Lee loves DVD. He loves the picture. He loves the sound. And he's just plain giddy over the special features. Of course, not every DVD is worthy of Lee's passionate love for the format. Some DVDs have bad entertainment on them. Others don't meet the high technical standards Lee expects from DVD. Then there are the DVDs that are chintzy with the bonus features. (Not to mention the whole widescreen vs. full frame can of worms we dont' want to open here.) Yes, Lee loves DVD. Here are his collected reviews, which originally appeared uncollected in LEEmail©.

Music

deja VROOM - King Crimson [Discipline Global Music] Hey, here's a fuckin' DVD to rave about. Firstly, though, you need to be a fan of the band. If you're not, I'm sorry - you must be retarded. Anyway, 20 live tracks (including my fave: "Matte Kudasi") mixed in SUPERB sound. Five of these have multiple camera options - 1 had a choice of 7 angles! Tony Levin's Road Movies, complete band line-ups, history and commentary from Fripp, and (most interestingly) a feature called '21st Century Schizoid Band' which allows you to construct your own version of "21st Century Man" using the rhythm sections, vocals and solo from 4 different line-ups of the band. Discipline this!

Endless Harmony - The Beach Boys [Brother/Capitol] This DVD will give you the excitations, surfer girls & boys. Now, the special (which originally aired on VH-1) wasnít that great. Way too much of Mike Love, the cock, being - well, a cock. But the footage and performances are fantastic, and the DVD has superb extras. Bonus performances, including the "promotional films" (read as: videos) for tracks like "Sloop John B" and (one of my personal faves) "Friends". Plus, there are 7 songs remixed to 5.1 Surround, including "Surfís Up". Hell, thatís worth the price of admission right there. The soundtrackís been repackaged to match the DVD keep case, too. If you donít have that, get it. Maybe God is good.

Gimme Some Truth: The Making of Imagine - John Lennon [Capitol] This 110 minute documentary features film used in John & Yokoís 1971 film for Imagine (which featured all of the songs from Johnís record and 2 from Fly, which was Yokoís), and some footage used in the 1988 documentary Imagine. But the vast majority of it is previously unseen - and fantastic. Lots of in the studio stuff. Itís fascinating to see/hear the songs become fully realized when the rest of the band works with John. And, speaking of sound, all of the music has been remixed to 5.1 surround. Incrediburgable, kids. Now if you werenít a fan of John, this film ainít gonna win you over; but those of you who know how great he was will have a field day. Extra features include a 35 minute interview with John & Yoko from that time and a ginchy discography with sound clips from all the records. My one complaint: Why not include the entire 60 minute Imagine film from 1971 on the disc. Seems like a natural choice to me...

The McGarrigle Hour [Hannibal] A fantastic companion piece to one of 1988's best records. Firstly, though, you need to be a fan of the band. If you're not, I'm sorry - you must be a retard. Anyway, 23 tracks (including 4 taken from a 1981 concert in Montreal). A fantastic audio mix, great menus, interviews, biographies and more. The only thing it's missing is Kate thanking me for thanking her after "Mendocino." Another fine, fine release from Palm Pictures, the folks who brought you the exquisite 'Stop Making Sense' DVD.

Stop Making Sense - Talking Heads [Palm Pictures/Ryko] We all know how great this movie is, so I don't need to compliment that. The extra features are nice, and include (among lots of other stuff) a strange & hilarious 'Byrne interviews Byrne' segment. The commentary from all four band members & Demme brings a nice insight into the film / music / tour AND explains why everything Jerry Harrison does now is pretentious and boring. My only complaint is that the extra songs added to the original VHS have been edited back out of the film and placed at the end as "extra songs." And, the film is letterboxed, but the extras aren't. At least they're there, right? The problem is that they fit so nicely into the running order contextually & conceptually, and no Talking Heads fan gives that much of a fuck about the integrity of the film to bitch about 3 GREAT SONGS being placed back where they belong in the documentation of one of the greatest tours in rock history. Still a must - if you're a fan of music or movies or both.

