Library
Sorted By: Title
DVDs in Collection: 130
Page # 19

Red Dwarf: Series 1
Television BBC 12 Click to borrow
Notoriously, and entirely appropriately, the original outline for Doug Naylor and Rob Grant's comedy SF series "Red Dwarf" was sketched on the back of a beer mat. When it finally appeared on our television screens in 1988 the show had clearly stayed true to its roots, mixing jokes about excessive curry consumption with affectionate parodies of classic SF. Indeed, one of the show's most endearing and enduring features is its obvious respect for the conventions of SF, even as it gleefully subverts them. The scenario owes something to Douglas Adams's satirical "Hitch-Hiker's Guide", something to "The Odd Couple" and a lot more to the slacker SF of John Carpenter's "Dark Star". Behind the crew's constant bickering there lurks an impending sense that life, the universe and everything are all someone's idea of a terrible joke.
Later series broadened the show's horizons until at last its premise was so diluted as to be unrecognisable, but in the six episodes of the first series the comedy is witty and intimate, focusing on characters and not special effects. Slob Dave Lister (Craig Charles) is the last human alive after a radiation leak wipes out the crew of the vast mining vessel Red Dwarf (episode 1, "The End"). He bums around the spaceship with the perpetually uptight and annoyed hologram of his dead bunkmate, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie, the show's greatest comedy asset) and a creature evolved from a cat (dapper Danny John Jules). They are guided rather haphazardly by Holly, the worryingly thick ship's computer (lugubrious Norman Lovett).
On the DVD: "Red Dwarf I" arrives in a two-disc set, with all six episodes on the first disc accompanied by an excellent group commentary from Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John Jules and Norman Lovett. (There's also a bonus commentary on "The End" with the two writers and director Ed Bye.) The 4:3 picture is unimpressive, but sound is decent stereo. The second disc has an entertaining 25-minute documentary on the genesis of the series with contributions from the cast, writer Doug Naylor and producer Paul Jackson. Navigate the animated menus to find a gallery of extra features, including isolated music cues, deleted scenes, outtakes ("Smeg Ups"), a fun "Drunk" music montage, model effects shots, Web links, audiobook clips, the original BBC trailer and even the entire first episode in Japanese. --"Mark Walker"

Red Dwarf: Series 2
Television BBC 12 Click to borrow
The second series of "Red Dwarf" is, as Danny John-Jules says in the accompanying DVD commentary, "the one where it really went good". First broadcast in the autumn of 1988, these six episodes showcase Rob Grant and Doug Naylor's sardonic, sarcastic humour to perfection. The writing has matured, no longer focussing solely on SF in-jokes and gags about bodily functions, instead allowing the humour to develop from the characters and their sometimes surprisingly poignant interactions: Lister's timeless love for Kochanksi, for example, or Rimmer's brief memory-implanted love for one of Lister's ex-girlfriends. The cast had gelled, too, and there's even more colour this year as the drab sets are spiced up, a little more money has been assigned to models and special effects, and the crew even go on location once in a while.
"Kryten" introduces us to the eponymous house robot (here played by David Ross), although after this first episode he was not to reappear until Series 3, when Robert Llewellyn made the role his own. Then in "Better Than Life" the show produced one of its all-time classic episodes, as the boys from the Dwarf take part in a virtual reality game that's ruined by Rimmer's tortured psyche. Other highlights include "Queeg", in which Holly is replaced by a domineering computer personality, the baffling time travel paradox of "Stasis Leak", the puzzling conundrum of "Thanks for the Memory", and the astonishingly feminine "Parallel Universe".
On the DVD: "Red Dwarf, Series 2" has another chaotic and undisciplined group commentary from the cast, all clearly enjoying the opportunity to reminisce. The second disc has a host of fun extras, including an "A-Z of Red Dwarf", outtakes, deleted scenes, a Doug Naylor interview, model shots, and the full, unexpurgated "Tongue Tied" music video. As with the first set, the animated menus are great fun and the "Play All" facility is the most useful little flashing button ever created. --"Mark Walker"

