Case Closed: Season 4 (2010)

Where there is crime there is Conan Edogawa, detective to confront it but as the tide rolls in on Case Closed season 4, it would be more befitting to state wherever Conan stands a murder isn't far off. As the series ventures past the 100th episode mark it's obvious the stories are running low on drama as there are more two-part episodes than ever this time around. And as lovable as the cast of characters are, some change to the line-up would be welcome. Kudo's rival-turned-confidant Harley makes a few appearances but is hardly a regular. The original language dialogue with subtitles still reigns over the dubbed. As I found in the mystery "Massacre Night" the writing for the English version struggles to make sense of certain Japanese-specific clues like kanji.

As in usual television fashion, there are 100th episode festivities which include a feature length story, superior animation and coloring, special guest appearances, and yet another tease as Rachel gets close to unveiling Conan's true identity. Unfortunately the feature is really just two investigations back-to-back and ends up being divided into the regular format, dissolving any sort of dramatic build-up. The special appearances include Rachel's mother and Jimmy's jetsetting parents who both figure in to the latter investigation. The show tries to add some much needed flavor once again with new opening title and closing credit sequences but what Case Closed really needs is a permanent change to the main mystery's structure. It needs to be shook up to create some waves or it will continue to grow tepid and unimaginative.

Buyer's Guide:

Available as a 4 disc boxset containing episodes 80-105

2 Rachel is as clueless as Lois Lane out of 5

Farscape: Season One (1999)

"Alien" does not begin to describe the series of Farscape, and when a show feels so new and different, even to a weathered science-fiction fan as myself, it can only mean good things to come.

Farscape starts out innocently enough with a beautiful dawn.  On this fateful morning an astronaut named John Crichton is shot into space on a test mission, and unwittingly enters a wormhole.  Where he ends up is not only the true setting of the story but yet another beautiful and frightening dawn for Crichton.  Now aboard a Leviathan, the living ship of Moya, he is in a constant struggle to survive but also adapt to his strange surroundings and shipmates.

The species represented on the ship are incredibly diverse and detailed, each one possessing intricate back stories which are slowly illuminated throughout the first season's 22 episodes.  The aggressive yet honorable Luxan warrior D'argo, the exotic spiritual Delvian Zhaan, the incredibly selfish highfalutin royal Hynerian Rygel, the dutiful and passive Pilot, and the deadly Sebacean Peacekeeper commando Aeryn, along with the displaced yet capable human Crichton make up Moya's manifest.  The noticeable amount of detail shown in each expertly constructed environment gives the show an extravagant feel as it all looks very expensive.

The imaginative creature and makeup effects from Jim Henson studios are the true highlight of the season though the CG visuals do date the show considerably.
While the crew's plan to return to each of their home worlds leads the audience on an unforgettable journey through many dangerous and evocative locales, the series is still in its infancy so blunders along the way are to be expected.
Farscape is not immune to the early season pitfalls that can arise on such a sci-fi endeavour, though accompanied by well-imagined characters, ambitious storywriting and sfx it truly is the dawn of good things to come.

Buyers Guide:
Available as a 6 disc box set containing all 22 episodes of S1.  The same box can be found in a Full Series box, which contains all 4 Seasons.

3 appetizing food cubes out of 5

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Case Closed: Season 3 (2010)

The prolific detective Jimmy Kudo returns in season 3 to work behind the adolescent mask of Conan Edogawa and behind the scenes of Richard Moore's detective agency, unraveling murderous plots in an effort to close the case on crime for good.  The show receives a bit of a facelift as the opening and closing title sequences and songs are revamped, adding suspense as Conan closes in and sentimentality as Jimmy and Rachel ponder their love for one another.

Through episodes 53-79 Kudo faces off against a wide array of adversaries including a black-hearted monk, a resentful artist, a phantasmal samurai, a costumed monster, and a washed up movie villain.  These criminals employ a number of cunning and lethal tricks to accomplish their goals though some seem far-fetched considering the small amount of time and materials each had within their means.  Begrudgingly Kudo remains in the dark concerning his big shrink but in the episode "Game Gone Bad" he literally runs headlong into a lead and in the series' first three part mystery he goes up against a living, breathing Knight Baron, the fictitious evildoer from the pages of his father's long running series of novels.  But the two-part season finale trumps even that as Conan encounters the infamous and flashy thief the Kaitou Kid, leading to a cat and mouse chase which leaves everyone, the audience included, breathless and wanting more.

While there are a few episodes that don't involve it, murder is the main dish but it would behoove the writers to add more variety to the stories.  It surprises me that Japan's population isn't dwindling with the number of killings portrayed on the series.  As Conan sets the record straight, each culprit instantly breaks down and reveals their motives but certain ones are flimsy at best and feel unworthy of the crime committed such as in the two-parter "Footsteps of a Hero".  While certain plots are derivative and some motives weak, you have to appreciate the writers level of creativity in hatching so many mysteries over the run of the show.  The stories are what keep Case Closed alive and the intrigue is not lost, even as Detective Conan ventures deeper into the criminal mind, proving the series' longevity and lasting spirit.

