SSI: Stunt Scene Investigation
The title and cover art of this one really had us excited, looking forward to a full-on, forensic exploration of sportbike stunting, or, if not that, at least a cameo appearance by "CSI: Miami" cutie Eva LaRue. Imagine our disappointment, then, when we realized that the SSI title was just a clever gimmick and the contents were just another straight-ahead stunt documentary... Whatever this video lacked in concept, however, it more than made up for with quality stunt content, thanks to a top-notch cast of dirty south stunters including the Brunelle Bros, Kyle Woods, Vertical Joe, Anger Management and more. Featuring segments from some of the biggest events in 2005 (including Stuntwars and Stripfest), the action is mostly enjoyable, especially the segments featuring Kyle Woods-his charismatic style comes across almost as well on the small screen as it does in person, and the aggressive and innovative tricks he snaps off here show him easily to be one of the best in the world. Of course there are the obligatory Jackass-type antics (mostly whipping each other with plastic light sabers) that are utterly ignorable and also a bunch of jet ski scenes that could have been left behind (we don't care how good you are on water, it's bound to be an anticlimax following stunters like Woods or Vertical Joe.), but if you fast-forward through these distractions SSI will certainly satisfy, even without the magnetic presence of Miss LaRue.
www.stuntragz.com
Servin' It Up 4: The Stunt Show
Stunting for dollars is all about showmanship, and no one knows this better than professional NorCal stunter Darius Khashabi of Servin' It Up fame. The key to a successful show (or a decent DVD, for that matter) is always keeping the audience guessing, and Khashabi does this and more by putting together a display of moto-mayhem that any gearhead can get behind. You name it, Servin' It Up's got it, from stunt bikes to shifter karts to motards to Harleys to ATVs, usually all in action at the same time! Ably supported by a killer cast including Joe Brown, Big Joe Molina and Jason Pullen on his Harley-Davidson, the stunt show action on this video is an exercise in controlled chaos, watching all four of them tearing it up just inches apart. With such a talented supporting cast, Khashabi is constantly at risk of being shown up (especially by Pullen, who rips off some moves on his 700-pound Hog that would challenge even the best sportbike stunters), but Khashabi always pulls through with his fast, aggressive and ultra-smooth style and plenty of sick, seldom-seen tricks like Pfeiffer-style standstill, feet-up burnouts. Bonus feature-in addition to SIU's stateside shows, this DVD also includes killer footage from a stunt show last summer in Mexico City, including some synchronized cop stunting (!) and a bangin' female dance troupe, too.
www.servinitup.com