Bill Hicks - Totally Reviews

Goat Boy Rides tonight.

"Totally Bill Hicks" was his last UK performance before at 11.20pm on Saturday 26th February he died from cancer in Little Rock, Arkansas. This DVD is fantastic testament to his precise, sharp and true comedy.

The documentary is good but kind of leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of geek fans like me, as Hicks receives platitudes from David Letterman (on who’s show Hick’s material was censored and eventually an entire slot axed) and Jay Leno (Someone Bill grew to despise as he also was to censor Hicks) both people that Bill was hurt by in his career and life. Sadly I don’t believe the documentary does him justice and is a little dull in places.

The Stand up section of this DVD is where you will find the pleasure of a comedy God firing out jokes with supreme timing and amazing rhythm. It is not for the easily offended people out there but every line every story rings with an honesty and true belief in what Hicks is saying that I defy any comedy fan of reasonable intelligence to find him not only thought provoking but utterly hilarious. It is also funny how so much of it still rings true with a different George Bush and a new gulf war. Try this and Bill will not let you down. One of the true geniuses of our time, Rest in Peace Bill.

Totally worth watching

This is a very funny dvd, however, if you can watch the show before the documentary bit i would as it has clips of all the best bits through out it, which funnily enough some what spoils the rest of the dvd.

Although this is not his greatest performance (I am not sure that Bill ever did do a bad gig) this is as good a place as anyway to witness the legend. Plus, you get a fairly decent C4 documentary to go with it. Hicks was again on a dark trip this night, with more material on quitting smoking, dinosaurs in the Bible, the joy of drugs and the first Iraq war. There is also a rather lengthy slot from Goatboy, which can begin to drag, but all in all this is a mighty fine package, and one of (if not the only) place you get to see Hicks performing.

the don

What can I say - it's Bill Hicks, the man who should have been president. His material here is as hysterical/controversial as expected; it made me wish he was still around, as I'd love to hear his thoughts on the current political climate. He'd have had a field day.

But if you can avoid watching the documentary first, do. It spoils big chunks of Bill's stand up which is quite annoying.

Everyone with intelligence MUST see this

Bill Hicks is (to quote Tool) another dead hero. He is stunningly accurate and hits the nail on the head (almost) every time. Has you chuckling for weeks.

dont miss this

If you have never been introduced to the late Mr Hicks all I can say is 'BE INTRODUCED NOW!' If you have any brains and want to be provoked in the best possible way and surprised and made to laugh and amazed etc watch him! If you know him already and are not a fan...err...seriously think about doing a bit more reading and broadening you mind.

[Highly rated reviewer]

HICKS-UP

Too many unknown and irrelevant talking heads in the 'documentary' part of the DVD. The clips which they cut in spoil the subsequent stage performance afterwards. WATCH THE SEGMENTS IN REVERSE ORDER.

Genius but not for those who don’t like being challenged

Totally absorbing and hilarious thrill comedy roller-coaster ride… The man is / was a legend.

This is comedy at its best… it’s raw and the lines were meant to kill… but avoid if you don’t like being challenged or are happy with the status quo

[Highly rated reviewer]

Bill Hicks. One of the few true comic genius

What would Hicks in his inimitable forensically coruscating way have made of the world today? One thing for sure he wouldn’t have been very happy. A Bush back in the White House, another Gulf war and copious evidence that humankind has degenerated since his death in 1994. This DVD is evidence, if evidence were really needed, that no one was better than Hicks at getting to the essential truth of any given situation, then ritually disembowelling it to brilliant comic effect.

Taking in a rather lame documentary which bafflingly includes both Letterman and Leno who Hicks had come to view with nothing but scorn and a superb live show from The Dominion Theatre this is required viewing for any Hicks fan and a reasonable introduction for anyone wanting to learn more about this uncompromising comedian. Having never seen him live (regrets….I’ve had a few) and only knowing his material from his excellent CDs the physicality of his act and hints of a terrific acting talent are revelations. The material is of course sublime, although it never reaches the pitch black zenith he was capable of. His observations on the hypocrisy of women and his savage debunking of Leno are sadly absent. If you haven’t already heard these. Commit crimes if necessary to do so. I nearly sprang several ribs hearing those for the first time.

The only note that grates. The women who talk about Hicks in heaven. Hicks in heaven? Who da thunk it?

awesome

Bill Hicks is hilarious, an amazing stand up set. AWESOME!