|
|
|
Search Movie Review
Archives
|
|
|
| |
| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
remains to be to provide you, the entertainment community with
the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
link to the most popular dvd movies. |
|
|
“The Pretender:
The Complete Second Season“
|
 |
Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Drama |
| Video: |
1.33:1 |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
5.1 |
| Languages |
English,
Spanish |
| Subtitles |
English |
| Length |
1078 minutes
|
| Rating |
NR |
| Release Date |
9/20/05 |
| Studio |
20th Century
Fox Home Video |
| Commentary:
|
“Red Rock
Jarod” commentary by Steve Long Mitchell, Craig Van Sickle and
Fred Keller; “Bloodlines Parts 1 & 2” commentary by Andrea Parker,
Michael T. Weiss, Steve Long Mitchell, Craig Van Sickle and
Fred Keller |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
3 part “Making-of” featurette
|
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
TV spots |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Michael T.
Weiss, Andrea Parker, Patrick Bauchau, Jon Gries, Ryan Merriman,
Ashley Peldon, Richard Marcus, Paul Dillon, Harve Presnell |
| Written
By: |
Tommy Thompson,
Steven Long Mitchell, Craig W. Van Sickle |
| Produced
By: |
Steven Long
Mitchell, Craig W. Van Sickle |
| Directed
By: |
James Whitmore
Jr., Steven Long Mitchell, Fred Keller |
| Music:
|
John Debney
(theme) |
| The
Review: |
Yes, he’s the great pretender. He
may pretend to be anybody and he does it so well. The second
season of “The Pretender” continued to unearth additional
mysteries at the Centre. Jarod finds out, among other things,
that the mysterious Mr. Lyle is assisting Miss Parker and
Sydney. He continues to help those less fortunate than himself
as if in some act of contrition. During the second season
Jarod assumes a number of new identities including that of
a college professor to help investigate a disappearance, a
plastic surgeon so he can find how and why a young girl was
disfigured and a gigolo (personally I think he did the last
just for the fun of it but that’s not what happened in the
episode). The secondseason is even better than the first particularly
when the nasty character of Mr. Lyle is introduced. The exceptional
season two part finale “Bloodlines” (which has commentary
tracks by the writer/producers, director and two main cast
members) focuses on Jarod’s desperate attempt to prevent the
Centre from creating a new pretender. It’s a powerful episode
which sets up the equally good season three.
|
| Image
and Sound: |
Fox does
another stellar job with a sharp transfer. The stereo sound
comes across with nice clarity. Since this series was produced
before many shows were done in the surround format, there’s
no opportunity to take advantage of the format. Once again we
have three dual sided, dual layered discs. Once again I have
misgivings about the packaging. Given the care in the transfers,
extras and commentary tracks, I’m disappointed and surprised
that Fox would take such a short cut as it doesn’t reduce the
overall production cost all that much nor does it increase the
price significantly either. --- |
| The
Extras: |
Like the
first season set, we get another three part “Making of” featurette.
It’s the highlight of the extras here again as it takes us
behind the scenes with the creative team that drove the show.
Writer/producers Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle
discuss the story arcs and introduction of new characters
providing an idea of their ultimate intent.
|
| Commentary:
|
Three strong
commentary tracks from the main creative team. “Red Rock Jarod”
features writer/producers Van Sickle, Mitchell and director
Fred Keller discussing the thought process behind this particular
episode and developments that would show up further along in
the season related to some of the character interactions. The
best of the commentary tracks is for “Bloodlines Parts 1 & 2”.
Featuring Michael T. Weiss and Andrea Parker as part of the
commentary team, this commentary allows fans to hear persectives
from both behind and in front of the camera. |
| Final
Words: |
The second
season of “The Pretender” is as involving as the first. Image
quality is outstanding although some of the same issues that
I had with season one are issues here as well. Still, all in
all, Fox has done a marvelous job with this set. |
|
|