George Roy Hill directs Michael Sacks in this filmed adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s acclaimed semiautobiographical novel Slaughterhouse Five. A fantastical retelling of the bombing of Dresden, the film jumps back and forth between several different points in the life of Billy Pilgrim, WWII soldier-turned-optometrist-turned-alien zoo attraction. Released to DVD for the second time, the film has yet to receive a proper treatment. This time around, the film is presented in widescreen with Dolby Digital Mono sound. Void of any supplemental materials, the disc is rounded out by English, French, and Spanish subtitles.
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Long before Rat Race, director Stanley Kramer put together a cast of notable comic talents and sent them on a madcap chase around the country looking for lost loot. Now, MGM has seen fit to release It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World in a solid DVD package that's sure to satisfy fans of the film. The picture is presented in a 16 x 9 widescreen transfer. As this is an older film, the print has a bit of wear and tear, though nothing to get upset over. It's certainly better than most VHS editions. Sound is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and is a worthy treatment, though nothing earth-shaking. Extras include a lengthy documentary on the making of the film, a truckload of extended scenes, and a pair of trailers. With such a fine cast, many of whom are still living, a commentary track would have been welcome. However, even without it, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is offered in a fine DVD edition and is certainly worth owning.
While not quite a special edition, the re-release of The Fugitive makes up for what the original disc lacked. As with the first DVD, this disc has excellent picture and sound. The image, which is as good if not better than the previous release, uses a strong anamorphic transfer in the original theatrical aspect ration of 1.85:1. The detail is sharp and colors are consistent. In addition, blacks are deep and solid. The sound is equally impressive. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track is filled with effects that take advantage of the entire sound spectrum. A surround track in French, and subtitles in English and French, are also included. The original release of this title did not even have a trailer so it is exciting to see a little extra work go into this release. The highlight is a commentary track from director Andrew Davis and actor Tommy Lee Jones. Actually, Jones is rarely heard on this track, but Davis makes up for his absence with plenty of anecdotal information on making the film. Some of the things he talks about come as a real surprise. The rest of the supplemental information is not nearly as interesting, but still welcome. A 20-minute featurette called "On the Run With the Fugitive" combines film clips with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, but lacks depth. The other featurette is a seven-minute piece called "Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck"; while fascinating, it is too short. The least interesting extra on this disc is an introduction from Davis and Harrison Ford, which is nothing more than a very brief set of interviews. Biographies and filmographies of the main players as well as the theatrical trailer are also included. While superior to the first disc Warner released, it really could use more to make it feel complete.
This release contains every episode from the first season of True Detective, the HBO series starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as two police detectives investigating the ritualistic murder of a woman, and uncovering a possibly conspiracy in the process. Meanwhile, their own personal lives are a wreck, often affecting how they do their job. Series creator Nic Pizzolatto wrote ever episode, and each was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga.
Universal's DVD release of Stanley Kubrick's restored classic Spartacus comes with a wealth of interesting information befitting a spectacle of its grandeur. The film, which has been painstakingly reassembled and restored, includes five minutes cut from its original release, notably the notorious "Snails and Oysters" scene between Laurence Olivier and Tony Curtis. Also included are the original overture and extended soundtrack. This DVD also boasts comprehensive biographies and extensive filmographies on the film's seven main actors and director Kubrick, as well as meticulously detailed production notes spanning the time from the original production to Universal's dedicated film restoration. The film can be viewed with either French or Spanish subtitles. It is presented in full Dolby Surround Sound and in its original 70 mm widescreen format. Notably missing is the film's original trailer (included are two later trailers) and any form of documentary or commentary from the film's surviving cast. Still, the wealth of information on the production notes and cast, as well as the deleted scenes and music, make up for what is lacking, making this edition the film's most definitive version.