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A Scanner Darkly
Action & Adventure Rory Cochrane, Robert Downey Jr., Mitch Baker, Keanu Reeves, Sean Allen (II) Richard Linklater
How well you respond to Richard Linklater's "A Scanner Darkly" depends on how much you know about the life and work of celebrated science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. While it qualifies as a faithful adaptation of Dick's semiautobiographical 1977 novel about the perils of drug abuse, Big Brother-like surveillance and rampant paranoia in a very near future ("seven years from now"), this is still very much a Linklater film, and those two qualities don't always connect effectively.
The creepy potency of Dick's premise remains: The drug war's been lost, citizens are kept under rigid surveillance by holographic scanning recorders, and a schizoid addict named Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is facing an identity crisis he's not even aware of: Due to his voluminous intake of the highly addictive psychotropic drug Substance D, Arctor's brain has been split in two, each hemisphere functioning separately. So he doesn't know that he's also Agent Fred, an undercover agent assigned to infiltrate Arctor's circle of friends (played by Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, Rory Cochrane, and Robert Downey, Jr.) to track down the secret source of Substance D. As he wears a "scramble suit" that constantly shifts identities and renders Agent Fred/Arctor into "the ultimate everyman," Dick's drug-addled antihero must come to grips with a society where, as the movie's tag-line makes clear, "everything is not going to be OK."
While it's virtually guaranteed to achieve some kind of cult status, "A Scanner Darkly" lacks the paranoid intensity of Dick's novel, and Linklater's established penchant for loose and loopy dialogue doesn't always work here, with an emphasis on drug-culture humor instead of the panicked anxiety that Dick's novel conveys. As for the use of "interpolated rotoscoping"--the technique used to apply shifting, highly stylized animation over conventional live-action footage--it's purely a matter of personal preference. The film's look is appropriate to Dick's dark, cautionary story about the high price of addiction, but it also robs performances of nuance and turns the seriousness of Dick's story into... well, a cartoon. Opinions will differ, but "A Scanner Darkly" is definitely worth a look--or two, if the mind-rattling plot doesn't sink in the first time around. "--Jeff Shannon"

Scissor Sisters: We Are Scissor Sisters And So Are You
Concerts Scissor Sisters Julien Temple, ,
This snappy sounding DVD makes you wish you were in that audiance. The DVD is good, but i wish theyx27;d put the Filthy/goreous video on the DVD, but itx27;s fantastic, you see the difference between the two laura videox27;s!!
If ANYONE knows the title of the song Jake dances to in the x27;songsx27; section please say, because itx27;s winding me up like crazy that ix27;ve never heard it before, but love it.
Ix27;ll leave by saying, role on the next CD!!! 2006 is the year of the sisters!

Secretary
Drama James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeremy Davies, Lesley Ann Warren Steven Shainberg
"Secretary" is a kinky love story featuring a standout performance by Maggie Gyllenhaal, an offbeat young actress in her first starring role. Gyllenhaal plays Lee, a nervous girl who compulsively cuts herself, but who then gets a job as a secretary for Edward, an imperious lawyer (James Spader, an old hand at tales of perverse affection). Edward's reprimands for typos and spelling errors begin with mild humiliation, but as Lee responds to his orders--which are driven as much by his own anxieties and fears as any sense of order--the punishments escalate to spankings, shackles and more.
"Secretary" walks a fine line: it finds sly humour in these sadomasochistic doings without turning them into a gag and it takes Lee and Edward's mutual desires seriously without getting self-righteous or pompous. Certainly not a movie for everyone, but some people may be unexpectedly stirred up by this smart and steamy tale of repressed passion. --"Bret Fetzer"

Sex and the City: Series 3
Comedy Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon Robert Gannaway
The "Sex and the City" phenomenon continues in Series 3 of this outrageously addictive cult show. The four highly sexed thirtysomethings share their hopes, fears and even boyfriends (when Charlotte decides to throw a "used boyfriend party") in a New York where you can buy Manolo Blahniks on the proceeds of one article a week and eat mountains of junk food yet stay as thin as a pencil. But if the peripheral details remain somewhat fantastical, the searing honesty of the main storyline takes this third season to dramatic heights only suggested by the previous seasons. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) falls head-over-heels for chunky furniture designer Aidan Joff (John Corbett) but still embarks on a disastrous affair with her newlywed ex, Mr Big (Chris Noth). The resulting triangle, set against the background of Charlotte's outwardly perfect marriage to Trey (Kyle MacLachlan), proves to be electrifying viewing. But the humour is as sharp as ever too: Samantha's run-in with her drag-queen prostitute neighbours, Miranda pretending to be an air stewardess so as not to frighten men away and one of Charlotte's boyfriends talking dirty to her in bed are all moments of great high comedy. It just gets better and better. --"Warwick Thompson"

