Typographers Movie Reviews

The 1989 performance of the San Francisco Opera's production of Boito's 'Mefistofele' could not have been more brilliant, more vibrant, more beautiful. It was captured well during the original performance and the transfer to DVD was superb. Having not seen the show performed live, I should state that I am at a bit of a loss in that department, but having seen enough operas live in my days and having recorded them as well, I can safely say that this particular DVD is well worth the money.

Ramey's performance is without question phenomenal. The supporting cast shines as well, but in contrast they are merely props to his indomitable presence on stage. He owns the role and he steals the show.

The staging, lighting, set design, choreography, and costuming are without a doubt some of the best opera has ever seen or will ever see. If ever a company could capture both the choirs and angels in heaven and the sin and vice on earth so perfectly, the SanFran Opera Co outperforms on all levels.

The sound quality on the DVD is excellent and the picture was great. Overall, any and all opera fans should add this one to their collection. For that matter, any and all stage/theater fans should pick this one up, as well. You will not be disappointed.

Boito's opera is certainly the least successful of all the adaptations inspired by that cornerstone of Western literature,
Goethe's Faust. Poor Boito was hardly in the same league as Berlioz, Gounod or Liszt. Although it has great sense of theatre,
a very good libretto, it lacks good, hummable tunes the likes of
Gounod's Faust. It is an awkward, long winded work and had to be revised several times.
Boito tried too hard to include as much as possible of Goethe's
metaphysical play searching for the great unanswered questions like man's purpose on earth, his relation to God, Good and Evil, Heaven and Hell etc. It is hard to tell if Boito has
succeeded.
And yet, the opera survived, not the least due to this magnificent production, and came through with flying colours. There is much to admire here: a highly imaginative concept, some great singing and very sympathetic conducting by Maurizio Arena.
He seems in love with the score and it shows.
In the title role, Samuel Ramey dominates the performance, his voice is worthy follower of all the great singers of this role like Feodor Chaliapin and Boris Christoff. His acting is mesmerizing. Secondly, Gabriela Benackova, with a beatiful voice and wonderful characterization is truly impressive in the tragic role of Margherita. As Faust, Dennis O'Neill is somewhat less memorable, but with an attractive voice.
The opera, unfortunately, is not immediately appealing, but it gets better as it goes along. After a bit rocky first act, the second act quartet and subsequent love duet are already quite good, while the third act is very highly inspired.
Great highlights are the Prologue in Heaven with its bemasked Seraphim in a silver and blue Baroque theatre setting; the ingenious double choruses in Walpurgis Night (conducted here in a
tongue in cheek manner by our protagonist, Ramey); the very moving Prison scene where Benackova shines, and the Epilogue.
Outstanding, very enjoyable DVD. Highly recommendable.

This is one of my two all time favorite operas on tape - the other being the imcomparable Abbado/Von Stade Cenerentola which is probably the finest opera video ever. Don't know what someone else mean by minimalist sets - they are completely over-the-top.

I can never watch it without wishing I could watch it with Boito just to see what he would make of the production - I think it brings out a lot of the wryness and irony that has been lost in most traditional stagings - most significantly, that God wins the wager by cheating!

I got to say a good word for O'Neil. I think he's great in this, and his voice really complements Ramey's. I managed to catch the opera live, after seeing it many times on the tape, with an inferior tenor, and the difference was notable.

Although Beverly Sills gave a magnificent performance, this video was poorly made. The subtitles could not be removed and that was very anoying. There are many distortions on the video, such as flickering, throughout the entire performance. The top of the directors head was caught on tape in several scenes. I wish that more people who reviewed this DVD would have commented on these points. Had I known the poor filming quality in advance, I would not have purchased this one.

