Donne Tempo - For Your Eyes
Donne Tempo's top
DVD/Blu-ray/HD-DVD picks with a concentrated look
at the bonus content that transforms the releases
into an interactive, multimedia experience for the
viewer.
Damages:
The Complete First Season from Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment, Not Rated, $55.95 to
$79.95.
Glenn Close brings her incredible acting
talents to the smaller screen as lethal lawyer
Patty Hewes in the episodic thriller “Damages.”
If you missed it then, or just want to enjoy it again before settling in for the second season, the series first season arrives in a three disc Blu-ray set on Tuesday, January 29th.
Set
in New York City, this FX Productions series
pounded viewers over the head last year with a
dark, edge-of-your-seat, nourish flair that
makes the Soprano saga seem tame.
Writers, producers and series creators Todd A. Kessler, Glen Kessler and Daniel Zelman examine the shadowy complexities of power and its effects on human nature. Remarkably this legal drama that chronicles the mechanizations of a class action suit and the downfall of a billionaire, manages, throughout the entire 13 episodes, to keep it out of the courtroom.
Which happens when witnesses, defendants and lawyers keep showing up dead.
Directorial choices of film stock, camera angles and Goth/alternative music adds a surreal touch to the story arc that pits Mrs. Hewes against a corrupted CEO Arthur Frobisher, played brilliantly by Ted Danson.
1. The goods: Miss Close delivers such a likable but flawed character it is often hard to believe she is as ruthless as the evidence obviously plays her out to be. Excellent cast support from Rose Byrne (as protégé Ellen Parsons), Zeljko Ivanek (attorney Ray Fiske) and the aforementioned Mr. Danson makes "L.A. Law" and "Boston Legal" look like kiddy shows.
By juxtaposing different cinematic techniques viewers are able to keep track of the director’s use of forecasting and flashbacks in telling this gritty, and often surprising, saga.
From the coarse, almost sepia toned scenes that provide insights to motives to the brilliantly clear sharp focus of the present day murder investigation, the look of Damages impacts as much as the story.
2. The mandatory extras: A pair of commentary tracks is the best of the bonuses. The first, in the premiere episode, offers a mildly informative but not inspiring optional commentary with director Allen Coulter, a surprisingly quiet Ms. Close and creators Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman.
A second commentary accompanies episode 11, " I Hate These People," with Zelijko Ivanek (Ray Fiske) ably adding to the discourse.
A pair of behind the scenes featurettes (that should only be watched after enjoying all episodes) are underwhelming and cannot compare to the energy found in any of the episodes.
3. Above and beyond: A confusing menu navigation screen reveals thumbnails of the episodes, no matter what disc is popped in. The problem is viewers can only access the shows available in the disc currently in the player. If they pick a different show they are instructed to pull the disc and put another one in. I am not sure what the point of this is as it causes way more confusion than functionality.
Particularly frustrating is when trying to access special features and being constantly told to pick the third disc. Thank goodness this is not a ten-disc set.
4. Fuel the disc revolution: The interactive "Understanding Class Action" takes visitors to a book spread out on a desk in the Hewes' library. Legal experts explain some of the basic legal terms tossed about during the show, such as numerosity, and quickly covers three famed examples of class action suits (Exxon Valdez, Tobacco and Agent Orange) while clips from the series are interspersed to reinforce the legal concepts presented in the show.
Unfortunately, this type of resource, which does help the viewer to understand the complexities of the type of case being pursued by Patty Hewes and her association, has already been seen ad nauseam in standard DVD technologies (reference most Disney DVD sets), so it won't win any innovation rewards.
— Joseph Szadkowski
When
Harry Met Sally ... Collector's Edition from
MGM Home Video, Rated: R, $13.99 to
$19.98.
Watch enough bad rom-coms and it seems like Hollywood can't get the boy-meets-girl formula right anymore.
It's
one reason why it's good to catch up with "When
Harry Met Sally …" again.
The 1989 feature gets a spiffy re-release this month [Jan 15] complete with new feature-ettes and seven deleted scenes.
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan clicked as both feisty friends and later something more in this Rob Reiner comedy. Nora Ephron's script, which lets the leads get to know each other in five-year intervals, builds the romance in jagged, but believable stages. The adorable leads do the rest.
Sure, the film echoed Woody Allen's superior "Annie Hall" in its unabashed affection for Manhattan, but Reiner's comedy delivered a healthier relationship than Allen could ever pen. And Ephron's dialogue is both breezy and poignant.
We may be no closer to answering the film's key question - can men and women be friends without the sex getting in the way? - but at least we have "When Harry Met Sally…" to distract us while we mull it over.
1. The goods: It's only 19 years old, but it's safe to say they don't make 'em like this anymore. Rent "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," or rather don't, and you'll know what we mean. Ryan was the perfect romantic comedy foil for a good decade, and it's easy to see why. She's approachably beautiful and can convey heartbreak with the slightest of gestures. The lead's chemistry is palpable and while Crystal is considered a better comedian than actor, he's remarkable as the affable Harry. Reiner's touch at this point in his career was unparalleled. Every gag and lump in the throat moment works.
2. The Mandatory Extras: The DVD's extras aren't window dressing or extended back-slapping, although we do get a bit of the latter. "When Rob Met Billy" recalls the director's first meeting with his star -- they worked together on "All in the Family." Their bond continues to this day, but their camaraderie helps illustrate their working relationship. Here, we learn Crystal came up with "I'll have what she's having" line, and Crystal complains that Reiner laughed so much he ruined a few takes.
The deleted scenes are mostly solid and could easily be stitched back into the movie without a discernible dip in humor or pacing. The best is watching Sally describe an awful date who would collect the "air" outside when great moments in history happen.
3. Above and Beyond: The commentary track features Reiner, Crystal and Ephron riffing on the film's production. Their memories and banter are razor sharp and will be catnip for the film's hardcore fan base. But where's Meg Ryan?
— Christian Toto
3:10
to Yuma, from Lionsgate Home Entertainment,
Rated: R, $26.95 to $39.99.
