"Port City" DVD (director: Andy Brown)

This charming, warm-hearted indie comedy succeeds in weaving a tapestry of characters that are likable, sensitive, and very very human. Starring Matt Lutz as the lead character David, "Port City" depicts his friends and acquaintances -- from his outwardly gay neighbor to his sister (who is nagged by both a creepy stalker ex, and an offensively sexist boss).  We also get to see his well-intentioned co-worker Nancy's growing resolve to give her deadbeat husband the boot. And, we meet a mysteriously alluring older woman who works her way into David's life.

In-between all that, there's plot twists involving a pet goat and a troubled hitman. Riotously funny? Not necessarily, but director Brown has assembled a solid cast and a clever storyline for this sleeper. This is what indie films are about -- not glitz nor glamour, but with a genuine human element that seems real, plausible, and possible. I enjoyed this one. (MVD Visual)

"Slash - The Cat In The Hat - The Story So Far" DVD/CD

A repackaging of two separate unauthorized titles, this set devoted to the Guns N' Roses guitarist is shallow and rather lacking. The DVD, originally released in 2002, is a weak 60-minute bio of GNR the band (rather then Slash himself), lacking any Guns music, and with only a few brief clips of interviews with actual band members. Instead, we get "experts" like fans, Guitar Center employees, Tower Records employees, and Hollywood tattoo artists. Not necessarily first-hand accounts. Not good, and certainly a weak effort from the sometimes-worthy Pride DVD label.

The CD is a solid 78-minute collection of radio interviews with Slash, some done much more recently (after his Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit, and his first solo album). The modern-day Slash proves to be an articulate and well-grounded fellow. Discussions cover everything from smoking to Jack White to Jack Daniels to Alter Bridge to touring with Metallica and Faith No More. Serious fans would do well to hear these interviews, but this is really a pretty shoddy set, especially as it's only a rehash of stuff available before under different titles. (Pride DVD via MVD Visual)

Official Slash fan site

Summer Craft Beer Roundup, Part 2

As the endless Summer (hopefully) winds itself down, I think it best we clear away some of these warm-weather beer reviews I've been hoarding. Here's another batch. Ratings, as ever, range from a lowly 1 to a stately 5. Drink well, but drink responsibly. And drink indie! Just say "No" to corporate beer monopolies!

WIDMER BROTHERS - CITRA BLONDE SUMMER BREW (Portland, OR) - 3.0

This clean golden-amber ale pours with an attractive fine white head of carbonation, and with a light but pleasant lace on the glass. Aroma is fruit-forward. I get nicely-sweet orange. Flavor-wise, this one is citrus-hoppy, but there's no bitterness, as it's all balanced by a prominent sweet malt profile. 

BROOKLYN SUMMER ALE (Utica, NY) - 3.0

The always-dependable Brooklyn's light summer ale pours a clean golden, with wispy lace. The taste is toasty up front, with a subtle hint of citrus hops in the middle, followed by a bready finish. Enjoyable and quite nice for hot summer days.

RED HOOK - WIT (Woodinville, WA) - 2.0

This cloudy pale amber ale pours with a minimal head and lace. The aroma is malty and spicy. Upon hitting the palate, this one hits sweet and candy-like, with a hint of ginger spicing it up. Nonetheless, I found this one to be overbearingly sweet, and tough to finish.

NEW BELGIUM - FAT TIRE (Fort Collins, CO) - 3.0

This easy-drinking amber ale is now available in 16 oz. cans, and it opens with a rich and malty taste. I get toasty bread, with only a faint hint of hops. Fat Tire remains an easy-drinking session beer, and an American craft beer classic.

"Ecstasy Of Order - The Tetris Masters" DVD (director: Adam Cornelius)

This feature-length documentary examines the 2010 Classic Tetris World Championship, and the personalities behind it. Yes, it's a film about serious video game nerds, to put it bluntly. These are the people who obsess, and even lose sleep over video games. And they are the best in the world.

