React! A Woman's Guide to Safety and Basic Self-Defense

It's tough to criticize the good intentions behind this tape, but someone should have let loose with a few jabs to the script and committed some bone-crunching edits. The first half of the tape is a demonstration class in simple self-defense given by two members of P.R.I.D.E. (Powerful Response In Dangerous Environments.) The rest of the tape handles more generalized security issues, such as personal protection devices, car safety, parking lot dangers, car jackings, police impersonations and home security. These subjects, obviously, can apply to both men and women, and would have been better served on a totally separate tape. The production values are minimal--crummy lighting and blank walls behind talking heads--and any useful information gets lost during the rambling interviews in the second half. The entire effort seems unfocused and overly long. An optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Druda)