Hard Vision Spring/Summer 2012

DAVID BOWIE / AlIEN 2 ON EARTH / DENNIS HOPPER-"EARLY WORKS" / DERAILROADED / ANYWHERE USA / SOULIVE / TREK STARS GO WEST / BOB DYLAN / A HISTORY LESSON, MINUTEMEN, MEAT PUPPETS & MORE

David Bowie "Rare & Unseen" (MVD Visual)

By: Paul Autry

Can I get away with "YAWN! YAWN! YAWN!" as a review? NO??? DAMN!! Okay...well...here's the thing. The main program is the ONLY program. 64 minute running time & an "unseen" (unseen meaning: "believed" unseen since 1st broadcast) interview between David Bowie & Russell Harty takes up most of that time & it's an odd, uncomfortable & awkward interview. Maybe that's a selling point, huh? But, seriously? It seemed like Bowie didn't want to be there & some of the questions? "What color's your hair?" "Do you need the money?" I've done better interviews jacked up on Red Death & 2nd hand pot smoke. I guess the seriously hardcore David Bowie fan might appreciate having this footage on DVD. I can't see anyone else gettin' too excited about it. It's usually hit or miss when you're dealing with an "unofficial product." In this case...it's a huge MISS! Strike three! You're out! 'Nuff said!

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Alien 2 On Earth (Midnight Legacy)

By: Paul Autry

I love a good, cheap, low budget movie as much as the next guy. But, this one really doesn't do much for me. It was actually kinda boring. The best part of the whole movie is the scene where we get to see Belinda Mayne's boobs. Some people might get excited over the fact that this is the 1st time this film has been released on DVD in the United States. But, again, let me remind you...BOOBS...once scene. Right there's the thrill. For those of you who might not know what this movie is about, let me explain. Remember the movie "Alien?" Well, this is an Italian sequel to that movie that has absolutely nothing to do with that movie. No connection at all. Get it? Good. Aliens kill a bunch of people in a cave. YAWN! The only reason why I'll keep this movie in my collection is in case somebody ever says to me, "Do you have Alien 2 On Earth?" Then I can say, "Yes, I do!" I watched it once & I know I'll never watch it again.

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Johnny Legend Presents: Dennis Hopper - The Early Works (VSC)

By: Paul Autry

Dennis Hopper's career spanned 55 years & he appeared in more than 150 films. The material that's featured on this DVD is where he got his start. I guess the real gem here would be the 1955 episode of "Medic" due to the fact that it had to be restored from three different sources. In this episode, Hopper plays a 17 year old epileptic & his performance comes across as very natural & innocent. There's also episodes of "Public Defender," "The Loretta Young Show" & Petticoat Junction." We finish off the DVD with the feature film, "Night Tide," in which Hopper plays a young Navy man who falls in love with a mysterious woman who might be a mermaid or a murderer. I have to admit that I didn't watch this film due to the fact that I already had it in my collection by way of a "Cult Classics" DVD compilation & I've seen it before. Although, I would say that "Night Tide" is the main selling point here. Most people interested in his work should buy the disc for the movie & you can view his early television appearances as an added bonus. This DVD also features the trailers for "Night Tide" & another film called "Key Witness," which looks kind of interesting. It would've been great if they could've included that one on this release. It would've gave it more of a punch.

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Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Larry "Wild Man" Fischer (MVD Visual)

By Paul Autry

I had to watch this twice. The first time I went through it, it seemed like it was over before it even began & I was like, "What the hell?" I seriously thought it was a HUGE rip off. Then I grabbed the DVD case & I noticed the running time was 86 minutes. I could've sworn that it wasn't longer than half an hour. The only explanation I could come up with was that I was so wrapped up in it that I lost all track of time. I guess being inside the mind of Larry Fischer is a rather interesting place to be. I watched it again a few hours later & it was like I was seeing it for the first time. I was able to take everything in this time around. Talk about fuckin' strange. Maybe it's because I appreciate people who only march to the beat of the voices in their head. I really connect with people like that. Unfortunately, people like Larry Fischer will never get the respect they really deserve & a release such as this will only appeal to the people who appreciate his genius.

