November 28, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 19 Box set celebrates long-running TV sitcom by Dennis Seuling “Friends: The Complete Series” (Warner Home Video) is an enormous, Blu-ray box set perfect for holiday gift giving. It contains all 236 original broadcast episodes and 20 hours of special features, including over three hours of newly added bonuses. “Friends” revolved around a group of bright, good-looking 20-somethings living in Manhattan. Though initial reviews were mixed, they eventually became more positive as the series progressed, with critics commenting on the consistently sharp writing and chemistry among the main characters. The series ran on NBC from September 1994 through May 2004. The cast included Jennifer Aniston, who portrayed Rachel Green, a fashion enthusiast and best friend to roommate Monica Geller. Courtney Cox was Monica, a chef and “den mother” known for her bossy and competitive nature. Lisa Kudrow was Phoebe, an eccentric masseuse and self-taught musician. Phoebe, who wrote and performed her own quirky songs, was ditsy but street smart. Matt LeBlanc played Joey Tribbiani, a struggling actor and womanizer who became famous for his role on “Days of Our Lives” as Dr. Drake Ramoray. Despite his everroving eye, Joey was an innocent, caring guy who meant well. Matthew Perry played Chandler Bing, a statistical analysis executive for a large, multi-national corporation. David Schwimmer was clumsy, socially awkward Ross Geller, Monica’s elder brother, a paleontologist at the Museum of Natural History. These six characters struggled to survive on their own. In every episode, they found the companionship, comfort, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courtney Cox, Matt Le Blanc, and Lisa Kudrow, the cast of the hit TV sitcom ‘Friends.’ and support from each other to be the perfect antidote to the pressures of life in the Big Apple. The box set includes a hard-cover book that holds 21 Blu-ray discs; documentaries on the show’s origin, influence on pop culture, and casting; appearances of the cast on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show;” original producer’s cut and original script for the episode “The One Where Rachel Tells Ross;” a gag reel; and the music video of “I’ll Be There for You” featuring the “Friends” cast. “Lawless” (Anchor Bay) is based on the true story of the Bondurant brothers, Virginia moonshiners during Prohibition who ran afoul of corrupt local politicians who were more than willing to look the other way for a hefty share of the profits. Eldest brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is a man of few words, but has his own unique sense of how things should be. He is family-loyal, protective of the family business, and ruthless if crossed. Forrest and his brothers, Howard (Jason Clarke) and Jack (Shia LaBeouf), dutifully take orders and deliver right to folks’ homes. Things are going well until Special Deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce), the strong-arm hired man of local corrupt politician Mason Wardell, rears his head. Director John Hillcoat has put together a first-rate cast and ably establishes the rural Virginia backwoods of the early 1930s. The atmosphere he evokes is a major reason “Lawless” works. This is the era of Bonnie and Clyde, narrow country roads, vintage cars and trucks, hidden stills, and booze-filled mason jars packed in straw in wooden crates. The local cops have more in common with the moonshiners than with the outside law-enforcement officers, who look down on the area folks. There is a good deal of tension in “Lawless” and plenty of violence -- some of it hard to watch -- which accounts for the R rating. As gangster films go, it is very good, and manages to delineate differing levels of lawlessness. Bonus features on the Blu-ray release include director’s commentary; deleted scenes; a featurette on Franklin County, Virginia, “the wettest county in the world;” the story of the Bondurant family; and a Willie Nelson music video. (continued on Crossword page)