GENERATION KILL *****
Following their massive critical success dealing with Baltimore crime in The Wire, writers/producers David Simon and Ed Burns have turned to Evan Wright's portrait of the Iraq War, Generation Kill. The seven-part series follows the course of one Marine Recon Battalion as they roll up and down the Iraqi landscape, gathering information while dealing with enemy forces and garbled messages that have trickled down the chain of command. Unrelenting and unvarnished, Generation Kill shows the harsh day-to-day of war without politicizing or imposing standard Hollywood drama.
This gripping seven-part HBO drama  starts with the beginning of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and follows the Marines in the First Recon Battalion through the early weeks of the war, up to and just beyond the taking of Baghdad. Though the scripts follow the full Battalion, from the highest rank on down, the main focus is on one Humvee in particular, the lead truck that carries the "scribe" into battle to show him the true face of war. Lee Tergesen ("Life on Mars") sits in for Evan Wright, and he rides with four of the major players in the tale: quiet gunman Cpl. Walt Hasser (Pawel Szajda); the trigger-happy rookie Lance Cpl. Harold James Trombley (Billy Lush, "The Black Donnellys"); Cpl. Josh Ray Person (James Ransone, Ziggy from The Wire); and Lt. Brad "Iceman" Colbert (Alexander Skarsgård, "True Blood"). In this small group, we see the varying tones of the soldiers, from Brad's cool-under-pressure manner (hence the nickname) to Ray's more manic and profane philosophizing to Trombley's insecurity-fused bloodlust. As most of these men's time is spent in transit, their job is filled with long stretches of nothing; the boredom leaves a lot of time to think, and given the trouble too much thinking can instigate, they off-set it by constant chatter. They might sing songs or trade movie quotes (a long stretch of episode 4 features unseen characters swapping Big Lebowski lines) or, in the case of Ray Person, launch into raunchy crackpot theories about how the war is really just a front for NAMBLA's need to replenish their supply of young boys.
Much of this talk also turns to personal insults, and Evan Wright and the show's other creators (Simon and Burns wrote most of the scripts, and the directing duties are split between BBC regulars Susanna Wright and Simon Cellan-Jones) don't shy away from any harsh topic that might arise in the course of this joking. Given that the Marines are very much a boy's club, the ongoing conversation reflects the worst of frat house barbs, including racism, homophobia, and misogyny. A brotherhood like this inspires a strange camaraderie, where each soldier has the other's back but can't afford too much sentimentality; thus, this kind of humor provides the connection while maintaining the tough exterior required for battle.
Watching them move across unmarked desert, we see these Marines in a kind of surreal pocket dimension, a separate world within our world. The men are both aware of the futility of much of their actions but totally committed to their duty. Getting something done is preferable to nothing at all, and there is no room for moral questions. The filmmaking style of Generation Kill is gritty and of-the-moment, in that on-the-spot way David Simon pioneered back on Homicide: Life on the Streets and continued in The Wire. It's a mixture of documentary camerawork and traditional drama that creates a sort of hyperreality, working in conjunction with the complicated language to both immerse us in the experience and make us aware of the artifice. Though Generation Kill asks us not to judge these warriors, it does ask us to reflect on what we demand of them rather than maintaining the safe distance that is our luxury.
The exciting bonus features include an animated map that can be viewed episode by episode to see the progress the Marines make from one show to the next. This runs across all three discs, tied to each episode. The individual shows also each have the "previously on" intro for those who might require it (they don't play automatically) and 6 of the 7 shows have audio commentaries. Other features include:"Generation Kill: A Conversation with the 1st Recon Marines", a 23-minute chat between Evan Wright and a handful of the real soldiers the show portrayed, including Brad Colbert and Ray Person. The group talks about the truth of the shows and of Wright's reporting, as well as catching us up on where they are now. Two of the participating soldiers, Eric Kocher and Rudy Reyes, also served as advisors on the series and as actors, with Reyes playing himself. (He's the muscular soldier always making fancy coffee for the others.) "Making Generation Kill" (25 minutes) is a fairly standard but substantial look at the production, featuring on-set footage and conversations with the cast and crew. The talk moves from the origins of the story and Wright's book to the actor's boot camp and how to recreate the reality of the war experience from the ground up, including sets, costumes, etc. The final two featurettes are the half-hour "Eric Ladin's Video Diaries," an actor's personal video journal about his experience as part of the Generation Kill production, and "Deleted Dialogues," a collection of 5 audio clips of different characters in conversation. There is no explanation as to why these deletions only exist as audio and not with video, particularly as we can hear lots of background noise, suggesting that they were actually filmed.

