It is not often that a TV series has grabbed my utmost attention but, in the case of the World War 2 drama Band of Brothers, it did so with a vengeance.

Usually the commercial hype puts me off, but this show had two strong drawcards.

One being the pairing of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks as executive producers, the second was a cast of semi-unknowns.

The latter on big-budget productions tends to point towards strong content not needing 'big-name' sellability. In fact the biggest name on the cast was David Schwimmer from Friends.

There was a lot of flak from critics about his use as a bully-boy, however, I thought he played the role particularly well. (Not being a watcher of Friends probably helped too!)

Anyway, putting aside the need for an early night on Mondays became a ritual as I got caught up in the adventures and lives of the men of Easy Company, in the 506th regiment of the 101st airborne division.

Band of Brothers is very similar in style to the brilliant Saving Private Ryan and it doesn't shy away from blood, guts and killing off characters. (Mind you, is it based on real life people so I guess there was little room for sentiment.)

It is exciting viewing and has the best battlescenes ever made for TV.

And that's not surprising as the series cost about $250million to produce and looking at the imagery leaves you in no doubt about where the money was spent.

The use of digital effects - particularly during the parachute jump scenes - is cinema quality. Spielberg and Hanks did not muck around when spending what they thought necessary to get the desired result and the reward was not only stunning TV - but a bucketful of Emmys.

The photography is utterly superb and the subtle use of grain and muted colours adds a period-quality to the look.

Another very likeable thing about Band of Brothers is its refusal to paint all the Americans as good guys.

There is Allied pillaging, robbing, even the shooting of prisoners and civilians, and the characters are well-rounded and involving. Many of the incidents portrayed come from the diaries, letters and interviews with survivors, and both Spielberg and Hanks have gone a very long way to serve up a thoroughly believable set of men.

The 10-episode series covers four years of WW2 from parachute training, through D-Day and the assault on the Normandy beaches, the battle to liberate France, Operation Market Garden (a Bridge Too Far), the Battle of the Bulge, freeing concentration camp prisoners and capturing Hitler's Eagle's Nest.

Two of the key characters are the young officers Richard Winters (Damian Lewis) and Lewis Nixon (Ron Livingston) and it is mainly through them you see the war unfold.

There are no weak links in the cast and the full-on action and drama will have you absolutely riveted to your screen.

That is exactly how you should bring a season back. A perfect mix of comedy and drama! Welcome to the Montecito Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, where you can do anything you want... but Ed Deline and his crack surveillance team will be watching. Just remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas

Perhaps best known for having the involvement of actor Samuel L. Jackson starring in a major role in the series production, “Afro Samurai” presents an interesting and unique take on the samurai genre. And while putting all casting-hype aside, and with animation being done by popular Japanese studio Gonzo, its mixture of east meet west philosophies seem to set it apart from the anime norm, providing the viewer with an entertaining and somber tale of vengeance. The plot follows our relentless protagonist, who is only known throughout the land as the “Afro Samurai” (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson); a wandering soul who seeks vengeance for his father’s murder. You see, his father was the number one fighter in the world—that is until a warrior by the name of Justice mercilessly murders Afro’s father in a duel for the number one ranking. With Afro witnessing this horrific act, he abides to himself to dedicate his entire life to seek out and destroy Justice, thus ending his torment and despair. Along the way he garners many friends but even more foes, all who have the intent to stop him from reaching Justice. One friend in particular, whose name is “Ninja-Ninja” (also voiced by Jackson), is Afro’s tag-along partner who sees fit that he follow Afro until he reaches his destination. It’s a long and arduous journey that Afro must take…

First off, the animation is absolutely stellar. From the exhausting life-or-death battles, which range from aerial sword duels to lightening fast gun showdowns, to the beautiful and visually stimulating environments, each animated sequence is a sight to behold. Animation studio Gonzo has recently become a front-runner in the realm of anime, providing articulate and mesmerizing animation for shows such as “Samurai 7”, “Blue Submarine No. 6”, “Gantz”, and “Blood+”. “Afro Samurai” is yet another stepping stone for the studio, and is most certainly their most accomplished show yet.

With music production done by Wu-Tang Clan member/producer RZA, the surreal yet rhythmic nature of the soundtrack fits the show excellently. Best known for his contributions to the hip-hop world, RZA delightfully tries his hand at a number of innovative techniques that provide the show with a fascinating musical landscape that blends well with the series atmosphere and showcases RZA’s talent for constructing compositions that become not just a part of the show, but an essential element. And with voices talents such as Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman, and Kelly Hu, how could you go wrong?

“Afro Samurai”, in the very least, is a technical milestone in its ability to combine superb animation, awesome voice talent, and a well-composed musical score. And while just a tad light in the story department, and perhaps too much “ultra-violence” for its own good, “Afro Samurai” is still a marvel to behold. If this is the result when America and Japan combine forces to produce an anime, the phrase “more is better” definitely comes into mind. A dark and gloomy work of art, “Afro Samurai” is a definite recommendation.