Shakespeare ReTold
Drama Sarah Parish, Twiggy Lawson, Imelda Staunton, Bill Paterson, Lennie James, Sharon Small, Johnny Vegas, Damian Lewis, Billie Piper, James McAvoy, Keeley Hawes, Richard Armitage, Shirley Henderson, Rufus Sewell, Stephen Tompkinson Carmelo Bene
I revelled in these films when they were first shown on TV in 2005, and eagerly awaited the next film the following week. Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night's Dream were hilarious. In contrast, Macbeth was one of the darkest films I've seen for a long time, in the same league as some of Hitchcock's darkest moments. Would Will Shakespeare approve of these interpretations? Nevertheless, what a great way to introduce Shakespeare to a whole new generation in the 21st century. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the BBC produce more of this, without doubt the peak of my TV viewing for 2005.

Shameless - Series 2 And Christmas Special
Comedy David Evans (II), Jim O'Hanlon, Jonny Campbell, Peter Lydon, Mark Mylod
Each and every character is a diamond in the rough and the plots are beautifully constructed. The family initially appears to be a haphazard collection of amoral misfits but soon reveal themselves as caring and sharing, despite the multiplicity of problems they face.
Discovering the "crude, rude and lewd" but lovable rogues of the Chatsworth Estate has entertained me over and over again.

Shameless Series 1
Comedy David Evans (II), Jim O'Hanlon, Jonny Campbell, Peter Lydon, Mark Mylod
I have never been really intersted in shameless at all, but i have took it upon myself and bought series one and two of shameless. So far i have watched all seven episodes of series one and it was so good. I didnt think i would be into all that sex, nudity and and bad language, but the good thing is there is an actual story to the series, and its a reflection on what life can be like for those people in an estate. This is a must see, and nobody can call it until they watch it.

Shameless Series 3 - Including Feature Length New Year Special
Comedy David Evans (II), Jim O'Hanlon, Jonny Campbell, Peter Lydon, Mark Mylod
After two absolutely brilliant series, two main characters leave the show. The massive popularity pretty much guaranteed a third series, and a fourth is reported to be in the pipeline.

This series opens as if the producers had decided to draw a line in the sand to separate it from the first two. Some of the characters are styled differently, the sets are not quite the same and the roles have altered. At first I found this slightly off-putting, but as the series progresses things seem to return to more familiar arrangements, or maybe you just get used to it.

With the absence of Fiona and Steve the other members of the family now seem a little more mature. Lip's and Ian's love life feature prominently, and there are some welcome episodes focusing on Kev and Veronica. (Maxine Peake takes this series' prize as the best actress in my book.) Of course, Frank and Sheila are not forgotten, both getting up to ever madder things. There are returns of some old favourites, and some new characters to add to the mix.

Some of the content of this series is rather more edgy and close to the knuckle, even for Shameless. There's less of a warm and fuzzy feel to the antics of the family, and some parts aren't quite in that slightly surreal realm the characters normally inhabit, instead being rather real-world serious. That's not to say there aren't some hilarious moments, my favourite being a slapstick moment when Kev goes to drive away from his evening class...

The DVD contains a "mockumentary" with Alice Barry (Lillian). Personally I'd have preferred to have seen a proper behind-the-scenes short, but this is an amusing, surreal and somehow fitting way of giving some tantalising glimpses. At first it's not quite obvious whether the interview is a poor attempt at something serious, or a total mickey-take. It soon becomes apparent. You may even recognise the interviewer.

Overall: good, but not quite as polished as before.

Six Feet Under: Complete Series 2
Comedy Kathy Bates
In some ways, HBO's "Six Feet Under" plays kid brother to the "Sopranos": it's spunkier, less refined, chancier and a bit of a punk. Nevertheless, the show, set in the southern California mortuary Fisher and Sons, deserves its place in the pantheon of great television series. The initial series was a showcase for the most original characters, including tight-lipped brother David (Michael C Hall) coming out of the closet, emotionally trippy mom Ruth (Frances Conroy) and the most complex girlfriend on the face of the planet, Brenda (Rachel Griffiths). Slowly, the major force in series two 2 is the unassuming lead, Peter Krause. Part of the long line of good-looking actors who never get respect because they make it look too easy, Krause finds the perfect blend of optimism and wonderful, bittersweet anguish as Nate, the prodigal son.
The opening series' happy ending is forgotten as relationships change, the business is still under fire from the evil conglomerate Kroehner, and a lively dream sequence is just around the corner. As with the first series, creator Alan Ball lets many others direct and write the show, but his stamp is all over it. The eccentricities of the characters are shaped, and not always suddenly. Take daughter Claire (Lauren Ambrose), who sheds her bad boyfriend only to find more complex relationships on her road to discovering her own groove. One person in the mix is Ruth's beatnik sister (Patricia Clarkson, in an Emmy-winning role). She's a joyous embodiment of thriving--if ageing--counter-culture. Another new character is Nate's old girlfriend, the granola-loving Lisa (Lili Taylor). With Brenda heading down another destructive course, Nate is at more than one crossroads by series' end. For fans who groove with the wild, serio-comedic world of the Fishers (and let's face it, many didn't), the second series goes down like a fine meal of fusion cuisine. --"Doug Thomas"

