Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 12th, 2004
Slow Ride…take it easy…ah yes. Foghat. Dazed and Confused is Richard Linklater’s love letter to teenage nostalgia. And it shows up on DVD in a “flashback edition”. The film is also a love letter to the 70’s and contains a bitchin’ soundtrack. In the same vein, Dazed is like Fast Times and Ridgemont High, American Graffiti, and Almost Famous. Linklater’s approach is different. Like his previous film Slacker, Linklater is interested in the composite effect. There’s no ON... character to follow (maybe Mitch). It’s a collective work where the pieces add up to a whole. And it’s a wonderful whole.
The structure of the film is loose, and we follow the events of one day and night “in the life” of various characters. The end of school party climaxes the film. Some soon to be movie stars pop up too. Ben Affleck plays the paddle wielding baddie O’Bannion, Matthew McConaughey plays Wooderson (with his famous speech about high school girls), and Parker Posey shows her genuine talents as the “air raid” obsessed Darla Marks. But the other actors in film are just as authentic in their roles. Not a false note is heard throughout the movie.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 12th, 2004
What is Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band – Tour 2003? Well…The Last Waltz this ain’t. Ringo has been touring with his All-Starr’s since the 1990’s. And the 2003 version includes “stars” such as Colin Hay from Men at Work, Paul Carrack from Mike and Mechanics, John Waite and Sheila E. I suppose we’re in time warp because these are 80’s stars.
The DVD was shot on Digital Video and goes back and forth between live concert footage, “behind the scene” stuff, and interviews (mostly about the “s...ars” talking about how much they love Ringo). Some of the songs are okay and the “documentary” footage is mildly entertaining, but mostly it’s just much ado about nothing.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 11th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 10th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 10th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 10th, 2004
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Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on November 9th, 2004
Buena Vista will release the Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci film Shall We Dance? on February 1st. This box-office hit will be presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen tranfer, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. Extras will include an audio commentary (with director Peter Chelsom), deleted scenes (with optional director commentary), three featurettes ("Beginner’s Ballroom", "Behind the Scenes", & "Music of Shall We Dance?"), along with the Pussycat Dolls “Sway”...music video.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 9th, 2004
What’s Happening!! (that’s right, 2 exclamation marks) had a three year run on ABC in the mid 70’s. The second season is now on DVD, all 22 episodes. The sitcom revolves around a “family” of sorts. The main characters are three best friends, Raj (the nerdy one), Dwayne (the cool one), and Rerun (the goofy one). There’s also Shirley, the waitress at the local soda shop. But Dee (Raj’s little sister) is a distraction. And I’m not talking about the character. The actor’s line readings are terrible and watc... her when she reads those cue cards!
However, comparisons can be made to Good Times (both were created by the same guy), but the comparisons end with an African-American main cast. While Good Times deals with more “in your face” social issues, What’s Happening!! is lighter in tone and its comedy is much broader. The only “messages” in this show are ones that deal with the importance of friendship, family, and not bootlegging the Doobie Brothers.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 9th, 2004
Okay. I admit it. I’m guilty. I’m probably one of the few people on the planet Earth who has never seen Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Not because I’m an art film snob or anything (which I’m not…usually). I just never got around to it. I heard all the hype, heard a lot of the famous lines. But I’ve never actually seen the movie. Until now.
The Special Edition of Fast Times is now available and it’s worth picking up. For all the rest of the planet that has seen it, the movie takes plac... over one school year and revolves around characters that I’m sure you all know. There’s Spicoli, Brad, Stacey, Rat, Mike Damone, Linda, and Mr. Hand. And the, then, unknown cast is now extremely famous, Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, and (even in smaller roles) Anthony Edwards, Eric Stoltz, and Nicholas Cage.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 8th, 2004
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