At first glance, Punk’s Not Dead might seem like one of any number of poorly made pseudo-documentaries on the subject.  Much to my pleasant surprise, it’s not at all.  Instead, director Susan Dynner compiles unique interview footage and archival images spanning from punk’s early days to contemporary bands like Green Day and Pennywise.  What seems most intriguing is drawing the connections across generation lines, something punk has never been great at doing.  Although this film couldn’t be called comprehensive by any stretch, what it lacks in thoroughness is more than made up for with content.  My only real complaint would be that some elements appear a bit too similar to those seen in American Hardcore.  Beyond this, I’d suggest any open-minded punk fans to check out this DVD.
Red Rover Films

As a disclaimer, I’m somewhat biased when it comes to this DVD as I’ve been known to claim The Smiths’ Queen Is Dead album as the best ever made.  Thus, a documentary centered around the making of this incredible release would appeal to me more than most.  That said, any devoted fan of the band will probably find this compilation of old band interviews, current interviews with those in and around the band’s recording process, and foremost authorities intriguing and enjoyable.  As the film works it’s way from the pre-album singles through each track on the album proper, not only are facts about the writing and recording get discussed, but also broader examples of The Smiths inner-workings and relationships become apparent.  I doubt someone with only a passing knowledge of this specific album or even The Smiths overall would be interested in such an exhaustive examination, yet those who care will really care.  Now I just wish they’d make these for the other three studio albums…
MVD

Quite a few documentaries have been made about legendary Brit-poppers The Smiths, but few (if any) have had the direct involvement from members of the band. Inside The Smiths captures first-hand accounts of being in this now-classic band, told by drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke. Venturing from their first meetings through to the quartet’s demise, Joyce and Rourke recount numerous tales sure to become talking points for any long-time fans for years to come. The amount of information about the inner-dynamics of The Smiths could easily be described as staggering. The only somewhat lackluster aspect of this film would be the gratuitous “artistic” elements, filling space and killing time unnecessarily. Nevertheless, this documentary is a must for any true fan of The Smiths and should be an immediate priority for anyone who knows all the words to their entire catalogue.
MVD Visual

Bands of such magnitude as Nirvana are hard to review. No matter what I might think of their musical output, it’s impact on music and culture is undeniable. Even more so, a DVD like this one, of a show that has been a pivotal part of the band’s legacy, makes for a hard time as a reviewer. Beyond all the importance of this now infamous television event only now being released on DVD, the extra footage also serves to further elevate the pedestal. Filled with “I was there!” interviews and a glimpse at some of Nirvana’s backstage decisions, last minute changes, and unorthodox ways, not only should diehard fans check this out, but even those with a passing interest will find it eerily impressive.
Geffen Records

While I’ve never been much of a fan of live recordings, audio or visual, this DVD serves a lot of different ends.  First off, the control of it’s production by Harley Flanagan couldn’t be more obvious; from the use of his photographs throughout the layout to the bonus footage of his tour of CBGBs, Flanagan leaves little room for his (former) bandmates to shine… it’s almost laughable.  Beyond this, the set features him and John Joseph sharing the stage, a rare occurrence cherished by those familiar with their feud-like relationship.  And although the footage isn’t the most creatively captured, the performance demonstrates the band’s power that still rings decades after these songs were originally written.  Die hard fans will enjoy this most, but others can surely take something from it too.
MVD

While the idea of a sampler CD + DVD combo isn’t anything new (especially for Hopeless/Sub City), Change! somehow seems a little different. Maybe it’s the full sized DVD packaging and slip cover… Nevertheless, this one sticks out a little more than your average sampler to me. As per usual, I’m more interested in what the DVD has to offer since most of the CD features songs you’ve likely already heard. The DVD, however, offers a chance to see those videos the big networks often neglect to play in heavy rotation, if ever at all. Showcasing heavy-hitters like Converge, As I Lay Dying, and Job For A Cowboy, the DVD presents some of the highly/overly produced videos circulating these days. On the more impressive side though are the creative endeavors from Boys Night Out (an interesting take on “skeletons in the closet”) and Escape The Fate, who rip-off Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” video quite well and kept me watching throughout their otherwise terrible song. For what this is, it’s decent, although some of the best content could probably be heard/seen online.
Hopeless Records

Rarely do I go see a movie I’ve not seen a trailer for, been hyped on for months, or eagerly anticipated. Sometimes though, this is a good thing. I had never even heard of Pan’s Labyrinth until a friend of mine invited me to go see it. Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro (who also directed Hellboy), the film follows a young girl, Ofelia, caught in a rather terrible situation at the end of the Spanish Civil War. After being moved to a remote mill from the city, Ofelia discovers a fantastic world hidden all around her. At the same time, fighting between local Communist fighters and the Fascists with whom Ofelia is living unfold. With the two storylines drawing distinct parallels, it’s not until the two converge that the suspense really climaxes. Oddly, what could easily be a children’s story is otherwise made into such a graphic film (especially with terrible violence) that even the thickest skinned adults in the audience were gasping and covering their eyes. An interesting tale that might have been better told with less focus on detailing the violence and more attention to maintaining a good pace.