BRASSEYE: Series & Special DVD This DVD handily compiles the classic 1997 series of Brasseye and the instantly legendary 2001 special on one disc. You can also get a VHS version, if you haven't gotten round to buying that DVD-player yet. The first thing you notice about it is there is hardly any writing on the case. No blurb, nor even any credits, just simply a playlist. Even the enclosed leaflet has bugger-all information in it. This DVD is clearly not aimed at the casual purchaser, and has no hope of attracting them.

If you don't know about Brasseye yet, it's high time you found out! GCUK has already covered both the series and the special extensively, as we're great admirers of both it and it's creator, the well known comic genius and Daily Mail hate-figure Christopher Morris. There are a number of sites entirely dedicated to Morris, the best of which is almost certainly www.cookdandbombd.co.uk (that's where I found out about the Easter Egg from!). EPISODES Well, these are all great, obviously. The version of the six-part series presented here is the one that Channel 4 / E4 have been using recently, so "Sutcliffe The Musical" is included, but don't bother going through each frame of "Decline" looking for the Michael Grade subliminal message. The special is also exactly as broadcast. COMMENTARY Only the "Drugs" episode has a commentary, and that is conceptual rather than useful. Basically a bunch of down and outs watch the show for the first time and give their (rambling, inarticulate, semi-inaudible) thoughts on what they see before them. They are all drunk, by the sounds of it, and most of them are homeless drug addicts as well. It's a funny idea, and reinforces the point that the media portrayal of the drugs problem is hopelessly skewed. However, the novelty soon wears off and there's more than a suspicion that this is more an anti-commentary than anything, as Morris probably feels that DVD commentaries are dull and pointless. This one certainly is. OUT-TAKES AND TRAILERS The two out-takes are both excellent. Both of them were intended for the "Animals" episode. In the first, Peregrine Worsthone discusses baby hippos, and in the second, Morris is rude to Jeffrey Archer's PA and then hoaxes Reggie Kray. These were obviously excluded for reasons other than quality (i.e. Death threats from Kray supporters, apparently). The trailers, though, are one DVD convention we could all live without. These ones are no better or worse than any others, so don't waste your time. SOUND BIN The spot-on spoof songs from the series. They don't really work out of context, though. EASTER EGG The "hidden feature" is an audio only discussion between Morris and some members of the public. It is very like the focus group sequence in the special, but extremely funny nonetheless. Access it during the special by pressing "enter" after the "end of part one" message (you will see the words "focus group" in the bottom right of the screen when it's time to do it!). Chris Denton.

GC(uk) Index         Site Map         Links         Discussion Forums         About Us         Link To Us       Adverts        Add a Link           GC(uk) Email          Advanced Site Search

Let Spyonit.com notify you when this page changes!

Search this site! Just type in what you want to find and click the search button.