Michael Crichton's Coma was one of the earlier films released on DVD, coming out in 1999, at a time when the format had already (and unexpectedly early) become profitable, but the technology was still new. Warner Home Video tried to be ambitious and generous, but this disc is hampered by the limitations that existed in the format. Each side has a different transfer of the movie, one letterboxed to the non-anamorphic 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the original release, and the other full-screen (1.33:1). The letterboxed version is preferable, maintaining Crichton's original tight image framing, which enhances the feeling of claustrophobia and paranoia one should get while watching the movie. The 113-minute film has also been given a whopping 30 chapters, which break the plot down very neatly. The flaws can be found in the details; the Dolby Digital Mono audio, though clean, has been mastered at an extremely low volume level, which is likely to require viewers to have to drastically turn up the normal setting on their televisions just to get to an acceptable volume -- and that's essential to appreciate the complex and subtle score by Jerry Goldsmith. Additionally, this was an early digital transfer, and while it does run circles around the old laserdisc edition, there are momentary digital artifacts that probably would be avoided on a modern transfer. The only bonus feature is the original trailer, which must be accessed manually along with the main menu -- otherwise, as with many discs of this period, the movie begins automatically on startup of the disc. There are also options for French and English subtitles.
The 2002 sequel to Tim Allen's holiday blockbuster The Santa Clause is given a more than adequate treatment on its first DVD release. For a film directed primarily at children, there is a surprising abundance of special features packed into this single-disc package. Director Michael Lembeck provides a feature-length audio commentary track for viewers interested in some insight into what went into the film's creation. For more behind-the-scenes info, a making-of featurette and a "Tour of Elfsburg" are included too. Additionally, fans of the film should be happy to discover a selection of seven scenes that were left on the cutting room floor and a collection of humorous outtakes. For younger audience-members, there is a game that can be played on the TV, interviews with other mythical holiday characters and, several DVD-ROM games and activities. On the technical side, the disc features a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer of the film that preserves its original aspect ratio (a full-screen version is also available), the English, French, and Spanish soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and optional English subtitles are available.
This box set contains every episode from the second season of Touched by an Angel. Each is presented in a standard full-frame transfer that preserves the original broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The show's second season found former One Day at a Time star Valerie Bertinelli joining the cast.