I have imagined and created a mini-feud between two
documentaries that were released in the last year or so both having to do with
VHS tapes. Rewind This and Adjust Your Tracking have both been on my radar. I
cannot pretend to an expert on VHS or collecting VHS, but I’m an amateur
collector, and I love the format. When it comes to quality I understand that it
is rarely the superior format (though I’d hesitate to say NEVER); it’s all nostalgia and clearly there have been
better formats released since the Mylar hit the shelves, but I still like to
pause a tape and see the odd glitches as well as watch for wear marks. At this
point I collect for artwork and I collect to preserve memories and to build a
mock video store in my basement of horror titles in the style of my favorite
video stores of old. To get two separate
documentaries in one year’s time means that either we’ve hit the peak of the
collecting boom or we’re about to see a bunch o’ fresh faces in the bins,
digging and scrounging for tapes. Did the format warrant two separate
documentaries?
Synopsis from FilmBluff:
Until the late 1970s,
the only way to see movies uncut and uncensored was in a theater or on the new
and not-widely-available pay cable. But the arrival of VHS, and its competing
videotape format Beta, created a revolution that would ultimately change how
movies were seen, distributed and even produced. It was an exploding industry
without rules, where new terms like "fast-forward" and
"direct-to-video" entered the vocabulary, and where the previously
unheard of notion of owning movies became a reality. The simultaneous invention
of the camcorder allowed everyone to become a filmmaker, leading to, among
other things, the "found footage" genre of movies epitomized by The
Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, not to mention the rise of the
adult industry.
REWIND THIS! traces
the story of VHS tape from its heyday as the mainstream homevideo format to its
current status as a nostalgic relic and prize to collectors who still cherish
it. Featuring interviews with both filmmakers and enthusiasts from the VHS era,
including Troma Entertainment legend Lloyd Kaufman, art-house auteur Atom
Egoyan and Hobo With a Shotgun filmmaker Jason Eisener, REWIND THIS! is the
definitive story of the format that came to be synonymous with the home
entertainment revolution.
Trailer:
The quick answer is, yes; two documentaries were required to
full enrich and delve into the finer points of the legacy of tape media. Yes,
the history of the VHS tape and other related formats including Beta warrants
two separate documentaries. Each of these releases carries their own special
view of the collecting world with some interview crossovers, but mostly
exclusive content in each. I’m here to review Rewind This, but also had the
chance to judge Adjust Your Tracking for the Killer Film Festival this past
year, so my viewing of both is fairly fresh. We’ll focus on Rewind This, but
you may see me offer criticism and comparison of both features throughout. Rest
assured that I enjoyed both films individually, and I think I have a favorite.
Rewind This goes through the history of both VHS and Beta
formats (the battle of which is somewhat underplayed in the movie). It’s
perfect for the beginner and beyond though I imagine the hardcore collectors
will already know most of this. It serves as a refresher for most of us
(including myself) and even steps back into an age I do not remember pre-1980.
Rewind This excels in it’s catalog of events that transpired. If you want to
under the cycles of tape history, Rewind This is probably the better choice.
One way in which Rewind This differs from Adjust Your
Tracking is who gets camera time. You’ll see a cast of famous faces and
collectors in Rewind This, as opposed to Adjust Your Tracking which focuses
primarily on the collectors. I suppose that seems to hint at the overall feel
distinction between the two films. One is an overall glimpse at everything VHS
(Rewind This). It tries to take on every angle from collecting, to the home
video boom and rental as well as the current legacy of the product. They even
give a nice segment on the SOV industry. Adjust Your Tracking is a film more
geared toward collectors and collections. That means they go hand in hand well
and should both be purchased.
The primary film runs about 90 minutes, but the extras are
off the chain. We’re talking about every piece of footage from interviews to segue
unused in the film due to timing and pacing issues. So if you want
supplementary material, you’ve got it. Think the documentary didn’t focus
enough on artwork? There’s a ten minutes on just artwork in the extras. It
includes a full length commentary track with director Josh Johnson, producer
Carolee Mitchell and cinematographer/editor, Christopher Palmer. There’s a
filthy reel of original animation meant to educate you on the history of the
adult VHS industry. While the documentary does tackle the adult film industry
as respects the new VHS format, this little gem was left out and should get a
rise out of you. There’s a music video and bonus features on laserdisc, remix
culture and video panic. This is a comprehensive extra list. The extra screen
itself had me in awe. The cover art also kicks much ass.
Favorite moment in the movie? Watching a short bit about the
Bubba Smith workout tape and hearing Bubba Smith telling ME that he loves me.
You can’t get more encouragement than that.
My preference is for Rewind This, but that is mostly due to
the extra features and scope of the movie (not primarily focused on collecting).
Not having reviewed a release of Adjust Your Tracking with extras included
could push the two closer together, but I will say that I voted for Adjust Your
Tracking as one of the top films of Killer Film Festival alongside a
shot-on-video, faux 1980’s release, WNUF Halloween Special (you should also
pick up that DVD of WNUF, but avoid the VHS tape because it’s just a bad copy
with generic black cardboard cover… my least favorite purchase of the year).
Enjoy some time with a comprehensive piece of documentary
filmmaking with stars like Lloyd Kaufman, Jason Eisener (fuck yeah!), Cassandra
Peterson, Atom Egoyan, Frank (motherfuckin’) Henenlotter (who is a pleasure)
and David “The Rock” Nelson (Ed Wood Jr. Jr.?).
-Doc Terror
Congrats! You've completely sold on getting the physical copy of this since it has that much extra to it. I've been looking forward to seeing for some time. I love fun docs like this and The American Scream. Maybe Adjust Your Tracking will show up eventually... Thanks!
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