[Tues, 31.Jan.06]
:. Inked - The Best of Season 1
What's the difference between a bad tattoo and a bad television show? The latter won't last nearly as long as the former.
:. Ultimate Bull Riding
The disc opens with a montage titled "Hitting the Dirt." It could also be called "Hitting the Horns," "Hitting the Rodeo Clown," and "Getting the Head Stuck Between the Starting Chute Bars While the Hand Stays Attached to a Crazed Animal."
[Mon, 30.Jan.06]
:. The Great Raid: The Director's Cut
Archive shots of broken, diseased, and starved bodies provide a devastating illustration of the history that drives the film's fictions.
:. The Small Faces: Under Review
There's a big story behind these Small Faces.
[Fri, 27.Jan.06]
:. Flightplan
The contrast between Kyle's multiple layers of loss and the flurry of life that goes on without her is briefly compelling.
[Thur, 26.Jan.06]
:. Viva La Bam: Seasons 4 and 5
Of everything to come out of the Jackass realm of reality programming, the Margeras were the sole masterpiece.
:. Ludacris: The Red Light District
As one might expect, a DVD devoted to Ludacris' real-life exploits comes a bit short of winning the endorsment of the Christian Coalition.
[Tues, 24.Jan.06]
:. Buzzcocks, Live at Shepherds Bush Empire 2003
Shelley and Diggle themselves prove this point, portraying themselves as regular blokes who enjoy a night at the pub while making some of the finest music around.
[Mon, 23.Jan.06]
:. The Shield: Season 4
Most of the brilliant fourth season is focused on the interplay of Vic with the two single-season "heavyweights", Glenn Close as Captain Monica Rawling and Anthony Anderson as local kingpin Antwon Mitchell.
:. The Execution of Wanda Jean
The film may not change minds regarding the death penalty, but does demonstrate its flaws on personal and structural levels.
[Fri, 20.Jan.06]
:. Upstairs, Downstairs - Collector's Edition Megaset
Upstairs, Downstairs may not have been startlingly original, but its primary strength lay with its complex characters and class-based construct.
:. God Save the Queen: A Punk Rock Anthology
With a little more care, this '70s punk video anthology could've been great, instead of merely good.
[Thur, 19.Jan.06]
:. Creep
Disdainful until overtaken by desperation, Kate (Franke Potente) appears to be the film's primary "creep".
:. Seven Men From Now
The 1956 Western is a small, economical movie, concerned with sacrifice and nobility.
[Wed, 18.Jan.06]
:. Killing Joke: XXV Gathering
This is music to dance to, music to move. This is music to march to, to dance... the war dance!
:. Thérèse Raquin
The movie opens and closes with the same overhead shot of Lyons. Carné, like Zola, emphasizes the ordinary tragedy of desperate city folk.
[Tues, 17.Jan.06]
:. Asylum
Surrounded by this sort of oppressive hushing, Stella's largely nonverbal relationship with Edgar resembles a form of attention.
:. Buddy Rich: The Lost Tapes
"The World's Greatest Drummer" shows again how he won the title.
[Mon, 16.Jan.06]
:. Michael Franti and Spearhead: Live in Sydney
A big, cathartic house party in which Michael Franti completes his circle.
:. Hustle & Flow
Craig Brewer considers his protagonist something new, that is, the same kind of cat he's seen repeatedly in his hometown of Memphis, but not seen in movies.
:. Violent Femmes: Permanent Record: Live and Otherwise
The once overlooked band has been getting their share of attention in the past few years. This DVD performance proves why.
[Fri, 13.Jan.06]
:. Bill Hicks: Sane Man
More archival releases from one of the greatest U.S. comics and satirists reinforce that, 10 years after his death, Hicks's relevance continues to increase.
:. 9 Songs: Unrated Full Uncut Version
Through sex, specifically the surrender and exposition of self through this oldest human hobby, Michael Winterbottom communicates the beauty and pain of a relationship.
[Thur, 12.Jan.06]
:. Yngwie Malmsteen: Concerto Suite for Guitar and Orchestra
Malmsteen attempts to drop the "neo" from the neo-classical moniker in this blistering, intricate and quite gaudy DVD performance.
:. Ben Folds and WASO: Live in Perth
What is it about rock music mixed with an orchestra that makes people giddy?
[Wed, 11.Jan.06]
:. Airplane!: The "Don't Call Me Shirley!" Edition
Airplane! basically gets by on one joke: sight gags based on tricks of perspective or on thwarting expectation.
:. The Mission: Lighting the Candles
This is all The Mission you really need, assuming - of course -- you really need it.
:. No Parachute Vol. 1: A Collection of Indie Rock Videos
No Parachute, in the creator's words, attempts "the rebirth of the indie music video", a lofty claim that this mostly uninspired group of videos fails to back-up.
[Mon, 9.Jan.06]
:. The Amazing Race: The Seventh Season
The show focuses on couples, sometimes sensationalizing "negative" interactions, then absolves itself of ethical responsibilities by asserting its "documentary" status.
:. The Brothers Grimm
"This is why I love DVDs," says Terry Gilliam. "I can completely destroy the illusion of my film."
:. Eagles - Farewell 1 Tour - Live From Melbourne
The Eagles may not be traveling in the fast lane any longer, but there are still a lot of good miles left on this sturdy winged vehicle.
[Fri, 6.Jan.06]
:. New York Dolls: All Dolled Up
Bob Gruen and then-wife Nadya Beck logged over 40 hours of film of the Dolls, and from this footage comes this new documentary.
:. Family Guy, Volume 3
Whereas All in the Family was all about the troubling racism and personal politics, Family Guy takes on many of these same topics and then blurts them out like a tactless guy at a party that says exactly what he's thinking.
:. Roll Bounce
"Teenage boys alone in Chicago for the summer spells trouble, especially with a lot of pretty extras around," says Malcolm Lee.
[Thur, 5.Jan.06]
:. Four Brothers
"I grew up in sunny southern California, and I'm not used to snow," says John Singleton. "I wanted to do a movie with snow in it, so here it is."
:. Dark Water: Unrated Widescreen Edition
"I'm attracted by the unknown, by the unexplainable," says director Walter Salles.
:. À Double Tour
Claude Chabrol's film is a visually engrossing if emotionally underwhelming thriller set in one the director's prototypically dysfunctional families.
[Wed, 4.Jan.06]
:. The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne
Capturing the Nightbird tour for posterity, Erasure treats their fans to the expected elaborate games of dress up. Oh yeah, and some great music, too.
:. Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers: Volume 1
Bringing together Three Stooges-style slapstick and Looney Tunes-ish physics, Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers offers no in-between or subtlety.
[Tues, 3.Jan.06]
:. Queen: Under Review 1973-1980
Here's a documentary that takes an almost CSPAN approach to discussing a rock band.
:. Home Improvement: The Complete Third Season
Home Improvement's third season is its best, as crack-up funny as it is heartfelt.
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