Yellow Submarine - The (animated) Beatles [Apple/Capitol] Fanfuckingtastic. The picture is beautiful, the remix is splendid & the extra features are a treat (film sequences ran alongside storyboards, original pencil drawings & cells, a documentary, interviews, commentary - need I continue?) The "Hey Bulldog" sequence is great, as is another added scene that occurs before it. This film is a ball for all ages. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't be completely transfixed by a number of the sequences. DVD's letterboxed - the VHS ain't. Treat yourself. Go get it. It's all in the mind, y'know.

Movies

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me [New Line] Still funny. Not as funny as you might remember it, but you'll laugh. Hard. The extras are weaker that the 1st movie's DVD - but you do get the Lenny Kravitz video with my girlfriend Heather Graham dry humping that bus in the desert. Oh, behave indeed!

The Blair Witch Project [Artisan] I didn't see 'Pulp Fiction' until it was available on video, and I remember thinkin' "this can't be as good as everyone has said it is..." Well, it was.  Better - in fact. Welcome to 'The Blair Witch Project', truly one of the most riveting and inspiring films I've seen in a long time. Not since Larry Clark's (exceptional) 'Kids' have I seen a film with performances so engrossing and "real" perfectly coupled with a concept & presentation so imaginative. Hey, you're either going to buy it, or you won't. If not - admit that, but acknowledge the work. Sure, it would have been stronger at 70 minutes, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons in the film. 'The BWP' makes eye candy crap movies like 'The Matrix' glisten like the steaming piles of maggot infested shit that they are. Fuck Sandler, his unfunny movies and his $20 million paycheck, give me a nation of 'Blair Witch Projects' instead. (In fact, if you divide $30,000 into $20 million - you get 666.666...) Oh yeah, the DVD itself is one of the finest I've seen yet. Great interactive menus, and loads of extras. The success of films like this almost restores my faith in humanity. Now if the millions of folks who saw this gem would only recognize the shit they see, like 'The Wedding Singer', for what it is - which is shit. Or should I say, witch's shit.

Boogie Nights Yeah, it's a little long (pun intended), but what a great film. One of the 9 deleted scenes features a topless Heather Graham, so... Great menus, fine transfer and a great ride (optional pun intended). If you don't like it, "You're not the boss of me!" Now somebody hand me some coke.

Detroit Rock City [New Line Cinema] A movie you'll either love or hate. I'm on the love end (sure, I'm biased) but the DVD itself certainly deserves accolades. Animated menus more elaborate that any I've seen, and designed well (unlike "Austin Powers: TSWSM") - allowing you to either watch them through, or skip directly to the functions. Commentary from the band and filmmakers, deleted scenes, a guitar lesson, lots of stuff. Plus, it gives you a chance to choose between 4 camera shots during the live performance of "Detroit Rock City." Ace-cam© is angle 2.

Election [Paramount] Funny goddam movie. I'd forgotten how uncomfortable the humor gets in parts, but it's well worth it. Great performances from everyone, especially Phil Reeves as the principal. Basically zero extra features (aside from a clumsy commentary from the director), but a swell transfer and great sound. Rent it this weekend, if you need a laugh - or just because I told you to.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High - Collector's Edition [Universal] Some movies get funnier every time you watch them. Add this to that list. In fact, one of the funniest moments in film history has to be Judge Reinhold's soliloquy into the mirror with "Big Harry Pussy" scrawled onto it. Every scene with Sean Pean is hilarious, and it is a crime that he & Ray Walston were not Oscar winners that year. Loads of extras, including animated menus, a 40 minute documentary, a great "Hangouts Of Ridgemont High" site map which reveals and shows the locations used to shoot the film. Awesome, totally awesome.

Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero - It's from Simitar (the people who bring you every conceivable cash in videocassette that you can pick up for under $5 at your local Super Store. Super Stores like Mishawaka's Media Play on Grape Road in Mishawaka. Media Play - More Choice, Less Price, Everyday! But I digress...) It's from Simitar, but the features are pretty swell. It's widescreen, and unbelievably psychedelic, and could have used a clean up on the transfer. But when Godzilla (the REAL Godzilla, not the homoerotic Jurassic Park reject from last year) starts kicking King Ghidra's ass, who really cares.

Hercules [Disney] Man, this oneís bad. FirstLEE (a la "Hunchback") the story's been mutilated beyond repair. It's mythology, read the book. Zeus can't fuck around? Why not? He's a God? And Hera tried to kill the kid, she didn't cry over his exit from Olympus. Good God, Mouse, get it straight. SecondLEE, the songs stink. Donny needs to go back to "Yo Yo" & "Crazy Horses" and forget about this feck. ThirdLEE, the animation is really lousy. Skiperino.

The Iron Giant [WHV] The first of the cartoons on this list, and a great freakin' movie. If I still cared enough about movies to make a best of the year list, this would be on it. Great widescreen transfer, great animation, and could that be a tear in my eye? Extra features ain't much, but with a movie this good, I'll excuse it. [This film(not so coincidentally) made me rediscover Pete Townshend's 'Iron Man' record, which is a fine goddam listen, as well.]

The Matrix [WHV] Nice special effects, but I'd rather watch a Gap commercial - same 360 degree camera shot crap, no Keanu Reeves (somebody PLEASE explain the appeal of him to me), & about as much plot.

Mulan [Disney] Ah ha! Here's a winner. Fantastic animation, a great story and songs that I can sit through. And Eddie Murphey is a scream. Really dug this one. Pretty lousy extra features considering Disney's Rape Me pricing structure.

Pee Weeís Big Adventure [Warner Home Video] Fantastic widescreen transfer*, impeccable music remix and some fine extras. (*A note for you geeks: If you have the original VHS of this film, youíve probably noticed many problems with seeing things you shouldnít - the chain coming up from the bottom of itís container while Pee Weeís locking his bike, the track under the street signs before the car goes over the cliff, etc. Well, when I checked my old VHS copy after viewing the DVD, I realized that the VHS isnít pan & scan but full frame. These "errors" are corrected when the film is properly cropped. Iím sure that you donít really care about that, but fuck you - this is LEE On DVD©, not YOURNAMEHERE On DVD. Write your own goddam reviews.) Anyhoo, the extras include running commentary by Reubens and Tim Burton (with great anecdotes about locations and supporting players), separate running commentary by Danny Elfman and some great deleted scenes. Some of the extra footage I had read would be on the DVD isnít, but with what you get it really doesnít matter. A consistently funny movie. One of the funniest. Ever. If you havenít seen it in a while, do so. If youíre waiting for a great first DVD to push you over the edge, this is it.

Rushmore - Jesus, is this film funny. It had the honor of making me laugh out loud in a theater: even harder than I did during South Bend's Actors' Ensemble's production of "Sister Carrie". The DVD had little extra (a trailer), but the music mix and transfer is fab. If you ain't seen it, rent it. And 'Bottle Rocket' too. Same great use of great music to convey exactly what you need to hear when you see it. What? Well, dig the 'R & R Circus' version of "A Quick One" in Rushmore, or "2000 Man" in 'Bottle Rocket'. These are great movies, people.

The Sixth Sense [Hollywood] Not having seen the 11th biggest money maker of all time in the theater and still not knowing the "surprise", I sure was excited to see this one. Unfortunately, my wife figured it out about 10 minutes in, and the movie - from that point on - played directly into the hand of her prediction. But, who cares, it was still a great film. Really. Scary, clever and exceptionally well executed. But somebody better explain the Oscar nod for Toni Collette to me. Is it because they gave Patrow an Oscar for doing a British dialect 2 years ago, that they felt the need to nominate Collette for doing and American one? Anyway, the DVD had some nice extras; including deleted scenes (with intros from M. Night Shamalamadingdong,) a "Rules & Clues" section (which examines the "secret"), trailers and all the other crap you get on most DVDs nowadays. It was refreshing to me to see a film that deserved to be attended by hoards of people, and was.