Red Dwarf: Series 3
Television BBC 12 Click to borrow
The third series of "Red Dwarf" introduced some radical changes--all of them for the better--but the scripts remained as sharp and character-focussed as ever, making this a firm candidate for the show's best year. Gone were the dull metallic grey sets and costumes, gone too was Norman Lovett's lugubrious Holly, replaced now by comedienne Hattie Hayridge, who had previously played Hilly in the Series 2 episode "Parallel Universe". New this year were custom-made costumes, more elaborate sets, the zippy pea-green Starbug, bigger special effects and the wholly admirable Robert Llewellyn as Kryten.
The benefits of the show's changes are apparent from the outset, with the mind-bending hilarity of "Backwards", in which Kryten and Rimmer establish themselves as a forwards-talking double-act on a reverse Earth. After a modest two-hander that sees Rimmer and Lister "Marooned", comes one of the Dwarf's most beloved episodes, "Polymorph". Here is the ensemble working at its best, as each character unwittingly has their strongest emotion sucked out of them. Lister loses his fear; Cat his vanity; Kryten his reserve; and Rimmer his anger ("Chameleonic Life-Forms. No Thanks"). "Body Swap" sees Lister and Rimmer involved in a bizarre attempt to prevent the ship from self-destructing. "Timeslides" delves deep into Rimmer's psyche as the boys journey haphazardly through history. Finally, "The Last Day" shows how completely Kryten has been adopted as a crewmember, when his replacement Hudzen unexpectedly shows up.
On the DVD: "Red Dwarf, Series 3" two-disc set maintains the high standard of presentation and wealth of extra material established by its predecessors. Among other delights there are the usual "Smeg Ups" and deleted scenes, plus another fun commentary with the cast. There's a lengthy documentary, "All Change", specifically about Series 3, a tribute to costume designer Mel Bibby, Hattie Hayridge's convention video diary, and--most fascinating--the opportunity to watch "Backwards" played forwards, so you can finally understand what Arthur Smith's backwards-talking pub manager actually says to Rimmer and Kryten in the dressing room. --"Mark Walker"

Red Dwarf: Series 4
Television BBC 12 Click to borrow
By the end of this fourth year, "Red Dwarf" had completed its metamorphosis from a modest studio-bound sitcom with a futuristic premise to a full-blown science-fiction series, complete with a relatively lavish (by BBC standards) special-effects budget, more impressive sets and more location shooting. Despite the heavier emphasis on SF, the character-based comedy remained as sharp as ever. Witness the Cat's reaction to Lister's pus-filled exploding head; Kryten's devastatingly sarcastic defence of Rimmer; or, the classic scene that opens the series, Lister teaching Kryten to lie.
In "Camille", Robert Llewellyn's real-life wife plays a female mechanoid who transforms into something else entirely, as does the episode, which by the end becomes a delightful skit on "Casablanca". "DNA" comes over all SF, with lots of techno-speak about a matter transmogrifier and a "RoboCop" homage--but in typical "Dwarf" fashion, turns out to be all about curry. "Justice" sees Rimmer on trial for the murder of the entire crew, while Lister attempts to evade a psychotic cyborg. Holly gets her IQ back in "White Hole", but wastes time debating bread products with the toaster. "Dimension Jump" introduces dashing doppelganger Ace Rimmer for the first time--he was to return in later series, with diminishingly funny results. Here his appearance is all the better for its apparent improbability. Finally, "Meltdown" goes on location (to a park in North London) where waxdroids of historical characters (played by a miscellaneous selection of cheesy lookalikes) are at war. Only intermittently successful, this episode is really memorable for Chris Barrie's tour-de-force performance, as Rimmer becomes a crazed, Patton-esque general.
On the DVD: "Red Dwarf, Series 4", like its predecessors, comes as a two-disc set complete with full cast commentary for every episode, an extensive retrospective documentary (mostly featuring the cast reminiscing), deleted scenes and lots of other fun bits of trivia. --"Mark Walker"