Six Feet Under: The Complete First Series
Television Alan Ball
"Six Feet Under" is not just a smartly written, sublimely acted soap that happens to be set in a funeral home; it's a profound mixture of emotional truths and whimsical black comedy that uses its setting to comment upon the way we live, with the omnipresent spectre of death throwing life's problems into sharp relief. Creator Alan Ball ("American Beauty") understands modern neuroses more than most, it seems, and his rich sense of the absurd is given added potency, not to say piquancy, by the sometimes comically ridiculous juxtaposition of life and death.
The first series introduces the Fisher family, whose already weighty emotional baggage is bolstered by the sudden demise of their patriarch, who has willed the family funeral home to his two initially hostile sons, wayward Nate (Peter Krause) and in-the-closet David (Michael C Hall). Teenage younger sister Claire (Lauren Ambrose) and repressed mother Ruth (Frances Conroy) have their own problems, as does put-upon mortician Federico (Freddy Rodriguez). The first year's unfolding story arc includes the family's resistance to a hostile big corporation, Nate's budding romance with wild card Brenda (stunningly good Rachel Griffiths), David's attempts to reconcile his Christian faith with his homosexuality, Claire's self-destructive boyfriend trouble and Ruth's gradual realisation that, although she was a wife and is a mother, she's entitled to have a life too.
On the DVD: "Six Feet Under, Series 1" spreads 13 episodes across four discs. Care has been taken to reflect the show's stylish look in everything from the novel external packaging to the menu layouts. Picture is good, but only standard 4:3 ratio, though sound is vivid Dolby 5.1. The bonus features include two episode commentaries from creator Alan Ball, who happily chats about the pilot and the season finale, both of which he wrote and directed. There's a 22-minute "Behind the Scenes" featurette--standard HBO fare with cast interviews. More interesting is "Under the Main Titles", which explores Digital Kitchen's creation of the fascinating opening title sequence and talks to genius composer Thomas Newman about his theme music. The music can also be heard in an audio-only track as well as in Kid Loco's "Graveyard" remix. Text biographies, episode synopses and Web links complete the extras. One minor niggle: there's no "Play All" facility, so you can't indulge the luxury of watching uninterrupted episodes back-to-back. --"Mark Walker"

Smallville: Complete Season 1
Science Fiction & Fantasy Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack, Sam Jones III, Eric Johnson, John Glover, Jensen Ackles, Erica Durance, Annette O'Toole, John Schneider
The venerable Superman mythos gets a 21st-century updating in the imaginative and engaging TV series "Smallville". The premise of the show--Superman as a teenager--takes up just a few pages in Superman's very first comic-book appearance (in "Action Comics" back in 1938), but producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar flesh out that period by portraying young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) not as the noble Superman-in-waiting, but as an average teen with some not-so-ordinary supernatural powers, including incredible strength and heat vision (Clark hasn't lifted up, up, and away as of yet). Clark's desire to fit in with his peers and make sense of his extraordinary abilities grounds him in very realistic and identifiable terms for the series' primarily under-25 audience, as does his appealing and tentative romance with Kristen Kreuk as Clark's dreamgirl Lana Lang.
But "Smallville" also strikes gold when it takes a turn towards more comic-book territory, as evidenced by the parade of shape-shifting killers and other outlandish antagonists (many generated, in one of the series' most ingenious notions, by the same devastating meteor shower that brought the infant Clark to Earth) that Clark must harness his powers to face and defeat. Gough and Millar, along with their capable cast (which includes Michael Rosenbaum as a young and already bald-pated Lex Luthor, and Annette O'Toole and John Schneider as the Kents) manage to pull off the precarious high-wire act of combining science fiction with coming-of-age drama to create this highly watchable programme. "--Paul Gaita"

Smallville: The Complete Second Season
Science Fiction & Fantasy Smallville David Giles
When I bought the first season of smallville, I was amazed at the level of entertainment that the show produced. I found myself, being drawn further and further into the show. So therefore I had to buy the second season, in hope that the same ambience would still be present. I was pleasently very very wrong! They had some how seen and worked out exactely what it was that was needed to inspire the hearts of viewers and grasped it firmly with both hands so that they could maximise this atmosphere in season 2 whilst entertaining the viewers. All I can say is, please bring out season 3 as soon as possible!!!