Christian Bale and Russell Crowe star in an
updated remake (i.e. profanity and graphic
violence) of the Glenn Ford fueled 1957 Western
of the same name. Both actors deliver a gritty
performance to prove the traditional Hollywood
cowboy film still has a place in theaters.
Mr. Crowe is especially nasty in delivering a coolness comparable to the devils as the captured career criminal Ben Wade. He portrays a character that finds himself almost sympathetic to the plight of his guard, the passively complex Ben Evans played by Mr. Bale.
1.
The goods:
Director James Mangold’s choice of environment,
Diablo, Mexico, and the ominous dust levels (it
will make viewers feel like coughing) mixed
with the 1080p high definition presentation
allows the film to just explode with color and
texture off of large monitors.
The disc also mixes an incredible amount of multimedia goodies to make it strong addition to the Lionsgate Blu-ray library.
2. The mandatory extras: A welcomed commentary track from Mr. Mangold is constantly enlightening and never forced while a posse of featurettes informatively deconstructs the film and the time period. The best of the bunch of mini-documentaries include a 20-minute look at how the Transcontinental Railroad changed America (Sea to Shining Sea) and a 5- minute conversation with the Elmore Leonard who penned the original short story.
3. Above and beyond: A fantastic history lesson awaits those who mosey on over to the Timeline section on the disc. Using the remotes directional pad, knowledge seekers are able to navigate from the 1860s through the1890s learning about the evolution of the Old West.
An ever changing map of the United States western push for territory mixes with text biographies of the characters from the time period as well as significant events that helped shape one of America's most defining times.
4. Fuel the disc revolution: The Timeline was more than enough for me but developers offer the ambitious "Inside Yuma," a multimedia companion to the creation of the film.
A translucent ribbon over one side of the movie offers access to a side by side comparison to the script and storyboards, a picture in picture video display, raw footage from a the scene’s filming (dailies) and even some visual effects creation footage.
The script is an interesting idea except it blocks about 30 percent of the film. Overall, the entire presentation’s navigation is a bit clunky and not quite as slick as the U-Control interface seen in some of the Universal HD-DVDs. However, it is a grand start for Lionsgate
And just for good measure, a menu bar can be quickly brought up on screen anytime during the movie to bookmark memorable scenes.
— Joseph Szadkowski
Blade
Runner: Complete Collector's Edition, from
Warner Home Video, Rated: R, $27.95 to
$39.99.
This is the definitive, final, final, final
version (I'm serious) of director Ridley
Scott's grim 1982 sci-fi homage to Philip K.
Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric
Sheep?" At least that is what is being said.
For this final version, Blade Runner arrives in high definition format packaged with four other adaptations of the film to keep fans slathered in the nourish world of Replicants.
The
goods:
This five-disc HD-DVD set is a Blade Runner
geeks virtual blonde bombshell. In addition to
the 117-minute (latest) Final Cut, they can
also watch the saga as presented in the
original domestic and international theatrical
release, i.e., the original film. They can then
watch for the differences found in the 1992
Director's Cut version and, if they still need
more, view a “work print” a not quite finished
version, that shows the film not quite
finished.
The Final Cut in hi-def, however, is a pure vision of beauty. This film experience is visually crisp, check oot the Spinner vehicles light flares, and delivered with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track. The result is a movie that contains all of the moments and slight nuances that Mr. Scott wanted, but was not able to technically achieve, with the original release.
The set also offers a generous supply of extras to meticulously analyze the history and making of the epic.
The bads: How is it not possible to get director Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford, who played Rick Deckard, the Blade Runner, into a room to offer an optional commentary or picture in picture narrative track while they watch the Final Cut of the film?
This movie may end up as one of the most important pieces of sci-fi cinema ever released and Warner Home Video had a responsibility to get these guys together.
The mandatory extras: Three separate commentary tracks accompany the Final cut, with Ridley Scott going solo, offering some insight into the film, in one. The second track features the writers in another and those all important special effects gurus taking the mike for the third.
For further fun, there is an audio track accompanies the work print version of the movie. Featuring Paul M. Simmon, the author of "Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner," this aural offering delivers a ludicrous Trekkie type of experience.
But wait, there is more. The fourth disk is also loaded with featurettes that includes interviews, screen tests, a generous supply of deleted and alternate scenes and the answer to whether Rick Deckard is a replicant?
What I learned? The beauty of all those extras is that one can become the ultimate trivia maven. But there was some interesting stuff to be learned, including that all of the original negatives from “Blade Runner” were going to be junked by the film storage facility Preferred Media. Luckily, the managers never received a final order to throw out the containers and this bit of sci-fi cinema history was saved. Sad to think what wasn’t.
I also found it interesting that Director Ridley Scott was heavily influenced by “Heavy Metal” magazine that, originally launched in 1977, features the work of some of Europe’s most influential, and avant-garde, graphic artists. A particular Scott favorite was the legendary sequential artist Moebius, or Jean Giraud, who is one of the founding fathers of the modern sequential art, science fiction and fantasy art mediums (http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/giraud.htm).
An interesting bit of trivia learned is that Dustin Hoffman was seriously considered for the part of the stories hero, Rick Deckard, which was played by Harrison Ford. Possibly, had Hoffman taken this role, we would have been spared “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.” Now we will never know.
Above and beyond: An over three hour “making of” documentary will cause Blade Runner junkies to grin bigger than the Joker and please any serious cinema fan. This lengthy documentary offers reflections from most of the cast and production staff, critical behind the scenes footage and, overall, clearly sets a new standard for recording the history of epic film creation.
Fuel the disc revolution: It kills me that with all the ridiculous hoop-la surrounding the set and care taken with massaging the Final Cut print to such visual and aural brilliance that Warner did not strive to release the extras, or at least the mega documentary, in the high-def format, instead of standard DVD quality.
Additionally, with Blade Runner’s incredible cult following, the HD-DVD should have offered some sort of accessibility to an online community, at least as basic as the screening room seen in the Harry Potter release.
— Joseph Szadkowski
The
Bourne Ultimatum, from Universal DVD Releases,
Rated: PG-13, $19.98 - $39.98.
Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) hurriedly bursts back
onto the screen in a quest to recover his
stolen memory. Once again, Bourne races around
the world in an attempt to uncover his past
while leaving a trail of broken, dead and
ruined lives behind him.
The
goods:
Matt Damon (Jason Bourne) continues his stoic
role in this “man on a mission” epic.
Accompanied by some great actors such as Scott
Glenn (CIA Director Ezra Krmaer), David
Strathairn (CIA Director Noah Vosen) and Julia
Stiles (CIA operative Nicky Parsons), the film
is packed with really well done fight and chase
sequences that leave you on the edge of your
seat. For an action-adventure flick, The Bourne
Ultimatum fits the bill.
The Bads: Unfortunately, it's the overall plot. Actually, it’s not bad. It was just lost somewhere between London and Spain. Director Paul Greengrass brings us plenty of eye candy, but it just becomes one more explosion, one more broken neck as we wait for the payoff.
(Warning Plot Spoiler)
Julia Stiles character Nicky Parsons immediately draws the viewer in, only it never pays off. Joan Allen, as Pamela Landy, promises to bring forth a powerful, if not predicitable, performance of a woman trapped beneath the glass ceiling, but in the end, she sends a fax.
It was extremely frustrating to watch Nicky, the token damsel that once again opts to unselfishly help Bourne, putting herself into serious harms way leading to the obligatory black hair dye job only to be dropped at the bus station with a cryptic “It gets easier” kind of line as she takes off for a life on the lam from the CIA. That’s it. No kiss. No “I’ll see you later kid,” not even a warm hand squeeze and a thank you.
Then the way the film ends (warning, BIGGER plot spoiler), she no longer needs to be on the run, so I am not sure if her presence in the movie would even serve to create some type of sequel or spin-off opportunity. But it is obvious that beyond saving her from the evil “asset” sent to kill them both, Bourne cares little for her, at least romantically. So why should the viewer?
Her part could have been clipped after her conversation with the CIA Director Vosen and it would not have been missed. Instead we are treated to many minutes of classic “damsel in distress” door banging and staircase climbing only to have Bourne kill yet another man. Really, I get it. Bourne is a trained, albeit reluctant, assassin.
While actors Glenn and Stratharn are well liked for their ability to provide the very serious, in-it-for-themselves at all other costs, type of characters, we are not sure why they are in it. Is it for the power of being able to command others to kill at will? Is it a loosely stated “we need to save America” sentiment?
Or are they just two guys with too much power that are little more than street corner bullies? Who knows. Who cares.
And then there is Jason Bourne – I quit caring about his problems a few moments into the film. While, admittedly, Matt Damon commands the role of the dour faced Bourne with deftness, I see no emotion in this character other than the “I am mad and need to get even” persona he wears so well.
This would have been a time to flash back to his life as a human, versus the machine like assassin he is rebelling against. Instead we are treated to the same series of “before” photos showing him enduring a series of terrifying experiences at the hands of Dr. Albert Hirsch (Albert Finney).
I enjoyed watching the film because it is beautifully created, but the lack of substance in the plot, the many talents left unfurled, the stoic -ness of the film will keep me from coming back. It’s all flash. No substance.
The mandatory extras: A solo, optional commentary track from director Paul Greengrass sheds an enormous amount of light on filming an action movie. Of the four featurettes (also available in a picture in picture commentary), "Man on the Move: Jason Bourne" is best and offers around a 30 minute taste of the behind the scenes fun at each of the film's international locations.
Above and beyond: The Blackbriar Files' overlay offers a mixed media, encyclopedic presentation surrounding the film. Resources include a look at many of the spy gadgets used throughout the film and a breakdown of the fight between Jason Bourne and assassin Desh that bullet points each attack move and the resulting physical damage to each character. A really slick idea that really adds to the value the "Bourne Ultimatum" HD-DVD experience.
Fuel the disc revolution: The Hi-Def version offers a fun little game that has viewers watching 20 separate film clips and then answering a question about it. We played and got 13 out of the 20 questions correct which resulted in our classification as a Paramilitary Operations Officer in the Clandestine Service. This makes us responsible for the organization and execution of intelligence operations in foreign countries.
This classification allows us to conduct missions at a sub station in Zurich, while posing as a French Marketing Executive for your public persona and you have a credit card limit of $60,000. You also get a ski pass and a private sailboat.
However, that’s it. You get the classification, a letter that details what it means, and that’s it. There is no game to play, not even a question and answer scenario. Nothing.
Go back and play again? Same-clips, same-answers. Only this time you know what to look for, so it’s easy to get them right.
— Jacquie Kubin
Harry
Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, from
Warner Home Video, Rated: PG-13, $24.95 to
$34.99.
The boy wizard’s latest chapter is yet another
film to take advantage the high definition
format. During its 139-minute run, fans are
treated to more of the ongoing conflict between
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Lord
Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes). In this chapter
the man-child battles against the evil one’s
continuing quest for power while learning that
its good to have friends to rely on.
The
goods:
Imelda Staunton’s portrayal of the vile
Professor Umbridge is believably wicked while
Alan Rickman, as Professor Snape, takes full
advantage of his limited screen time to deliver
a powerful performance.
As far as the digital transfer, the film boasts vibrant colors and, at times, almost takes on a 3D quality, especially during the expansive outdoor flying scenes and final wizard duels.
This single HD-DVD is also a “combo-disc” with one side offering the movie in high-def version with the flip side containing a standard DVD format version. Having both versions of the movie may be important to some viewers, however it would seem that the space might have been better used for an any number of enhanced “extra features” that would better serve the viewers entertainment quest.
The bads: The HD-DVD does not contain the 45-minute “The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter” documentary found on both the Blu-ray and standard DVD releases. However, this may not be such an egregious oversight as it is little more than a promotional piece disguised as an A&E documentary but at least it was something. OK, so nothing bad really, I was just left wanting more.
The mandatory extras: A selection of deleted scenes and a set tour with actress Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks).
What I learned? Actor Rupert (AKA Ron Weasley) Grint’s dream job is to be an ice-cream man. I thought he already had a dream job?