Red Dwarf: Series 5
Television BBC 12 Click to borrow
It's brown alert time all over again for "Red Dwarf" fans with the fifth season of the much-loved sci-fi/comedy series. Episode-wise, it's business as usual for the crew of the "Red Dwarf"--that is, if one considers encountering an alien squid that squirts a despair-inducing hallucinogen ("Back to Reality", later voted the best episode of the series by viewers and Stephen Hawking!), evil (and not particularly bright) versions of the crew ("Demons and Angels"), a virus that causes insanity ("Quarantine"), and a trip to a moon created entirely from the mind of the insufferable hologram Rimmer ("Terrorform") business as usual.
In short, it's six hilarious episodes, highlighted by the typically terrific writing of creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor (who also direct two episodes). As with the previous deluxe DVD releases, "Series V" features a wealth of supplemental features, the most intriguing of which is a look at the failed attempt to recreate the show in America (with U.K. cast member Robert Llewellyn and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"'s Terry Farrell as Cat). Also included are cast and fan commentaries, featurettes on the show's "science" and villains, special effects tests, blooper reels, and a sampling of Grant and Naylor's BBC 4 radio sketch "Dave Hollins, Space Cadet", which served as the inspiration for "Red Dwarf". Dedicated DVD owners will also be rewarded by Easter eggs lurking throughout the menus. "--Paul Gaita"

Risky Business
Comedy Warner Studios R Click to borrow
Little did Tom Cruise know that he would become a box-office superstar after he cranked up some Bob Seger and played air guitar in his underwear. But there's more to this 1983 hit than the arrival of a hot young star. Making a stylish debut, writer-director Paul Brickman crafted a subtle satire of crass materialism wrapped in an irresistible plot about a crafty high schooler named Joel (Cruise) who goes into risky business with the beguiling prostitute Lana (Rebecca De Mornay) while his parents are out of town. Joel turns his affluent Chicago-suburb home into a lucrative bordello and forms a steamy personal and professional partnership with Lana, but only as long as the two can avoid the vengeful pimp Guido (Joe Pantoliano) and keep their customers happy. A signature film of the 1980s, "Risky Business" still holds up thanks to Cruise's effortless charm and the movie's timeless appeal as an adolescent male fantasy. "--Jeff Shannon"

Robbie Williams - Where Egos Dare
Music EMI Records (UK) 15 Click to borrow
Written in the small print on the back of this awesomely comprehensive 170 minute-plus DVD are the words, "'Robbie Williams' is the trademark of Robert Peter Williams". The irony is that just a few years ago no one in their right mind would have wished to impersonate or otherwise infringe on the trademark of someone who was generally perceived as just another ex-boy band hasbeen. The story of how Mr Williams transformed himself from lardy motormouth to world-conquering (h)it boy will surely be made into a film one day and, just as surely, Robbie himself will convince the responsible studio that there is only one person capable of essaying the lead role. For now, though, the aptly titled "Where Egos Dare" will have to suffice. First up is the singer's now semi-legendary 1999 concert at Slane Castle which does indeed find our hero on top form, belting out a greatest-hits set ("Millennium", "Let Me Entertain You", "Angels" et al.) complete with tongue-in-cheek commentary ("That's one of my better lyrics!"). Also included is a raft of extras from the concert including backstage hijinks and film of Robbie and band rehearsing. On the non-Slane front, meanwhile, "Where Egos Dare" is blessed with a veritable abundance of Robbie riches from the video for "rock DJ" to footage of him recording his last album to a hilarious clip of rehearsals for the 1998 Brits which proves that, if there's no one that can sing quite like him, sometimes there's no one that can sing quite as off-key as him either. --"Clark Collis"

