SEX, DRUGS & DEMOCRACY

LET'S ALL MOVE to Holland. And get stoned. And screwed. That's the moral of this documentary exploring the tulip-and-clog country and all its free sex, free drugs, pro-mercy-killing ways. (I'm allowed to say this stuff; check out my last name.) It's true that the great leaders and populace of the Netherlands have built a country with impressive personal freedoms, and their open-minded attitudes have resulted in a country where most people are pretty satisfied with life most of the time—who wouldn't be?

But even those who agree with the dope legalization argument—i.e., the intended viewers here—may be annoyed with this film's preaching-to-the-converted tone. Yes, Holland's cool and we're not, but what are we supposed to do about it? As for this two-disc DVD set, it would take a calmer head than mine to not be frustrated with the poor quality and extremely difficult to navigate menu system. The package also includes the cult flicks Reefer Madness and Hemp for Victory, plus an interview with Timothy Leary (not that I could find them). Once your eyes have entirely glazed over, tune in to the accompanying 15-track music CD, featuring everything from Cab Calloway performing "Reefer Man" to George Clinton doing "U.S. Custom Coast Guard Dope Dog."

Audrey Van Buskirk

avanbuskirk@seattleweekly.com

ALSO OUT, or coming soon: 1983's Coen Brothers classic Blood Simple, but alas, it's merely a director's cut with no extras. Another nifty black-comedic crime flick, this year's smart French With a Friend Like Harry, is due with unknown embellishments. Horror fans take note that Dario Argento's 1977 Suspira has a 52-minute documentary among other extra features on three (!) discs. The children's hit Spy Kids comes out to bilk more money from parents—no extras, but presumably it includes the new three-minute scene added to its August rerelease. Then there's dreck like Driven, Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, and Just Visiting.

Eds.