Verdi's La Traviata remains one of the most popular, performed, produced and recorded operas in history. Well-trained sopranos would give their right foot to debut as Violetta in any of the major opera houses- New York City's The Met, Italy's La Scala, London's Covent Garden or the Paris Opera. There is a long list and rich history of sopranos who have sung Violetta, opera's most tragic, romantic heroine. In the 19th century, there was Adelina Patti, in World War II Era there was Christine Nilsson, in the 50's there was Maria Callas, in the 60's there was Anna Moffo, Victoria De Los Angeles, Joan Sutherland and somewhat more recently (80's and 90's, 2000- to the present) Ruth Anne Swenson, Renee Fleming, Angela Gheorgiu and Elizabeth Futral. But Beverly Sills stands alone as a remarkable singing-actress, whose Violetta should serve as a lesson to sopranos who take on the role, as Beverly set the bar a little higher with her touching lyricism, convincing acting and dazzling coloratura.

Beverly first sang the role in the late 50's and early 60's. It was her first major role outside of the German operetta repertoire she had been singing. The role of Violetta was her debut in Italy's San Carlo theatre in Naples and she performed Violetta in several American opera houses. She went full circle after more than 50 roles she sang in her opera career when she finished her career singing Violetta again in 1975 for Wolf Trap. This performance was taped on video and is now available on DVD. Although it is true that Beverly was 50 and past her "singing prime" and soon to retire from the stage to manage the New York City Opera and the Met, she is still very believable as Violetta, just as touching and surprisingly, still an effective singer. She is paired with tenor Price as the dashing Alfredo and baritone Fredericks as the fatherly Giorgio Germont.

This DVD may not have the most impressive and gorgeous scenery on the stage (many productions try to imitate Franco Zeffirelli's luxurious decor in his film version of La Traviata) - we see only simple elegance of tables, candelabrum, and chairs and small-scale interior settings. However, it is of little matter when you hear the fine acting and singing, well delivered and worked with love. To me, Beverly Sills reigns as the definition of Violetta, the ultimate Verdi soprano. Just listen to her soprano showcases in the finale to Act 1 - "E Strano" and the fireworks coloratura "Sempre Libera", her touching self-sacrifice in Act 2's extensive duet with Germont "Non Sapete" "Ditte A La Giovine", her farewell to Alfredo "Amami Alfredo", her despair in the final portions of Act 2 "Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core" and all her delivery in Act 3- from the melancholia of "Addio Del Passato" to her death scene and exclamation "O gioia!".

This is the La Traviata to own and add to your collection of other Traviatas that have stayed with us for ages. Beverly Sills also sang La Traviata on a studio recording in 1974- her voice seems to be in better condition there, probably due to the lesser pressure of performing live. Beverly Sills is paired with the masterful tenor Nicolai Gedda as Alfredo and Rolando Panerai as Giorgio Germont. That recording is available on EMI and also on the book production label "Black Dog Opera Library" that specializes in operas contained in illustrated books that feature the libretto and historic biographical information.

I am fan of Beverly Sills, having all her great performances on cd recordings. Her live performances, captured on film, are very rare. On DVD, there is only availabe this La Traviata performance and Roberto Devereaux. Kudos to the producers who made it possible for audiences to see a diva in a brilliant performance, eventhough she is much older and her voice is not what it just to be. Nevertheless, she is exceptional as an actres, finding herself the equal to Maria Callas, and her voice is the most beautiful soprano of the century. Deconstructing her portrayal of Violetta, give us a greater admiration for her talent.

