DVD RELEASES


Carnivale, Season 1 (HBO)

Wow! Did I ever miss the boat on this one the first time around. It always looked kind of interesting but until the DVDs came out I'd never had a chance to watch the series from the beginning, which is the only way you can make sense of anything that happens.

Carnivale takes place in the American Southwest during the dust bowl. The series begins with young Ben Hawkins having to bury his recently deceased Mother all alone as a demolition crew prepares to knock down what's left of their farm. As it so happens a travelling carnival picks Ben up at his door and sweeps him into their midst. One other thing about Ben, he seems to have the power to perform miracles. He can restore life and heal people. This is a talent he guards closely as he's convinced he's marked by Satan. As Hawkins gets to know the carnies and digs a bit deeper he comes to realize that his own past and future are somehow directly connected to the people with which he now travels.

Way far away in California there's someone else who can perform miracles. His name is Brother Justin, a devout man of God who honestly believes himself to be good and holy. He also guards his talents closely, not desiring to squander his gift. As the story unfolds, our two main characters begin to question the nature of their power and more than that, its source. Are they good? Are they evil? Even THEY don't know. Why do they share the same dreams? Who is the mythic tattooed man who appears in them? More importantly who is the mysterious Henry Scudder and why is he so important to everyone involved? And how many people really ARE involved?

Carnivale is everything an epic story could be. It's mysterious, its beautiful, its scope is enormous, the characters are superbly well-drawn, and their stories feel larger than life. The events that unfold don't always make sense at the time but that's part of building the mystery. The world created by Carnivale draws you right along regardless. —DC



Home Movies - Season 1

Fans of squiggle-vision rejoice! Television's most underrated animated series is finally getting some of its due. Originally developed for UPN back in 1999, the network yanked it from prime time after five episodes. I guess the suits wanted another South Park clone. They tried it out on Saturday mornings too but, let's face it, kids hated Home Movies because its not FOR them. Finally Cartoon Network rescued it and put it on Adult Swim where it flourished for four seasons.

The show revolves around Brendon Small, a bitter but usually well-meaning lad, his single mother, his school life and his friends. The title "Home Movies" comes from Brendon's ambition to be a great filmmaker. With his two friends he constantly writes and directs short films. The dialogue often comes fast and mostly seems improvised. If you've ever seen Comedy Central's Dr. Katz you know exactly what I'm talking about. Home Movies was made by the same people in the same style of animation and delivery. Mostly hilarious, often biting and sometimes heartfelt and poignant, Home Movies was and is just good television. —DC



Shaun of the Dead - Dir. Edgar Wright (2004)

It happens so rarely that it barely seems possible, but every so often a movie comes along that is everything you wanted it to be. Even less occasionally there's one that surpasses expectation. Shaun of the Dead is so much more than just another wink-and-nod-to-the-audience horror parody. It succeeds, where most have failed, in being BOTH a genuinely funny romantic comedy and, at times, a truly suspenseful thriller.

Shaun is nearing 30. He commands no respect from his position as senior sales-person at an electronics store. The much younger, High School aged staff constantly force him to consider himself a failure. His girlfriend, Liz, is growing impatient at the amount of time he spends with his crass, clingy, drug dealing, college mate Ed. The two force everyone to spend most of their evenings at their favorite pub, The Winchester. When Liz gives up and dumps him, Shaun is so depressed that he doesn't even realize that the city is suddenly overrun with zombies. When Shaun and Ed are finally snapped to reality, Shaun hatches a plan to go around town to collect his family and friends and take them to the safest place in town he knows, his favorite pub, The Winchester. I really can't express to you how immensely enjoyable every second of Shaun of the Dead is. It's tightly paced, it's funny, it's tense and everything about it is just...likeable. Even the Jerk of a best friend, Ed, has a "loveable rogue" quality.

Since its release in England, pretty much every major studio has beaten a path to find out who the hell the previously unknown filmmakers are. George Romero, whose films Shaun of the Dead reference frequently, was so impressed that he offered writer/director Edgar Wright and star Simon Pegg small roles in his upcoming film Land of the Dead. My favorite thing about Shaun? They actually use a scheme to get through a crowd of zombies that I've always thought would work ever since I was but a young scamp watching Night of the Living Dead. Through the whole seen I was thinking, "Yes, exactly, why wouldn't you at least TRY that." —DC