GEORGE GENTLY-THE COMPLETE COLLECTION: WONDERFUL MYSTERY SERIES

A joy of writing about DVD releases is the chance to be exposed to items most would never have the opportunity to see. That becomes an even greater joy when you can share that with others who then might seek out these same items to enjoy. A perfect example of that are the items Acorn has been releasing, British series that most here in the US never have the chance to see. Once you do you’ll want to see more.

GEORGE GENTLY-THE COMPLETE COLLECTION is the entire British series based on the character in the title. It is a mammoth series to undertake watching running 2040 minutes long and on 25 discs. That’s 34 hours for those checking. Unlike series here in the US the series there feature what would qualify as a TV film here with several in the series each season. For instance what we have here are basically 25 different feature length mysteries to enjoy. But on to what it’s about.

Taking place in the sixties and based on the books by Alan Hunter, Gently (Martin Shaw) is an incorruptible police officer in London, one of their top investigators. As the first episode opens his wife is run over by a car, a message to Gently sent by someone we are yet unaware of. Considering leaving the force Gently is sent on what should be his last case, a potential murder in Northumberland far from London. There he is introduced to a Sergeant John Bacchus (Lee Ingleby), a young officer looking to make a name for himself and move up in the ranks of investigators.

As the episode progresses Gently sees something in the young man and it’s not favorable. His ambition leads him to make mistakes and use methods unbecoming of an officer. By the end of the episode Gently decides to continue working but to relocate here in Northumberland. He makes it his mission to retain Bacchus and to train him properly. As he reveals he had the same relationship with a young officer long ago who ignored his training and took to planting evidence. It resulted in his moving up the ladder but also in making the force look bad. Now he wants a chance to correct that mistake with Bacchus.

Each episode offers a new case and a new chance to Gently to correct Bacchus in his methods. He may seem a bit gruff but at the heart what he’s trying to accomplish is to make sure this young man becomes as good and honest an investigator as he is. Bacchus won’t make that easy though as he constantly looks for the easy way out and tugs at the suggestive leash Gently puts on him. But watching you realize that he may be anxious to move on but he’s learning with each new case.

It would be dishonest for me to say that I watched every single episode of this collection to report on. With everything being released there simply isn’t time. But I was able to watch several episodes, enough to know that I will continue popping a new disc in every few days until I’ve watched them all. And with each one I watch I find myself becoming fonder of both characters, Gently and Bacchus, and wanting to find out what happens to the both of them. To draw you in on a series like that speaks volumes.

Both Shaw and Ingleby give strong performances here. There are times when certain actors make a character all their own and trying to imagine another taking their place is difficult at best and impossible at worst. There is a subtlety in Shaw’s depiction of the rough exteriored Gently who inside you know is wishing for the best for his young protégé. And in Ingleby we see that exuberance of youth who want everything now without putting in the time but who eventually learn more than they expected. The pair make this series work on numerous levels.

I’ve read that the series does end (included in this set) and that the character of Bacchus went on to his own series afterward. Let’s just hope that those shows become available as well. I know that once you being watching this one you’ll find yourself wondering what happens next and just how the pair will capture the next criminal to cross paths with them. I know that as I’m watching each episode I’m enjoying them immensely and looking forward to the next.

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D.O.A. RIGHT OF PASSAGE: PUNK FANS MUST HAVE

When the punk music scene began I was never a huge fan. It was only after time that I began to enjoy the music, at least some of it, and to appreciate what the genre was trying to accomplish. There was one thing about it that I noticed and that was the fact that it was only a major musical genre if you lived on either coast. Certainly there were band across the US that took to the style but the only areas where it was of major influence were New York, LA and England. Did it influence bands after? Perhaps but more so because of the press than because of actually seeing the bands perform.

That being said D.O.A. is a documentary about one of the biggest bands of the genre, the Sex Pistols, and there short tour of the US in 1978 that ended with the band breaking up. At least that’s what’s at the center of the film. In addition to that it takes a look at the entire punk rock scene. Interviews with various punks at the time as well as those who just didn’t think much of the scene are mingled in with performances by other top bands as well.

Among those bands are The Dead Boys, Generation X (with Billy Idol), The Rich Kids, the X-Ray Spex, and Sham 69. All feature that hard edged, fast played, guitar driven sound that is synonymous with punk rock as well as lyrics that display an anger towards the world. The fact that so few of these bands have found their way to film, video or discs makes this film one that punk rock fans will want to pick up.