She sings beautifully and performs with dramatic flair in every scene. Her coloratura lines in the duet with Alfredo "Un Di Felice", her bubbly operetta heroine persona is clear though every recitative, especially in the lines "Lo Voglio! Al piacere m'affido io sol con tal farmaco i mali sopir!" and her "Addio" to Alfredo at the close of the party scene. Her cavatina, "A Fors E Lui" is full of rich lyricism, flowing with the bel canto beauty she was very comfortable with, and her bouncy caballeta, "Sempre Libera" is embellished with thrilling scales and ends with an E flat above a high C. In her long duet with Germont in Act 2, she lyrically conveys all the pathos and suffering of a woman giving up the man she loves, proven in her aria "Ditte A La Giovine" and in her passionate "Amami, Alfredo". In her final scenes, in which she is dying, her aria "Addio Del Passato" is haunting and gorgeous, effectively performed by a woman who could bring herself into the role, eventhough Beverly always looked quite healthy, and did not care about having the appearance of a frail, petite woman dying of consumption, as most opera casting does today for Violetas. Her "Ascolta, Amato Alfredo" to the last breath she utters, "O gioa!" are unsurpassed.

Julius Rudel conducts his orchestra with upbeat, dramatic prowess, and the chorus is excellent. The quality of sound and picture are not the best, and are even annoying and grueling to watch , but we must remember this was before the live Met film performances of the 80's. This was filmed in the late 70's. Beverly Sills retired in 1979 and took up artistic administration in New York City Opera and the Met. Currently, she holds a position as chairman at the Met. She has inspired many fine sopranos of our day. She is and always will be the Queen of Opera.

I first saw this documentary in 1990 on the Memphis PBS affiliate. I was stunned by the power of the music. Al has one of the best ears for gospel harmony in the business. The interviews are enlightening and entertaining, but the music steals this show. Let's hope he keeps on keeping on for many years to come.

This is a great video. Al Green is honest and does an excellent job singing. He answers a lot of questions about his career. He talks about the high and low points of it. I don't understand how anyone could not rate this video with 5 stars. My opinion is that Neil has a problem with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The video title indicates that it is a gospel video!!!

The quality of sound on this DVD is truly remarkable given that it came from corroded and "baked" masters. Strong, muscular bass, creamy highs ... pure music heaven! Al Green is a strange and beautiful man, though this film does not shy away from depicting his darker half ... that ambitious, slick salesman persona. Still the purity, intensity, and passion of his sound shines through in spades. One of the best music documentaries made ... a lost classic?

This is a great concert from a legend who seems to get better with age. He's transformed that voice into a very interesting instrument.

Shot in Germany over two nights, You get the feel for sheer power of a full band outdoors live. The only gripe I have is that I really don't want to see crowd shots during the performances. Keep the cameras pointed at the stage!
The band is made up of some of the best session musicans and backing vocals in the business. It's loud, extremely tight and full of sound with multiple keyboards, Hammond organ and a great sax player. Backing vocals Maxine Sharpe and Stacy Campbell are fantastic.

Of all the videos out there of Joe performing - including his most recent DVD of "Respect Yourself" - this performance to promote "Across Midnight" is his best. For those who do not like the highly produced sound of Joe's efforts in the past decade, you'll enjoy a couple of tracks from his "Organic" CD. Plus a great mix of his classics including Delta Lady and Cry Me A River. I really like the full "wall of sound" delivered in "The Letter". Wow.

Buy this one and leave the others alone. I've shown this to friends who have a mild interest in Joe and now can't wait to see him live. He's a hard working guy that really delivers a great show and is out on the road performing each year.

I felt like I was taking a chance on buying this disk. Guess I was, but immediately knew it was better than I expected. This guy looks like he might have just walked off a trawler or come up from a coal mine. But what a song-myster he is!!!... The different arrangements on a couple of the tunes were also very good.
This DVD is a KEEPER.

I noticed the drummer is the same guy that played on the Tina Turner Amsterdam show.

Excellent concert. Joe has mellowed alot from his earlier days....his stage presence and delivery is not as wild as it used to be.

Video is excellent, great close ups and the lighting is very good. Joe "sweats" to his oldies. Puts his heart and soul into the tunes. The band and back-up singers are fabulous. You'll recognize every song. The sound is wonderful.

It is a concert dvd I would watch over and over again. I'm not a HUGE Joe Cocker fan, so that should speak volumes.

