Reviews

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Ang Lee's soulful swordfest is out on visually refined Superbit release with wispy hair shots and flashing blades all shimmer-free. Yet Lee's masterfully melancholic movie—with Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh as the unrequited martial arts lovers, Matrix choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping providing the aerial ballet, and high-kicking upstart Zhang Ziyi providing the feminist subtext—could work wonders in any format.

Summer With Monika

Early Ingmar Bergman investigation of the problems of young love in which a romantic summer idyll turns to pregnancy, marriage, boredom and infidelity. The director's first film with Harriet Anderson, whose defiant animal vitality was the focus of the tale, it still packs an emotional punch.

Twin Peaks—Season One Box Set

David Lynch's TV series, which first aired in the UK in the early '90s, broke the mould on so many levels, arguably paving the way for everything from Northern Exposure and Wild Palms to The Sopranos and Six Feet Under. Ostensibly a whodunnit, this deeply unconventional show explores secrets and strangeness in a rural community. And boy, do we get strangeness, from Kyle MacLachlan's relentlessly chipper FBI agent to the Log Lady and the One-Armed Man. Genius

Some Kind Of Wonderful

Poor boy chases rich girl in John Hughes' 1987 teen romance. Essentially, the story's gender roles are reversed from his previous hit, Pretty In Pink, but without the fresh conviction. Still, the period charm and feelgood manner makes for mindlessly enjoyable viewing, while enough solid performances keep things ticking over.

Robert Palmer – At His Very Best

Ex-Vinegar Joe fella turned, er, '80s sex symbol celebrates 25 years of lounge lizardry

Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3

Back to Bob's roots, and then some

Deep Purple – Listen, Learn, Read On

Breathtaking box set exhaustively chronicling Purple's live and rare heritage

Swizz Beatz – Swizz Beatz Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories

Dull vanity release from Ruff Ryders leader Kasseem Dean

KTB – All Calm In Dreamland

Gentle debut from youthful singer-songwriter produced by her brother from Goldrush

The Broken Family Band – The King Will Build A Disco

Seven-track mini album from UK alt.country act
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