The Ticket guide to Christmas presents
FOR FILM LOVERSby Michael Dwyer
JAM SESSION
Fed up with people making and taking phone calls in cinemas? Irritated by those flashes of light when someone feel impelled to check for text messages during a movie? Then ask Santa to get you a phone jammer for Christmas. These compact devices, about the size of a cigarette packet, send out a radio signal that cuts off transmission for all chattererboxes within a 30-foot radius.
Jammers are available in various models (from the most basic at €100 to the "ultra high power" version at €2,660) from London-based www.phonejammer.com. The manufacturer assures users that the devices "will not interfere with any communications other than cellular phones within the defined regulated zone". When the phone jammer is turned off, mobiles will automatically re-establish communications and provide full service.
GETTING FESTIVE
Planning is already well underway for the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, February 15th-24th. Early information on some confirmed titles will be issued next week, with the full programme to follow on January 29th. The festival is now offering gift vouchers in denominations of €10, €20 and €50, along with season tickets at €230, at www.dubliniff.com.
RENT FROM HOME
Moviestar.ie, an online DVD rental service with a library of some 25,000 titles, is offering several packages from €7.99 upwards and covering return postage on all rentals. An Post's new Movies By Mail service has a similar deal starting at the same price. For terms and conditions, go to www.moviestar.ie and www.anpost.ie/movies .
PLAY IT AGAIN
I don't know how many times I've bought a DVD of a favourite movie only for a special or anniversary or super-duper edition to be released months later. Among the special editions released recently for retail, here are some that warrant buying again.
For the most obsessive completists, there is Blade Runner: Ultimate Collector's Edition. Ridley Scott has been back in the editing room again and has assembled this final cut, which is, he says, his favourite. It's available separately or in the collector's edition, which includes the original 1982 US theatrical version, the not-so-different international version, Scott's 1992 "director's cut" and even the unfinished "work print version" used for test screenings and subsequently changed radically.
Following the death this year of the great Ingmar Bergman, his 1957 masterpiece The Seventh Seal is now available in a beautifully restored edition that includes a short compilation of on-location footage and Bergman's rarely seen short film, Karin's Face.
An impeccably restored version of FW Murnau's 1921 classic is now on sale in a two-disc edition that includes commentaries from film historians, a German documentary on Murnau, and a 96-page book.
It's 30 years since Steven Spielberg first thrilled audiences with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and three different versions (of which I still prefer the original cinema release cut) are on this anniversary edition, along with trailers, a making-of documentary and a candid interview with Spielberg.
As The Killing of John Lennon opens at Irish cinemas today, the second Beatles movie, the endearingly eccentric Help! (1965) is in the shops in a restored version with a making-of film, reminiscences from cast and crew members, and a deleted scene featuring future soap star Wendy Richard.
24 24/7 AND MORE
The preferred way of watching TV series chez Dwyer is in marathon sessions over holiday periods, when entire series can be viewed over a few days without the intrusion of ad breaks or waiting a week to catch the next episode. A wide range of series, old and new, is now widely available on DVD. Prices vary considerably, and the best value is generally from online sources. Three sites I recommend as reliable for good deals, speedy delivery and free postage are www.play.com, www.blahdvd.com and www.sendit.com.
Now that The Sopranos has come to an end, the entire series is available in a 28-disc boxset, for which Play.com is charging €185.99. The first three series of , the gritty and often violent US prison drama, are now available in individual boxsets, beginning at €22.49 on Blah.com., which also offers the first six series of in a boxset for €171.49. The two series of Rome, HBO/BBC's sword-and-sandal saga, are now available in a boxset, for which Sendit.com offers the best deal at €77.49.
BARGAIN BASEMENT
The online services noted above offer a wealth of bargains throughout the year. Engaging in some retail therapy over the weekend, I became immersed in perusing Play.com's particularly attractive Three for €23.49 deal, which has hundreds of titles on offer. Among the more recent movies are Ray, Capote, Casino Royale, The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, The Devils Wears Prada, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Breakfast on Pluto, Children of Men, Walk the Line, Harsh Times, The Squid and the Whale, Superman Returns, Syriana and Happy Feet, and foreign-language films Volver, Downfall, Pan's Labyrinth and Romanzo Criminale.
Movies of an older vintage in this deal include Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, The Quiet Man, From Here to Eternity, Some Like It Hot, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Rio Bravo, Imitation of Life, The Great Escape, A Hard Day's Night, Midnight Cowboy, Catch 22, A Clockwork Orange, Jaws, Mean Streets, Apocalypse Now, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, in the unlikely event that it doesn't turn up on at least one TV station over Christmas, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
FOR MUSIC LOVERSby Tony Clayton-Lea
FOR THE PUNK ROCKER OLDER BROTHER
Get your fix of The Clash with a double whammy in the shape of Julien Temple's documentary Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten and Chris Salewicz's biography of Strummer, Redemption Song. The former is a cracking DVD biog that contains rare archive footage and exclusive interviews with the likes of Bono, Martin Scorsese, Mick Jones and family members. The latter is an authorised/approved (and definitive) life story of The Clash frontman. It benefits from insider knowledge and a writer who, while clearly loving his subject, doesn't steer clear of flaws and faults.
