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Life & Arts

Best DVD gifts feature puppets, vulgarity

Disc-ussion 

Austin Havican

When it's late in the night before whichever winter holiday you celebrate, scramble to the DVD section for these last-minute gift ideas. They'll almost mask your inability to buy your loved ones something thoughtful.

Brick
This modern-day mystery demands recognition for the surprisingly good performances of its pseudo-high school cast.

Brendan Frye's flighty girlfriend is murdered and left in a storm gutter, forcing the introverted outsider (with the help of his only friend "Brain") to punch his way to revenge and understanding.

The movie is funny, compelling and at times downright confusing. Therefore, having the DVD allows rewinding for clarification of the characters' bizarre slang. 

Because it's from Focus, the special features are minimal and the included booklet is an advertisement. $29.99.

Wonder Showzen: Season One and Season Two
Wonder Showzen takes the risque ideas of suggested violence and latent homosexual innuendo and applies it to a children's show. Then it goes too many steps further with bloody animations, drug-induced puppet hallucinations and Tom Green-style Clarence, who interviews the sleeping and irritable strangers of New York City.

Both seasons are double-disc sets and have about an hour of special features. 

They run $26.99 each, but a gift set will be available Dec. 12 for a $59.99 list price.

Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic
Aren't quotes on stand-up comedy DVD packaging annoying? "Hilarious!" "Explosively funny!" "Outrageous!" Jesus Is Magic deserves something more that doesn't fit in the leftover space, whether it's a recommendation or a warning.

The borderline anti-Semitic comedy (Sarah Silverman is Jewish) rips into common decency with surprising vulgarity. The movie mostly features Silverman on stage, interjected with behind-the-scenes narrative and awkwardly racist music videos. 

For $26.99, Silverman provides a mouth-hurting 72 hilarious minutes by violating our racial and gender sensitivities. Perfect for Grandma.
 

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