Phoenix DVD Blog

Television mattered more in the early 1980s than it’s easy to remember now. With limited choice and fixed schedules, TV wasn’t something you curated, it was something you shared . Families watched together, kids absorbed what was on, and shows repeated often enough to become familiar whether you followed them closely or not. What we didn’t realise at the time was that we were watching television slowly evolve, not just in production quality, but in ambition. Looking back now, the journey from brightly coloured, standalone episodes to fully serialised, long-form storytelling mirrors how our own tastes changed as we grew up. As television became more ambitious, more cinematic, and more willing to tell longer stories, it also made me look back differently at the programmes that first shaped my viewing habits. I’ve written more about those earlier shows and the wider viewing habits of the time in   The TV Shows I Grew Up With - Before Streaming Changed Everything , where I gather th...

I didn’t religiously follow every TV show that aired in the 1980s. Far from it. Most days were spent outside, messing about, only drifting indoors when it got dark, or when the weather turned properly miserable. Children use to do that back in the day. Television filled the gaps rather than dictating activities. But when it rained, and plans were cancelled, whatever was on the screen usually stayed on. That’s where a whole second tier of 80s TV lived for me. Shows I didn’t seek out, didn’t follow closely, but watched often enough that they became familiar and fondly remembered. I’ve already written about the 80s shows that had the biggest influence on me elsewhere. What follows are the ones I saw in passing , enjoyable, upbeat, and endlessly repeatable, even if they didn’t leave quite the same mark. The Shows That Were Always On Looking back through old photo albums, there is often one of these shows playing on the television behind me and other family members. They really were p...

If you’re new to World War II television, it can be hard to know where to start. Three series dominate the conversation — Band of Brothers , The Pacific , and Masters of the Air . They’re often mentioned together, share the same creative roots, and each tells a different part of the same global story. But they’re not the same experience. I have these two sets on Blu-ray, and I’m still waiting for Masters of the Air to get a proper physical release. If you jump in at the wrong point, there’s a good chance you won’t fully appreciate what makes them so powerful. So the real question isn’t just which one is best — it’s: Which one should you watch first? Quick Answer: Start Here If you want the simplest route: Start with Band of Brothers Then watch The Pacific Finish with Masters of the Air That order gives you the strongest emotional connection first, followed by a deeper and darker perspective, and finally a different viewpoint from the skies above Europe.  This is...

There’s a certain age, around 11 or 12, where going to the cinema feels like a major event. Not just something to do, but something you build up to, talk about for days, and remember for years afterwards. For me, that time is tied to a handful of films that still stand out today. Not just because of what they were, but because of when I saw them. I can still picture it clearly, standing in the queue at the sweet counter, convinced I was going to miss the start of the film. Even though we were always there early, at least 20 minutes before the cartoon started, it never felt early enough. At that age, you’re not analysing films, you’re just experiencing them. And somehow, those experiences stick. I had all of these movies before on DVD but sold them when things were tough. I continue to buy movies on Blu Ray these days but only when I really want them or I get a good deal.  ⭐ The Foundation – Star Wars at Home Before all of these, there was Star Wars . That was my ultimate h...

Some directors take their time telling a story. Tony Scott never really did that. His films move. They build momentum early and rarely let go. Even when the story itself is simple, the way it’s told keeps you locked in. I’ve watched a good few of his films again recently, and what stood out straight away is how well they still hold up. Not just because of nostalgia, but because of how they’re made. There’s a pace to his work that feels deliberate. Nothing drags. Nothing feels like filler. And even now, a lot of modern films don’t seem to hit that same balance. If You Only Watch One, Start Here If you’re new to Tony Scott’s films, Top Gun is the obvious starting point , but if you want the clearest example of his style at its peak, start with Unstoppable . It’s simple, direct, and does exactly what a Tony Scott film should do. No unnecessary complexity, no slow build that drags on. It gets moving early and keeps going. If that works for you, then move on to: Crimson Tide for tensi...