Above and beyond: A commentary track from the director, David Yates is glaringly absent. This would have been particularly interesting as he is the third director, joining Chris Columbus, Mike Newell and Alfonoso Cuarón, to interpret author J.K. Rowling’s mysterious universe.
Fuel the disc revolution: We have a winner folks. With the HD-DVD player hooked into a broadband Internet connection, multiple viewers can register and join in on a “Live Community Screening.” This feature allows multiple disk owners to synchronize their HD-DVD players, from other locations, to watch the movie at the same time and even text-chat amongst themselves.
The host, or person who initiates the Live Community Screening, controls playback and the live text chats. Guests communicate through either Warner software for their PC and WAP (wireless application protocol) enabled cell phone or via the HD-DVD player.).
Another fantastic bonus is the "In-Movie Experience.” It delivers a rotating golden disc about every five minutes. With a click to the disk the viewer can open up various video segments culled from the 28-part “The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter” documentary that relate to the current movie clip being seen.
Also, with the In-Movie Experience on character facts or picture-in-picture vignettes open to present behind the scenes commentary including some interesting anecdotes from some of the young actors who were part of Dumbledore's Army.
— Jacquie Kubin
Pirates
of the Caribbean: At World's End, from Buena
Vista Home Entertainment, Rated: PG, $23.95 to
$34.95.
Johnny Depp continues to channel Keith Richards
as the prancing, affable Captain Jack Sparrow
in the potentially final ode to Disney's
swashbuckling Pirates of the Caribbean
franchise. Kiera Knightly as the tempestuous
Elizabeth Swann joins Mr. Depp’s smoldering
rendition while Orlando Bloom offers a
good-boy, Will Turner, to play against good
ole’ Captain Jack.
The
Goods:
This two-disc Blu-ray set delivers a digital
audio and visual reproduction worthy of the
Blu-ray revolution. Detail down to Mr. Depp's
pores is vividly uncovered from a 1080p fueled
screen. Introductions to the menus by a skull
and crossbones rascal name Jolly Roger help set
the mood for the fun film
The Bads: At about 42 minutes too long, the story drags. A bigger disappointment is that Keith Richards’ historic appearance as Captain's Jacks pop is neither very long nor as energizing as it could have, or should have, been.
The mandatory extras: A first disc as dry as Davy Jones' surreal Locker greets viewers looking for bonus content, delivering only five minutes of lame bloopers, which are really not bloopers in the truest sense. I would think that with the talent assembled for this film there should have been some very engaging behind-the –scenes hijinks, hilarities and/or history.
The second disc is not much more spectacular with an assortment of behind the scenes featurettes that combined offer only about 90 minutes worth of information. I could have used an optional commentary track or cast interviews somewhere along the way me maties..
What I learned? Edgar Allen Poe popularized the Norwegian word maelstrom back in 1841. Use that at an office party.
Above and beyond: All of the extras have been reproduced in 1080p, a welcome sight for the grumps always grousing about high def releases lazily unloading their DVD equivalents extras in 480p transfers.
Fuel the disc revolution: Although the interactive tour of the soundstage, used for the climactic final battle, Enter the Maelstrom, tries hard to make Blu-ray magic, the multimedia moment is merely a bunch more feaurettes (about 30 minutes worth) accessed by clicking icons that pop up over a six minute, time lapse segment of the set's construction. It could have easily been a less labor-intensive documentary with the same impact.
Whatever, it is clearly not as interesting as the Liars Dice game found on the "Dead Man's Chest" Blu-ray release nor as impressive as the Scoundrels at Sea interactive resource found on the "Curse of the Black Pearl."
— Joseph Szadkowski
Spider-Man:
The High-Definition Trilogy from Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment, $62.95 to $92.95.
Director Sam Raimi's trio of films devoted to
the complicated life of Marvel Comics' famed
web-slinger gives Blu-ray owners a breathtaking
look into the complicated life of Peter Parker.
The
goods:
This four-disc DVD package offers a gorgeous,
1080p presentation of the greatest love story
since Superman X-ray eyed Lois Lane and is
loaded with a bevy of misunderstood and just
plain nasty villains.
The bads: Absolutely none of the extras from the first two film's DVD packages are carried over to the massive storage potential of the Blu-ray disc. Only a second cut of Spider-Man 2, well worth watching, is presented.
The mandatory extras: The third film, the weepiest of the bunch, gets a pair of optional commentary tracks, a two-hour documentary and an incredible selection of photo galleries.
Above and beyond: Standard packaging and no surprises, not even a mini-comic of Spider-Man's first appearance in sequential art.
Fuel the disc revolution: A painful reminder that studios will still do the minimal to make a buck. Sony wants people to embrace the Blu-ray format but this set offers little reason to invest in the equipment.
— Joseph Szadkowski
Shrek
The Third, from Paramount Home Entertainment,
Rated: PG, $26.95 to $39.99.
William Steig's gassy green ogre has returned
to the silver screen this year in a story that
has Shrek taking on Prince Charming while
searching for a more “suitable” heir to the Far
Far Away kingdom.
The
goods:
This single HD-DVD disk offers a beautiful
1080p digital to digital reproduction of the
colorful cartoon film. The result are images so
three-dimensional you can almost smell Shrek.
The bads: The 92-minute film is less cutting edge than past films, leaving out some of the more risqué humor. It is possibly more comfortable for the whoe family, however I still giggle when I think about the “Merry Men” and Princess Fiona's unfortunate encounter with lilting bluebird of happiness from the 2001 film.
The mandatory extras: An avalanche of stuff that is more fodder than fun. In fact, so average, that my 8-year old co-reviewer found the bloopers dumb and Merlin's Crystal Ball set top feature "repetitive and pedantic" (or was that Peter Griffin?).
What I learned? The history of the "Happy Birthday" song. You figure out where to find it.
Above and beyond: Props for the 5-minute "How to Be Green" short that offers about a dozen tips for tykes to help save the environment. Includes no references to belching or flatulence.
Fuel the disc revolution: Owners of this HD-DVD version will not be as impressed as with the other releases. They can watch a storyboard version of the film, connect, with some HD DVD players, to a broadband access point where some slightly tech-edgy content can be found and downloaded.