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Comedy Trey Parker, Matt Stone, George Clooney, Minnie Driver, Eric Idle, Isaac Hayes, Mary Kay Bergman, Francesca Clifford Trey Parker
OK, let's get all the disclaimers out of the way first. Despite its colourful (if crude) animation, "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" is in no way meant for kids. It is chock full of profanity that might even make Quentin Tarantino blanch and has blasphemous references to God, Satan, Saddam Hussein (who's sleeping with Satan, literally) and Canada. It's rife with scatological humour, suggestive sexual situations, political incorrectness and gleeful, rampant vulgarity. And it's probably one of the most brilliant satires ever made. The plot: flatulent Canadian gross "meisters" Terrance and Philip hit the big screen and the South Park quartet of third graders--Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman--begin repeating their profane one-liners ad infinitum. The parents of South Park, led by Kyle's overbearing mom, form "Mothers Against Canada", blaming their neighbours to the north for their children's corruption and taking Terrance and Philip as war prisoners. It's up to the kids then to rescue their heroes from execution, not mention a brooding Satan, who's planning to take over the world.
To give away any more of the plot would destroy the fun but this feature-length version of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Comedy Central hit is a dead-on and hilarious send-up of pop culture. And did we mention it's a musical? From the opening production number "Mountain Town" to the cheerful anti-profanity sing-along "It's Easy, MMM Kay" to Satan's faux-Disney ballad "Up There", Parker (who wrote or cowrote all the songs) brilliantly shoots down every earnest musical from "Beauty and the Beast" to "Les Misérables". And in advocating free speech and satirising well-meaning but misguided parental censorship groups (with a special nod to the MPAA), "Bigger, Longer & Uncut" hits home against adult paranoia and hypocrisy with a vengeance. And the jokes, while indeed vulgar and gross, are hysterical; we can't repeat them here, especially the lyrics to Terrance and Philip's hit song, but you'll be rolling on the floor. Don't worry, though--to paraphrase Cartman, this movie won't warp your fragile little mind unless you have something against the First Amendment. "--Mark Englehart"

Speed -- Two-Disc Special Edition
Action & Adventure Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels, Alan Ruck, Glenn Plummer, Richard Lineback, Beth Grant, Hawthorne James, Carlos Carrasco, David Kriegel, Natsuko Ohama, Daniel Villarreal, Simone Gad Jan de Bont
The movie that transformed Keanu Reeves into a "bona fide" action hero, "Speed" was also former cinematographer Jan De Bont's assured directorial debut. It's an almost perfect high-concept movie that lives up to its title both in the adroit choreography of the action set-pieces and Graham Yost's taut screenplay, which is admirably stripped of all padding.
De Bont further heightens the excitement by his use of authentic locations as the out-of-control bus travels through, across and--in one unforgettable scene--a few feet in the air above the urban sprawl of LA. And instead of relegating the love interest to a dull subplot, here Sandra Bullock is an integral part of the action as she and her bus career around the city at 50-plus miles an hour. Even the opening credits neatly illustrate the film's title, as does composer Mark Mancina's pulsing score. Sensibly, Reeves passed on the ill-advised sequel and took on "The Matrix" instead; both screenwriter and director have yet to do anything better than this.
On the DVD: "Speed" is the kind of movie that was made for the DVD format, and this two-disc special edition does it full justice. The feature is presented anamorphically in its original 2.35:1 ratio with spectacularly vivid Dolby 5.1 or DTS 5.1 options. Jan De Bont provides a commentary, though his solo effort is less engaging than that of chatty producer Mark Gordon and writer Graham Yost who enjoy constantly interrupting each other.
Disc 2 has lots of goodies, including mini-documentaries on the key action set-pieces with storyboards and multi-angle views of the major stunts. "Inside Speed" looks at various aspects of the production, from locations to stunts; production design and visual effects, plus reproducing all of Graham Yost's original screenplay. There are individual interviews with the director and principal stars, a short selection of extended scenes and a brief deleted one; a photo gallery, plus a promotional menu in which there is a HBO "making of" featurette, TV spots, trailers, a press kit and Billy Idol's music video. In all, a satisfyingly extensive package.--"Mark Walker"

Spirited Away
Children's DVD Hayao Miyazaki
My first look at Miyazaki's work, (as it is for for many westerners no doubt) and I was blown away. The animation is out of this world, both in quality and in imagination. The story line is original and different and follows a girl trying to bring back her parents from a curse where they are turning into pigs and follows her adventures as she tries to achieve this. The world she travels in is beautiful, weird and magical to watch. Well worth a look by anyone, but be warned you may get hooked and there is a host of other Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki work out there to tantalise and delight.

