Monsters is not what you think it is--it's not a straight up monster or alien invasion film. Instead it focuses on the relationship between the two lead characters. This truly is a triumph of independent filmmaking given it was made by a cast and crew of just four people in several different countries. It actually looks much more expensive then it is. Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 568090390
What's great about it: Excellent plot...not what you think!
What's not so great: Effects could be better but they were on a budget.
My absolute favorite film of 2012. The performances across the board are fantastic, lead by DDL, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. Certainly ranks as one of Spielberg's greatest film achievements.
My Best Buy number: 568090390
What's great about it: Daniel Day Lewis' performance!
The Karate Kid Part II lacks any exciting bonus features, but it does offer a few supplements. A six-minute featurette contains basic information about the film from interviews with director John Avildsen, producer Jerry Weintraub, and Pat Morita. Created at the time of its original release, this feature comes in an unimpressive full-frame format. The other major section is a series of trailers for this film and a few other Columbia Tristar releases. The previews for The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II come in poor, full-frame transfers with very limited sound. There are also selected filmographies for Ralph Macchio, Morita, and Avildsen. The 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer features impressive moments of shining colors and excellent clarity. Much of this transfer works nicely, but there are some moments where the contrast suffers and the picture becomes dark and grainy. This could stem from the age of the print, but it's still disappointing in the overall sense. Even given its uneven nature, this transfer still does a decent job in presenting the story. This disc also contains a 1.33:1 full-screen transfer for people more accustomed to television viewing. Bill Conti's rousing score and Peter Cetera's cheesy title track both spring nicely from the speakers on this well-done audio transfer. Although it is only a 2.0-channel Dolby Surround track, the force of the sound renders the limitations less important than usual. The dialogue is clear and understandable throughout the running time, and the sounds have a full texture with plenty of depth.
The Karate Kid Part II is not quite as great or original as the first movie, but still has charm primarily due to the great performances of Pat Morita and Ralph Machhio. For those of us who grew up in the 80's this is a nice piece of childhood. Good video and audio quality to boot. Recommended!
My Best Buy number: 568090390
What's great about it: The cinematography, good performances.
What's not so great: Plot is very similar to the original.