A few other bonuses include a trivia track (already done on standard DVDs) and a biographical overlay (seen during the movie) to access the history of a couple dozen characters. However, the potential best of the bunch, a virtual coloring book, was still not available.
— Joseph Szadkowski
Close
Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary
Ultimate Edition (Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment, Rated PG, $32.95 to
$49.95).
Steven Spielberg's feel good homage to E.T.
gets nearly royal treatment in the Blu-ray
format as the Academy Award winning effort
explores three interconnecting plots of
individuals who have made contact with
extraterrestrials.
The
goods:
Viewers get three versions of the movie: the
1977 theatrical version, the 1980 Special
Edition and 1998 Collector's Edition.
The bads: The box may state 1080p and the colormay look marvelous but the film grain is “strong with this one” (with apologies to Darth Vader).
The mandatory extras: Three documentaries grabbed from the various editions of the film.
Above and beyond: Within the package, viewers will find a mini movie poster that flips over to show a map of the changes in the various versions of the movie.
Fuel the disc revolution: What is really pretty cool is that the three film versions are “assembled” while you watch, to create your preferred version. This means that there are not really “three” movies on each disk, but one basic film that, depending on which version you wish to view, seamlessly imports new or changed scenes.
Because this happens very much behind the scene, and actually most viewers will not even be aware of it, I would have preferred something a little more interactive (a pop up box of version differences did not cut it) since I have to believe most humans on the planet will stick with the 1998 definitive director's cut.
— Jacquie Kubin
The
Jazz Singer: 80th Anniversary Collector’s
Edition (Warner Home Video, $28.99 to
$39.92)
From the moment entertainer Al Jolsen's
utterance of "Wait a minute, wait a minute, you
ain't heard nothin' yet" was synchronized to
celluloid in "The Jazz Singer," the motion
picture was forever changed.
This three disk set presents a film historian's dream loaded with background on the 1927 film and embellished with extras from the period.
The goods: This three-disc DVD package offers a digitally restored version of the 89-minute ground-breaking movie that synchronized sound to celluloid, but also explores its impact and historical context through an abundance of onscreen and hand-held extras.
The bads: Bad sound synchronization and washed out colors (just kidding ...)
The mandatory extras: An optional commentary track from film historians Ron Hutchinson and Vince Giordano along with the 85-minute documentary "The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk,"
Above and beyond: An entire disc packed Vitaphone shorts that revealed to theater audiences the power of sound mirrored to image along with portfolios of mini-reproductions of production notes and photos of the stars.
What I learned? Case Research Labs' AEO light was the key to the early recording of sound on film.
Fuel the disc revolution: Nothing here to tweak the technophiles interest other than a reflection of how far cinema has advanced.
— Joseph Szadkowski
(01/2008) Damages: The Complete First Season
If you missed it then, or just want to enjoy it again before settling in for the second season, the series first season arrives in a three disc Blu-ray set on Tuesday, January 29th.
Writers, producers and series creators Todd A. Kessler, Glen Kessler and Daniel Zelman examine the shadowy complexities of power and its effects on human nature. Remarkably this legal drama that chronicles the mechanizations of a class action suit and the downfall of a billionaire, manages, throughout the entire 13 episodes, to keep it out of the courtroom.
Which happens when witnesses, defendants and lawyers keep showing up dead.
Directorial choices of film stock, camera angles and Goth/alternative music adds a surreal touch to the story arc that pits Mrs. Hewes against a corrupted CEO Arthur Frobisher, played brilliantly by Ted Danson.
1. The goods: Miss Close delivers such a likable but flawed character it is often hard to believe she is as ruthless as the evidence obviously plays her out to be. Excellent cast support from Rose Byrne (as protégé Ellen Parsons), Zeljko Ivanek (attorney Ray Fiske) and the aforementioned Mr. Danson makes "L.A. Law" and "Boston Legal" look like kiddy shows.
By juxtaposing different cinematic techniques viewers are able to keep track of the director’s use of forecasting and flashbacks in telling this gritty, and often surprising, saga.
From the coarse, almost sepia toned scenes that provide insights to motives to the brilliantly clear sharp focus of the present day murder investigation, the look of Damages impacts as much as the story.
2. The mandatory extras: A pair of commentary tracks is the best of the bonuses. The first, in the premiere episode, offers a mildly informative but not inspiring optional commentary with director Allen Coulter, a surprisingly quiet Ms. Close and creators Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman.
A second commentary accompanies episode 11, " I Hate These People," with Zelijko Ivanek (Ray Fiske) ably adding to the discourse.
A pair of behind the scenes featurettes (that should only be watched after enjoying all episodes) are underwhelming and cannot compare to the energy found in any of the episodes.
3. Above and beyond: A confusing menu navigation screen reveals thumbnails of the episodes, no matter what disc is popped in. The problem is viewers can only access the shows available in the disc currently in the player. If they pick a different show they are instructed to pull the disc and put another one in. I am not sure what the point of this is as it causes way more confusion than functionality.
Particularly frustrating is when trying to access special features and being constantly told to pick the third disc. Thank goodness this is not a ten-disc set.
4. Fuel the disc revolution: The interactive "Understanding Class Action" takes visitors to a book spread out on a desk in the Hewes' library. Legal experts explain some of the basic legal terms tossed about during the show, such as numerosity, and quickly covers three famed examples of class action suits (Exxon Valdez, Tobacco and Agent Orange) while clips from the series are interspersed to reinforce the legal concepts presented in the show.
Unfortunately, this type of resource, which does help the viewer to understand the complexities of the type of case being pursued by Patty Hewes and her association, has already been seen ad nauseam in standard DVD technologies (reference most Disney DVD sets), so it won't win any innovation rewards.
— Joseph Szadkowski
(01/2008) When Harry Met Sally: Collector's Edition
Watch enough bad rom-coms and it seems like Hollywood can't get the boy-meets-girl formula right anymore.
The 1989 feature gets a spiffy re-release this month [Jan 15] complete with new feature-ettes and seven deleted scenes.
