Recently we have seen a reboot of the classic TV drama Matlock that starred the great Andy Griffith. But if you are going to remake a TV show like Matlock that had a TV legend in the original. You better have a big-name star. Well enter Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates as Matlock.
Matlock has been renewed for a new season, and it is set to debut next month. But before we get to that it's time to relive or watch for the first time (as the case may be) Season 1 on DVD thanks to Paramount Home Entertainment.
Synopsis: Madeline "Matty" Matlock (Kathy Bates), a brilliant septuagenarian who achieved success in her younger years and decides to rejoin the work force at a prestigious law firm, where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases. Matty is assigned to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), a senior attorney and key rainmaker with a thirst for justice. Olympia's ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the head of the firm, is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills. As Matty endeavors to establish herself in her new high-stakes world, she works alongside the firm's younger associates -- the charismatic Billy (David Del Rio) and the uber ambitious Sarah (Leah Lewis).
Now I must be honest here. I am not a fan of reboots that bring a new person in to play a character that has already been established. It is almost like dismissing the original actor all together. Well, I must say I love the way they treated this series. Kathy Bates as Matty Matlock takes place in the "real world"! She just happens to have the same name as the TV Character Andy Griffith played. And they play off of that so much included using the original Matlock theme in a scene in the pilot episode.
Kathy Bates is amazing in this season. I have been a fan of her work ever since I first watched Misery. Here she is smart, witty and takes no guff! I love that. The cast around her is strong as well. The episodes are well written and shot perfectly. Is this Matlock as good as the original? No! But it is unfair to judge this series by that standard in my opinion. For what it is it is an enjoyable series.
The complete first season is spread across 5 DVD discs. These discs also include special bonus features of Deleted Scenes and one of my favorite kind of bonus the gag reel.
Disc One: Pilot | Rome, In A Day | A Guy Named Greg | The Rabbit and The Hawk
Disc Two: Claws | Sixteen Steps | Belly of the Beast | No, No Monsters
Disc Three: Friends | Crash Helmets On | A Traitor in Thine Own House | This is that Moment
Disc Four: Pregame | Game Day | Game Face | The Johnson Case
Disc Five: I Was that, too | Tricks of the Trade (Part 1) | Tricks of the Trade (Part 2)
These episodes have been transferred to DVD in widescreen format, and the audio track is an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. Always a nice bonus.
Also, a major bonus for this release is that these discs are pressed DVD, not made-on-demand burned disc. As you know by now. I am not a fan of these burned discs. Well, no worries on that front anyway.
So, as I said, I am not a fan of reboots, revivals and remakes. But Matlock wasn't that bad. Katy Bates shines and it is an entertaining little season. And in the end that is really all you are looking for in a drama series. So, if you would like to add Matlock season one to your home video library head over to Amazon and order your copy today!
Out of 4 TV Sets (4 being the best) the DVD of Matlock Season 1 receives.....
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