Home Media Magazine - June 29 - July 5, 2008 - (Page 32)

REVIEWS I RAW SPICE: THE UNOFFICIAL STORY OF THE MAKING OF THE SPICE GIRLS Street 7/1 Shout! Factory, Documentary, $19.98 DVD, NR. www.homemediamagazine.com young women, the days before the glamour, the hit singles and sold-out concerts. This film shows the first steps toward all of that, and it is a real eye-opener, especially to anyone who enjoys or aspires to make pop music. “Raw” is appropriate for the title as it so accurately describes the shaky, amateurish home movie quality of the video production, as well as the energy of the performers and their unrefined abilities to sing and dance. The film begins with day one of auditions, continues through the grueling rehearsal process and the band’s “Real World”-style living arrangements, and culminates with a showcase performance for music industry bigwigs. Besides the five members of the band and others hired to be a part of the production, the film also includes candid interviews with young Chris Herbert, who initiated the project and ultimately emerges, in a shocking turn of events, as the notso-successful would-be mastermind of the group’s rise to superstardom. – David Greenberg T he release of Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones documentary, Shine a Light, might have many music fans wondering “Huh, isn’t it about time for a good documentary about the Spice Girls?” Well, maybe not, but that should be no reason to miss this breezy, compelling and nothing-lessthan-consistently amusing pop music chronicle. In fact, it could be educational to compare the two films in the context of the music industry: One is about veteran rockers approaching what could be the beginning of the end of their career, and the other film captures the formative gestation period of a group of five simple English girls being groomed and engineered, poised to become one of the biggest all-female pop music machines in history. That is, Raw Spice is about the Pygmalion-like nurturing of these “Easily one of the most original films of the year, and probably one of the best, too.” — Luke Y. Thompson, OC Weekly Order Date 7.29.2008 Street Date 8.26.2008 rich kids, clueless parents (including the great Tobolowsky as a delusional shrink) and competiPrebook 7/1; Street 7/29 tion on the race course and in the courts. Peace Arch, Comedy, $29.99 DVD, ‘PG-13.’ Less plot-driven than it is a collection of gags Stars Austin Basis, James Immekus, Melora Hardin, Julie Brown, Stephen interspersed with boxboarding footage, the film is Tobolowsky. a real throwback to 1980s classics such as Better Off Dead. heck your brain at the It is either the hope of writerdoor, strap on your pads, director Rob Heddon (Clockstoplet yourself go and enjoy pers, Friday the 13th Part VIII) that the ride that is Boxboarders! — a the sport remains confined to the sort of mockumentary that chronscreen or it is a legitimate concern icles the birth of a (hopefully ficthat the producers of the film are tional) new extreme sport from anticipating because the movie beconception, development, rejecgins with a witty but well-placed “do tion, acceptance and then, after not try this at home” disclaimer. the requisite legal battle, glory. In any event, the filmmakWould-be surfers/rockers Ty ers know exactly to whom this Neptune (Immekus) and, yes, this movie will appeal: bored teenage is the character’s name, James boys who are probably not yet old James (Basis) find themselves aimless, lonely and out of step with the cool kids enough to drive but definitely old enough to saliat school and, in the name of amusement/nothing vate over hot teenage girls. Every carefully engineered plot device, line or better to do, decide to mount a cardboard box onto setpiece that they aim at the target audience scores a skateboard and see what happens. The ensuing action is frequently hilarious, con- a direct hit, so it is easy to understand why they sistently amusing and totally entertaining as the might be concerned about people attempting to two inventors deal with trial and error, devious re-create the action in real life. – David Greenberg I BOXBOARDERS! C $I9 srp/cdn .99 I NEIL DIAMOND: THE THANK YOU AUSTRALIA CONCERT — LIVE 1976 Street 7/1 Eagle Rock/Kayos, Music, $19.98 DVD, NR. A Like a high school English class on hallucinogenics, this cardboard cut-out adaptation of Dante Alighieri’s classic is a dark morality tale full of ironic humor and entertaining ingenuity — and deﬁnitely not for younger viewers. TARGETED ADVERTISING sales@tlareleasing.com – tlareleasing.com – 1.800.333.8521 x 2031 ©2008 TLA RELEASING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR TO PLACE AN ORDER, CONTACT YOUR DISTRIBUTOR SALES REP. trip to the dentist or a Neil Diamond concert? I’ll take the Neil Diamond concert! Others may not feel the same. Diamond has long been a source of contention for some rock fans who consider his showy, glitzy performances more about style than substance. In this 1976 Sydney concert ending a wildly successful Down Under tour, though, Diamond engages despite his occasional overkill. His catchy, heartfelt songs, however self-absorbed, manage to upstage his glittery theatrics and rock-god persona. So when a youngish Diamond — already a live performer for a decade by the time of this concert — launches into pop power ballads such as “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “I Am I Said” and “Sweet Caroline,” it’s easy to get caught up in the nostalgia, and in Diamond’s charisma as a performer. Dusting his set with occasional forays into Aboriginal and other regional musical styles, Diamond connects with this audience, though the title’s audio doesn’t emphasize the background musicians and vocalists enough. No big deal, as this is Diamond’s show. It still is, even in 2008, the veteran performer now well into his fourth decade as a touring phenomenon. Diamond’s recent album, the Rick Rubin-produced Home Before Dark, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Charts. Extras on Neil Diamond: The Thank You Australia Concert include a 50minute interview with Diamond conducted at the time of the concert, an introduction by TV personality David Frost and a photo gallery. Whether or not Diamond floats your boat, his form of rock poetry enjoys big meaning for his legions of fans, and the Thank You Australia concert reminds us why. – Dan Bennett 32 Home Media Magazine June 29–July 5, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://tlareleasing.com

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