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan clicked as both feisty friends and later something more in this Rob Reiner comedy. Nora Ephron's script, which lets the leads get to know each other in five-year intervals, builds the romance in jagged, but believable stages. The adorable leads do the rest.
Sure, the film echoed Woody Allen's superior "Annie Hall" in its unabashed affection for Manhattan, but Reiner's comedy delivered a healthier relationship than Allen could ever pen. And Ephron's dialogue is both breezy and poignant.
We may be no closer to answering the film's key question - can men and women be friends without the sex getting in the way? - but at least we have "When Harry Met Sally…" to distract us while we mull it over.
1. The goods: It's only 19 years old, but it's safe to say they don't make 'em like this anymore. Rent "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," or rather don't, and you'll know what we mean. Ryan was the perfect romantic comedy foil for a good decade, and it's easy to see why. She's approachably beautiful and can convey heartbreak with the slightest of gestures. The lead's chemistry is palpable and while Crystal is considered a better comedian than actor, he's remarkable as the affable Harry. Reiner's touch at this point in his career was unparalleled. Every gag and lump in the throat moment works.
2. The Mandatory Extras: The DVD's extras aren't window dressing or extended back-slapping, although we do get a bit of the latter. "When Rob Met Billy" recalls the director's first meeting with his star -- they worked together on "All in the Family." Their bond continues to this day, but their camaraderie helps illustrate their working relationship. Here, we learn Crystal came up with "I'll have what she's having" line, and Crystal complains that Reiner laughed so much he ruined a few takes.
The deleted scenes are mostly solid and could easily be stitched back into the movie without a discernible dip in humor or pacing. The best is watching Sally describe an awful date who would collect the "air" outside when great moments in history happen.
3. Above and Beyond: The commentary track features Reiner, Crystal and Ephron riffing on the film's production. Their memories and banter are razor sharp and will be catnip for the film's hardcore fan base. But where's Meg Ryan?
— Christian Toto
(01/2008) 3:10 to Yuma
Mr. Crowe is especially nasty in delivering a coolness comparable to the devils as the captured career criminal Ben Wade. He portrays a character that finds himself almost sympathetic to the plight of his guard, the passively complex Ben Evans played by Mr. Bale.
The disc also mixes an incredible amount of multimedia goodies to make it strong addition to the Lionsgate Blu-ray library.
2. The mandatory extras: A welcomed commentary track from Mr. Mangold is constantly enlightening and never forced while a posse of featurettes informatively deconstructs the film and the time period. The best of the bunch of mini-documentaries include a 20-minute look at how the Transcontinental Railroad changed America (Sea to Shining Sea) and a 5- minute conversation with the Elmore Leonard who penned the original short story.
3. Above and beyond: A fantastic history lesson awaits those who mosey on over to the Timeline section on the disc. Using the remotes directional pad, knowledge seekers are able to navigate from the 1860s through the1890s learning about the evolution of the Old West.
An ever changing map of the United States western push for territory mixes with text biographies of the characters from the time period as well as significant events that helped shape one of America's most defining times.
4. Fuel the disc revolution: The Timeline was more than enough for me but developers offer the ambitious "Inside Yuma," a multimedia companion to the creation of the film.
A translucent ribbon over one side of the movie offers access to a side by side comparison to the script and storyboards, a picture in picture video display, raw footage from a the scene’s filming (dailies) and even some visual effects creation footage.
The script is an interesting idea except it blocks about 30 percent of the film. Overall, the entire presentation’s navigation is a bit clunky and not quite as slick as the U-Control interface seen in some of the Universal HD-DVDs. However, it is a grand start for Lionsgate
And just for good measure, a menu bar can be quickly brought up on screen anytime during the movie to bookmark memorable scenes.
— Joseph Szadkowski
(12/2007) Blade Runner: Complete Collector's Edition
For this final version, Blade Runner arrives in high definition format packaged with four other adaptations of the film to keep fans slathered in the nourish world of Replicants.
The Final Cut in hi-def, however, is a pure vision of beauty. This film experience is visually crisp, check oot the Spinner vehicles light flares, and delivered with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track. The result is a movie that contains all of the moments and slight nuances that Mr. Scott wanted, but was not able to technically achieve, with the original release.
The set also offers a generous supply of extras to meticulously analyze the history and making of the epic.
The bads: How is it not possible to get director Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford, who played Rick Deckard, the Blade Runner, into a room to offer an optional commentary or picture in picture narrative track while they watch the Final Cut of the film?
This movie may end up as one of the most important pieces of sci-fi cinema ever released and Warner Home Video had a responsibility to get these guys together.
The mandatory extras: Three separate commentary tracks accompany the Final cut, with Ridley Scott going solo, offering some insight into the film, in one. The second track features the writers in another and those all important special effects gurus taking the mike for the third.
For further fun, there is an audio track accompanies the work print version of the movie. Featuring Paul M. Simmon, the author of "Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner," this aural offering delivers a ludicrous Trekkie type of experience.
But wait, there is more. The fourth disk is also loaded with featurettes that includes interviews, screen tests, a generous supply of deleted and alternate scenes and the answer to whether Rick Deckard is a replicant?
What I learned? The beauty of all those extras is that one can become the ultimate trivia maven. But there was some interesting stuff to be learned, including that all of the original negatives from “Blade Runner” were going to be junked by the film storage facility Preferred Media. Luckily, the managers never received a final order to throw out the containers and this bit of sci-fi cinema history was saved. Sad to think what wasn’t.
I also found it interesting that Director Ridley Scott was heavily influenced by “Heavy Metal” magazine that, originally launched in 1977, features the work of some of Europe’s most influential, and avant-garde, graphic artists. A particular Scott favorite was the legendary sequential artist Moebius, or Jean Giraud, who is one of the founding fathers of the modern sequential art, science fiction and fantasy art mediums (http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/giraud.htm).
An interesting bit of trivia learned is that Dustin Hoffman was seriously considered for the part of the stories hero, Rick Deckard, which was played by Harrison Ford. Possibly, had Hoffman taken this role, we would have been spared “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.” Now we will never know.