If you're looking for lots of action during the concert......you'll be disappointed, if you're okay with the singer standing in front of a mike and belting out their hits with their heart and soul, you'll love this dvd. The setting of this concert arena is very pleasing.

The man's an idiot............
He's very clever,... and a great reassurance to the shallow minded. Why does he bother stating the same tired, old accusations about anything moral? Time for Mr. Carlin to get a job. Sad.............

George Carlin is a bit overrated.I do not feel that he is the greatest comedian ever,like a lot of people do.This is definitely his best performance.This routine is very political.It also contains a lot of social commentary.He sounds very angry in just about every routine on here.I do not like this particular style of comedy.Also,this is probably the most vulgar stand up routine I have ever seen.It uses every swear word in the dictionary numerous times.There are also plenty of sexual references.So if you have young children,DO NOT let them come CLOSE to ANY of George's DVDs.Otherwise,sit back and enjoy some good comedy.

George Carlin is one of my favorite comedians, being that he has never found a way to not make me laugh. While I enjoy his older stuff the best, his new bitter and angry stuff is funny too. "George Carlin: Back in Town" represents Carlin as he is today; angry, sarcastic, and over-the-top. And it is all executed so perfectly.

He talks about everything, and does not hold back for one second. Just when you think he can't say anymore to shock you, he does. In this HBO special he talks about abortion, how capital punishment should be televised, the sanctity of life, state prison farms, familiar expressions, and more. Plus, it includes one of my all time favorites: "Free Floating Hostility;" a very long rant about MANY things that tick him off. The title is more than appropriate for it, believe me.

I wouldn't recommend him to people who get offended easily or don't like controversial topics being jokes like abortion or religion. And he does have quite a mouth on him, so if you do not like profanity you better skip it right now. However, if you ARE a fan of the man, then I recommend getting this as soon as possible! I've had the CD for quite some time, but it's nothing like seeing him in action.

The DVD doesn't really have any special features or anything extra to offer (or at least nothing I am aware of). The picture looks great and the sound is really good. It would've been cool if there was an interview or two, perhaps a documentary would be nice. Still, it is a worthy purchase.

"George Carlin: Back in Town" is a hilarious DVD and an outrageous HBO special. As soon as you pop this baby into your DVD player, you know you're in for one hell of a ride. So strap in, get that crash helmet on, and make sure you're not drinking too many liquids while watching this... chances are they won't be staying in your mouth long since you will be laughing non-stop!

Beautifully staged, packed with drama and emotions, this "Romeo et Juliette" gives the feeling of a modern Shakespearean production. The artistic design is simple and straightforward, and yet, serves the purpose quite well and permits more focusing on the characters. But for all of its elegance and charm, nothing is really extraordinary. I'm probably missing something here, as I experienced few of the wonders that others have expressed.
The singings are good, but not exciting, even for Roberto Alagna, whose singing here is not well formed compared to some of his other recordings. He has a nice voice in the middle register, but as it ascends, it becomes white and bit of insecure. Leontina Vaduva's singing in the role of Juliette is weak. For some reason, at times, it feels weary watching her singing and acting. Both Vaduva and Alagna's acting are somewhat stagy, loaded with vehemence, while what's really lacking is the emotional communication between them. I think that one thing they could do better is to look into each other's eyes more often. The doomed lovers' death scene in Act V is affecting, but doesn't reach the dramatic hilt I expected, but again, it could be just me.

I've just ordered this DVD after watching it on PBS. I'm an opera tenor myself and not always enamored with Roberto Alagna. But he does an absolutely superb job here, and Vaduva matches and balances him perfectly. Their acting, right down to their dual deaths at the end, is natural and not contrived as many operas seem. I've heard, seen, and sung in many operas around the world, but it really doesn't get better than this!