If the Strummer-connected DVD and book aren't enough for you (and if your bank balance can stretch to approximately €1,000) then how about a special-edition guitar based on Strummer's '66 Telecaster? Guitar manufacturer Fender launched one earlier this year, complete with a customisation kit for those all important punk-rock stencil designs.
Available from: Most if not all music/movie/book shops; www.fender.com/joestrummer
FOR THE ROCK ICON ENTHUSIAST GRANDAD
Londoner David Corio is one of the world's most highly regarded music photographers, and his work has appeared in many publications, including the New York Times, NME, The Face and the Guardian. His debut exhibition in Ireland has been running since November 20th, and features intriguing portraits and volatile live images of James Brown, Johnny Rotten, Thin Lizzy, Missy Elliott, Nina Simone, U2, Eric Clapton and Rory Gallagher.
Wouldn't it be nice to have one of those faces looking down at you from the wall? The exhibition runs until this Sunday, and prices range from €600 to €1,200 (for framed, sign and limited-edition prints). Our advice is to get your skates on.
Available from: Gallery Number One, 1 Castle St, Dublin 2, 01-4789090, www.gallerynumberone.com, www.davidcorio.com
FOR THE AIR GUITARIST UNCLE
It's an Xbox game, it's addictive and it's yours for Christmas if you're good for the next three weeks. Guitar Hero III: Bundle Pack is the tour bus game du jour for any halfway decent rock act. In short, it's a guitar simulator, except this particular game has the added bonus (aka the Bundle Pack) of more flash for your cash.
Among the guitar-heavy songs you can thrash along to are My Chemical Romance's Dead! and Deep Purple's Hush. For that extra special air-guitar thrill, you can also play riffs and power chords in the guise of German metal guitar hero Lars Ümlaüt.
Available from: Any good computer games store.
FOR THE FESTIVAL SURVIVOR SON
It's simple - buy the stuff now (or even better, get the stuff as a Christmas present) and you won't be stuck come next summer. Here's what you need to suggest to the relatives, either as stand-alone or combined presents: a festival tent (preferably a pop-up one), a sleeping bag, dry wash handcleaner, a camping stove, permalight matches, a torch, a rucksack, wellies, portable mobile phone power unit, fluorescent lantern, enamel mug, ear plugs, airbeds, toilet paper and Panadol. Condoms? Buy those yourself, you cheeky little beggar.
In the meantime, tickets for next year's Oxegen (July 11th-13th) are already on sale. Check out the latest prices/offers/early bird tickets at www.oxegen.ie and www.ticketmaster.ie.
Available from: The Great Outdoors/North Face outlets and/or www.readytoleave.com
FOR THE FOODIE AUNTIE
Among other things - you know, presents, snow, show-off lights, the Queen's speech, midnight mass, carol singers, reruns of Morecombe & Wise and Cliff Richard - Christmas is about food. Which is why Kara Zuaro's
I Like Food, Food Tastes Good should be shoved down the jangling stockings of anyone who professes to like their grub as well as rock music.
Inside are recipes for Franz Ferdinand flapjacks, Interpol's favourite dessert (chocolate strawberries - yum!) and a most unusual mixture of eggs and bacon courtesy of Tilly & the Wall.
Available from: www.amazon.com
FOR THE TROUBLESOME LITTLE NIECE
Everyone loves dolls, especially your 12-year-old niece, who has read about the troubles of Amy Winehouse and has heard the bitch-slap gossiping of Lily Allen. Now, thanks to doll design company Love from Hetty & Dave, your loveable little niece can say goodbye to Bratz and hello to dolly caricatures. In truth, the and Lily dolls (as well as specially created grim twins Pete and Kate) are closer to voodoo tarts than anything remotely resembling cute, but they do have hand-sewn attention to detail and a price range that starts from approximately €80.
Should your sweet niece veer towards the male of the species, then how about a set of 30th-anniversary, limited-edition Sex Pistols bears? Prices start at about €60.
Available from: www.myspace.com/lovefromhettyanddave; www.mech-a.com
FOR THE BRIGHT TEENAGE COUSIN
Band-branded gadgets are becoming the norm, but who would have thought that White Stripes would have given the go-ahead for a custom made camera? Called The Diana, it comes in red'n'white'n'black (naturally) and in stand-alone Jack and Meg editions. Price is approximately €100.
