DNA Movie Reviews

Between Homestead Records and Matador Records, Gerard Cosloy has managed to put together some of the leading "stars" of independent rock. This DVD has some of the best from Matador US - Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pizzacato 5, and many more. I especially loved the videos for Yo La Tengo's "Sugarcube" and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's "Talkin' 'Bout the Blues" (guest appearance by Winona Ryder!).

If you're a fan of just a few of the bands on this DVD, it's a great chance to see their videos. The menu is split between the two original VHS tapes. However, you can also browse by artist or just play all the videos.

This DVD contains both the What's Up Matador and Everything is Nice video comps (note that the video version of Everything is Nice does not contain the What's Up Matador show, which makes the DVD quite worthwhile). Everything is Nice contains many classic videos from Yo La Tengo (their Sugarcube video is priceless), Chavez, Helium, Cornelius, Pizzicato 5, Pavement, and more. What's Up Matador, which came out a couple of years ago, is a very funny program that is set up like a kid's show and features "interviews" with various Matador records stars, along with even more classic videos from the artists mentioned above, and some others also. There are 25 videos here in all, and they cover the lifespan of Matador records. Matador is the best record label around, and there is ample proof on this DVD of that.

As a latecomer to FARSCAPE, I was pleased to see that ADV was releasing the episode of the series on DVD, and the first season is working its way along on these 2 eps per disc DVDs. While the first three DVDs had some neat extras on them, the last two (including this one) don't. And that's sad, given the price on these DVDs.

One of the things that FARSCAPE excels at is the story driven by character, and these two episodes have it. The disc begins with with "DNA Mad Scientist," one of my favourite episodes from the first season. With the possibility of finding a way home based on the help of scientist Nam'Tar, Moya's crew are willing to sacrifice a little bit of DNA from their eyes in what is obviously a highly unpleasant procedure. But when the demands for the starchart information the crew wants means one of Pilot's arms...well, let's just say the ruthlessness of some of the crew surprises the viewer. Things take on a more dangerous slant, when Nam'Tar injects some of Pilot's DNA into Aeryn Sun, and only John Crichton can make things right as the rest of Moya's crew are preoccupied by their own agendas and greed. A terrific story, with lots of really good character development, a few shocking bits along the way, some cool special effects, and a set of extra footage that makes the episode come more sharply into focus.

The second episode is "They've Got A Secret", in which apparent malfunctions on Moya and diversion of the ship's nutrients and energy flow threaten both Pilot and Moya's crew...but leads to a surprising development which will play a major part in the rest of the first season story arc, and leads into a morass of ramifications for the second season to deal with. Strong in characterisation and the element of suspense, this episode's extra footage provides some illumination on a couple of the characters and adds immeasurably to the story being told here. One of the best episodes of its kind in television science fiction, with a truly unique surprise that is not all that telegraphed.

As noted, there are no extras on this DVD, other than the extra footage per episode and the Profile on Rygel (and some of the folks behind-the-scenes on this annoying little Hynerian). I still get ticked off at the fact that ADV insists on putting their commercial advertising for other ADV products at the *beginning* of the DVDs, rather than as a menu feature, and that the last couple of FARSCAPE DVDs have had no real special features on them. On the other hand, the quality of the DVD and its two episodes with the extra footage doesn't quite make up for the lack of any additional features. The Rygel feature is entertaining in its own right, but there's nothing on the DVD besides the two episodes that makes it worth the price. The only reason I've given this episode three stars is for the quality of the episodes themselves and the fact that the extra footage in each one adds something to the shows in question.

Volume 5 of Season 1 of "Farscape" offers up an interesting counterpoint between two episodes that show the characters at their worst and at their best as crewmates. In "DNA Mad Scientist" D'Argo, Zhaan and Rygel barely blink before they cut off one of Pilot's arms in order to trade it for a crystal that will show them how to get home and avoid the Peacekeepers. At that point they turn on each other in the great tradition of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Meanwhile, the titular mad scientist turns Aeryn into an intergalactic guinea pig in one of those plotlines I hate where playing with DNA has characters evolving/devolving with the greatest of ease, leaving it to Crichton to restore sanity and order to our dysfunctional little family.

"They've Got a Secret" keeps us guessing as to who exactly they turns out to be in this episode, which has long-range implications for the series. In a previous episode we had been teased with the idea that D'Argo has not revealed the true reason that he was imprisoned by the Peacekeeper. Yes, we find out what his deep dark secret is in this episode--it proves to be very deep and very dark--and, no, you never would have seen this one coming. Certainly we see a different side of D'Argo in this episode, turning the blustering warrior into a much more sympathetic figure.

