The Jim Rose Circus Show (2003)

A Freak By Any Other Name

It seems the bottom has fallen out of the freak market. If you discount Liza Menelli and Courtney Love, most human oddities are now hidden away in cozy asylums or at least given their own nationally sponsored telethons. In modern America when people want to explore some prurient desire to be scandalized, stunned, titillated or appalled, they turn to either talk radio or pornography. Porn is the new freak show...(and we thought it was shocking to see the geek put a snake in his mouth!?).
One guy who does attempt to hold his `Freak Flag High `is Jim Rose and the Jim Rose Circus. It's a modern day freak/burlesque show with Jim as the big mouth hawker. The Circus has a cast of characters ranging from the totally tattooed Puzzle Man to The Amazing Lift-O, a guy who manages to dead-lift incredible weights with an entirely different muscle system (!). They perform allot of the standard Mid-way gimmicks but with a new flare or twist. GrinderGirl is one of my favorite artisans... she appears in a steal corset and then attacks herself with an industrial grinder. Needless to say, sparks fly everywhere!!! Sophisticated adult fun! Not for anyone with low tolerence for the extreme. August 19, 2004

"Uplifting" and "penetrating" performance art from "within"

I guess I won't need to explain the title of my review to those of you familiar with Jim Rose and friends (or freaks would be more apt.)
I first heard about the Jim Rose Circus maybe seven years ago when they featured on a news item due to controversy over some of their content. I vividly remember Lifto doing his "swing" for Paul Holmes. And at that precise moment I though, wow, this is pretty cool.
Though I'm among those who have never witnessed The Jim Rose Circus live, this DVD is almost the next best thing. Taped in 1993 and running for barely 50 minutes (this is in Australia & NZ- it's safe to presume some of it was cut. Dab nab it!
Of course those of you who have read Rose's highly entertaining autobiography "Freak Like Me", or seen them live will know that Rose always opens each performance with the line. "You look like a jaded f***!"
It's odd to note that considering the circus's obviously anti-censorship bent that Lifto swings his tackle from behind a blanket. (Personally I'm thankful that by renting this was. I didn't pay four bucks to see some bloke's winkie. And no, the "fire" act isn't on here- unless the censors cut it out. Personally I reckon if impressionable people are dumb enough to maim themselves after watching this then its their own stupid fault, not Rose's. Though it's annoying having to listen to Rose's rambling ringmaster commentary during the performances. It made me wonder if he spends his leisure time huffing aerosol cans.
Things you can expect include the Torture King's "Meat skewer through the f***in' face!" which I found pretty boring; Matt The Tube brewing his own bile beer & members of the audience drinking it. Each to their own but there's no way in hell I'd do it. But if Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell and Al Whatsisface (is it Jorgenson? I can't remember) from Ministry sculled it- but that was at Lollapalooza, so it'd be safe to presume they were under the influence of a controlled substance. The entire spectacle is entertaining but not that shocking (I'm a jaded f***). They'd probably have to start introducing stuff like cannibalism (maybe that guy in Germany could join them?) or flaying or hacking off limbs to shock people. Or they could come to NZ & have Sue Bradford and Tariana Turia wrestling nude. Blerrrrgggghh! Oh gross, get me some mouthwash! Hwarf! Rest assured if you watch this DVD, there's nothing of that nature that will irreversibly scar the collective psyches of persons aged sixteen and over. Worth a look. Wimps, woofters and wowsers need not apply.
August 13, 2004

A True Freak

Nothing can compare to seeing the show live. The tape is about 1/4 of the live performance ... but still a MUST HAVE. This tape will open your eyes, as well as leave you a bit disturbed. September 20, 2002

Awesome

This is a must have video!

It is disturbing, sick, gross and [....]!

Put the video in and be amazed. I have watched it many times and I am never bored. It's great for parties. Everyone will love you for it.

The show has changed over the years but this video is classic Jim Rose at his best. November 21, 2001

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