This release from the cult favorite sci-fi Western series Firefly includes all 13 episodes of the show, following the crew of the freighter ship Serenity as they survive the wild expanse of the newly colonized galaxy taking up jobs on both sides of the law.
Bill Kroyer's ecologically themed feature-length animated film FernGully: The Last Rainforest comes to DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen anamorphic transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and is preferable in every way to the standard full-frame transfer. Closed-captioned English soundtracks are rendered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Surround, while a French soundtrack has also been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a theatrical trailer. This is a solid family-friendly release from 20th Century Fox.
MGM brings Mel Brooks' science fiction farce Spaceballs to DVD with both widescreen and standard versions on the same disc, and 5.1 Surround Sound, though the movie's lackluster production values make it difficult to discern the quality of the transfer. Still, for fans of actor/writer/director Brooks, the full-length commentary (originally recorded for the laserdisc release) includes his trademark quips and a genuine appreciation of the actors and other collaborators on the film. He has an amazing memory for the details of their careers before and after working with him. It's also refreshing for a director to mock his own work, as well as laugh at the comic bits he has undoubtedly seen dozens of times. In a brief behind-the-scenes featurette, cast members John Candy, Rick Moranis, and others talk about the pleasure of working with Brooks and share stories of on-set goofiness. Basically, for fans of Brooks' unique comic sensibilities, the DVD makes a worthwhile evening's entertainment.