Work Movie Reviews

Rush just got better and better and they reached their pinacle with Moving Pictures. Signals marked their decline, in my opinion. These masters of hard rock got a little softer and lost some of what drew me to them in the first place. Each subsequent album got more and more like Techno Pop. I can't stand all the effect boxes that the guitars are put through. Less is more. An electric guitar sounds best through a Marshall 50 watt head with the phase shifters and flangers used sparingly. In recent years I have seen an attempt to create that raw edge but they don't quite do it.

That early sould is what got their band off the ground and their best fans hooked. Neil Peart's style was very much a part of that.

When I bought the DVD, I was hoping to see more vintage Peart. Instead I saw a more watered down easy-listening drummer. I enjoy watching his Warm Up Routine but the power and speed are missing. Could he be getting tired with age? I was disappointed.

Neil, if you are listening, try to recall your roots. There are fans out there like me who have been there from the beginning and want to see more of what we heard (and saw) back then. I know that you are exploring new frontiers but occasional flash-backs would be appreciated.

Had I seen more dynamic playing, five stars would not have been enough. I am glad I bought the DVD all the same.

I've played drums for 14 years now and I would attribute probably 70% of my licks and style to this man so as you can see I had to have this when it came out.

This DVD not only contains the songs from the Test For Echo album and how to play it but how Neil came to be the drummer he is today. He talks about the mechanics behind the new style that he has implamented into his playing that he learned from Freddy Gruber and explanes why they work for him and how they could work for you. Neil also disects the songs and goes over the hard fills.

The only draw back to this video is that he dose not play the fills slower him self but slows down the film. This is not anything to be concerned about though. The DVD also contains a preformance only feature that lets you view his playing the whole Test For Echo album.

So if you are a drummer buy this.

The overall quality of Madacy's CHAPLIN #2 shows a little improvement in comparison with the #1 that was one of the worst DVDs I have seen in the streets. Not that Madacy has suddenly decided to clean the copies but because I suppose that the available copies were simply in a better shape. It's always under-average quality but let's rejoice anyway ! Furthermore, the music is rather agreeable this time. At last, the program presented here is very interesting and cannot be compared with the three shorts presented in the first volume.

CHARLIE'S RECREATION (1914) allows us to see Chaplin before the tramp disguise and creation that will make a star from him. But it's WORK (1915) that, alone, justifies the US$ 7 you will have to pay for the DVD. One of the first masterpieces of the genius.

A DVD for the archeologists ones.

We have here five Chaplin films and a guest appearance. The guest appearance is forgettable, as is the rest of the movie that the appearance is in. Two of these films are Chaplin treading water, "By the Sea" and "A Woman". "A Woman" is only important for trivial reasons, because Chaplin makes his last appearance in drag, with astonishing results.

The other films, though, are key to the Chaplin legacy. "Work" is his most political statement yet, with it's condemnation of bosses and managers via Charlie's boss, who sits in the back of a cart while Charlie draws it forwardthrough streets and up impossible hills. This film is so ridiculous that you wonder how on earth it came together to fit so well.

"The Bank" is important in that we have a truly sad ending, with Charlie's unrequited love rejected twice, and reasons for his hopes to get up twice too.

"The Tramp" is Charlie's most important Essanay film, the one that establishes his tramp as a character with depth. This film is more than a collection of gags, it's a story, and the ending is a shock. Chaplin would later learn how to engender his audience's sympathies before the end of the film, but in this film, we cannot help but feel sorry for the tramp, as he walks out of the picture in one of his most famous scenes ever.

These films were painstakingly restored by David Sheperd's "Film Preservation Associates" after a ten-year search for footage. What we have is the most complete versions of the Chaplin Essanay films possible, something that hasn't been seen in almost 80 years. This means, however, that sometimes the scene in a film will change dramatically, from a clear, good print to a worse, grainy, and scratchy print, and back again. But we must put up with such defects if we expect to enjoy these films at all, for the alternative is to see prints which, while consistent, are missing somtimes 20% of the footage originally in the film

The scores are well done, and the video compression is excellent.

And now for the rant, hinted at above...

It is possible to see these same films in a much cheaper edition from Madacy or Koch video, or numerous other companies. Don't do it. These companies have taken poor quality sources, sometimes cutting out a fifth of the frame, added lousy soundtracks, and thrown their product out in nice looking packaging for low prices. This product is unsatisfactory, though, as it is difficult to watch, and really doesn't show Chaplin in a good light. Do search out dvds made by the Image company, or tapes made by Kino, becuase these companies have the restorations that are worth watching. You will be glad you did!

All of this coupled with the man and his sense of humour (which is explored not only in the clips but in short films, ads and a two part documentary) make it the best value entertainment buy this year. He has already made a feature (the hugely underrated Human Nature) and has a new one coming out with Jim Carrey (which hopefully lots of people will see). He should be a household name already so get this and see him in all his glory now!!!!

Norm plays Mitch, a guy who can always think of a simple, swift, and cruel way of punishing people who wrong him, but isn't good at much else. When forced to come up with a $50,000 bribe to get his best friend's father a new heart, he decides to capitalize on his special gift. The plot works well enough to not take away from how hilarious this movie is.

Norm is, of course, horrendously funny. His delivery is so brilliant that he can turn the worst jokes into gold. They also incorporate his "note to self" jokes into the movie. Artie Lang, Chris Farley and Don Rickles are also hilarious.

Summary: funny funny funny funny funny.

which would be ok if it were someone like francis lawrence who makes only the occassional video worth watching, but we're talking spike jonze here! all of his videos are masterpieces! brilliant works like elastica's car song, sean lennon's home, pavement's shady lane, rem's crush with eyeliner and tenacious d's wonderboy (!) are missing, as are spike's earlier works with sonic youth and mike watt. aside from that, videos like the beastie boys' sure shot and the mc 900ft jesus track are just ok and could have easily been replaced by the better works previously mentioned.

alas, this is still spike jonze, and he's still made a lot more music video masterworks compared to most directors, so this dvd is more than worth it to 90's alternative music and music video fans. most of the classics are there, especially bjork's it's oh so quiet, beastie boys' sabotage, wax's california and the two award-winning fatboy slim videos. the extras are just great, and the 52 page booklet is lovely in the sense that it allows you to see what went on in the mind of contemporary cinema's most reclusive genius.

Now *that's* an endorsement!

It is a very well done piece with some amazing insights into the day to day life of Shakers, with many interesting tidbits about their history and American history.

They were an ultra-strict group and they strove for perfection in everything they did. Some of the tidbits I enjoyed most - a woman Shaker is credited with inventing the circular saw and Shakers are also credited with the invention of the clothes pin.

Shakers were devoted, devout, quiet, principled and deeply religious people. Above all, they were highly disciplined, rising at 4:30 each morning to begin prayers and chores.

I highly recommend this video - even if you have only a passing interest in Shakers. It is a compelling documentary.