Stand By Me
Drama Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Jason Oliver, Marshall Bell, Frances Lee McCain, Bruce Kirby, William Bronder, Scott Beach, Richard Dreyfuss Rob Reiner
A sleeper hit when released in 1986, "Stand by Me" is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body" (from the book "Different Seasons"); but it's more about the joys and pains of boyhood friendship than a morbid fascination with corpses. It's about four boys ages 12 and 13 (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell) who take an overnight hike through the woods near their Oregon town to find the body of a boy who's been missing for days. Their journey includes a variety of scary adventures (including a ferocious junkyard dog, a swamp full of leeches and a treacherous leap from a train trestle), but it's also a time for personal revelations, quiet interludes and the raucous comradeship of best friends. Set in the 1950s, the movie indulges an overabundance of anachronistic profanity and a kind of idealistic, golden-toned nostalgia (it's told in flashback as a story written by Wheaton's character as an adult, played by Richard Dreyfuss). But it's delightfully entertaining from start to finish, thanks to the rapport among its young cast members and the timeless, universal themes of friendship, family and the building of character and self-esteem. Kiefer Sutherland makes a memorable teenage villain and look closely for John Cusack in a flashback scene as Wheaton's now-deceased and dearly missed brother. A genuine crowd-pleaser, this heartfelt movie led director Rob Reiner to even greater success with his next film, "The Princess Bride". "--Jeff Shannon"

Stargate S.G -1: Season 2
Science Fiction & Fantasy Martin Wood, Andy Mikita, William Waring, Peter DeLuise
The 1994 movie "Stargate" was originally intended as the start of a franchise, but creators Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin were distracted celebrating their "Independence Day". Episodic TV treatment was the natural next step. Since neither Kurt Russell nor James Spader would be able to commit, it gave the producers licence to tinker with the cast and the universe they'd explore. Replacing the roles of Colonel Jack O'Neill and Dr. Daniel Jackson respectively are Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks. They're joined by Captain Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and guilt-stricken former alien baddie Teal'c (Christopher Judge) to form the teacher's pet primary unit SG-1 With a seemingly endless network of Stargates found to exist on planets all across the known universe, their mission is to make first contact with as many friendly races as possible. Chasing their heels at almost every turn are the "overlord" pharaohnic Goa'uld--the ancient Egyptian Gods who are none too chummy after the events of the original film. The welcome notion of a continued plot thread sees offshoots that follow the reincarnation of Daniel's wife, Sam's father literally joining a renegade faction of the Goa'uld, and Jack in an unending quest to out-sarcasm everyone. There's something of "The Time Tunnel" to the show's premise, but amid a dearth of derivative look-a-likes, "Stargate" has held its own with stories that put the science fiction back into TV sci-fi.
Concluding the cliff-hanger from the end of Season One, "The Serpent's Lair" is a rollercoaster of wit, plot twists, and cutting-edge special effects as the SG-1 team resign themselves to a suicide mission. Then it's a case of ignorance of the law being no excuse in "Prisoners", as the team winds up in a penal colony striking a deal with someone who will have far-reaching influence on their future. Sam is stalked by an assassin after a rescue mission all "In the Line of Duty". She saves someone in the most unique of ways--by taking over as host of their Goa'uld symbiont. This introduction of Jolinar is key to much of the continuing storyline. Dwight Schultz guest stars as "The Gamekeeper" in a garden that forces the team to puzzle their way out of re-living secrets of the past. But all is not what it seems. --"Paul Tonks"

