George Carlin: Complaints & Grievances

George Carlin's latest (and shortest) concert special is fast-paced and funny. After all these years, he still knows how to make his audience laugh. His topics include the September 11 attack (and his solution for the war), stuff from body parts, people he don't like who deserve to be tortured (including singers with one name and people who purchase small items with credit cards), and the Ten Commandments. Every now and then he threw in some of his old jokes ("I'm going upstairs to f--- your grandma."). If you're a big George Carlin fan and have HBO, then sit back and get ready to laugh. My evaluation: A

I'm happy to see George Carlin continues to evolve and deliver good material. As always, delivery is phenominal, and the material is somewhere between what you think should be funny what what you question is good taste. The man is consistent, and consistently a great comedian.

Everyone loves a little controversy, and when George Carlin is thrown at you, (especially in 'Complaints and Grievences', which showcases only the best of his work) you will be doubled up in laughter. Often, you'll be laughing so hard you'll be in tears, which I have recently experienced while watching this. I can always relate to his comedic lectures and I always enjoy hearing what he has to say. If I were a more depressed and repressed type of person, then he would be my way of thinking. Just listening to him makes me want to take on that same liberal, 'out-there' attitude. I absolutely adore George Carlin's wit and semi-cynical manner of comedy; a true genius.

George's been around almost long enough to personally know who wrote the 10 commandments, yet this man is relentless in the energetic way he delivers his lines. Perhaps a parallel line with Bill Hicks could be drawn, as both individuals have a great fondness of smart educated intellectuals who are open-minded enough to understand both their jokes, but more importantly-their true message. Comedians truly are the most powerful and effective philosophers of our time, and laughing at something and thinking about it seriously at the same time is something not to be taken too lightly. I am a fan of George Carlin, he thinks out of the box and at times delivers profound revelations to further educate his "crowd".

Right on, my granddad, right on 8/10

I've only recently been made aware of the unusual, blunt but brilliant comic stylings of George Carlin, a man whose expletive-laden no-holds-barred observations on a sad sack society still feel ahead of their time in a world full of wannabe "edgy" comics, mostly because he packs in so much wit and veracity in a short space of time.

I saw his 2005 work "Life is Worth Losing" before this, and while that was a superior (and longer) show "Complaints and Grievances" has plenty to recommend it as long as you realise that a lot of the humour is very tongue-in-cheek, perhaps more so than any other comedian you've ever seen. You can't believe that George really does go around running down people in his car - he's saying it for the shock value and to set up a line of related jokes that are sending up the habits and true intentions of a lot of drivers, things we want to do but social etiquette prevents.

George moves swiftly from joke to joke, story to story, so for the couple of lines that might not amuse there are another half a dozen right around the corner. He covers a wide range of topics and regularly changes his pacing and delivery, which for quick-witted viewers is just fine but it might confound a lot of people who prefer simpler humour and more obvious punchlines. But for me, this is part of his appeal - a unique approach that makes him a cult legend.

Certainly this show will not appeal to everyone - the Ten Commandments ending skit alone is sure to boil the blood of a few staunch Christians, although it makes some valid (and hilarious) points about religion as a system of mind-control. For the people it does appeal to though, they will love it and would be well advised to pick up his other, somewhat better, works.