LITTLE BRITAIN USA *****
Fans of Little Britain are in for the viewing of a lifetime  with this hilarious series that crowns the unbelievable talent of first rate British comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams as they unleash their favourite characters (as well as some new comic monstrosities) on the world. 
Be warned that this is comedy at its most outrageous and wicked, and most definitely not for the straight laced or weak hearted. 
It is a match made in heaven, with HBO taking on the daring task of upping the comedy to its maximum with this brilliant satirical dissection of society, in particular the American and British ways of looking at life.
The British invasion includes fan favourites like the trash talking delinquent Vicky Pollard, 'Fat  Figher' Marjorie Dawes, amorous Prime Minister Sebastian Love, feminine seductress Bubbles Devere, and off course, the great pretender Andy and his clueless Lou.
Of the new characters, there's the side-splitting hilarity of gym buddies Mark and Tom (be prepared for a really wicked exploration of male sexuality); the fabulous potty-mouthed Ellie Grace and some really disgusting manipulations of a mistress by her faithful dog companion.
If this is not enough, it features an outstanding host of special guests that include Sting (being assaulted by Britain's favourite transvestite), Rosie O'Donnel accosted by Marjorie Dawes, and Paul Rudd being insulted by Sebastian Love when he interferes with his obsessive relationship with the American President (played by Harry Lennix).
The only unfortunate aspect of the series is that it only includes six episodes, although there is a superb making of featurette as well as a hilarious gag reel and some terrific deleted scenes.
If you want to really escape from it all take the plunge into the sketch comedy sensation of Little Britain.
And if this is your first encounter with the zany and totally crazed Lucas and Walliams, make sure to explore their comic genius with their Little Britain series.  You won't regret it.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (Season 5) *****
Escape into the seedy underbelly of American suburbia and share the secrets, unbounded lust and passion of the women (and men) of Wisteria Lane. The attraction of Desperate Housewives comes in multiple flavors, from strong writing to topnotch performances to witty comedy to eye-rolling melodrama. Desperate Housewives has a little bit of everything. It is the kind of show that is easy to get hooked on. For more details about the series, refer to DVD Talk's reviews of season one, season two, season three, and season four.
Season five takes places five years after the events of season four. Life on Wisteria Lane is a little different, but the same sorts of drama are around every corner. Some highlights: Mike and Susan are no longer together, Gaby and Carlos are poor, Tom and Lynette are struggling, Orson is an ex-con, Bree has a successful business, and Edie has returned to the neighborhood with a charming husband who has a few secrets. As the season unfolds, there are a lot of great twists and turns in the plotlines and plenty of eye-rolling drama with fun, comical moments. In the end, fans of Desperate Housewives will not be disappointed with this exhilarating season
Desperate Housewives is an over-the-top drama with witty dialogue and comedy. It is a fun show that has lots of eye-rolling drama. Season five gets pretty intense with solid drama for fans to enjoy. As usual, a new character is introduced and he has an exciting, mysterious story arc that runs throughout the entire season. In addition, there is even more drama at every corner for fans to enjoy. In a nutshell, Desperate Housewives's fifth season is an intense experience and will leave you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next.