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut [Paramount] Now, I intended to laugh. I knew it would be funny. I just had no idea how goddamn funny it was. And if you donít think so, Iíll just quote young Eric Cartman and invite you to "suck my balls". Now, if youíre not a fan of the show - thereís really no reason to see this. But, Satanís "Up There" could be 3 of the funniest minutes committed to film. An unbelievable exercise in how to take four steps more than anyone could ever imagine you would. And when youíve watched it numerous times and want to freshen it up, whaddya do? Try subtitles! The only thing funnier than reading the words "rhythmic farting" surrounded by musical notes is actually seeing "Youíre a boner-biting bastard, Uncle Fucker" written out for you. Folks, if you ainít seen this yet - it is truly one of the funniest films EVER MADE.

Stanley Kubrick Collection [WHV] I'm not pleased with the transfers on the early stuff - but, OOOH those films are good. A few thoughts...

Lolita - Well, a young Declan MacManus should have considered Clare Quilty as a name change considering that he stole his entire look from Peter Sellers in this film. Man, it almost makes you think twice about marrying an annoying hag so you can have sex with her hot teenage daughter. Almost. I propose a remake with Harry Dean Stanton & Britney Spears. And Andy Dick as Quilty.

Dr. Strangelove: or How... - Three Words: Peter Fucking Sellers. And George C. Scott is a fucking hoot, too.

2001: A Space Odyssey - Nice bonus feature of A.C. Clarke at an MGM press conference before anyone had seen the film. Smart guy. Smart film. With monkeys. I love them monkeys.

Barry Lyndon - I think that I will never see, as boring a fucking DVD. Oh - if he would have only died before this one and saved me three hours...

Trainspotting [Alliance Atlantis] Well, itís kinda hard to review this one for you because my copy is a Canadian import with different features than the US release. Still a great, funny & extremely dark comedy about everyone's favorite pastime: heroin addiction. Iíd imagine the "film" part is the same as the DVD you can get here, though - except they only drink pints of Molson. And Tommyís not into Iggy Pop, heís into Burton Cummings.

Videodrome - You know, I hadn't seen it in years. I wish I sill hadn't. Mr. Cronenberg needs to check himself into the hospital. I should have known it would be a bad view, Brett Butler was in line behind me at Blockbuster. She wanted to rent "Sour Grapes". Really. Guess she's still on that "pain medication."

The Wizard of Oz [WHV] C'mom, it's a great picture. And you've got to love the fact that if you combine the Scarecrow, Tin Man & Cowardly Lion - you'd have one hell of a homosexual. (Watch it again. Jack Haley is fantastically fay. Not to mention that the Scarecrow likes to have a post stuck up his butt, and the Lion likes to be on all fours...) The transfer is great, and actually answers the age old question about the "midget hanging himself in the background" in that one scene. This transfer is so clear, you can actually see it's one of the exotic birds that are wandering around the set stretching its wings. Clear as day. Weird. I must have looked at that scene over 50 times trying to figure it out, and never could - but it's right there on the DVD. Anyway, LOTS of cool extra features, including a better reconstruction of "The Jitterbug" than we saw on the 50th anniversary VHS. But, it looks like there's more of Harold Arlen's spooky footage that they're not showing. Why not a "Jitterbug '99" remix video with all the footage? Just an idea. And, no - I didn't watch it while listening to 'Dark Side Of The Moon'. Did it once with the VHS, and it's not that cool. But, try any episode of the 'New Zoo Revue' while listening to the "International Feel (in 8)" side of 'AWizard A True Star', and you'll always have a GREAT time. Crunchy Cheetos optional