Buyer's Guide:
Available as a 4 disc boxset containing episodes 55 - 82.

4 devious means of fishing wire out of 5

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Ghost Hunt: Season One - Part One (2008)

With the popularity of paranormal investigating shows increasing over the past few years, it was inevitable that a similar anime would be produced.  Ghost Hunt, a series about the investigations of the Shibuya Psychic Research team, follows naive high school freshman Mai Taniyama, assistant Shibuya Kazuya and a cast of others who aid in investigating phenomena and exorcising spirits.

The show most resembles Paranormal State, an American reality program where a team of college investigators help families deal with a variety of problems including possession, hauntings, and demonic entities.  GH is similar as it focues more on aiding others rather than collecting evidence.  Because of this, the series has a more sentimental tone as opposed to being something particularly scary.

The investigations referred to as "Files" are usually contained in multiple episodes.  The first file "Evil Spirits All Over" introduces Mai to the arrogant Shibuya during his analysis of a supposedly haunted schoolhouse.  Other characters brought in to help include a monk, a shrine priestess, a catholic exorcist and a medium, all of whom are way too young for their respective roles.
This file struck me as visually uninteresting as most of the show does.  Despite lack of experience, the characters comprehend a vast knowledge which I found quite interesting and informative.  The writers obviously did their homework.

As in any show containing an adolescent female lead, love is in the air as young Mai secretly pines for the narcisstic yet handsome Shibuya.  This is where most of the comedy arises but it's mostly restricted to childish humor.  Ghost Hunt is meant for teenage anime fans with an interest in the paranormal, but with a lack of interesting visual and unconvincing characters, they would be better off watching truly creepy anime series such as Serial Experiments Lain, Boogiepop Phantom or even reality-based paranormal investigations instead.

13 episodes.  Approx 25 minutes each.

Buyers Guide:
Available as a 2 disc box.

2 young to be an exorcist out of 5

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Case Closed: Season 2 (2009)

On the second season, detective Jimmy Kudo not only proves "one truth prevails" but that crime is commonplace as his minor self Conan Edogawa faces off against an array of suspects, each one testing his top-notch cognitive abilities through 26 episodes.  The saga continues as young Conan devotes his time to solving cases which emerge at every turn, from Richard Moore's agency to the Junior Detective League to simple random encounters with Rachel, a dull moment is never spent.

While some episodes feel rushed as character designs appear loose and plots fall flat, there are still a number of thrilling stories along the way.  Suspense is added by putting main characters in mortal danger which Rachel finds out in one of my favorite two-part episodes, "Mountain Villa Murder". Introducing new characters such as Rachel's mother (Richard's ex-wife) and a high school detective rival of Kudo while confronting past plot holes like where exactly Conan's parents are, and if Jimmy can ever regain his original appearance, keep the show fresh.  And while the first season established a formula which became tiresome after so many episodes, it gives comedic ammunition to the dialogue this time around as characters comment on past staples.  Richard almost sees his catnaps coming as he drowsily whispers, "here we go again" and sometimes wonders if Conan knows more than he is letting on.

The same Saturday morning cartoon formula does continue but the story contains enough surprises, facing long-running mysteries and introducing new characters who promise to add drama and intrigue in future seasons of Case Closed.

Buyer's Guide:
Available as a 4 disc boxset containing episodes 29 - 54.

4 awkward moments in the bath with Rachel out of 5

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Ghost Adventures: Season 3 (2010)

In the third season the paranormal investigating trio continue their Ghost Adventures through a variety of fascinating locations including the dismal conditions of an archaic prison, a derelict hospital arcanely forgotten, the decaying site of an arms manufacturer, and the solitude existence of a lighthouse awash with trauma.  Episodes begin with a history lesson on each site and surrounding area.  These are expertly conducted as they evoke the right mood through a mixture of archival images and 2nd unit footage.  After this the team performs a preliminary analysis of the grounds and while fun will be had, the crew wastes too much time on pointless hijinks and lame skits.

With their X-cameras set up the true investigation begins when they go dark, using only their night-vision cameras for sight.  The crew's style remains intact as they rouse up the spirits, utilizing provocation and trigger objects, even offering up their own energy to be used against themselves.  Though when something supernatural does occur, too much chatter ensues which contaminates evidence, making it difficult to decipher in the review.

The Ghost Adventures crew has come a long way from their pivotal documentary on the paranormal happenings in Virginia City, Nevada and have established an investigative approach unique to their own as they have experienced many of the most dangerous and intriguing hauntings across the world but they should leave the comedy antics to professionals and focus more on the exploration and analysis of the spiritual unknown.

Buyer's Guide:
Available as 3 disc set containing all 10 episodes of S3.

