Reviews Written by Al
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February 26, 2004
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Homicide: Life on the Street - The Complete Season 3 (1995)
VideoPrice: $12.78 to $99.95 Compare PricesNovember 11, 2003
Homicide: The best show on TV that no one watched.
1 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Different, innovative and occasionally mind-blowing...
Cons: None to speak of...
I've just finished watching this 6 DVD set of the 20 shows of Season 3, and I'm as impressed today as when I first watched many of these in 1994 & 95. This ensemble cast was brilliant together and barely missed a beat in the absence of Jon Polito's Crosetti character, while adding Isabella Hofmann's Megan Russert. The stories were examples of TV's best writing ever, and in my humble opinion, certainly rival that of today's "most watched show," the original CSI. That Levinson & Fontana (and occasionally Simon) would go on to produce, write & direct HBO's famed "Oz" is no big surprise.
I can barely wait for Season 4, which will feature "The Train" -- probably one of the all-time best Homicide's. For my money, this is the ONLY TV series worth having (and keeping) on DVD.
The one thing I wish the producers would do is to hunt down and have "current" interviews with all the original cast members. Daniel Baldwin 'narrates' a 14 minute review of Season 3 with Levinson, Fontana, Simon, Yoshimura and other writers, but it wasn't much of an 'extra.'
Oh yeah...one last request. I like the idea of the show's song listings, but would just once love to hear the "COMPLETE" Homicide theme, beginning to end, uninterrupted. It may not be commercial, but it's a very cool theme and to my knowledge, completely unavailable anywhere else. ... -
October 24, 2003
Past Masters, Vol. 1
Pros: Dawning of an era
Cons: None to speak of...
There ought to be a law that disallows idiots that think Eminem, P-Diddy or John Mayer are great acts, to review material such as this.
In some cases, The Beatles were a "you had to be there" act. The early Beatles sometimes being a case in point. Like a lot of British artists - before & after them, they gave back to America what was ours to begin with, but were too distracted to listen to -- artists like Carl Perkins (Honey Don't) or Larry Williams (Bad Boy).
In any case, I usually laugh at or ignore those that think The Beatles were "rubbish" (as one reviewer called them). Want rubbish? Turn on the radio today -- almost any station at any time. You'll either hear lying conservative talk shows, the contradiction called "rap-music," easy jazz (what the hell is that anyway?), some no-voiced whiny female (Christina, Britney, Celine, Mariah and so on...) or worse yet, the tripe that passes as "rock groups."
Makes me glad that my musical era was from the dawning of "rock 'n' roll" through the early '80's. I'm McCartney & Jaggers age now, and aside from them, it's my opinion that "rock 'n' roll" has been dead since '83. ... -
Homicide: Life on the Street - The Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (1993)
VideoPrice: $14.49 to $69.95 Compare PricesJune 5, 2003
The best show on TV that nobody watched...
4 of 4 Yahoo! Users found this review helpful I got hooked on Homicide when I watched the heavily advertised episode with Robin Williams as a grieving husband, following the senseless murder of his wife just outside Camden Yards, which was aired late in Season 2.
I'm still in awe of the incredible cast -- Yaphet Kotto as "Gee," Andre Braugher as Pembleton, Clark Johnson, Jon Polito, Daniel Baldwin -- 9 in all, forming one of the best ensemble casts to ever be in a TV series. Over 7 seasons, there'd be many changes, but the show always retained it's integrity, grit, sense of humor and ability to shock. Based on Baltimore newspaperman David Simon's novel "Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets," the TV show stayed true to itself and to it's viewers, even as it seemingly over-feminized in the last 2 seasons. Simon is now writer and technical advisor on HBO's crime drama, "The Wire" which also takes place on Bal'mores mean streets.
Homicide was one of the first cop shows to integrate the music of some national stars with that of local Baltimore talent as a sparingly used backdrop for some of the shows more intense and beautifully captured scenes.
How this show ever got cancelled, while Law & Order got to stay, is beyond me. Not that L&O is a bad show...on the contrary, Homicide & L&O did a couple of shared 2 hour shows (which is why Munch is now on Law & Order: SVU).
For my money, producer/director Barry Levinson (Diner) gave us a show for the ages. I'm just so damned happy that it's finally made it on to DVD -- and all shows are in the order in which Levinson felt they should have been. Unfortunately, it didn't always work out that way for the TV schedule.
If you've never seen "Homicide," and it's for rent at your local shop -- check out the DVD with the show titled, "Three Men and Adena." If that doesn't grab you and make you want to see the whole series, nothing will -- until the episode named "The Train," which is either in season 3 or 4. If that doesn't grab you, then you just don't like a good cop show.