If you're a Radiohead fan, then perhaps the Radiohead limited-edition USB stick will be hanging from the Christmas tree come December 25th. The 4GB stick contains all the band's EMI albums (from Pablo Honey to Hail to the Thief) as well as digital images of each album's artwork. Price is approximately €100. Yes, please, Santa!
Available from: www.whitestripes.com; www.radioheadstore.com/stick.asp
FOR THE COFFEE TABLE
Factory Records - The Complete Graphic Album gathers together posters, record sleeves, flyers and other promotional and creative artifacts from the influential, iconic Manchester record label. In-depth, incredibly detailed and gorgeous to look at. And guess what? It even has its own Factory catalogue number (FAC 461). Approximately €30.
Available from: www.thameshudson.com
FOR THE MUSIC BOFFIN DAD
You know the beleaguered father in Pride & Prejudice who just wants to lock himself in his library to get away from the pressures of having a bundle of daughters to marry off? Well, the sonic chair is just the thing for the modern version of harassed dad: it's a chair built to look like a headphone that blasts sound at you from all directions.
It also has a built-in stereo dock for your iPod and a backrest that the manufacturers describe as a "body focused sound membrane." It retails for about €5,000, so you had better think you're worth it.
Available from: www.sonic-chair.com
FOR THE FAMILY
Sure, you've got all the year's usual CDs, but if there's one thing record companies like most it's flogging the same album twice. That's why around this time of year there are always special editions, deluxe editions and boxsets ripe for the plucking.
The best-bet box set for your dad is Sandy Denny Live at the BBC. Three CDs and a DVD provide a perceptive overview of the career of one of Britain's most revered female singers.
For your pop-loving sister, how about an enhanced edition of Take That's Beautiful World, which includes new single Rule the World and a bonus DVD with video clips and a documentary.
For your cool uncle, meanwhile, you should get the deluxe edition of Dexys Midnight Runners' Too-Rye-Ay, a two-disc set featuring the remastered 1982 album, hard-to-find B-sides and two BBC in Concert sessions.
For the sensitive brother? It has to be Damien Rice Live from Union Chapel. For the lamb-dressed-as-mutton auntie? Why not Tangled Up, the new album from Girls Aloud.
Available from: most good record shops and music sales websites.
Sounds for ...
THE CLASSICIST
by Michael Dervan
The Huelgas Ensemble's 40 Voices places Tallis's Spem in alium in the context of other works of similar splendour (Harmonia Mundi). Biber's astonishing Mystery Sonatas have been recorded by the insightful Maya Homburger, the player who's done most to promote them in Ireland (Maya Recordings). German soprano Simone Kermes gives gorgeous accounts of Vivaldi motets with the Venice Baroque Orchestra (Archiv Produktion). Rafal Blechaz, winner of the 2005 Chopin Competition, makes his mark with an all-Chopin recital (Deutsche Grammophon). And you can have symphonies coming out your ears (the complete Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Mahler, Shostakovich and others) in yet another sub-€100 offering on 100 discs (Brilliant Classics).
THE TRAD FAN
by Siobhán Long
If it's vintage you're after, then you'll have to pick your way through the undergrowth of this year's traditional music offerings, but the search will be worth it, particularly for those with an ear for the soloist. Piper Eliot Grasso and sean-nós singer Róisín Elsafty stilled the ether with two heart-stopping performances on Up Against The Flatirons (Na Píobairí Uilleann) and Má Bhíonn Tú Liom Bí Liom (Vertical Records). Scottish harpist Catríona McKay reinvigorated a once-effete instrument on her blindingly erudite Starfish (Glimster Records), and Louth flute player Nuala Kennedy unleashed a work of glittering freshness on The New Shoes. All snapshots of solo playing at its most spine-tingling.
THE JAZZ LOVER
by Ray Comiskey
A good year for singers. Kurt Elling's Nightmoves (Concord) is a masterpiece; Norma Winstone co-led a wonderful double, amoroso...only more so (Trio) with Stan Tracey and Bobby Wellins; and the great Norwegian Sinikka Langeland married folk and jazz on the moving Starflowers (ECM). The diversity of big bands is in the tonal beauty of Maria Schneider's Sky Blue (ArtistShare - only online) and Jim McNeely's Paul Klee (Mons); for swingers, there's Bob Florence's Eternal Licks and Grooves (MAMA). Sheer beauty? Try Keith Jarrett's trio album My Foolish Heart (ECM), Richard Galliano-Gary Burton's L'Hymne a L'Amour (CamJazz), Gianluigi Trovesi's Vaghissimo Ritratto (ECM) and Tord Gustavsen's Being There (ECM).