3 idiots playing golf on "the haunted green" out of 5

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Case Closed: Season 1 (2009)

The anime series Case Closed follows the teenage detective whiz Jimmy Kudo as he lands himself in trouble with a dangerous element, leaving his deductive mind in the body of Conan Edogawa, the child persona he conjured from two famous mystery authors, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Edogawa Rampo.  As you proceed to the ending sequence you will notice the first credit as Reversioned by FUNimation Productions.  In the Americanized version, the series title, character names, locations, opening and ending theme music, and most things Japanese for that matter, have been altered.  The original title being 'Detective Conan' starring Shin'ichi Kudo in the title role.  As an anime purist, all these modifications would have bothered me had I not already become a fan of the show when this version aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim animation block a few years back.  The English-dubbed voices fit very well to the characters and the writing stays almost as true to the source material.  Though I immensely appreciate the original Japanese dialogue track with subtitles, as I can discover the show all over again.

After Kudo's big shrink he stays with Ran (Rachel), a former friend and love interest, and her father the famous yet bumbling private detective Kogoro Mori (Richard Moore).  This cements Conan's chance to tag along on cases, and while Moore jumps to the wrong conclusions the pint-sized detective foils the criminals' schemes.  Confined to the limitations of an adolescent, Conan utilizes various gadgets created by his personal friend Professor Agasa, such as a Voice-Altering Bow Tie, Power Kick Shoes and an Anesthetic Watch Gun, among others that conveniently come in handy for all his sleuthing needs.

Like most television shows, a formula is followed and with Case Closed, Conan always saves the day by the end of each episode.  While watching the anime on a nightly basis this formula became tiresome so I recommend viewing it on a more sporadic schedule to ensure the cases remain fresh and exciting.  With its cartoonish method of animation and comedy, I had trouble discerning its target audience as it also contains graphic death scenes and such content as suicide, murder, revenge and assassination.  So I find it more suitable for teenage and older age groups.  And I realize the story stays strong as Kudo remains a child but a hint at the organization which perpetrated the original crime would have been welcome towards the end of the first season.  Instead the episodes continue on the same formula which suggests a lengthy saga as Kudo plies his craft as the pint-sized detective Conan Edogawa, proving his doctrine of "One Truth Prevails."

Buyer's Guide:
Available as a 4 disc boxset containing episodes 1 - 28.

4 sleep-inducing needles to the back of poor Kogoro Mori's neck out of 5

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Ghost Adventures: Season 2 (2009)

The Ghost Adventures crew led by Zak Bagans returns in their second season to document the paranormal. Not only probing the dark corners of their native U.S. but also some of the most infamous sites in Europe. Process shots of skies moving quickly to night, unexpected video interference, and close-ups of rotten, dilapidated scenery conveying the muted horror of each location are sprinkled throughout each episode, adding to the already eerie mood of the show.

Fans of the first season will be happy to see the same formula return as the GA team strategically place their cameras before being locked down in a variety of ways to ensure an intimate investigation. The team utilizes a range of equipment including an EMF detector, EM pumps, digital thermometers, digital voice recorders, motion sensors, thermal imaging and an array of experimental devices which push the boundaries of paranormal documentation.

As each unexplained noise or disembodied voice is encountered, Zak's voice narrates a small scene of review but at times it feels as if the audience is being led to his conclusions. Ghost Adventures can be a lot of fun to watch with a friend during the daytime as you laugh at the crew's frightened reactions and sometimes bizarre behavior but for its full effect it should be viewed alone at night.

Buyer's Guide:
Available as 3 disc set containing all 8 episodes of S2.

4 mockings of the trinity out of 5

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Ghost Adventures: Season 1 (2008)

Spawned from the documentary of the same name comes this ghost hunting reality show run by Zak Bagans. Along with two fellow investigators, Zak documents his haunted travels in order to collect and exhibit paranormal evidence to the world. The first season ran eight episodes on the Travel channel, each ranging from about 40 to 50 minutes. The most noteworthy feature on the show is the crew's investigating style which includes an abundance of ghost provocation, a method of standing up to and taunting spirits in order to garner stronger phenomena.  Due to their style, the series has a more dangerous and risky feel to it.

Another major difference to similar shows is the varied haunted locations around the U.S. and even the world the investigations take the viewer. The overall goal of the show is to plunge into the dark histories of the reported hauntings and air the results, but it's really about the eerie and unnerving experience the show offers more than the often implausible evidence captured.

Buyer's Guide:
Available as 2 disc set containing all 8 episodes of S1.

4 "dudes" out of 5

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The Great Horror Family (2004)

From the Japanese horror maestro Takashi Shimizu comes this incredibly off-beat comedy series about an eccentric family that moves into a new home which is a hot-bed of paranormal activity. Not only does the series contain pale-skinned spectres but a multitude of odd creatures and occurences including zombies, curses, exorcisms, poltergeist-activity, and even alien encounters.

I discovered the dvd set at a Best Buy and as a fan of Shimizu, I picked it up but was inevitably disappointed by its approach. The production values are low and the characters' overly campy acting quickly becomes tiresome.

Throughout the series there are sprinklings of animation and for how wacky and bizarre the show is, it would really be complimented better in the anime format.

13 episodes.  Approx 25 minutes each.

Buyer's Guide:
Available as a complete 3 disc box-set.

2 opening sequence power poses out of 5.

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