Above and beyond: An over three hour “making of” documentary will cause Blade Runner junkies to grin bigger than the Joker and please any serious cinema fan. This lengthy documentary offers reflections from most of the cast and production staff, critical behind the scenes footage and, overall, clearly sets a new standard for recording the history of epic film creation.
Fuel the disc revolution: It kills me that with all the ridiculous hoop-la surrounding the set and care taken with massaging the Final Cut print to such visual and aural brilliance that Warner did not strive to release the extras, or at least the mega documentary, in the high-def format, instead of standard DVD quality.
Additionally, with Blade Runner’s incredible cult following, the HD-DVD should have offered some sort of accessibility to an online community, at least as basic as the screening room seen in the Harry Potter release.
— Joseph Szadkowski
(12/2007) The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bads: Unfortunately, it's the overall plot. Actually, it’s not bad. It was just lost somewhere between London and Spain. Director Paul Greengrass brings us plenty of eye candy, but it just becomes one more explosion, one more broken neck as we wait for the payoff.
(Warning Plot Spoiler)
Julia Stiles character Nicky Parsons immediately draws the viewer in, only it never pays off. Joan Allen, as Pamela Landy, promises to bring forth a powerful, if not predicitable, performance of a woman trapped beneath the glass ceiling, but in the end, she sends a fax.
It was extremely frustrating to watch Nicky, the token damsel that once again opts to unselfishly help Bourne, putting herself into serious harms way leading to the obligatory black hair dye job only to be dropped at the bus station with a cryptic “It gets easier” kind of line as she takes off for a life on the lam from the CIA. That’s it. No kiss. No “I’ll see you later kid,” not even a warm hand squeeze and a thank you.
Then the way the film ends (warning, BIGGER plot spoiler), she no longer needs to be on the run, so I am not sure if her presence in the movie would even serve to create some type of sequel or spin-off opportunity. But it is obvious that beyond saving her from the evil “asset” sent to kill them both, Bourne cares little for her, at least romantically. So why should the viewer?
Her part could have been clipped after her conversation with the CIA Director Vosen and it would not have been missed. Instead we are treated to many minutes of classic “damsel in distress” door banging and staircase climbing only to have Bourne kill yet another man. Really, I get it. Bourne is a trained, albeit reluctant, assassin.
While actors Glenn and Stratharn are well liked for their ability to provide the very serious, in-it-for-themselves at all other costs, type of characters, we are not sure why they are in it. Is it for the power of being able to command others to kill at will? Is it a loosely stated “we need to save America” sentiment?
Or are they just two guys with too much power that are little more than street corner bullies? Who knows. Who cares.
And then there is Jason Bourne – I quit caring about his problems a few moments into the film. While, admittedly, Matt Damon commands the role of the dour faced Bourne with deftness, I see no emotion in this character other than the “I am mad and need to get even” persona he wears so well.
This would have been a time to flash back to his life as a human, versus the machine like assassin he is rebelling against. Instead we are treated to the same series of “before” photos showing him enduring a series of terrifying experiences at the hands of Dr. Albert Hirsch (Albert Finney).
I enjoyed watching the film because it is beautifully created, but the lack of substance in the plot, the many talents left unfurled, the stoic -ness of the film will keep me from coming back. It’s all flash. No substance.
The mandatory extras: A solo, optional commentary track from director Paul Greengrass sheds an enormous amount of light on filming an action movie. Of the four featurettes (also available in a picture in picture commentary), "Man on the Move: Jason Bourne" is best and offers around a 30 minute taste of the behind the scenes fun at each of the film's international locations.
Above and beyond: The Blackbriar Files' overlay offers a mixed media, encyclopedic presentation surrounding the film. Resources include a look at many of the spy gadgets used throughout the film and a breakdown of the fight between Jason Bourne and assassin Desh that bullet points each attack move and the resulting physical damage to each character. A really slick idea that really adds to the value the "Bourne Ultimatum" HD-DVD experience.
Fuel the disc revolution: The Hi-Def version offers a fun little game that has viewers watching 20 separate film clips and then answering a question about it. We played and got 13 out of the 20 questions correct which resulted in our classification as a Paramilitary Operations Officer in the Clandestine Service. This makes us responsible for the organization and execution of intelligence operations in foreign countries.
This classification allows us to conduct missions at a sub station in Zurich, while posing as a French Marketing Executive for your public persona and you have a credit card limit of $60,000. You also get a ski pass and a private sailboat.
However, that’s it. You get the classification, a letter that details what it means, and that’s it. There is no game to play, not even a question and answer scenario. Nothing.
Go back and play again? Same-clips, same-answers. Only this time you know what to look for, so it’s easy to get them right.
— Jacquie Kubin
(12/2007) Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
As far as the digital transfer, the film boasts vibrant colors and, at times, almost takes on a 3D quality, especially during the expansive outdoor flying scenes and final wizard duels.
This single HD-DVD is also a “combo-disc” with one side offering the movie in high-def version with the flip side containing a standard DVD format version. Having both versions of the movie may be important to some viewers, however it would seem that the space might have been better used for an any number of enhanced “extra features” that would better serve the viewers entertainment quest.
The bads: The HD-DVD does not contain the 45-minute “The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter” documentary found on both the Blu-ray and standard DVD releases. However, this may not be such an egregious oversight as it is little more than a promotional piece disguised as an A&E documentary but at least it was something. OK, so nothing bad really, I was just left wanting more.
The mandatory extras: A selection of deleted scenes and a set tour with actress Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks).
What I learned? Actor Rupert (AKA Ron Weasley) Grint’s dream job is to be an ice-cream man. I thought he already had a dream job?
Above and beyond: A commentary track from the director, David Yates is glaringly absent. This would have been particularly interesting as he is the third director, joining Chris Columbus, Mike Newell and Alfonoso Cuarón, to interpret author J.K. Rowling’s mysterious universe.
Fuel the disc revolution: We have a winner folks. With the HD-DVD player hooked into a broadband Internet connection, multiple viewers can register and join in on a “Live Community Screening.” This feature allows multiple disk owners to synchronize their HD-DVD players, from other locations, to watch the movie at the same time and even text-chat amongst themselves.