The World Championship was an anxiously-awaited meeting of some nearly-mythical names in the Tetris world, each with a different explanation for their devotion and obsession. Director Cornelius allows us to meet some of these gaming legends, and using cool 8-bit graphics, he even illustrates the game itself for "newbs". We get to see parts of the actual competition, behind-the-scenes interactions, plenty of interviews, and gobs of bonus footage. "Ecstasy Of Order" is a fascinating experience, even for non-gamers, and that makes this one easily recommendable. (Reclusion FIlms)

Ecstasy Of Order website with trailer

Summer Craft Beer Roundup, Part 1

So, it's been a long, hot, dry, and record-breaking summer around the American Midwest. Luckily, there is plenty of craft beer to take the edge off the uncomfortable conditions. Remember to drink locally (when possible), drink independently (always), and prost!

Ratings are, as ever, from 1 being utter shite to 5 being nectar of the gods. Consider a 3 a fine beer, a 4 worth hunting down. 

GOOSE ISLAND - SUMMERTIME (Chicago, IL) - 3.5

Goose Island rarely disappoints, and this light golden kolsch-style beer is no exception. It pours with a massive head and with attractive lace, and summons an aroma of  slight citrus hops alongside the lagery grains. Taste is a bright melding of almost sweet malts with some citrus tones. Enjoyable.

TRITON BREWING - MAGNIFICENT AMBER (Indianapolis, IN) - 4.0

A new brewery here, and even semi-local! Really pleased by this one, being an attractive amber, despite having limited carbonation and lace on the glass. The flavor, though, is nicely rich -- definitely more flavorful than most amber ales. I get more brown ale notes -- a little roasty on the malts, a bit nutty, and a hint of hop sharpness at the finish, too. Well-done!

SCHLAFLY - SUMMER LAGER (St. Louis, MO) - 3.5

Schlafly's Summer seasonal is a clean golden lager with a thick foamy head and average lace. The taste is a sturdy malt base, with a slight hint of citrus. Finishes kinda sweet, but also quite pleasant and easy. Solid and session-worthy.

SHOCK TOP - SUMMER SHANDY (St. Louis, MO) - 2.0

Anheuser-Busch's entry into the "shandy wars" may be opportunistic, but it is tastier than their chief competitor's. This golden ale pours with an average head and no lace. The nose is subtle and lager-like, with only a tinge of lemon. The flavor is light and rather bland, but only teasing with the honey-lemon sweetness, rather than slapping it up front. Definitely lacking, but I've had worse.

D.O.A. - "We Come In Peace" CD

Among classic late 70's punk bands, Vancouver's stalwart D.O.A. have never left the building. After a shit-ton of records and 30+ years, Joey Keithley (aka Joey Shithead) and friends keep on their path, raising hell with politically-aware and socially-conscious punk anthems (alongside the occasional odes to beer and hockey). 

"We Come In Peace" is ripe with classic, raging, full-on punk anthems with guts and  glory. "Dirty Bastards" brings an Irish flair (it's the bagpipes). "Bloody But Unbowed" is a more straightforward rock, whereas "War Hero" has some definite rock-steady ska vibes. "We Occupy" brings in guest vocals by Jello Biafra, but "Who The Hell Do You Think You Are" brings it all back to the classic punk singalong arena. The Beatles "Revolution" is done up in traditional D.O.A. style, but seems to fall a bit short. The dub-tinged "Walk Through This World" is a definite ode to Joe Strummer and the Clash. It all closes out with an acoustic rendition of "General Strike". With D.O.A., you know what to expect, and "We Come In Peace" does not disappoint. (Sudden Death Records)

"Ali: The Man, The Moves, The Mouth" DVD

This 60-minute documentary is narrated by famous boxing writer and personality Bert Sugar, and it's a solid overview and history of the man many would consider the greatest fighter of all-time. Utilizing plenty of archival fight footage (and a plethora of interview clips), the former Cassius Clay's life is examined in an honest, frank, and enlightening style. We get lots of Ali hamming it up, rhyming, boasting, and, most of all, fighting against some of the greatest names -- Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman...and more.

As a non-boxing fan, I was pleasantly surprised at this one, and perhaps serious boxing students won't need this concise history of one of the greats, but as a primer, this one works perfectly well. Enjoyed! (MVD VIsual)