Super Bowl XXXIX is Sunday but only the Weekly has the results already! Thanks to the Madden NFL 2005 game, we can without a doubt state the Patriots have already won, 26 to 21. It was no contest, with the Pats in the lead every quarter, beginning with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Troy Brown. Other highlights include a 41-yard field goal by the Eagles and 10 tackles by the Pats' Rodney Harrison. Consider this our belated Christmas present to your, our loyal readers, and we'll see you at the sports book.
DVDs |
Bob Dylan: World Tours 1966-1974 (NR) (2 stars)
$14.95
Superfan Joel Gilbert views the rapidly maturing troubadour through the ubiquitous lens of tour photographer Barry Feinstein and other camp followers gathered at Woodstock. Because Dylan rarely grants interviews or lends his music to this type of project, World Tours tells us more than we need to know about Gilbert, but Feinstein is the real deal. His photos and memories are fascinating and more than make up for the amateur cinematography and sound. Also bearing witness are Dylanologist A.J. Weberman, filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker, rock journalist Al Aronowitz, drummer Mickey Jones and other old hippies.
The Story of the Weeping Camel (PG) (4 stars)
$27.95
Until we see a tribesman fiddle with a transistor radio about half-way through this Oscar-nominated documentary, it's possible to imagine these characters might have existed at any time in the last 1,000 years. Before long, however, we know exactly where and when we are (the Time of the Camel Births in present Mongolia), yet the story's timeless relevance persists. Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni's tale involves the birth of a rare white camel and its struggle to survive. When the nomads fail to convince the first-time mother to nurse her colt, they enlist a traditional healer. The always-surprising story ought to be enjoyed by the entire family.
Shall We Dance (PG-13) (4 stars)
Japanese version
$29.99
Miramax is releasing both versions of Shall We Dance? this week rather than send out the Japanese original in September. For once, the American version doesn't try to erase everything that was endearing about the original. Like Kôji Yakusho's depressed salaryman, Richard Gere's John Clark becomes enchanted with a dance teacher (Jennifer Lopez) glimpsed first through the window of a commuter train. Her passion reignites a long-extinguished flame, turning him into a new man. But this raises his wife's (Susan Sarandon) suspicions. Despite the similarities, the Japanese version is superior.
THE PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY CRITIC |
As a lifelong PB&J sandwich devotee, I jumped at the chance to receive a year's worth of peanut butters and jellies from the Peanut Butter and Jelly of the Month Club. The debut installment features Houston's Creamy Peanut Butter and Pleasant Acres' Dewberry Jelly. It's a safe start, without any of the exotic flavors promised in future shipments. Although the dewberry is an obscure fruit, Pleasant Acres' jelly is sweet and not overpowering, not all that different from any other sort of berry jelly you might find in a supermarket. It's smooth, without any seeds or chunks of fruit, which is just how I like it. The Houston peanut butter also is fairly standard, though it has a sort of bitter aftertaste that's a bit distracting. Together, they make a palatable sandwich, but without any really outstanding flavor.
(3 stars)
For more info: www.lovepbj.com.
HE HAD TO BE A BIG SHOT |
Billy Joel will play the Joint, with tickets at a reasonable $43 to $78. Oops, that's for Elvis Costello, the influential, eclectic musician and singer-songwriter. Joel, the piano player who got dumped by Christie Brinkley, tends to crash his car and hails from Hicksville, is charging $328. Granted, Joel has recorded about 185 songs, which works out to $1.77 each. But Costello has recorded five times more, and there's the chance Diana Krall will stop by.
LOCAL CD |
Chanél (3.5 stars)
Chanél
In her self-titled debut, Chanél delivers 13 tracks of smooth, jazzy R&B (technically it's 14 tracks but one is only 45 seconds long). Her soft voice is well-suited to the material, and executive producer Miestro of Backalley Entertainment certainly deserves credit for the matchup. The sultry album is a delight with a good range of moods and tempo.