So, hurry up NBC and A&E and get the rest of the shows out!!! ... -
May 30, 2003
Not a great film, but not horrible either...
I suppose that Im a little biased, since I went to high school with the late David Huffman, who was stabbed to death in Balboa Park in San Diego back in 84. Then theres Art Carneys performance as Harry Truman the crochety guy who really did refuse to leave his lodge and was killed when St. Helens blew. Cassie Yates was always -- in my humble opinion -- an actress who never really got her role, but always seemed to end up with roles such as this one.
Anyway, the premise is that Dave is a geologist who comes to the mountain when the rumbles & quakes first begin. He hits it off with Cassie, but the rest of the town despises him, since they think hes feeding them bunk, in that they need to evacuate the town before the mountain blows. Then theres the tentative friendship that begins between him and Harry.
Its interspersed with some interesting real video of the St. Helens eruption and some pretty cool special effects for 1982.
Anyway, you could do worse for an hour & a half than this. Plus, it reminds us of an incredible potential ecological disaster that happened just over 20 years ago. I remember going up to central Washington around 85, just to see some of the residual destruction and the hint of recovery in the area. Im due for another viewing of this movie, and for another trip north... ... -
May 4, 2003
An American classic...
1 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpful So, yes...the movie has begun to show its age. The language isnt hip-hop, rap-type or even cool. The violence is stark but subtle, unlike todays literal bloodbaths. However, even the most jaded of todays viewers have to appreciate the complexity of the dances and the incredible soundtrack. The songs Maria and Tonight have become standards of pop music and references to the film have been made for decades. It is a retelling and modification of Romeo & Juliet and for my money, Natalie Wood will always be one of the most beautiful women in screen history. The vocals of Marnie Nixon (as Maria -- she also did Audrey Hepburns vocals in My Fair Lady) are truly the best of all the Marias (including the original Broadway play -- Carole Lawrence and the more recent operatic version featuring Kiri Te Kanawa (sp?)).
I also have the Criterion Collection version of this on laser disc and this DVDs transfer is just as good.
Not everyone is going to like this, simply because the gangspeak is pretty silly sounding today. However, the storyline is still valid, as is Bernsteins music and the dancing of Rita Moreno, George Chakaris and the girls & guys of both gangs. If you dont watch anything else on this DVD, at least check out the dance on the rooftops to America and the pre-rumble quintet version of Tonight. If that fails to impress you, then you probably wont want to see this film all the way through. ... -
May 4, 2003
In the beginning...Smokey wrote of heave
...but the Funk Brothers interpreted those writings.
From 1959s Bad Girl by the Miracles, released on Chess, cuz there wasnt a Motown label just yet, through the early 70s Supremes & Stevie Wonder tracks, I constantly marveled at how tight the instrumental backing of the great groups and artists of Motown was. The opening strains of the Temps My Girl, the sad, bluesy feel of the Tops Left With a Broken Heart, the explosive beginnings of Heatwave and the myriad backbeats which permeated all Motown product as well as, if not better than Phil Spectors Wall of Sound. The keyboards were insanely perfect...from the opening shout of Aint Too Proud to Beg to the gritty organ breaks backing Jr. Walker in Shotgun. Yeah...Smokey, the Holland Brothers, Lamont Dozier, Stevie & Marvin wrote the tunes which were incredible lyrically, but man -- could they have been as good without a drum triumvirate or so perfect a bass line that it was nearly inaudible, but still rumbled in your gut?
Production geniuses and gorgeous orchestrations aside, these guys were the nucleus of the atom that exploded into The Motown Sound. This incredible 2 DVD set tells the story documentary style, interspersed with a concert of the remaining members -- of which two would pass away prior to the release of the DVD. While the film, in and of itself is great, the 2nd DVD is the treasure, showing extended interviews, letting us be a guest at a dinner of the surviving brothers and allowing us to see extended bios which include a selected discography for each member.
My main complaint is that aside from Mary Wilson (in my humble opinion, the most beautiful original Supreme) and the incomparable Martha Reeves, the absence of any dialogue by either Stevie Wonder or Smokey Robinson literally shocks me. The Holland brothers apparently cared enough, so they add a few words about these magnificent musicians. Its not clear whether this was an oversight by Al Slutsky, or if these two major Motown writers just didnt offer anything of value. Im not surprised that Diana Ross isnt even mentioned by name, but theres lots of chatter about the Temps, Tops, Supremes (as a group), Martha & the Vandellas, Marvellettes, Contours -- and that all-important vocal backing group, The Adantes.
All in all a great experience -- and the concert performances are pretty damned solid, too...although I wish Joan Osborne had done a few more songs -- man, what a great voice!! So, even if youre only a casual Motown fan, this DVD set is a nice addition to your collection. ... -
May 3, 2003
Occasionally Rhino does it right!
