Like most people, I maintain a spreadsheet containing a list of all the movies I’ve watched over the last 4 1/2 years. This is the first in (hopefully) several mass reviews where i draw upon my recent viewings and help you make the right decision about how to spend 90 minutes or so.

Led Zeppelin pman reviewed this before. i don't think he was effusive enough in his praise. it's an amazing document of a slice of history that just does not exist anymore. they're freaking powerful, i don't just mean that they're loud, i mean they friggin pwn. in addition to their own songs, they run through some badass blues standards and robert plant's hair has a 9 minute solo.

Veronica Guerin based on the story of a murdered irish journalist, this one is relatively accessible, but still harrowing. i first heard of this story on a 60 minutes profile. The acting is great, and even features a great cameo by colin farrell. the writing is predictably didactic but not preachy. moving up in the queue is a previous re-telling, When the Sky Falls, might make for an interesting double feature.

strangely enough, the movie really makes me want to visit ireland even more than i had before. it's so green.

A Dirty Shame john waters is back, baby. interesting exploration of fetish, sexuality, gentrification (or should i say, gayification), decency and head-trauma. it's over the top and has great, fun performances by tracey ullman, johnny knoxville (yes, that johnny knoxville), chris isaak (yes, that chris isaak), and selma blair (google her yourself). if you like john waters, rent/buy this one immediately to help remember why he was so friggin revolutionary (as that goes). if you don't like john waters, rent/buy this one immediately so you can remember what pissed you off so much, you uptight sob.

Double Dare neat documentary about a couple of stuntwomen whose career peaks are separated by 25 years. the stunt double for wonderwoman is paired with the stunt double for xena:warrior princess (not to mention the bride from kill bill). really interesting subject matter but the telling is kinda superficial and rushed. it doesn't do a great job of telling us what, if anything, the two women have in common besides their industry. the stunt footage is great as is the individual stories of the two women. even without the cool stunt footage, it's worth the price of admission for the footage from the xena convention. another version of trekkies, anyone?

Da Ali G Show: Season 1: Disc 2 what can i say about ali g that hasn't been said before? all i can say is i'll rent season 2 when it's available. i just hope they give borat and bruno more exposure.

Dogtown and Z-Boys awesome awesome awesome documentary about a slice of americana that was concurrent with my adolescence. yes, in the 70s i had a skateboard that i rode everyday. ask me and i'll show the scars (seriously, i still have scars from 20 year-old skateboard injuries). my professional skateboarding career ended tragically when the mailman ran over my skateboard after i left it in the gutter in front of my mailbox. to this day i don't trust the postal service. i still haven't told my mother that she was right to tell me not to leave my skateboard in the street.

interestingly enough they just made a feature based on the same story. nice work if you can get it.

Caddyshack thanks to my bosses' regular quoting of the dalai lama speech (click that link, especially you law schoolers) i was prompted to watch this one again. i think it's aged pretty well, rodney dangerfield and ted baxter steal every scene; chevy chase still seems like a total jerkoff. bill murray has come a long way from here.