LOST (Season 5) *****
The show that revolutionized primetime proves once again why it is television's most addictive and creative series. Since Lost made its debut as a cult phenomenon in 2004, certain things seemed inconceivable. In its fourth year, some of those things, like a rescue, came to pass. The season ended with Locke (Terry O'Quinn) attempting to persuade the Oceanic Six to return, but he dies before that can happen--or so it appears--and where Jack (Matthew Fox) used to lead, Ben (Emmy nominee Michael Emerson) now takes the reins and convinces the survivors to fulfill Locke's wish.  When destiny calls, the Oceanic 6 frantically race back to the island. Discover what forced them to return and find out the fate of all those who were left behind. The answers to some of Lost's most pressing questions are revealed in this spectacular 5-disc collection, complete with deleted scenes, a behind the scenes celebration of the 100th episode and an incredible vault of exclusive bonus features.
Bonus Features Include: 7 Lost on location, A Day with Josh Holloway, Los Angeles crew tribute with Michael Emerson, the 100th episode, Time Frame and Continuity, Bloopers, Deleted Scenes

UGLY BETTY (Season 3) *****
With this third-season boxed set (24 episodes, plus bonus material, on six discs), Ugly Betty continues one of television's most adroit balancing acts. Is the series, which chronicles the urban adventures of young Betty Suarez (American Ferrera), the archetypal fish out of water making her way through the cutthroat world of high fashion, a comedy? A nighttime soap opera? A serious drama? Well, yes. There are a lot of other words to describe it--outrageous, flamboyant, tender, absurd, cartoony, poignant, arch, bright, kinetic--but most of all, Ugly Betty remains compulsively watchable because it's entertaining, pure and simple. Ugly Betty is beautifully crafted--it's well-written, nicely acted, and deftly edited, and the bonus material (deleted scenes, episode commentary, bloopers, etc.) is fine (newcomers will be grateful for the "starter kit," which introduces the major characters and storylines). One wonders, though, how long it can sustain itself. If Betty finally blossoms into "normality," the show's over; but if the emphasis on cutesy quirks continues, there's sure to be some shark-jumping in the near future. Stay tuned for further developments.

FRINGE (Season 1) *****
Teleportation, mind control, astral projection, invisibility, precognition, spontaneous combustion, reanimation: these are among the peripheral sciences--or "pseudo-sciences," as one skeptic puts it--examined during the first season of Fringe, a TV drama debuting on DVD with the full first season (twenty episodes) offered on seven extras-laden discs. The notion that those phenomena could have a genuine scientific basis is intriguing enough. But co-creator J.J. Abrams (whose bulging resume as a director, writer, and producer includes Lost, Alias, and the 2009 Star Trek feature film) has even more on his mind. Along with the weird science, the series features a multi-agency task force investigating related acts of terrorism that may very well add up to a threat of unimaginable global proportions; people who are exactly what they appear to be (i.e., insane) and others who are anything but; plot twists galore; family drama, interpersonal relationships, corporate evil, cop chases... "Fringe" has a good-sized collection of special features, first and foremost, three commentary tracks, including "Bad Dreams" by episode writer/director Akiva Goldsman and executive producer Jeff Pinker. "Fringe: Deciphering the Scene" is a short (two to three minutes tops) featurette that is present for each episode that focuses on some behind-the-scenes aspect of that particular episode.

STER-KINEKOR FLIEKE
Fans of hit Afrikaans movies, such as Poena is Koning, Bakgat and Karate Kallie, can now enjoy these films on DVD with the launch of Ster-Kinekor Entertainment's new Afrikaans DVD brand, Ster-Kinekor Flieke.
Aimed directly at the Afrikaans movie-loving public, the new DVD brand is a first for the country and an extension of Ster-Kinekor's ongoing commitment to the local film industry.
"We've always supported and encouraged the growth of quality local content, including Afrikaans films. In the past this has included getting involved as early as script development stage, and then of course through the extensive marketing of the releases," explains Thobashan Govindarajulu, DVD marketing manager for Ster-Kinekor Entertainment. "With so many of the Afrikaans theatrical releases performing well, we identified a gap in the market for these movies to also be made available to DVD audiences."
