DVD Corner

Cinematic Titanic LIVE: East Meets Watts DVD Review

Cinematic Titanic is back and better than ever with their first live DVD release of “East Meets Watts.”

GRADES:

Content: A-

Video: B

Audio: B+

Extras: N/A

When it was announced that the Cinematic Titanic gang (Joel Hodgson, Mary Jo Pehl, Frank Coniff, J. Elvis Weinstein and Trace Beaulieu) was working on a live DVD release instead of a studio DVD release, I was naturally curious. Having been unable to attend a live show myself, I was excited to see what the experience was like. As it turns out, this particular live shows is even better than the studio releases! I’m not sure if the Titanic folks are planning on putting out more live releases, but I sure hope they do. To put it simply, this live show is more energetic than a studio release because the gang is having more fun performing to a crowd. It’s just more fun to see the line flubs and the gang randomly cracking up at each other’s jokes.

As for the movie “East Meets Watts,” it’s a rather goofy, plotless 70’s kung fu flick about a young Chinese man named Larry Chin who teams up with an African American fugitive named Stud Brown to fight bad guys and find Larry’s brother. The Titanic gang does a great job of providing the usual additional lines and sound f/x, comments about the film’s filler shots, lighting and so-called music, as well as references to everything from Neil Diamond to “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” There are also a few great sight gags that I won’t spoil for you.

Summary: If you have some money leftover from holiday gift buying, I can’t think of a better thing to buy than “Cinematic Titanic LIVE: East Meets Watts.”

In case you are wondering how the live show looks on DVD, allow me to inform you. The 5 Titanic members are on both the left and the right of the screen that is projecting the movie. J. Elvis Weinstein and Frank Coniff are to the right of the screen and Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu and Mary Jo Pehl are on the left of the screen. While you can see the movie and the sight gags from the five comedians clearly, it would have been nice to get close-ups of the gang or some camera movement every now and then. As for the film print itself, it’s in decent shape despite the usual dirt specs and lines.

For those worried about the audio quality, don’t be. The Titanic gang is thankfully never hard to hear over the laughter of the audience and the movie’s dialogue and music. The only real complaint I have is that the dialogue on ‘East’ sounds a bit distant in a few spots. Overall though, the audio is perfectly fine.

Sadly, the only extras are trailers for the 7 other Cinematic Titanic DVD releases. I was rather puzzled as to why the opening acts weren’t on this disc. Perhaps the warm-up acts will be included in future live DVD releases? I know I’m not alone in wanting to see the entire live shows.

Cinematic Titanic LIVE: East Meets Watts is available to purchase here:

https://cinematictitanic.twinvision.com/products/

December 27, 2009 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 1 | Cinematic Titanic LIVE: East Meets Watts DVD Review, Frank Coniff, J. Elvis Weinstein, Joel Hodgson, Mary Jo Pehl, Trace Beaulieu