Stan Dragoti's football comedy Necessary Roughness comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Closed-captioned English soundtracks are rendered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Surround, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround as well. English subtitles are accessible. Although there are no supplemental materials of any consequence, it should be noted that this Paramount DVD makes the film look and sound superb.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
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.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Who would have expected a special edition for '80s cult film The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension? That is exactly what MGM has delivered with this DVD, and the results are exceptional. The special features for this disc are rather unique, as they present this film like Bonzai actually lived. A nice documentary, with vintage interviews from the cast, and new material with director W.D. Richter doesn't go into great detail, but is still informative and amusing. A real plus is a commentary track with Richter and writer Earl Mac Rauch. Also, on a subtitle track, information is presented as fact about the history of the characters. Knowing the movie is obviously fiction makes this track all the more entertaining. In addition, there are character profiles, information about the "jet car," a photo gallery, an alternate opening (with Jamie Lee Curtis), a tease trailer, deleted scenes, and much more. As for the picture and sound, care has been taken there also. The 2.35:1 anamorphic image is the best this film has seen since the theaters. Though not without some problems, such as moments of grain, it looks far better than would be expected for such a relatively unknown movie. The sound is also good, but not necessarily strong. The 5.1 English track is primarily centered upfront, with only limited use of the surrounds. The front right and left speakers do get some use, creating a little directional effect. Also available is a mono track in French, as well as subtitles in French and Spanish. While there is no question this isn't a film that will ever appeal to a wide audience, fans will be highly grateful that so much work went into this disc.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Adapting the themes of the 1948 film Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House, this comedy stars Tom Hanks as Walter Fielding, who with his love Anna (Shelley Long) decides to buy a suburban New York home for next-to-nothing. Both Anna and Walter are willing to fix what ails the house and since they are both successful professionals, that should not be too difficult. Unfortunately, what ails the house might be terminal as the rest of the film chronicles the battle between the couple and the disintegrating structure. Construction workers come in to make matters either worse or better -- or both.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Simon Wincer's family-friendly science-fiction film D.A.R.Y.L. arrives on DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. An English soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Mono. English subtitles are accessible. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, but this is an inexpensive release from Paramount.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
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.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Forever Young's birth on DVD (single-layered) comes with only production notes and theatrical trailers as bonus or special features. Its picture format is a non-anamorphic, full-screen standard with the usual 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Audio features include English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), and French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), with subtitles available in English, Spanish, and French. Sound quality is disappointingly similar to that of VHS or ordinary television and is barely stereophonic. The DVD case has a cardboard cover that includes a chapter index.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
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.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Yes!! It is very much worth it. They make your tv look the very best that it can in your setting. I would recommend anyone doing this with a tv 42" or larger.