Stargate SG-1 - The Best of Series 1
Science Fiction & Fantasy Martin Wood, Andy Mikita, William Waring, Peter DeLuise
The 1994 film "Stargate" was originally intended as the start of a franchise, but creators Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin were distracted celebrating their "Independence Day". Episodic TV treatment was the natural next step. Since neither Kurt Russell nor James Spader would be able to commit, it gave the producers licence to tinker with the cast and the universe they'd explore. Replacing the roles of Colonel Jack O'Neill and Dr. Daniel Jackson respectively are Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks. They're joined by Captain Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and guilt-stricken former alien baddie Teal'c (Christopher Judge) to form the teacher's pet primary unit SG 1 With a seemingly endless network of Stargates found to exist on planets all across the known universe, their mission is to make first contact with as many friendly races as possible. Chasing their heels at almost every turn are the "overlord" pharaoh-like Goa'uld--the ancient Egyptian Gods who are not too chummy after the events of the original film. The welcome notion of a continued plot-thread sees offshoots that follow the reincarnation of Daniel's wife, Sam's father joining a renegade faction of the Goa'uld, and Jack in an unending quest to out-sarcasm everyone. There's something of "The Time Tunnel" to the show's premise, but amid a dearth of derivative look-a-likes, "Stargate" has held its own with stories that put the science fiction back into TV sci-fi.
This peculiar chronological cut and paste from the opening year at least starts sensibly with the pilot "Children of the Gods". A year on from "Stargate" the motion picture, Earth's military have assembled crack units to protect against whatever might follow from planet Abydos. So naturally they make things worse discovering a new enemy on Chulak. In "There But for the Grace of God" Daniel plays out "Star Trek"'s "Mirror Mirror" scenario in an alternate dimension. Then in "Politics" no one believes his warnings of an impending attack, instead rationalising the Gate's closure. The season's stunning cliffhanger--"Within the Serpent's Grasp"--lands the team aboard the Goa'uld flag attack ship headed to destroy Earth. This episode features some truly inspired one-liners: "We can't just upload a virus to the Mothership!" --"Paul Tonks"

Stargate SG-1: Season 1
Science Fiction & Fantasy Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, Don Davis Martin Wood, Jonathan Glassner, Jeff Woolnough, Mario Azzopardi, Allan Eastman
Like the very best of SF TV, "Stargate SG-1" began very simply. Of course it had the benefit of a movie preceding it--in which the alternate universe, its rules and its characters were largely established--so this premiere season was therefore able to concentrate on good storytelling.
In 1997 not every new show was obsessed with securing a syndication-guaranteed franchise (same goes for "Buffy" debuting the same year), instead one-off episodes were the way of things, exploring interesting scenarios and conundrums. Naturally there were allusions to the feature film, but most were subtle and inspired. For example, a trip to retrieve the trapped professor who'd worked on the Gate decades ago was an unusual way of tying up loose ends. Some groundwork was laid for continuation should the show be renewed into an ongoing series. Knowing that these elements were pure wishful thinking at the time makes the tapestry of System Lords and the interlinks with our history and mythology all the more enjoyable in revisiting the show from its beginnings. With Richard Dean Anderson, leading the team in a far more charismatic and empathetic way than Kurt Russell in the movie, the series also benefited from some spot-on casting that instantly won audiences over. Special effects and use of studio sets may be less dazzling in these initial shows, but its solid grounding in old-fashioned SF won for the show a loyal audience. --"Paul Tonks"

Stargate SG-1: Season 6
Science Fiction & Fantasy Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Corin Nemec
This is in my opinion one of the best DVD's in series 6, it has episodes with themes that recure again later on in the series so is a must watch for anyone who will be watching the rest of the series.
Not only does it have good twists in the story lines but PROMETHEOUS and UNNATURAL SELECTION tie up many loose ends from episodes in previous seasons.

Starship Troopers
Science Fiction & Fantasy Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Clancy Brown, Seth Gilliam, Patrick Muldoon, Michael Ironside, Rue McClanahan, Marshall Bell, Eric Bruskotter, Matt Levin, Blake Lindsley, Anthony Ruivivar Paul Verhoeven
A gloriously over-the-top treat, Paul Verhoeven's "Starship Troopers" takes the militaristic moralising of Robert Heinlein's pulp classic and sets about undermining it mercilessly. Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) desperately wants to join the Mobile Infantry and kill some Earth-threatening alien bugs. He also desperately wants Carmen (Denise Richards), but only gets to fulfil one ambition in the second of Verhoeven's futuristic satires (also cowritten with his "RoboCop" scriptwriter Ed Neumeier).
Set in a fascistic future where kids must do military service to qualify as citizens, own property or even have babies, the film's dark Vietnam and Nazi-era parallels are all the more disturbing given its deceptively sunny "Beverly Hills 90210" teenage cast (though scenery-chewing veteran Michael Ironside steals the movie as tough-talking Lt Rasczak). The CGI arachnids are among the most convincing and dangerous-looking creatures ever seen on screen, and with the movie clocking up the highest number of blanks ever fired on a film set, it's also pretty loud! Verhoeven went on to be Executive Producer of the "Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles" animated TV series a couple of years later.
On the DVD: "Starship Troopers" in this DVD incarnation can now be played continuously on one side of the disc (the original Region 2 release version was that crime against the DVD format, a "flipper"). You'll also feel really spoiled by the extras here: five deleted scenes (approximately six minutes) pad out Carmen's love triangle problems. There are impressive screen tests for Denise Richards and Casper Van Dien (three-and-a-half minutes). An eight-minute featurette zips by with key interviews and fact flinging. And a real treat is three scene developments with layers of FX work explained by Verhoeven. But what makes this DVD essential is the director's enthusiastic commentary alongside screenwriter Ed Neumeier: dissing astrology, making a stand for feminist issues, saying how he went nude to placate the actors for their shower scene, and drooling with praise for his FX team, Verhoeven makes a fascinating statement that "war makes fascists of us all". After a studio disclaimer, and beginning with his reaction to the film's critique in "Time Magazine", this is no-holds-barred fun. --"Paul Tonks"

