge Dissapointment

There are a few things that are without question, while growing up during the Dallas television show’s heyday, I have to admit, I was never a fan. I just didn’t care for this prime time soap opera. While there were characters I liked, even liked the spin off Knott’s Landing, I just didn’t find any interest in Dallas. There is another thing without question that is the popular television show didn’t need my support to become one of the most successful television series of all time. Dallas contributed not only to the type of programming broadcasters showed for years, it also contributed to the folklore of American television. One of the strange things about the show is that it wasn’t just an American phenomena, Dallas did and still does some 30 years later, entertains people all over the world.

Warner Brothers just released the 11th Season of Dallas on DVD. This 30 episode season brings back some of the old and a few new characters. While it could be debated that the program was on its downward spiral, it still had multitudes of fans and was doing quite well in the ratings.

Technically; season 11 comes off as a television show in the DVD release. I would have hoped for some remastering work on the sound and picture, but unfortunately if those things were done, I couldn’t tell. There is a feel that came about from the 80’s television programs that today would resemble a b-grade television networks regular series. Between the heart tugging strings of the soundtrack and story, and what appears in many of the characters as giving just enough to get by, by their acting, I was reminded as to why I never really liked the show. What Dallas lacked in its later seasons though, it gained some with story and cliff hanger endings that have become popular in television programs today.

Season 11 of Dallas had some rather interesting story lines. We see a resurgence of JR, one of the primary reasons for the success of this program due largely to the ability of Larry Hagman. He never lost a step in the portrayal of one of the great television villains of all time. Bobby, played by the wonderful character actor, Patrick Duffy, loses his wife but finds new love, and Cliff Barnes played by Ken Kercheval continued his hatred of JR and his attempt to destroy JR after he resurrects his oil business. There are times each of the actors contributes greatly to their skill, but the lackluster supporting roles helped doom this for me.

Dallas Season 11 progresses with its typical soap opera story. For those who could follow all of the love affairs, divorces, and rekindling relationships, there was plenty to follow. Does Pamela Ewing, the wife of Bobby live or die? Of all the characters that still want JR dead, who will try to kill him? What will happen to the popular ranch South Park? It was no wonder this series required 30 episodes to complete a season, there is so many arcs to the story to keep you guessing from week to week, and the deception flows from episode one until the completion of episode 30.

Dallas had another lasting attribute as exhibited in season 11. We see the ultimate battle of good vs. evil and the ultimate impact of greed. Dallas displays a story similar to the story of Job in the Bible. We see who to trust, who not to trust, what happens when a good man looses everything, and how does greed play into the attitudes of those who are supposed to love? The directors and producers of Dallas understood the benefit of portraying greed in a deceptive way. We see it and in return can learn lessons for life.

Unfortunately, at least for this one street kid who never had much, I couldn’t then, and I still don’t relate well to the characters in Dallas. I don’t per say have an issue with people having money, but I have an issue with the greed that often surrounds money. Just as it states in the Bible, it is the “love” of money that is the root of all evil. It seemed as if the primary focus of Dallas is the exhibition of that greed. Thankfully, some three years later when the series came to an end, we would see portrayed on screen the struggles and battles JR in particular faced with his inner demons, not just in a metaphorical way, but in a hallucination where he sees himself being influenced by demons and the struggle he had with Satan.

While I can appreciate the attempt to draw these parallels, I still struggle with watching this show. Unfortunately there are no special features to help me understand the characters better, nor any input from the actors themselves. One of the things I personally appreciate about DVD’s is the special features, and this particular DVD is sadly void of anything in that category. I did enjoy seeing some of the characters of this series that become legendary. It was almost worth it to see the character played to excellence by Hagman, unfortunately there is enough wasted time between his scenes and the characters we care little about to make that journey worthwhile.

For those who are Dallas fans, this collection and season may be worthwhile, but with the advances in production quality, remastering, and the potential to offer special features to the viewing pleasure of those dedicated fans I can’t help but think most fans will be disappointed. With a $39.98 retail price I can’t help but think they will be disappointed unless the price is greatly reduced. I wish I could say better things about this DVD, but I have to say it the way it is. There are far better season compellations that respect the fans. I am not certain that the greed exhibited by JR Ewing hasn’t in some way been taken in here to shortchange the fans of the series with the lack of production and special features. Then again, that is a thought from someone who never really liked the series to begin with, I was wanting more, looked for more, but unfortunately, was only reminded of why I didn’t like the show the first time around.

To see the following just click on the video, if the video don't appear click on the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjY3-vaGB_U


The following is from a semi controversial sequence that still has fans wondering from Season 11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY1Ze28Rygw


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