Wedding in Canaan by Erik Amaya
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"Around the time that DVD was introduced,
I was part of a group of cinefiles worried about the loss of something
we became quite found of: presentation. If you knew anything of aspect
ratios and fine grain interpositives, you had a laserdisc player. The
machine boasted CD quality audio and a better picture than the popular
VHS machines that had won over consumers because of their ability to record
six hours of watchable tape. "Laserdiscs had an air of special-ness to them. When a new disc came out for a movie you cared about, there was a good chance it would come with special features at the end of the disc or a director's commentary on a separate audio track. There was a time when this was not widespread practice. The Criterion Collection was the brand name to watch. They put extra love and care into the discs they produced. A lot of their innovations are standard on current releases in DVD. "The finest set they ever produced for laserdisc was the Brazil set. A six-disc monster with Terry Gilliam Commentary, a disc devoted to the controversy over the film, the so-called "international" cut of the film and the TV version of the film. It was also one forty-nine ninety-nine. I got that set when it was ported to DVD." Ian Ferris can drone on for days on any A/V topic. This particular day, however, was special. He was freaking out. This means spouting off his theory about how Dino DeLaurentis set the 80s in motion because he purchased the rights to Flash Gordon. I'm not entirely sure how I got roped into driving him to the wedding, but I guess Eve decided I would keep him in check. Heh. "Y'know, it was something so special, really. Like, I can't really describe." Rare. Ian Ferris at a lost for words. Cold feet? Maybe. Also in the car: his cousin Neil and his fuckpuppet Kathy Day. Last I heard the two of them were exploring the inner recesses of tantra and enjoying each day in almost a childlike wonder. I obviously hate them. Neil's job is to talk him down from fleeing the scene once we get to the chapel Eve's family chose for the ceremony. Their wasteland mentality required the pretense of tedious devotion and as far as anyone knew, the Ferris family was long atheist. "So, Fuller, won't it be strange for you to enter a church, considering?" asks Neil. He affects more of an accent than his cousin. I eye him through the rear view. Kathy dozing off with her head in his lap while he frets an imaginary guitar.[read on] |
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