Steps - Gold - Greatest Hits
Music Steps
It is regularly suggested that Steps are one of the hardest-working groups in pop and the "Gold" DVD provides further evidence that such an assertion is almost certainly true. Since crashing into the Top 20 towards the end of 1997 with the line-dancing inspired "5,6,7,8" (the "in" craze at the time) the group have been constantly churning out top-notch tunes. Their videos have been as equally colourful, energetic and fun (apart from the video to "When I Said Goodbye" which was shot in black and white). With their carefully choreographed dance moves, flashy locations and outrageous hairstyles and outfits, the videos have always been a top priority for the group. This collection ranges from the video for their more recent cover of "Chain Reaction" deceptively filmed in one continuous take, to the beach fun of "5,6,7,8" and are excellently matched to the style of each song. Admittedly some of the videos are rather cheesy, such as "Say You'll Be Mine", which is a pastiche of the group re-enacting scenes from recent Hollywood blockbusters, and the sleigh ride scene in "Heartbeat" (also the "bad hair" era for the female members of Steps). However the videos work best when a soap opera-style narrative is introduced, as with their flat-sitting escapades in the "Stomp" video, and the "Four Weddings and a Funeral" inspired video for their first number one single "Tragedy".
On the DVD: This DVD is truly excellent value--literally bursting with extras, from a greatest-hits video medley, through to the single/album-cover interactive library. One member of the band concisely introduces each video, and there is an audio commentary by the group on selected videos (for "5,6,7,8", "Heartbeat", "Tragedy" and “Deeper Shade f Blue”) and bonus material includes the group performing "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" on ITV's "Motown Mania". The CD-ROM option allows even more extras, such as additional footage (look out for, and click on the Steps logo that appears on selected videos) and web-links. The disc also contains the software "PC Friendly DVD" making it even easier and fun to play the DVD on your home computer. However this collection has an annoying aspect; the numerous menus you need to pass through to access each of the videos individually. There are also no interactive options to guide you through the legendary dance moves --"John Galilee"

Stigmata
Thriller Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne, Jonathan Pryce, Nia Long, Thomas Kopache, Rade Serbedzija, Enrico Colantoni, Dick Latessa, Portia de Rossi, Patrick Muldoon, Ann Cusack, Shaun Toub, Tom Hodges, Lydia Hazan, Shaun Duke Rupert Wainwright
Gabriel Byrne plays Father Kiernan, a young Jesuit priest whose degree in chemistry makes him a sort of priest/detective as he investigates weeping Marys and the like around the world. Meanwhile, Frankie (Patricia Arquette), a rave-generation Pittsburgher, is afflicted with the stigmata--holes that appear in her wrists, resembling the wounds of Christ. The young woman's symptoms filter back to the Vatican and Father Kiernan is assigned to the case. The priest is puzzled by Frankie's atheism; usually the stigmata only appear on the devout (hence the age-old controversy of miracles vs. hysteria). Other manifestations appear on Frankie, and the priest's cardinal (Jonathan Pryce) is brought in, leading to political manoeuvring within the Church hierarchy. The film owes a large and obvious debt to "The Exorcist" (at one point, Frankie's bed scoots across the room and she levitates into a crucifix position) but to term it an "Exorcist" rip-off would be to short-change "Stigmata". The premise and screenplay are more cerebral than in the l973 film, and the source of the phenomenon is coming from a completely different place.
Unfortunately, amid "Stigmata"'s high-octane editing and slick technique, the chills of "The Exorcist" aren't there, giving the movie a sort of identity crisis: horror movie or intellectual thriller? Several elements of the film challenge basic tenets of the Catholic faith, hence the brief furore that erupted at the time of the film's release; if nothing else, the internal workings of the Church are shown in a very unflattering light indeed. Byrne excels as the sceptical priest, as does Arquette as the tortured young woman. All told, "Stigmata" is a rather uneven effort but one with a thought-provoking combination of theology and thrills served up in a thoroughly modern, stylish package. Fans of TV's Ally McBeal will recognise Portia De Rossi in a supporting role. --"Jerry Renshaw"

