Der Beek

Eye of the Beast
$12.95
Eye of the Beast (Gary Yates, 2007)

There are few things that guarantee the badness of a particular project like the presence of James Van Der Beek, who graduated quickly from being a mediocre TV actor in Dawson's Creek to being a truly horrendous direct-to-video actor in such deathless cinematic classics as Varsity Blues. Well, it could have been worse; they could have cast Casper van Dien instead.

Van Der Beek, in yet another failed attempt at cinematic seriousness, plays Dan Leland, a scientist sent to the secluded island of Fells Point to research the gradual decline of the fishing industry there. Once he gets to Fells Point, he encounters all sorts of nasty monster movie stereotypes. There's the divide between the Native American (Native Canadian?) and white populations, and the mestizo deputy (2gether's Alexandra Castillo) trying to keep the peace between the two. (Each, of course, blames the other for the disappearance of the fish, and the first victim of the giant squid--this is not a spoiler, for the title graphics tell you exactly what the beast is--is a Native girl who's making out with her white boyfriend. Horror movie stereotypes? Not here!) There's the government agency (for which Leleand works) who refuses to believe anything he says about a giant squid because of his shadowy past and their fear of losing credibility if they were even to investigate the possibility of a giant squid. An,d of course, there's the inevitable romantic subplot. Woohoo!

Dumb, silly, and predictable, but what else do you expect from a Sci-Fi (excuse me, "Syfy") Channel Original Movie? An amusing way to kill an hour and a half, assuming you've DVRed it to get rid of the commercials. You may not want to, though; they're often the best part of movies like this. *

Cash Crop [VHS]
$14.98
Bought it because Fred Weller was in it. Just didn't realize how little he was in it. Should have rented it instead.

Ein Frohlich wesen (1976 Digital Remaster): III - Four-part chanson (Obrecht)
$0.99

Treasures of the Spanish Renaissance
$21.98
This fine recording showcases the Westminster Cathedral Choir while it was still directed by David Hill, who used restraint and subtlety (which, unfortunately, were traded in for a much too forward--close to yelling--style by his successor). In particular, the choir's performance of Alonso Lobo's "Versa Est in Luctum" is sung very movingly and at a much slower pace than any other version I have heard (including the Tallis Scholars, who omit most of the emotion as they rush through the piece). The choir really digs in and luxuriates in the dark rich sonorities of this great music. A rare treat as are all the other Hyperion recordings of this choir that were made when--and only when--it was under the direction of David Hill. Especially recommended are their recordings of the "Requiem" by Tomas Luis de Victoria and the "Missa Papae Marcelli" by Palestrina.