The host, or person who initiates the Live Community Screening, controls playback and the live text chats. Guests communicate through either Warner software for their PC and WAP (wireless application protocol) enabled cell phone or via the HD-DVD player.).
Another fantastic bonus is the "In-Movie Experience.” It delivers a rotating golden disc about every five minutes. With a click to the disk the viewer can open up various video segments culled from the 28-part “The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter” documentary that relate to the current movie clip being seen.
Also, with the In-Movie Experience on character facts or picture-in-picture vignettes open to present behind the scenes commentary including some interesting anecdotes from some of the young actors who were part of Dumbledore's Army.
— Jacquie Kubin
(12/2007) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The Bads: At about 42 minutes too long, the story drags. A bigger disappointment is that Keith Richards’ historic appearance as Captain's Jacks pop is neither very long nor as energizing as it could have, or should have, been.
The mandatory extras: A first disc as dry as Davy Jones' surreal Locker greets viewers looking for bonus content, delivering only five minutes of lame bloopers, which are really not bloopers in the truest sense. I would think that with the talent assembled for this film there should have been some very engaging behind-the –scenes hijinks, hilarities and/or history.
The second disc is not much more spectacular with an assortment of behind the scenes featurettes that combined offer only about 90 minutes worth of information. I could have used an optional commentary track or cast interviews somewhere along the way me maties..
What I learned? Edgar Allen Poe popularized the Norwegian word maelstrom back in 1841. Use that at an office party.
Above and beyond: All of the extras have been reproduced in 1080p, a welcome sight for the grumps always grousing about high def releases lazily unloading their DVD equivalents extras in 480p transfers.
Fuel the disc revolution: Although the interactive tour of the soundstage, used for the climactic final battle, Enter the Maelstrom, tries hard to make Blu-ray magic, the multimedia moment is merely a bunch more feaurettes (about 30 minutes worth) accessed by clicking icons that pop up over a six minute, time lapse segment of the set's construction. It could have easily been a less labor-intensive documentary with the same impact.
Whatever, it is clearly not as interesting as the Liars Dice game found on the "Dead Man's Chest" Blu-ray release nor as impressive as the Scoundrels at Sea interactive resource found on the "Curse of the Black Pearl."
— Joseph Szadkowski
(11/2007) Spider-Man: The High-Definition Trilogy
The bads: Absolutely none of the extras from the first two film's DVD packages are carried over to the massive storage potential of the Blu-ray disc. Only a second cut of Spider-Man 2, well worth watching, is presented.
The mandatory extras: The third film, the weepiest of the bunch, gets a pair of optional commentary tracks, a two-hour documentary and an incredible selection of photo galleries.
Above and beyond: Standard packaging and no surprises, not even a mini-comic of Spider-Man's first appearance in sequential art.
Fuel the disc revolution: A painful reminder that studios will still do the minimal to make a buck. Sony wants people to embrace the Blu-ray format but this set offers little reason to invest in the equipment.
— Joseph Szadkowski
(11/2007) Shrek The Third
The bads: The 92-minute film is less cutting edge than past films, leaving out some of the more risqué humor. It is possibly more comfortable for the whoe family, however I still giggle when I think about the “Merry Men” and Princess Fiona's unfortunate encounter with lilting bluebird of happiness from the 2001 film.
The mandatory extras: An avalanche of stuff that is more fodder than fun. In fact, so average, that my 8-year old co-reviewer found the bloopers dumb and Merlin's Crystal Ball set top feature "repetitive and pedantic" (or was that Peter Griffin?).
What I learned? The history of the "Happy Birthday" song. You figure out where to find it.
Above and beyond: Props for the 5-minute "How to Be Green" short that offers about a dozen tips for tykes to help save the environment. Includes no references to belching or flatulence.
Fuel the disc revolution: Owners of this HD-DVD version will not be as impressed as with the other releases. They can watch a storyboard version of the film, connect, with some HD DVD players, to a broadband access point where some slightly tech-edgy content can be found and downloaded.
A few other bonuses include a trivia track (already done on standard DVDs) and a biographical overlay (seen during the movie) to access the history of a couple dozen characters. However, the potential best of the bunch, a virtual coloring book, was still not available.
— Joseph Szadkowski
(11/2007) Close Encounters: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition
The bads: The box may state 1080p and the colormay look marvelous but the film grain is “strong with this one” (with apologies to Darth Vader).
The mandatory extras: Three documentaries grabbed from the various editions of the film.
Above and beyond: Within the package, viewers will find a mini movie poster that flips over to show a map of the changes in the various versions of the movie.
Fuel the disc revolution: What is really pretty cool is that the three film versions are “assembled” while you watch, to create your preferred version. This means that there are not really “three” movies on each disk, but one basic film that, depending on which version you wish to view, seamlessly imports new or changed scenes.
Because this happens very much behind the scene, and actually most viewers will not even be aware of it, I would have preferred something a little more interactive (a pop up box of version differences did not cut it) since I have to believe most humans on the planet will stick with the 1998 definitive director's cut.
— Jacquie Kubin
(11/2007) The Jazz Singer: 80th Anniversary Collector’s Edition
This three disk set presents a film historian's dream loaded with background on the 1927 film and embellished with extras from the period.
The goods: This three-disc DVD package offers a digitally restored version of the 89-minute ground-breaking movie that synchronized sound to celluloid, but also explores its impact and historical context through an abundance of onscreen and hand-held extras.
The bads: Bad sound synchronization and washed out colors (just kidding ...)
The mandatory extras: An optional commentary track from film historians Ron Hutchinson and Vince Giordano along with the 85-minute documentary "The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk,"
Above and beyond: An entire disc packed Vitaphone shorts that revealed to theater audiences the power of sound mirrored to image along with portfolios of mini-reproductions of production notes and photos of the stars.
What I learned? Case Research Labs' AEO light was the key to the early recording of sound on film.
Fuel the disc revolution: Nothing here to tweak the technophiles interest other than a reflection of how far cinema has advanced.
— Joseph Szadkowski