The reason to purchase this DVD of Romeo et Juliette by Gounod is the wonderful, expressive singing of Roberto Alagna and Leontina Vaduva. Not only do they sound great, they LOOK great and act their parts sincerely and movingly. The final scene of this opera with the two doomed and dying lovers desperately reaching out for one last unobtainable kiss could "make the stones weep" in this Covent Garden performance, taped in 1994. The production is somewhat sparse but traditional, with beautiful costumes and atmosphere. Supporting singers Francois Le Roux and Robert Lloyd do a fine job, but the focus of this performance is the two lovers and Alagna and Vaduva convince you with their voices and their demeanor that they are exactly that: young and in love. Two of the many vocal highlights are Alagna's aria, "Ah, leve-toi soleil" and the ensemble that ends Act Three. Anytime the two lovers are onstage, there is operatic magic (all too rare these days). Alagna combines French style with Italian bravura and Vaduva has a voice with sweetness and vulnerablity which seems to grow in size for the dramatic and often cut Poison Aria.
This DVD comes highly recommended to lovers of great singing which too often, in present times, is cast aside for singers who "look and act the part". What a treat to have both!!!!

This is great! You will laugh your a** off! Get it! Funny, Funny, Stuff!

chris rock is the funniest guy ever to graze the earth and the chris rock show is the funniest thing ever if you want my opinion this is a 5 star buy.

Being one of the top standup comics in the world, Chris Rock has proven that he is not another Richard Pryor or Eddie Murphy when it comes to raunchy comedy. Unlike those latter comedians, Rock's appeal with urban and suburban America has made him a popular not only due to his previous work on Saturday Night Live, but due to his stint as host of his weekly cable television show, HBO's "The Chris Rock Show."

"The Best of the Chris Rock Show, Volume 2" is another hysterical compilation of incredibly funny skits and jokes that Rock and other talented writers on his show have given television audiences in the past few years. Using fake recreations, commercial spoofs, and the talents of the ultra-funny Wanda Sykes, this collection will have you on the floor laughing.

Some of the funniest skits on this DVD include "Selvina Delvina," featuring Wanda impersonating a possessive singer who only sings about her man and the "Make You Wait Hair Salon" where Wanda and Chris play the owners of a Harlem salon where waiting is a necessity and the service is slow.

Another funny sketch is "Halle Berry 911" where Rock does a William Shatner-type role as host of a reality-based show (spoof of the show "Rescue 911"). The sketch which shows Berry as a menace to drivers was actually inspired by two automobile accidents she was involved in and ran away from the scene of the accident. I don't think the Oscar-winning actress will find this mockery of her driving skills amusing, but Rock sure does a hysterical job. The "Baby 1 Credit" and the comical driving safety sketch are also added bonuses on this DVD.

This DVD, which comes with bonus material of Rock's version of HBO's "Taxicab Confessions" is also great, although most of the material on this disc is the same as Volume 1. Overall, this DVD is one of the best comedy DVDs to come out in a long time. It's much more funnier than his "Pootie Tang" movie and worth every cent. Born with a gift for comedy, Rock is definitely one Saturday Night Live Alum who hasn't lost his touch. This DVD is a must have for anyone into outrageous, mouth dropping comedy sketches. Highly Recommended!

Studer is great as long as she stands still and just sings. Her "acting" is humorous if nothing else. Lipovsek is painful to watch with those stupid facial expressions. Marton's voice is nearly intolerable and she looks perpetually annoyed while waddling around the stage like a penguin. Richard Hale is very good. Ditto Terfel.

The videography is pointless. The sets are...well what sets are there in this opera beside the house? The casting of the extras must have been courtesy of the United Nations. The camera is fixated on Solti...no evidence the orchestra even exists. Sound is good.

Typical uneven opera by R. Strauss. But made much worse by this overrated production.

Great performances. But this transfer to dvd is very poorly. Unlike what the cover may suggest it's not enhanced for 16:9 widescreen televisions. But what's even more sad is that the video is full of digital artefacts. Especially in the beginning of act three the décor seems to have a life of it's own. It spoils a lot of your viewing pleasure.
The sound is great.

