Stewart Lee - Stand-Up Comedian [DVD]

I cannot believe that I have only just discovered this guy. I found on looking up more about him that he studied at Oxford University, like me but unfortunately I am not in possession of his genius. Even on this his first DVD, from 2005, his style of humour is so developed and crafted it's unbelievable. From the very first line he speaks, he has the audience right in the palm of his hand, and believe me he tests that out a number of times. His thought processes are at times utterly surreal, and it enables him to look and talk about all sorts of subjects from a viewpoint that simply nobody else has.As far as comedy genius goes, I am a fan of Ricky Gervais, who seems to be able to explore all sorts of situations and characters with immensely intellectual scope. I am a fan of Russell Brand, one of the largest vocabularies on Earth and razor-sharp insights as a political and social commentator. I am a fan of Jim Jefferies, who can go from lager-lout to extreme subtlety in moments. People like Michael McIntyre and Lee Evans hardly even get a smile out of me, if you want immaturity don't bother with Stewart, you'll be lost.There is so much depth, twisting and turning, surreality as I said, and at times sheer bravery. He pretends to disrespect seasoned comics, Eddie Izzard gets a mention here but he is equally at home having a go at James Corden and Russell Brand in fact. Once you "get" the way he talks and the angles he uses, it's clear he respects them and is being cheeky, but again - this is a guy that you have to "get". There is no point looking at the face value narratives, because along with and underneath it is the structure and pure wit which is the very essence of his approach.He is also another of those comedians that even when he is at his most incisive and hilarious, stays deadpan as if he is deadly serious, yet is larking around and testing whether you do indeed "get" what he is on about. I could pick out any one of the sections, the way he continually refers to the 9/11 attacks as taking place on the 9th November (9th of the 11th) and the following day, the 9th of December (9/12). He doesn't just use a one-liner, throughout the whole of that segment he doesn't mention the 11th of September once, just uses the 9th of November.Like most modern worthwhile comedians he has no respect for the establishment, but again he leads you astray if you're not concentrating and picking up what he is thinking on any given topic.The only spoiler I will mention I will try not to spoil by revealing the actual story, but you are probably familiar with the technique of taking what could easily be a quick segment, but dragging it out way longer, and somehow keeping the humour all the way through. The part of this I mean is where he recounts an interview he did (or has made up that he did) with the Taiwanese film director Ang Lee. What could be one line becomes a good ten minutes or more, and it's pure childishness to the point where you can hardly hear a word of it because you're in disbelief. The deadpan delivery and the sheer bravery of the length of it, is absolute magic.Every other section is fantastic, but I really mustn't go into any detail at the risk of ruining what is basically perfect.If you're clever, if you are able to hang onto the surreal nature of the humour - and that is easy to do really - you'll be howling, and at the same time wondering how on Earth he thinks the stuff up. There's nothing else like it.

Catching up with some older Stewart Lee DVDs, this is a good one; this shows SL at his best in front of a small live audience in Glasgow and with some asides to the camera! The beauty of SL is that you can watch it again and again, unlike most other stand ups!

To go to a gig in Scotland and demolish the 'Braveheart' myth in front of an audience which includes people who look as though they would like to lynch him takes courage and genius. He wins most of them over with his clever and perfectly timed ironic material.See him at the height of his powers. Brilliant.

As with every purchase that was brand new and factory sealed at the time I bought it, the picture and sound quality of this DVD are and wereperfect. To me it is always worth paying that little bit extra for a previously unused item.

What did I like about it? Hard to say really. I suppose it was the fact that I found it extremely funny and that I am a fan of the comedian Stewart Lee. That's it, really.Enjoy. Or not, of course - that's up to you. You might need to raise your game, though.

If you are a Stewart Lee fan (my husband is) this is brilliant and him at his best. It doesn't date either as although it talks about 9/11 the themes of what he covers are still very much about today.

I've been to see Stewart Lee live but if you havn't this is the next best thing. Consistantly funny and inteligent and any fan of stand up comedians really should buy this dvd and see him live when you get the chance.

Stewart Lee is probably one of the best comedians of all time and doesn't receive the credit he deserves (but I suppose hes not really a "for the masses" guy, doubt he'd want to be that anyways) though this show is 9 years old now, which is old in stand up terms this Routine is still relevant and funny today and I hope Stewart Lee continues his stand u work for many years to come