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Anywhere USA: An American Portrait (Cinevolve Studios)

By: Paul Autry

I'm not really into indie films. Most of the ones I've had to suffer through were, in my opinion, horrible. This one wasn't too bad. I can't say that I really understood what the movie was all about. I thought it was rather odd & quirky & the cast was fun to watch. The movie's told in 3 parts & how they appear in the film is actually how I like them. The 1st part, about a man & a woman who have an odd relationship, was the best part. These characters were entertaining to watch. I watched the movie once & when I watch it again, I'm just gonna stick to the 1st part. I love it. The 2nd part was good. A tale about a stoner dude & a little girl. The 3rd part didn't do all that much for me.

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Soulive "Bowlive: Live At The Brooklyn Bowl" (MVDvisual)

By: Paul Autry

Awesome concert film that's part music, part documentary & just all around entertaining if you're into blues, hip-hop, R&B, soul and funk. Soulive delivers a fun, high energy performance complete with a wealth of musical guests including Robert Randolph, Derek Trucks, Warren Hayes, The London Souls & Susan Tedeschi to name a few. This is probably one of the best concert films that I have seen so far this year. A worthy addition to any collection.

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Johnny Legend Presents: Trek Stars Go West (VSC)

By: Paul Autry

Every program on this DVD is older than I am. UGH! Most of the time, I'm not impressed with anything that was made before I was. Know what I mean? I do, however, believe this is a somewhat impressive release. This 2 disc collection features Star Trek's William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley & James Doohan in various western programs. Most are tv appearances. Bonanza, The Lone Ranger, Outlaws & so on & so forth. The real highlight, however, is William Shatner's 1968 movie, "White Comanche." Shatner plays a dual role as a good guy cowboy & his peyote smoking brother, Notah, also known as the White Commanche. It's one of those films that's so bad it's good. So, if you're a Star Trek fan or a fan of the wild, wild west, this is a must have release.

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Bob Dylan "Revealed" (MVDvisual)

By: Paul Autry

I've written about a few Bob Dylan DVD's here on this website & I can honestly say that each one of them put me to sleep. Maybe it's because I was never really a Bob Dylan fan & I don't find his story all that interesting. Don't get me wrong, I know the man has talent & when he's called a legend, it's well deserved. His music's just not for me. However, out of all the DVD's that I had to sit through, I'd have to say that "Revealed" is probably the best one I've ever seen. He's been doing his thing for 50 some years now & the previous releases that I've talked about only touched on certain times in his career or specific albums. This DVD pretty much covers everything & it features interviews with the people who knew him best. There's numerous Bob Dylan DVD's floating around out there & if you're a fan, you're probably gonna pick 'em all up. This should be the 1st one you get.

A HISTORY LESSON

By, Chris Forbes

/Part 1 Punk Rock In Los Angeles in 1984 (Historal Records) I was into

punk rock AROUND 1985 AND 1986, bands like Black Flag, Minor Threat, DRI, COC, and others.

I really thought I was gonna like this as I have heard the names of 3 of the 4 bands

featured on this, that being The Minutemen, The Meat Puppets, Redd Kross. The only band

I never heard of was Twisted Roots. Well all the bands on this pretty much sucked. Hey

I have to be honest and the Minutemen and their music almost put me to sleep, The

Meat Puppets were slighty better, Redd Kross was decent and Twisted Roots came across to me as

as a wall of noise. The interviews are kinda interesting in some way as in 1984 "hair

metal" was huge in the LA scene, but the bands didn't hold up their end of the

bargain for me. The footage itself is very good in quality and the interviews are

clear and easy to understand. This to me had a hot and miss thing and hopefully part 2

will have some better bands. Info: