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Bill Maher's New Rules plays like a "greatest hits" compilation that you don't want to end. Compiled from the most popular segment of the HBO original series Real Time with Bill Maher, it's a fitting showcase for Maher's take-no-prisoners approach to political humor, in which the veteran comedian/pundit invents "new rules" in response to the insanity of current events, celebrity trivia, and the nonsensical irritants that pop up in the media on a regular basis. In collaboration with his gifted writing team, Maher delivers a constant barrage of hilarious yet eminently sensible solutions to the foibles of modern society, from common sense ("no more cell phones in movie theaters!") to harmlessly risqué ("lap dancing is a First Amendment right"), appropriately sarcastic ("the end of Friends is not a national tragedy!"), and just plain clever ("whenever they award an Oscar®, they should take one back"). Maher's flawless delivery of these "new rules" (culled from the first three seasons of Real Time) results in a steady flow of laugh-out-loud observations and punch lines, like this one about the same-sex marriage controversy: "All marriages are same-sex marriages--you go to bed every night, and it's the same sex!" And when he's not making funny suggestions about the effects of global warming ("all hurricane names should be scary!"), Maher delivers scathing editorials (mostly aimed at the Bush administration) and performs in comedic sketches like the "Accu-Terror Forecast" or "Ken Burns' Vietnam," spoofing the Civil War documentary style with a Bush-bashing segment called "A National Guardsman's Letter to Home," in which Maher (as Bush) reads a letter to his parents about the "hardships" of Vietnam-era service... in Alabama. Although the main feature runs a mere 45 minutes, there's an additional 28 minutes of material in the bonus features, including several "new rules Extras" and four hilarious "editorials" including Maher's demand for a presidential recall election! Some of Maher's issue-related jokes will grow dated as their timely relevance fades, but New Rules provides a brilliantly comedic appraisal of the early 21st century, from a smart, incisive comedian who'll boldly go where most comics fear to tread. --Jeff Shannon
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.5 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
NEW RULES: Got Live If You Want It ..., July 16 2006
By J. Lund "jazzbrat" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bill Maher: New Rules (DVD)
I already own the NEW RULES audiobook, which was recorded by Bill Maher in a studio without an audience. With roughly three hours of material, the audiobook is the most comprehensive persentation of Bill's numerous new rules (not to mention I'd rather hear the material in Maher's own voice than read the printed version). The new rules on this DVD -- totaling 45 minutes not including extras -- frequently overlaps what's in the book, which itself at times reprised the material from the original HBO broadcasts which comprise this DVD. Either way, the point is that most of the rules will be familiar to anyone who has read or heard the book (and it goes without saying to those who've watched the broadcasts on HBO).I agree with other reviewers who have criticized the relatively high list price and/or the incomplete presentation of what was originally broadcasted in the "new rules" segment of the first three seasons of his HBO show. Yet when I get to the bottom line -- is this DVD funny? -- in my opinion the answer is consistently yes. The edits from gag to gag are as smooth as can be, and there's several bits of other material from his show to offer comic relief -- so to speak -- from the "new rules" segments. Even if you know the "punch line" of the rules, the inspired rapport that Bill has with his studio audience carries over to the DVD, making it an entertaining option for those of us who enjoy Bill's not-PC humor (which is not surprisingly rated TV-MA). Although I'd recommend his live performance DVDs first, NEW RULES is a welcome addition to what is available by Bill Maher on video.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious book; skimpy, ok dvd, July 15 2006
By Jmark2001 - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bill Maher: New Rules (DVD)
The book, "New Rules" was absolutely hilarious. This DVD was amazingly short (45 minutes) and 15 of those minutes are wasted on non-"rules" routines and sketches from Maher's tv show. The rules sections are brief and sometimes cut from the full commentary. A few good laughs but this is not worth what is being charged here.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe a different approach..., July 10 2006
By Mark - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bill Maher: New Rules (DVD)
The three star rating that I am giving this DVD is no way indicative of the material that this DVD presents. The strong political humor that is brought to the table by Bill Maher is top notch. No, the reason this DVD gets three stars is because of the price in relation to the length of the DVD. Buying this DVD is like buying a lesser version of an SNL Best Of... The clips on this DVD are from Bill Maher's HBO television show, and on this show is a segment called New Rules, hence the name. The DVD presents New Rules (not all of them, but rather a selection of the best of the best) from seasons 1-3, as well as a few fake commercials and skits thrown in now and then. The jokes contained in this segment are raunchy, offensive, and aimed towards right-wing conservatives, mostly the president. During a skit in which Maher is being tortured for making fun of the president, he makes promises to marry Ann Coulter, at which point a black bag is placed over his head and a butchy-looking female soldier steps into the picture, indicative of Abu Ghraib. This DVD is not for the easily offended, or the Republican. The DVD is only 45 minutes long, which is why I caution you to only purchase this if you are a strong fan of Maher and his show. Otherwise, rental stores are receiving limited amounts of the DVD, and it might be worth a rent.
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