I agree completely with Mr. Marcelino Plaza's (Caracas) detailed review on this marvelous opera. However, Mr Plaza should not worry about cuts in the Nurse part «Solti... insisted in presenting the work complete, whether for the public or in the studio, so we may presume this performance is complete, although it is neither so advised in the booklet nor could I check it with a score. »
Actually, the score IS complete and this is written in the booklet (p. 16) included with the 2 DVDs.

the conductor is'nt James Levine but Patané ! and the videotechnic very poor without light and focus...The Berini voice is a murmur far away in the crowd

The Met's 1980 production of Un Ballo in Maschera is set in colonial Boston on the eve of the Revolutionary War. This is the setting Verdi chose after the censor's refusal to allow the opera to take place in Sweden. It was to have been based on a historical event, the assassination of Sweden's King Gustav III. History or not, having a king assassinated at a masked ball on the operatic stage was simply too controversial in 1859, and Verdi was forced to change the setting to Boston and the king to a governor! Ballo would be an outstanding work no matter where it were placed, as it has an rivetting story filled with growing tension set to some of Verdi's most beautiful music. Pavarotti is at the peak of his illustrious career as the Governor of Boston, and for that reason alone this DVD will be of great interest to opera fans. That is not to say that Pavarotti outshines the rest of the cast, for it made up of a fine constellation of stars. Katia Ricciarelli is inspired and truly gets into her character, Amelia. Louis Quilico has what must be one of the great performances of his career, and Judith Blegen shines in the travesti role as Oscar. Bianca Berini as Ulraca is somewhat lackluster, as her performance lacks fire and menace. That aside, this is a great performance of Ballo, and it would be difficult to top it. It is therefore a great shame that the picture quality is so poor, especially in the numerous night scenes. In the more dimly lit scenes the picture is often grainy and blurred to the point of distraction. This truly great performance deserved much, much better treatment. The sound quality is average, but fortunately it fares much better than the overall picture quality. In short, this is a diamond performance that should have been one of the all-time great opera performances captured on DVD but for serious short-comings on the technical end.

Giuseppe Verdi originally got this opera past the censors by disguising the liberal Swedish monarch Gustavus III, who really was shot in the back, as the fictional Riccardo, Governor of Boston. This Metropolitan Opera production follows Verdi's political change of scene, and is set in 18th century Boston on the eve of the American Revolution (one of the conspirators is a ringer for a youthful Tom Paine in glasses). This Elijah Moshinsky production is true to history in that the tenor is also shot in the back, so ignore the fact that our hero claps his hands to his massive chest before he tumbles to the ballroom floor.

Viva Verdi! Viva Pavarotti!

Like all great singers, Pavarotti possesses an instantly recognizable voice. His is an unusually large lyric tenor, and in this 1980 recording of Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera," he displays a youthful beauty of tone. His bright timbre and exuberant personality might seem more appropriate to the Duke of Mantua in "Rigoletto," rather than the conscientious Riccardo, governor of Boston. However, it is also a very special experience to hear Pavarotti sing Riccardo and he does much to lighten up this rather dark production. It is easy to understand why Kattia Ricciarelli as Amelia falls in love with him.

Pavarotti has a relatively lean stage presence in this production, without his famous handkerchief and tent-like costume, but it would still be too much to expect him to act out a subdued death scene at the masked ball. Lean physique or not, we can't conceive of lean acting from this exuberant tenor.

Katia Ricciarelli, who has also recorded a 'Ballo' with Placido Domingo, is in her prime in this recording, which takes place before the heavier Verdi soprano roles and 'Turandot' supposedly ruined her voice. Here, she possesses a sweet lyric soprano and a lovely stage presence that surely would have melted a heart less hard than her husband's, as she kneels before him and sings "Morrò, ma prima in grazia."

