Search - Bill Maher - New Rules on DVD

NEW RULES: Got Live If You Want It ...

J. Lund | SoCal, USA | 07/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Hilarious book; skimpy, ok dvd

Jmark2001 | Florida | 07/16/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Maybe a different approach...

Mark | Bowling Green, OH | 07/10/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Only 45 minutes long

B. A. Brown | Minneapolis, MN United States | 07/13/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"It would have been nice of Amazon.com to tell us this BEFORE we purchased it. I can't help thinking the running time was deliberately left out of the product details."