The DVD of The Green Mile -- Frank Darabont's second film adaptation of a Stephen King novel about hope and redemption in prison -- gives the three-hour epic a rather sparse presentation: along with a widescreen, anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio, the disc also includes "Walking the Mile," a ten-minute "making of" featurette, as well as production notes and the theatrical trailer. Considering the film's commercial and critical success (it received six Academy award nominations, including nods for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Michael Clarke Duncan), it's surprising and somewhat disappointing that the disc neglects to include commentary from or interviews with Darabont, Tom Hanks, Duncan, or any of the cast and crew. However, Darabont's just-this-side-of sentimental direction and strong performances from Hanks, Duncan, and Michael Jeter hold up just as well on video as they did on the big screen, making The Green Mile a worthwhile disc despite its lack of extra features.
Stanley Kubrick's Vietnam war opus Full Metal Jacket is available as part of the Stanley Kubrick collection from Warner Bros. Featuring a digital master from restored elements and a soundtrack newly remastered in Dolby Digitial 5.1, this title looks and sounds great. The only qualm, and it is a rather major one, is the format of the film itself. It is unfortunately presented in full screen, not the original widescreen format many DVD lovers have become accustomed to. As for bonus materials, the title is on the skimpy side, offering only the original theatrical trailer, scene access, and language choices in English and French. Subtitles are also available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Frank Darabont's critically acclaimed, quietly popular 1994 debut The Shawshank Redemption comes to DVD in a simple presentation that features a widescreen, anamorphic transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio, a stills gallery, and the theatrical trailer. With an understated, well-crafted film like this one, the focus should be on the finished work, but a Darabont commentary, filmography, "making of" featurette, and other extra features would make a nice counterpart to the film's restraint. Hopefully, Warner Home Video will see fit to release a deluxe version of The Shawshank Redemption that gives the film the treatment it deserves.
Enjoy clear communication with this Vtech VT CS6649 expandable phone system that features a digital answering system to record up to 14 minutes of messages. DECT 6.0 technology offers enhanced clarity and secure conversations.