If only Amelia had stayed on stage and listened to Renato's dramatic and sorrowful "Eri tu," I'm convinced this operatic couple would have been tenderly reconciled.

Oh well, this is opera, not life. The late Louis Quilico was 55 in 1980 when this production was recorded. His baritone was not as smooth or beautiful as other baritones that the Met had in its stable at the time, but I think his portrayal as the ageing husband of Ricciarelli's young, beautiful, tempted-to-stray wife was very poignant. He would not have gotten such a tumultuous reception to his big aria, "Eri tu" if he had not convinced the audience of his rage and sorrow.

The American soprano Judith Blegen, who was a frequent duettist with Frederica von Stade, is one of the highlights of this recording. She sings a buoyant, brilliant Oscar, most especially in her teasing aria, "Saper vorreste" in reply to Renato's inquiry about Riccardo's disguise at the masked ball.

I just bought the CD, Rules of Enrangement, and laughed my A$$ off. It is literally roll on the floor laughing until your inside begins eating itself.

The shows on the DVD, though tamer in comparison because they were made for television, are very funny. The reason for the three stars is that the editing sucks! Especially the little commercial transitions right in the middle of the show. I was watching the first show and it went to a transition. I forgot I was watching a DVD and went and got a beer. When I got back, I'd missed half the next segment and had to rewind. What kind of cracker jack editing is that. Lew should have a field day with that one..."we're going to a commercial - f*^&, no we're not!!!"

The sound is also not the greatest. I wouldn't expect 5.1, but it sounded like Lew was in a tunnel...

I would love to purchase a DVD of a performance like the one in Rules of Enrangement...Comedy Central, if you are reading this, think about it. I won't buy this DVD (I rented it)...but I would buy the latter in a heartbeat.

Lewis Black is in my top 5 favorite stand up comics ever. I saw him on Comedy Central for the first time about 2 years ago and was sold from segment #1. Lewis Black is unlike any other comic I've ever seen before or since. He steps out of the way of any categorization and serves as the agitated commentator on human stupidity.

The DVD contains all 3 of his Comedy Central presents specials, as well as his "Taxed Beyond Belief" special. To be honest, I would have liked it if Comedy Central would have done his specials uncensored like they did with Dane Cook's DVD but at this juncture, I'll take Mr. Black any way I can. The first special is from 1998 is by far my favorite with his rants on the weather, the famous "if it weren't for my horse..." rant and the Clinton trials. His 2000 special is my least favorite of the three but still maintains enough of his biting social commentary to warrant several viewings. The 2002 special si a close second with his bits on the 9/11 tribute combined with the Super Bowl, Starbucks and patriotism. Through it all, he comes through as very intelligent, witty and surprisingly "right on the money" 99% of the time.

I could honestly deal with a new release from Lewis Black once every 4 months but anything will do. Overall, you have got to hand it to Comedy Central: they have single-handedly given rebirth to the stand-up game and introduced the world to brilliant minds such as Lewis Black. For this alone, I am eternally grateful.

If you have seen Lewis Black on Comedy Central and enjoyed it, then this DVD is for you.

It contains all three of his "Comedy Central Presents" specials over the years and also his special on "Taxes" that is presented within a college auditorium. It also contains commercials shown during Comedy Centrals InDecision 2000 era featuring Lewis at the Republican and Democratic conventions.

If you enjoy political humor and sattire, this is definately something you'd enjoy as no political member is safe from Lewis' rampage on the U.S. government.

But he also attacks things such as holidays, Starbucks Coffee ruining our country, and even weather. There's a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy here.

The only downside is that due to the fact that these were televised events, Lewis obviously had to tone down his act a bit from the profanity filled routine we are used to from his CDs. But that doesn't damage his credibility and humor at all.

This is an excellent way to be introduced to the endless humor that is Lewis Black.

Definately recommended.