0 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpful Yet another years old product on the top ten? Well, if theres a resurgent interest in doo-wop music, then this is a great way to start a collection. Actually, both this box as a starter and Volume II (another 4 disc set) is a way to not only have all the popular doo-wop crossovers, but also a few obscurities to boot. They also released a Volume III, but I think its one most people -- even die hard collectors -- can pass on. Back to Box I, theres a number of great old favorites -- a few which became major hits breaking the genre-specific code of doo-wop and appealing to a wider audience. This is a great style of music that harkens back to an era where bass was sung and not necessarily played. This honest and somewhat stark music reflects the pure talent of its artists, not to mention showing just how lacking recent groups like NSYNC and/or Boyz to Men really are. ... -
Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 13
by Various Artists | MusicPrice: $5.93 to $8.22 Compare PricesMay 3, 2003
Huh??
3 of 4 Yahoo! Users found this review helpful Over 12 years after its initial release, this is on the top ten? I dont get that, but I admit to having the complete set of all 25 volumes of Super Hits of the 70s. Ill also admit to liking a lot of this music -- not necessarily on this particular CD, but on the whole set. However, I think that Rhinos habit of putting 12 tracks on a CD is cheesy at best. Its never failed to amaze me that ACE U.K. is, in my estimation, the best reissue house of American pop music in the world, particularly given that they feature at least 25 tracks on the majority of their releases, and sometimes even as many as 32. Rhino had the opportunity to hold the title of best reissue house, but have blown it so many times by not reissuing their early record catalog on CD (their excuse was licensing fees), then only ever putting 12 tracks on a CD (which effectively wastes approximately 40 minutes). Theyve also been guilty in the past of accidentally putting alternate tracks, instead of the original on record (Vol 1 of their Instrumental Hits lp featured an alternate of the Wailers Tall Cool One). To add to all of that, their merger with Warner, Elektra/Asylum, Atlantic hasnt made them much better. If they spend as much time on their compilations as they apparently do on their idiotic catalogs, they might be selling some worthwhile reissues, instead of warmed over pap. Its not to say that theyve completely failed, as there are a few obscurities on not only this set, but also 20 volume Soul Hits of the 70s series. Its still painful to purchase CDs with only 12 tracks on them, no matter what they issue. Unfortunately, these sets are the only single source for a lot of these tunes. Oh yeah...one last thing I despise about Rhino -- didja ever buy any of their Best ofs? Notice how theyll put on every chart hit of the artist, except for the last one? Whats up with that, anyway? I wonder if theyll ever get a clue... ... -
April 9, 2003
There oughtta be 2 ratings...
1 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpful One for the performance and one for "was this compilation really necessary?" I'm glad I only spent $14.99 for the CD, since the only song I didn't have was "Long Ago & Far Away" (with Joni Mitchell's great airy backing vocal). And why did this comp stop at 1981 and not include his version of Buddy Holly's "Everyday"?? Was Warner too cheap to pay CBS/Sony for one more song? And why leave off (yet again) "One Man Parade," while including filler such as a live version of "Steamroller." Sometimes, I just don't get these "compilers." Do they even look at an artists charted hits?
Bottom line is this -- if you don't have any of his less expensive sets (such as the 3 pak CBS set that Costco was selling for awhile) and the previous Warner "Best Of," then maybe you should pass on this, too. ...
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Damn Yankees -- not just a rock group
1 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: One of the best of its genre
Cons: Not on DVD?? Why??
The synopsis doesn't give this film the credit it deserves. It's coreographed by Bob Fosse -- arguably one of the greatest coreographers that ever lived and starred his then wife, Gwen Verdon.
Tab Hunter outdoes himself as "Shoeless Joe Jackson" from Hannibal, Missouri, playing the young version of an old, frustrated St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan who despises the NY Yankees (join the club). Selling his soul to the devil, he ends up with the Washington Senators (yes, there was a major league club by that name in the 40's & 50's) who beat the Yankees out of another shot at the World Series -- but that's not really the story.
It's about how far one will go morally to be a winner. The result is a fable of realizing that one's not as bad off as they seem, in spite of who they root for in baseball (Cub fans, take heart).
It's a wonderful film, filled with great music, fantastic dancing (my personal favorite is "Two Lost Souls" featuring Tab & Gwen in a sleazy, colorful nightclub) and a cast of unforgettable characters. Why this film has been ignored for so long is beyond me. It took forever to come out on VHS back in the 80's and now it's still not on DVD. What the hell is Warner Brothers thinking? Probably the same as they do regarding their horrid record of releasing vintage music CD's. Someone at WB needs to wake up and smell the coffee.
RELEASE "DAMN YANKEES" ON DVD sometime this century!!! ...