Afrikaans films have certainly found a place in the local market, with attendances for the theatrical releases numbering anything from 20 000 to 50 000 people. Govindarajulu adds that this support is set to grow even further as more quality Afrikaans films make their way to the big screen.
"While the Afrikaans DVD market, compared to the mainstream market, is still quite niched at this stage, there's definitely a need for these products and room for growth. We're seeing good quality films coming through from a pool of talented filmmakers, and significant improvements in this quality year on year. The Afrikaans community actively supports the films, which are indigenous to South Africa, so why not have a DVD brand that they can identify with too?" he says.
Ster-Kinekor Flieke will be an instantly recognisable brand, with all point of sale and marketing material clearly distinguishing it from other DVD brands in the market and making it highly visible in retail spaces. And to ensure it remains relevant to its core target market, all promotional material will be in Afrikaans.
Ster-Kinekor Flieke will launch with six well-known Afrikaans titles on DVD, including Poena is Koning, Vaatjie Sien Sy Gat, Hond Se Dinges, Karate Kallie, Bakgat and Orkney Snork Nie.  The films are all popular, recent releases with a variety of celebrated directors and cast members behind them.  Fans can also enjoy Orkney Snork Nie Series - season 2, and the ever favourite Lipstiek Dipstiek on DVD
Govindarajulu says Ster-Kinekor Flieke will first be established as a brand within the primary market with the five launch DVD titles, with a view to rolling out new titles every few months from next year.
"We'd like to look at releasing between five and eight Ster-Kinekor Flieke titles annually, but this will obviously depend on the number and quality of movies coming through. The Afrikaans community is a loyal market, so we expect a positive response to the new brand," he concludes.
Ster-Kinekor Flieke DVDs will be available from all leading retail stores across the country from March5

CSI: NY (Complete Season 4) *****
Another solid season for "C.S.I.: NY" offers up a mix of excellent cases and serialized detective work, all topped off by the personal drama that makes the CSI shows so engrossing. The second spin-off from the successful "C.S.I." series, "C.S.I.:N.Y." follows the New York City-based forensics team led by Detective Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) as they track down criminals in the enormous, dense and diverse city of Manhattan. The show takes full advantage of Gotham's world-famous and iconic locales, as well as the wide variety of residents, businesses and lifestyles, to tell stories unique to this series. The first season of the show was released on DVD in October of 2005, and was followed by annual releases.
Though the team is on pretty solid ground professionally, their personal lives are frequently a problem (a trademark of the franchise.) Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) sees her trouble with guys crop up again, and faces trouble close to home, while Mac's relationship with medical examiner Peyton is struggling also. This year's big winner in the unlucky lottery though is Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo), who suffers an unfortunate loss that sends him spiraling both at home and at work, affecting his relationship with Lindsey (Anna Belknap). Though Stella's problems feel a bit overdone at this point, Messer is great to watch as he tries to hold it together, as Giovinazzo projects a frustrated strength by playing his character's boiling anger close to the vest.
There's a pretty nice variety of cases to solve this season, including a murder on a billboard in Times Square, a man who dies after hitting a half-court halftime shot at a basketball game and a killing at an exclusive prep school that reveals a crime possibly more disturbing. It's the diversity of the settings in New York City that's one of the series biggest strengths (though I'm still trying to figure out why they traveled all the way to Amityville (well out on Long Island) for one case.) Honestly, I started to think they would run out of new concepts in the big city, but thankfully, that hasn't really happened, as they keep finding new trends and new places, like a murder at the Statue of Liberty. On the other hand, there are several cases that really could have happened almost anywhere, like the big Second Life storyline, which sees the team chasing an assassin through the online virtual world. Despite that, you never forget where the show is set.
