Some jobs make for compelling television... some don't.
The ticketers and clerks are only doing their jobs, but the booters are a whole different beast. They drive through the city in vans in teams of tow. The person in the passenger types in random license plate numbers until they get a "hit" on a car that has outstanding parking tickets. On each hit, they pounce out of their cars and place a boot on the car to keep it in place so that a tow truck driver can swoop just minutes later to steal the car and then charge a ransom to the owner to get it back. I use the word "steal" intentionally because I find it profoundly offensive that the city actually has the power to confiscate someone´s personal property simply because they have unpaid parking tickets. Prevent them from driving – yes. I can understand the boot: they can´t drive it until they go and pay their fines. Steal their property, and then charge them for the privilege of getting it back? No, this is shameful and I don´t understand why civil liberties groups don´t fight this grotesque violation of rights in court. End of rant.
The sympathy shown to the city employees is rarely extended to the citizens who run afoul of the PPA. The condescension runs thick as silly special effects, sound cues and unflattering camera angles are used to mock people for perceived differences and shortcomings: they are meant to be gawked at like freaks in a menagerie. As uninteresting as the basic concept is, it´s this mean-spiritedness that proves the show´s ultimate failure.
Some jobs make for compelling television, like crab fisherman risking their lives in the Northern Atlantic. People putting tickets on cars… not so much. I´m a firm believer that there´s a story everywhere, but this show doesn´t tell one that´s worth watching.
"Parking Wars: The Best of Season One" includes seven episodes from the show´s first season. The episodes are untitled.
Video
The series is presented in a 1.33:1 full screen aspect ratio. The interlaced transfer is adequate: it´s not like you´re watching this show for its brilliant videography.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. No subtitles are offered.
Extras
The DVD provides 35 minutes of additional scenes not included in any of the seven episodes.
Series Value
The only lasting value "Parking Wars" might offer the world is a ground´s eye portrayal of Philadelphia neighborhood by neighborhood. You see more than just the Rocky statue and the Liberty Bell here. Aside from that, there´s nothing much to see here.
The sympathy shown to the city employees is rarely extended to the citizens who run afoul of the PPA. The condescension runs thick as silly special effects, sound cues and unflattering camera angles are used to mock people for perceived differences and shortcomings: they are meant to be gawked at like freaks in a menagerie. As uninteresting as the basic concept is, it´s this mean-spiritedness that proves the show´s ultimate failure.
Some jobs make for compelling television, like crab fisherman risking their lives in the Northern Atlantic. People putting tickets on cars… not so much. I´m a firm believer that there´s a story everywhere, but this show doesn´t tell one that´s worth watching.
"Parking Wars: The Best of Season One" includes seven episodes from the show´s first season. The episodes are untitled.
Video
The series is presented in a 1.33:1 full screen aspect ratio. The interlaced transfer is adequate: it´s not like you´re watching this show for its brilliant videography.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. No subtitles are offered.
Extras
The DVD provides 35 minutes of additional scenes not included in any of the seven episodes.
Series Value
The only lasting value "Parking Wars" might offer the world is a ground´s eye portrayal of Philadelphia neighborhood by neighborhood. You see more than just the Rocky statue and the Liberty Bell here. Aside from that, there´s nothing much to see here.
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[release]24394[/release]