Academia will never be the same when Rodney Dangerfield enrolls to become the wackiest student ever in the quintessential 1980s comedy Back to School! Presented in non-anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen, MGM has done a fair job on this transfer. Although there are some dirt and imperfections present, overall the color levels are dutifully even, with solid blacks. It is a shame that MGM decided not to make Back to School enhanced for widescreen TVs, but what is available should please fans of the film. With only a slight amount of edge enhancement present, this transfer ranks well above average. Also included on side B of this disc is a standard 1.33:1 version of the film (same quality as side A, only this version of Back to School is chopped off on the sides). Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (in English, French, and Spanish) and could have really benefited from a Dolby 5.1 remix. As it stands, this Dolby 2.0 Surround track works well, with center and front directional speakers utilized (though not to the fullest extent). The dialogue, effects, and Danny Elfman's energetic score are all distortion-free, with minimal hiss present. Also included on the disc are French and Spanish subtitles. Back to School certainly could take a few lessons from other DVD editions, as MGM has decided to make this version very basic. The only supplemental feature included on this disc is a humorous, full-frame theatrical trailer. For audio and video this disc makes the grade. For bonus materials, Back to School is going to need some serious extra credit work to pass.

The Money Pit [DVD]

A quick-witted loan shark (John Travolta) ends up in showbiz after pitching a script to a down-on-his-luck filmmaker (Gene Hackman) in this hilarious satire of Hollywood dysfunction from director Barry Sonnenfeld. Viewable in either the original 1.85:1 widescreen theatrical version or standard 1.33:1 full-screen pan-and-scan, and featuring a closed-captioned English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, this release also offers alternate Spanish Dolby Digital Surround and French Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks in addition to optional English, Spanish, and Korean subtitles. Extra features offer nothing more than a theatrical trailer.

Action icons Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone are two cocky cops who team up to take down a drug baron in this Warner Home Video release. Presented in anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen (enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs) and featuring an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix, this release also features an additional French Dolby Digital Surround soundtrack as well as optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles. Extra features, though slim, include production notes and theatrical trailers.