Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 15th, 2005
Bright Young Things is a sumptuous adapation of Evelyn Waugh's novel "Vile Bodies". The book is a cutting satire of British cafe society of the 1930's. The director and adapter, Stephen Fry, retains much of the novels comic edge. I would expect nothing less from Fry, the noted British humorist and living embodiment of Oscar Wilde.
The movie is mostly about the posh lifestyle of novelist Adam Fenwick-Symes (played by Stephen Campbell Moore)and his lover Nina (played by Emily Mortimer). The circle ...f friends, however, add to the decadence; cameos by Peter O'Toole, Jim Broadbent, and Dan Akroyd add to the fun. However, World War II comes around, and we find out that glitz and glamour isn't what it's cracked up to be. This a very underrated movie that we didn't hear much about. Too bad.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 15th, 2005
Hype! is a documentary of the "Seattle scene" of the early 90's. Grunge was king. I remember wearing flannel shirts and listening to the big three: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. But what about the other bands? Hype! also talks about the lesser-known bands, like the Supersuckers and The Gits. Hype! is an examination of what went on underneath the "hype" of the Seattle music scene. This isn't some VH1 doc. And it's not all about Kurt Cobain either. Hype! covers it all, and cre...tes a gritty portait of the music landscape at a time when grunge ruled the world.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 15th, 2005
Phase IV isn’t a sequel, and it isn’t a remake of the 1974 movie about aliens brainwashing desert ants to wage war over its human desert inhabitants. Those of you looking for that film might be disappointed. Instead, you get this modern action film staring Dean Cain and the Boz, Brian Bosworth. And it ain’t half bad.
Simon Tate (Dean Cain) plays a reporter trying to clear the name of his best friend. The friend is involved in a mysterious death of a scientist. This death is just one in a s...ries of “accidental†deaths involving this group of scientists. See…the group is working on an experimental drug. There’s a conspiracy involving a corrupt cop (Brian Bosworth) and a United States politician (Mimi Kuzyk). Twists and turns ensue. There are lots of foot and car chases, for the chase crowd. And there’s lots of conspiracy, for the conspiracy crowd.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 14th, 2005
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 13th, 2005
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 13th, 2005
At first glance when watching the MTV show Wildboyz with Steve O and the party boy Chris Pontius, one can easily say that some of the Jackass brethren found a nice little niche for themselves, with a nature appreciation show that could be described as National Geographic under the influence of Nyquil.
There is a quality to this show however that makes it worth revisiting several times, more than even Jackass would warrant. At the most basic element, MTV has given these guys a bunch of m...ney to travel the world, and explore some of the planet in ways that the tour brochures would never think to consider. Going to New Zealand, Australia and Africa and not having to pay for it is appealing no matter who you are. Sure, there are many jackass-caliber moments here (be prepared for lots of dumb bathroom jokes and scatological fun), but that’s also part of the theme behind the show, two people learning and understanding nature by experiencing some of the stupid things you’re told NOT to do. But watching great white sharks leap into the air one episode, and killer whales and bears within throwing distance of people in the next, makes for good TV, whether you’re Steve Irwin or Steve O. The young hipsters at MTV have managed to stretch the fruits from these trips into 2 small seasons of broadcasts (with a 3rd on the way), and the first of these seasons comes to DVD in a two-disc set.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 13th, 2005
Dave Chappelle and I are the same. Well, he’s a year younger than me. And he’s black. But we’re both from Washington DC, but I live in the suburbs, and usually never go into the downtown area unless someone dared me. But he’s a lot funnier than me, and Comedy Central decided to give him a 12 episode commitment on their network after seeing him in such films as Half Baked, Screwed and Undercover Brother.
And quietly, Dave has put together a smart, funny show that everyone instantly dismi...ses, and yet will watch as long as it airs. To watch a crackhead talk about drug awareness at a public school is quite possibly some of the funniest stuff on television in the last 3 or 4 years, and many of the new episodes on Comedy Central leave me in tears. Thankfully the network along with Paramount decided to put Season 1 out on DVD in a two-disc set, in all its uncensored glory. The 1st disc has eight episodes, while the 2nd has the remaining 4, plus a decent helping of bonus material that is sure to keep the laughs going long after you’ve turned off the TV. The episodes are:
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 13th, 2005
This show the bomb diggity yo! Seriously though, Jonny Quest in a way revolutionized cartoons in the sense of realism that they tried to convey. Some of the cartoons that have come out since have done a pretty good job of it, but not too many shows were touching on topics such as laser technology, rockets and other concepts then looked at as “futuristic.” And put up against other shows of that era, the animation on Jonny Quest had an almost comic-book like feel to it, and it was a nice change of pace from the ...artoony feel of the Jetsons.
The show is focused around Jonny, his father, Dr. Benton Quest, the inventor and pre-eminent scientist of the era, Race Bannon, a man assigned to guard the Quests from any potential threats, as his innovations when in the wrong hands could pose a danger, Jonny’s friend Hadji, from the streets of Calcutta, and Jonny’s dog bandit, named for a patch of black fur that runs around his eyes like a mask, hence the name. The group traveled to exotic locations for every episode, battling numerous villains, some real, some not, some we’ll just call “fabled,” like gargoyles and abominable snowmen. For its 40th anniversary, Warner Brothers rolls out the 1st season of Jonny Quest, all 26 episodes, in all its glory, as part of the Golden Collection of animated DVD releases from Hanna-Barbera.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 13th, 2005
I must admit that season 5 of South Park was not one of my favorites. I didn’t mind the more permanent death of Kenny. OK, I did mind losing Kenny, but that wasn’t what really brought the series down. It appears that the crudeness found in season 5 has no other purpose than for shock value which in itself is lost on South Park fans. You just can’t shock us anymore.
An episode with a running counter for how often SHIT appears is a perfect indication of how run down things had gotten. Don’t get me wrong. The...e’s still some real funny... well... Shit in this season. Butters annoys me. I think he’s intended to, but he really annoys me. I think the only reason I laughed at all this season is because I can’t help laughing every time Cartman says or does anything. I think one of the reasons for South Park’s drop comes from the domination of Trey Parker.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 13th, 2005
Synopsis