Stingray - Vol. 1 - Stingray / Plant Of Doom / Sea Of Oil / Hostages Of The Deep
Children's
Drums pound, the music bursts into life with a cry of "Stingray!... Stingray!" Who can resist? "Stingray" (1964) was the show Gerry Anderson made just before he really hit the big time with "Thunderbirds" (1965). He produced 39 episodes of the 21st century adventures of Troy Tempest, tall, dark and handsome (his voice based on James Garner's) captain of the titular submarine. Troy's mission: to protect the seas on behalf of WASP (World Aquanaut Security Patrol). With complex underwater model and puppet effects, this was groundbreaking television, especially as it was the first UK series to be made in colour, even though for years it was only seen in black and white. Special effects director Derek Meddings later graduated to the James Bond movies, while Moneypenny herself (actress Lois Maxwell) voiced Atlanta Shore. Here, just as in the Bond movies, she played second fiddle in our hero's affections, the mute Marina becoming Stingray's sex-goddess. The end credits even featured a song in her honour, "Aqua Maria", which became an international hit. As for the bad guys, half-man, half-fish Titan and his Terror Fish wage a dastardly war against humanity and the peaceful underwater citizens of Pacifica. Four decades on, the models and underwater sequences still impress and "Stingray" remains eccentric cult family entertainment.
In the first episode, "Stingray", a Titan Terror Fish sinks a WASP submarine and Troy and sidekick, Phones, fall into the hands of the evil Titan. This action-packed beginning introduces all the major characters and gadgets, setting the scene for the adventures to come. "Plant of Doom" sees Titan outraged that Troy has rescued his beautiful slave Marina. After consulting an undersea god he hatches a revenge plot using a deadly air-consuming flower. In "Sea of Oil" Atlanta is kidnapped by an underwater race who plant a bomb on Stingray, while in "Hostages of the Deep" Marina is threatened with death by swordfish blade. --"Gary S Dalkin"

Summer Storm
World Cinema
Certainly Marco Kreuzpaintner's Summer Storm does what it sets out to do. Moody and atmospheric, most of the film is set in the bucolic German landscape, with its picaresque woods, glassy lakes, green meadows and lots of sunshine. The crux of the story is the sexual politics that is played out over a summer of fun when three teams of championship rowers meet to go head to head with each other.

Will Tobi (Robert Stadlober) be able to hook up with Achim (Kostja Ullmann), his one true love? Tobi is gay - although he hasn't quite realized it yet, whilst the handsome young Achim is fiercely straight, but totally cool about gays and in love with a girl (Miriam Morgenstern). Of course, Achim's sexuality doesn't preclude a little fun-fuelled horseplay with Tobi on the locker room floor.

After confessing a love for each other, that doesn't include kissing and touching; the boys head off with the rest of their team members for a week in the country. Here the season melts into days of friendly camaraderie, the pitching of tents and lots of topless teenage muscle flexing. The boys then discover that one of the teams is called Queerstrokes, a gay team from Berlin.

As Tobi's sublimated desires begin to rise to the surface, the boys in Queerstrokes - and indeed most of the boys in the other teams - get naked together; spend languid hours exercising; mount each other in wrestling matches. For Achim it's all about male bonding but for Tobi it's all about coming out. While he's attracted to Tobi, he's also drawn the lads in Queerstrokes - call it a type of deep-seated affinity. Achim, of course thinks nothing of this. Tobi thinks about it all a little too much.

In Summer Storm the rocky road to true love and coming out is indeed plagued with anguish. There are the usual adolescent betrayals and jealous misunderstandings and a "summer storm" that signifies sexual awakening not just for Tobi, but also for some of the other characters. It's all very clichéd and generic, and plays out almost like a TV sitcom. And while all the actors are pretty - if a bit too adolescent looking - most of the characters are rather bland and are just not that interesting.

As The Village People's Go West and The Power of Love by Frankie Goes to Hollywood inexplicably begins to play, the sexual politics are played out and closet door flies open. Will Achim accept Tobi's affections? Will his straight rowing team learn a lesson in tolerance? Stadlober is believably awkward as Tobi, but his constant whining and emotional anguish becomes a bit tiresome. Coupled with the whimsical images of woodsy thunderstorms and birds flying off a lake, the film just gets a bit much after awhile.

Kreuzpaintner obviously has some talent as a director, but for a gay coming of age story, Summer Storm is remarkably straight and tame and is surprisingly as unoriginal as most straight sex comedies. Like a hardly legal pornography movie with extra plot thrown in for good measure, the movie is a perfect storm of clichés. Mike Leonard September 06.



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