The season ends up on a strong note, starting with a multi-episode case involving a series of murders seemingly committed by a cab driver who might be leaving messages for the police. Reed, the previously-revealed son of Mac's dead wife Claire, finds himself tied into it all thanks to his new venture as a blogger, which obviously gives Mac more interest in the case, which is a frustrating one that puts the entire city on edge. The finale is similar in a way to last year's final episode, with a very intense story about an invasion (in this case a bank robbery), with Mac on the inside, trying to work everything out. The unique thing this time around is the bad guy wants the C.S.I.s to prove he's not guilty. Unfortunately, it all ends in a cliffhanger that will probably piss you off if you don't have the premiere of Season Five handy.
The series continues to prove itself to be the most stylish of the three CSI series, using fantastic current music that fits the locale perfectly, while using the imagery of the city to build authenticity. While "C.S.I.: Miami" brought in the Surface computing technology last season to up the tech look of the show, the New York crew remains mostly street-level realistic, with the exception of a product-placement for a video teleconference set-up and the gear used by medical examiner Sid (Robert Joy.) From a nifty three-dimensional electronic x-ray of a brain that comes in handy on a number of occasions, to a full-body "map" of a body that helps him teach autopsy techniques, he gets the coolest toys and has the coolest personality to go with it. As much as the other show's MEs have been good, no one touches Sid and former ME Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) for the title.
Bonus Features: There is only one audio commentary with "Down the Rabbit Hole" provided by creator Anthony Zuiker and offers a good bit of info about the inspiration for the episode and a lot of well-thought-out comments from Zuiker on the whole idea of Second Life. Unfortunately, there are several points where he's just watching, leaving dead air. There are four featurette, starting with the 15-minute "Art Imitates Second Life" again focuses on "Down the Rabbit Hole," an episode set partially in the online service Second Life. "Dante's Infernal Episode" spends 10 minutes on the season's unusual Halloween episode, which was directed by scaremaster Joe Dante. "Art Attack" is a four-minute look at artist Clemente Bornacelli's paintings, as seen in the episode "Right Next Door." The 13-minute "Cutting to the Core: Season Four in the Big Apple" is essentially an overview of the season, covering the storylines and cases, with interviews with the cast and some of the creators. It's a good capsule summary of the show, but if you've seen the episodes, it's not really telling you anything new (though it is from the mouths of the actors), while if you haven't seen the episodes, everything is basically spoiled for you.

SLEEPER CELL  (Complete Season 1) *****
Sleeper Cell offers a viewers a chance to see what life is like on the other side--specifically, the preparation of a terrorist attack from a small Al Qaeda terrorist cell. As a praiseworthy effort to enlighten viewers about peaceful practice of the Muslim faith and lesser-known aspects of domestic terrorism, Sleeper Cell succeeds as a conventional thriller with its heart in the right place. Like 24 and Alias, Sleeper Cell gets pretty intense with lots of action, drama, and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. The Showtime original series Sleeper Cell debuted last year with a total of eight one-hour long episodes and a two-hour long series finale. The show has been compared to the popular Kiefer Sutherland starring series 24 for its content, and for those who have watched an entire season of 24, Sleeper Cell is an experience just as exciting, if not more. In a nutshell, Sleeper Cell is about an undercover FBI agent who instigates himself amongst an Al Qaeda terrorist cell that is planning an attack on the Los Angeles populace.
Awesome doesn't even begin to describe the experience of watching Sleeper Cell.
The show is very intense with lots of action, suspense, and drama. With each passing episode you will be on the edge of your seat dying to know what happens next. And after you are finished with the series finale, you will want more and more and more. The show focuses on the undercover FBI agent Darwyn Al-Hakim (Michael Ealy), who is a practicing Muslim. In the early stages of the series, it is revealed that Darwyn went undercover in a federal prison to make contacts with Muslim extremists. Upon his parole, Darwyn manages to hook up with Faris Al-Farik (Oded Fehr), who is an extremist putting together a small team of followers to unleash a terrorist attack on the Los Angeles populace. Bonus Features: They include two episode commentaries, deleted/extended scenes, and two featurettes. The deleted/extended scenes run for a little over twenty seven minutes and feature optional commentary with Reiff and Voris.   HOME