STACK NZ Nov #57

DVD&BD

REVIEWS

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Fangs for the memories. TRUE BLOOD: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON

The Marvel universe gets a lot more complicated MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.

Format:

Release Date: 12/11/14

Format:

Release Date: 05/11/14

TV

The last two seasons of True Blood were anaemic when compared to its transgressive and full-blooded first four years. Now, with the stake finally being driven into the show’s heart, former fans who lost interest will still feel an obligation to see how things ultimately turn out for the vampires, werewolves, fairies, shapeshifters and humans of Bon Temps. Did Eric really burn up in the snow? Have we finally seen the last of Tara? Will Jason “learn how to not have sex with a woman”? Will Sarah Newlin get what she deserves? And most importantly,

The initial response from the Marvel faithful for this TV spin-off to the blockbuster movies was initially pretty negative, and some of the early episodes are closer in spirit to Relic Hunter than the original source material. But stick with it: without wanting to give away any spoilers, the show is fully integrated with the current movies, so some things had to be kept in reserve until the cracking final third of the season. This particular unit of S.H.I.E.L.D. is headed up by Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), last seen being murdered by Loki in The Avengers , but who has

will Sookie and Bill live happily ever after? As in any final season of a long-running series, old friends are back to say goodbye, story arcs are promptly wrapped up, characters die, and there’s a wedding. True Blood may have outstayed its welcome, but we’re still going to miss Pam.

now made a miraculous recovery (how is one of the key subplots). The main foes for his team of misfits – two geeks, two lethal agents, plus a renegade computer hacker – is a criminal organisation called Centipede, which looks to have links with Captain America’s old foes Hydra. All in all, a promising new addition to the Marvel universe.

All for one and one for all THE MUSKETEERS

The name’s Fleming… Ian Fleming FLEMING: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE BOND

Format:

Release Date: 26/11/14

Format:

Release Date: 26/11/14

The latest adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s much-filmed novel is cut from the same cloth as BBC’s reboot of Robin Hood: while loosely following the source material, the plotlines are very 21st Century – D’Artagnan (Luke Pasqualino) looks more like a boy band member than a naïve wannabe musketeer. Still, he and his brothers in arms, Athos (Tom Burke), Aramis (Santiago Cabrera) and Porthos (Howard Charles – who in another break with tradition is of African descent) make for suitably dashing heroes as they battle the machinations of Cardinal

Although his spying exploits were not really in the same league as 007’s, Ian Fleming still packed a fair bit of adventure into his life and it’s his exploits during World War II that forms the basis of this lavish four-part mini-series. As portrayed by Dominic Cooper, Fleming was the lazy black sheep of an aristocratic family who finds his calling in life when he’s recruited into naval intelligence on the eve of the war with Nazi Germany. The series’ other main story strand follows his on/off relationship with his future wife (Lara Pulver), who is not

Richelieu, played with menacing relish by the new Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi. Whether Capaldi will be back for a second series remains to be seen, given his newTime Lord role, but most of cast are already onboard, so expect to see more of these new Musketeers.

only married but also the mistress of a powerful media magnate. While the latter storyline drags a little, Bond fans will have fun spotting the references to his future fictional creation, from the prototypes of M and Moneypenny to his rather callous treatment of the women in his life.

NOVEMBER 2014 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz

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