gridlockjoe | Project Moviewatch: October report

The story so far: While lamenting the state of the fall TV season and simultaneously bemoaning the amount of time I found myself in front of the computer, the idea struck me that I should actually watch some of the movies in my collection, rather than just letting them sit around gathering dust in what is supposed to be my dining room. And so I resolved to watch a DVD on nights when there's nothing on TV, keep track of what I watch and provide my thoughts on a monthly basis.

	Great North Stunning Arctic scenery abounds in this 40-minute film. Unfortunately it plays more like an episode of Mutual of Iqaluit's Wild Kingdom, especially with the caribou calving toward the start (not something I was expecting over dinner, thank you). Oh, yes, and while the packaging says this film was remastered in 16:9 (from the original IMAX), it's presented in glorious 4:3.
	Clockwise Classic John Cleese farce. Cleese plays a time-obsessed schoolmaster who gets off track one day to hilarious effect. The DVD is a little on the scant side but perfectly adequate.
	A Prairie Home Companion What a sweet film. An alternate-universe Prairie Home Companion radio show is making its final broadcast before a Texas radio magnate buys the station and tears down the Fitzgerald Theater. Garrison Keillor and the PHC radio regulars are all there, as are Lily Tomlin, Meryl Streep and Lindsey Lohan as The Johnson Girls (not to be confused with the real-life folk group of the same name of which Hilary's sister Alison is a member. (The credits thank the Johnson Girls for the use of the name.) Pass the Powdermilk Biscuits!
	The Vicar of Dibley: A Holy Wholly Happy Ending The long, happy saga of Geraldine Granger and the residents of Dibley comes to an end. Dawn French stars in this series as a woman vicar assigned to a rural parish. This disc contains the 2006/07 Christmas and New Year's specials wherein Gerry finds love with a new resident of Dibley.
	Absolutely Fabulous: White Box Patsy and Edina are still alive? Let alone still being their old selves? They were somewhat endearing when they premiered 15 years ago, but one-trick ponies rarely last, and this one should have been put out of its misery long before now. To save you the trouble of watching this, the 2004 Christmas special: Patsy is still Patsy, Eddie is still Eddie, and Saffron is still the only responsible one of the lot. Nathan Lane guest-stars.
	Death of a President I made it a point to watch this film on the 19th because the events of the film took place on October 19, 2007. It's a completely fictional political thriller about the assassination of the 43rd President of the United States. Even without the shock value of having the real President as the victim (and there was plenty of hullabaloo when the film was first broadcast on Britain's Channel 4), it's an average-to-decent political thriller.
	We are Scissor Sisters... and So Are You Concert video of the glam rock group that's popular in the UK and Canada, not as much yet in the USA. I first heard their song I Can't Decide during the season finale of Doctor Who, and searched for more of their music.
	C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America What if the South had won the war? This mockumentary takes us inside a late-20th century CSA where slavery is still practiced. The film does push some buttons, but is overall an eye-opening experience.
	Royal Canadian Air Farce: Farcebook After 24 seasons on radio and 14 seasons on TV, it would be easy to believe that Air Farce is getting tired, is out of date and out of touch. And yes, John Morgan's retirement (and death) a few years ago took a lot of the wind out of the sails of the comedy troupe. But throughout the radio years Air Farce was never really known for being topical (that role on radio was filled by Double Exposure). And there is a decent mix of topical and evergreen material on this compilation DVD. However, I did miss the Chicken Cannon. The live 300th episode (included here on the second disc) worked out so well that this season's shows are all going out live.
	Burnt Toast Another entry in the Colin Mochrie Film Festival. This is an opera (yes, an opera) based around short films about the various stages of love. Look for Colin and Deb McGrath in the sixth segment, sung by Russell Braun and Zorana Sadiq. The first segment, about making connections, is particularly touching.
	Un gars, une fille: Volume 5 See below for review of this series. This volume is highlighted by a 45-minute (without commercials) special with a fun animated sequence, contest winners, a music video, and more. The episodes were good too (what I could understand; some needed no translation).
	Un gars, une fille: Volume 3 One of the great hits of Quebec television, Un gars, une fille is a sitcom of short vignettes in the life of a man and woman in their 30s, navigating through the universal situations that affect all relationships. The show has been adapted in several other countries, including the US (legal battles are ensuing over that one; read the Wikipedia entry for more). My main trouble with the DVD releases of this show is that no translation or subtitles are provided. And as the actors are native francophones, they speak a mile a minute, so it's hard for me (with low-to-moderate French ability) to keep up with what's going on. Subtitles (even in French only) would be a real help; but the producers saw fit to release the DVDs without them. If you speak French, you will obviously get more out of the program. However, many of the vignettes play well to an English-speaking audience with minimal dialogue. Chacun à son goût. I wish my friend Caro lived closer than Montréal; she'd really enjoy this show, and could explain the wordier bits to me.
	Over Canada: An Aerial Adventure I saw this film on HDNet and fell in love with it. This panorama of Canada's majestic scenery was shot in high definition from the air from sea to sea to sea. The film is presented in widescreen, but not anamorphic widescreen, unfortunately.
	Twilight Zone: The Movie Picture if you will: A movie based on a long-ago popular science-fiction anthology series causes controversy because of the deaths of three actors in an accident with a helicopter. It's now finally on DVD, but with no extras at all. Who's for a game of Kick the Can?
	Getting Along Famously More from the Colin Mochrie Film Festival, all seven episodes of his and Debra's CBC series about a 1960s TV variety show. When I first saw the pilot, I wasn't convinced that they could stretch the idea out for a whole six-episode series. I'm glad to have been proven wrong. It's more witty than outlandish, definitely worth viewing. I'm glad the bloopers made it to the final product -- the streamer incident is very funny.
	The Delicate Art of Parking This film called to me with its great reviews and numerous awards, and I made it a blind buy. Fred Ewanuick of Corner Gas stars in this mockumentary about parking wardens. It was OK... slow moving in some spots, but overall I was pleased.
	Bon Cop Bad Cop An Ontario detective and a Québec detective have to get through their cultural differences and work together to solve a crime in this action buddy-film comedy. Most of the humor comes from the two policemen trying to bridge the two solitudes, and if you're not in tune with Canadian culture, you might not get a lot of the humor. The film is bilingual, but four sets of subtitles are provided, so you can see French subtitled in English and vice versa, or the entire film subtitled in either language. Colm Feore is excellent as the straight-laced OPP detective, and Patrick Huard shines as the SQ detective. They both learn a lot about the other's culture, and hopefully viewers will too. Great film, very funny.
	Whose Line is it Anyway? Season 1, Volume 2 At this rate the entire US series will be out in 14 more years. This is the second half of the first season of the US version of the hit improv show. Two uncensored gag reels are the highlight of the bonus features. Unlike Volume 1, which came out in both censored and uncensored versions, Volume 2 only comes in the uncensored variety. Now hopefully A&E will get busy with the rest of the UK series.
	At Last the 1948 Show Classic British comedy from the 60s, tossed in the early 70s, and just now enough is being recovered (five compilation episodes sent to Sweden) to put out on a DVD. Stars John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Marty Feldman, Tim Brooke-Taylor, and the lovely Aimi MacDonald.
	The Strange Case of the End of Civilisation As We Know It This 1975 made-for-TV comedy has not aged well. John Cleese stars as Arthur Sherlock-Holmes, descendant of the famous detective, leading a who's who of 1960s/1970s British comedians in a farce. Unlike his illustrious grandfather, however, this Sherlock Holmes only succeeds in bungling every job he organizes. Holmes is summoned to a conference by the desperate Commissioner of Police, to lay plans for the capture of Moriarty before he gains control of the world. From then on, nothing seems to go right. Also stars Arthur Lowe as the 'bionic' grandson of Dr. Watson, Stratford Johns as the Commissioner of Police, and Connie Booth as Mrs. Hudson. Picture quality-wise, this is the worst DVD I've ever seen. No restoration was done to the film, and scratches and several video flaws are apparent throughout. Disappointing video quality makes this for completists only.