While the movie is supposed to be about that ill-fated tour it jumped around far too much for me to enjoy. One moment we’re watching the band get ready to tour, then they’re performing, then we move on to a different band, then the interviews and then somewhere else. There is no cohesive timeframe being followed here. The film is more Cinéma vérité than straight documentary and that adds to the confusion for more mainstream viewers. It’s an observation rather than an attempt to tell the story of what happened.

One of the most notable things included in the film is an interview with Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen in bed together. That piece has been used in numerous films about the couple. Its inclusion here, even though it took place after the band broke up, gives an insight into the band and the issues that drove them apart while at the same time not making note of the influence of Spungen towards that end. Interviews with the leader of the band Johnny Rotten aka John Lydon are nowhere to be seen here, perhaps because he wasn’t interested.

Fans of punk music will want to make sure that they include this disc in their collection. The amount of live performance footage by some of the biggest names in the genre makes that worth it in itself. But there is more for those fans to enjoy as well. Included in the extras are a 12 page booklet with liner notes written by John Holmstrom the founding editor of PUNK Magazine, “Dead On Arrival: The Punk Documentary That Almost Never Was” a feature length documentary about the making of the film, reversible artwork for the sleeve, a 2 sides poster, the original theatrical trailer, a limited edition retro “Video Store Style” slipcover for the first pressing of the disc and a rare Sex Pistols photo gallery.

If you love punk music then you’ll want to pick it up. If it’s not your thing you might find the film a curiosity at best. Of note is that this is the first film as part of MVD’s Rewind Collection, a series of films from the golden days of video stores with more to follow. It’s nice to see some recognition for those films as well as the businesses that were there in the past offering more than just mainstream movies for fans on their shelves. Here’s looking forward to the next release.

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SHOCK WAVE: TENSE THRILLER

While it may seem repetitive on my part let me say once again that in doing reviews one of the greatest joys is the opportunity to see movies from around the world. Far too frequently foreign films are treated like the red headed step child in the US market. This means that few people get the opportunity to see some great movies out there. Then again there are a number of people unwilling to take the chance to be exposed to those same great movies for fear of having to read subtitles. Get over it. Take the time to enjoy the movie and don’t sweat it.

That being said I was pleasantly surprised by a movie called SHOCK WAVE. Made is China this police thriller starts Andy Lau, a top star in the Asian market, as Cheung J.S., the top demolitions expert in the Hong Kong police department. The film opens with him on an undercover assignment as part of a bank robbing group that uses explosives to achieve their goal. After the robbery they’ve set up taxis with explosives to slow down or kill the police in pursuit. While the main organizer, Peng Hong (Wu Jiang) gets away, his brother Biao is apprehended.

Off duty at a bar Cheung meets a young woman overly intoxicated. Taking her to the local precinct he lets her sober up before taking her home. The two hit it off and are soon dating. A year passes and Cheung is back on regular duty. When a series of bombs are planted throughout the city he recognizes them as the work of Hong.

It isn’t long before his plan is laid out for all to see. Sealing off both ends of one of the main tunnels that connect the mainland Hong Kong to the islands he takes everyone inside as hostage with the assistance of a group of mercenaries. He demands money from the government as well as the release of his brother to his custody. And the only person he’ll talk to is Cheung, the man he feels betrayed him.

The movie works on a number of levels. There is the story of Cheung, a dedicated officer who puts his life on the line daily for the safety of others. There is the police force determined to do anything they can to insure the safety of the public while capturing the villain and his men. There is the story of two brothers, one still a criminal and one who wants to stop. And there is the imminent threat of explosions at both ends of a tunnel that will not only destroy it but all who are within.

Most people think of films from China as those old martial arts film with poor lighting, cheap sets and shot on terrible film stock. If that’s what you think these films are then you’re in for a surprise. Not only is the quality on display here equal to anything made in Hollywood the acting is superb as well despite the language barrier.

But none of that would matter if the story was lame or it plot holes were so large that you could fall into them. Face it, there is no such thing as a perfect movie but this one does a great job of not falling into those old cliché styled Chinese films of the past. Those days are long gone and movies like this are more the norm than the exception. While watching this film I kept thinking it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it remade here in the US with a few twists along the way.

By the end credits I found myself wanting to watch more of the films of Andy Lau. I’ve seen some in the past but look forward to more from him in the future. And I hope that others take note as well, taking the time to sit through and bear with the subtitles to discover a movie that is worth taking the time to watch. If you do my guess is you won’t be disappointed.

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