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Comedy Twentieth Century Fox Home Video R Click to borrow
If a musical sci-fi satire about an alien transvestite named Frank-n-Furter, who is building the perfect man while playing sexual games with his virginal visitors, sounds like an intriguing premise for a movie, then you're in for a treat. Not only is "The Rocky Horror Picture" all this and more, but it stars the surprising cast of Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick (as the demure Janet and uptight Brad, who get lost in a storm and find themselves stranded at Frank-n-Furter's mansion), Meat Loaf (as the rebel Eddie), Charles Gray (as our criminologist and narrator), and, of course, the inimitable Tim Curry as our "sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania."
Upon its release in 1975, the film was an astounding flop. But a few devotees persuaded a New York theater to show it at midnight, and thus was born one of the ultimate cult films of all time. The songs are addictive (just try getting "The Time Warp" or "Toucha Toucha Touch Me" out of your head), the raunchiness amusing, and the plot line utterly ridiculous--in other words, this film is simply tremendous good fun. The downfall, however, is that much of the amusement is found in the audience participation that is obviously missing from a video version (viewers in theaters shout lines at the screen and use props--such as holding up newspapers and shooting water guns during the storm, and throwing rice during a wedding scene). Watched alone as a straight movie, "Rocky Horror" loses a tremendous amount of its charm. Yet, for those who wish to perfect their lip-synching techniques for movie theater performances or for those who want to gather a crowd around the TV at home for some good, old-fashioned, rowdy fun, this film can't be beat. "--Jenny Brown"

Roger Waters - The Wall - Live In Berlin
Music Universal-Island Unrated Click to borrow
Pretentious Roger Waters ego trip, with a Pink Floyd tribute band and a bunch of tired looking 'celebs'. Van Morrison 'singing' Comfortably Numb with a bunch of geriatric backing vocalists to hide the inadequacy of his vocal range...and someone thought that was a good idea ? If you want to listen to a decent live concert version of 'The Wall' then forego the visuals and get hold of a copy of the genuine article - the Pink Floyd double CD 'Is there anybody out there - The Wall Live'.

Rush - Rush in Rio
Music Video & Concerts Rounder Unrated Click to borrow
Taped in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the final night of Rush's 2002 "Vapor Trails" tour, this double-disc set finds Canada's famous power trio giving its all for 40,000 of the most rabid Rush fans ever gathered under one sky. Sure, the guys are all pushing 50. Bassist-vocalist Geddy Lee strains to hit some high notes, and guitar wizard Alex Lifeson occasionally sounds a tad bored. But by and large they remain at or near the peak of their powerful game--and, from the looks of it, they're having more fun than ever. Drawing from 15 of their 17 studio albums and leaning heavily on "Vapor Trails", they celebrate their stylistic range (progressive-leaning classic rock to dense but melodic post-grunge) and the far broader scope of drummer Neil Peart's considered lyrics.
The concert alone pushes three hours, and disc 2 offers a lengthy documentary and multi-angle options for three songs. The Dolby Digital 5.1 or 2.0 sound quality is generally good, if overly compressed. Peart's drums sound fabulous, in fact: splashy and tight and far more natural than they've sounded on any Rush album, live or otherwise, in years. Not to be missed--and needlessly hard to "find"--is a 1975 promotional clip for "Fly by Night"'s "Anthem." This set is a must, even for the doubtful. "--Michael Mikesell"

Rush Chronicles - The DVD Collection
Music Uni/Mercury Unrated Click to borrow
Prog-rock's dominant power trio gets a worthy showcase in this DVD compilation, repeating the 1990 VHS release with minor variations and some pleasant surprises. "Chronicles" is aptly titled, as the videos follow Rush's 30-year evolution in fashion, performance, and visual representation. Loyalists may wish for a lengthier selection, but with remastered Dolby 2-channel stereo, this 63-minute disc clearly improves upon the VHS release. The in-studio performance of "Tom Sawyer" is new (previous versions were from the "Exit, Stage Left" concert video), and although hidden bonus videos of "The Enemy Within" and "Afterimage" are inaccurately listed as "previously unreleased" (they appeared on the 1985 compilation "Through the Camera Eye"), their inclusion here is welcome (and accessible by selecting the "Rush Chronicles" logo on the DVD's "Play Videos" menu). Also, Aimee Mann makes a playful appearance on "Time Stand Still." Recommended to Rush purists only, but on those terms, this is essential viewing. "--Jeff Shannon"



Created using DVDpedia