I am not surprised but Crichton, the only human character on "Farscape," turns out to be the least interesting one of the bunch. Part of the reason for this is that he is so busy saving the day in episode after episode that his character development consists of nothing more than making pop culture references and missing Earth. In this particular volume it is D'Argo who clearly grows the most as a character. Having lauded these DVDs for the tag-team commentary on the first three discs, I would add my voice to the chorus of those who are bitterly disappointed that the practice does not extend to the entire series. This DVD series started off setting the standards for being fan-friendly and now it is fairly pedestrian. Now we have the irony that just as the episodes were getting a lot better, we lose the commentary and insights from the cast and crew.

"DNA Mad Scientist" is one of the best of the early Farscape episodes. "They've got a Secret" is also good, and gives information about one of the characters that is important for later episodes in the series. This is a wonderful scifi series, much better than Star Trek, which has gotten tired and boring in its latest incarnations. Farscape mixes humor, drama, romance, action, great stories and characters into a very satisfying whole, and takes on some of the great human themes and problems that go beyond genre, as the best scifi does. My only real complaint is that I loved the commentaries on the first three DVDs in this series, and I wish we could have them back on future DVDs--please! Or maybe an extra of outtakes and bloopers.

This DVD is excellent production and sound wise. But to me the overall Mayhem sound is gone. The fact that alot of old songs were played including Freezing Moon and Carnage gives the DVD alot of promise...but...i just cant seem to get into the "new" Mayhem...Euronymous' unique guitar sound and Dead's hollow demonic voice are gone. Maniac does extreamlly well but he doesnt seem to be totally into it. A plus is that Hellhammer seems to display one of his finest performances though. A good DVD just not really recommended for old Mayhem fans...Hailz

A truly essential dvd. Mayhem give a superb performance of course
and the interviews are excellent as well. Grab a copy of this
while you can...black metal at it's greatest.

I never had the chance of seeing MayheM live, so this DVD was truely a rare opportunity (and privilege!)to watch the black emperors destroy live. it's said that seeing is believing. Well...Doesn't work quite with mayhem, because i actually DID see the drumming of hellhammer but i still cannot believe how fluid ,yet, inhuman is his technique in dealing the cymbals such powerful blows with virtually no seemingly visible effort...Blasphemer's hallucinating guitars simply wipes heads off, clean, and seeing necrobutcher muttering every song's lyrics, along with maniac gives u an idea of how much MayheM is united and more powerful than ever! Then comes maniac...who is in a category that's totally apart. i'll explain: His sick attitude wont be matched by any other vocalist, and completes mayhem's malefic aura to its fullness. on the stage, he becomes a true beast that slashes itself with barb wire and even slashes a fan's arm. It's really difficult to believe that along with fronting the world's blackest metal band, Maniac is actually a philosophy scholar in the university of Oslo (norway)... Mayhem destroyed both, musically and visually on this album. u just can't get enough of drooling before the capacities of each member of this band. those who keep on saying that mayhem is dead are simply blind and pitiful. The songs of their last album are made for the stage. there also comes the shooting of the concert: Excellent image definition and good lighting (in fact a mayhem concert wont be good with excessive lights!), however we rarely see the audience, but that's really too much asking coz the band's performance takes all the attention. the only complaint i may have is the missing of some songs that are of among my faves: Ancient skin, funeral fog, and pagan fears. it's a real shame they weren't played. they would've sounded great, i'm sure of that.... The bottom line is that "European legions" is a black metal milestone (like every mayhem release is!), so to all the black metal fiends out there: go get this one and knock yourselves off!!!

I found this movie very poor. The story was nothing unusual and also the action wasn't too great. The special effects were outdated, even for 1997 and the acting was nothing that the actors should be proud of. I'm sure that the producers could have done a better job since many movies which are much older than this one have better special effects and better action (Aliens 1,2 and 3, terminator,...)
This is one of the worst movies i've seen (and i've seen MANY movies) and i don't recommend it.

I bought this movie very cheap and figured that it would be your run-of-the-mill, low budget, terrible B movie. It was not. This movie has suprisingly well-done special effects (for 1997). The script is very typical and the acting is OK. This movie borrows quite a bit from "Predator" as the waterfall scene at the end and the "Creature" resembles those of predator. Overall, this movie is worth a look.

SCORE 80/100 B-

OVERALL:
PLOT: 15/20 C
CAST: 15/20 C
SPECIAL EFFECTS 17/20 B
DIRECTION 16/20 B-
FUN: 17/20 B

CONTENT:
VIOLENCE: 7
SEX: 1
LANGUAGE: 4

This movie is great. The special effects are great but when the helicopter crashes it looks fake. The DVD should have inclueded a little more special features than just the scene selection. The picture on the DVD is awesome and clear. The sound is great if you turn it up loud. The movie is great. Hopefully they will come out with a DNA Special Edition DVD. But with a B movie like this they won't.