Phil Alden Robinson's elegiac ode to the healing powers of baseball, Field of Dreams, has been given the special edition two-disc treatment by Universal. The only complaint one could have about this disc, and it is a substantial one, is the fact that the film is presented in a standard full-frame image that fails to preserve the original theatrical aspect ratio of the movie. Cropping this film is a huge disservice, especially when one hears from cinematographer John Lindley during the commentary track on how much effort and skill went into the complicated lighting techniques used in the film. He and director Robinson provide an excellent commentary track that deftly balances actual filmmaking stories with production trivia and personal recollections. The copious supplemental materials include a look at the actual set as it looks today, a documentary in which the filmmakers and professional ballplayers discuss the effect the film and the game have had on them and their relationships with their fathers, a roundtable discussion featuring star Kevin Costner and major league pitcher Brett Saberhagen, deleted scenes, a nearly hour-long documentary about the making of the film that appeared originally on the Bravo cable network, and trivia abut each of the major league ballparks. The extras on this disc are excellent, but the full-frame image is a true disappointment.

This 1998 Academy Award winner comes to DVD digitally remastered (THX) in a widescreen 16 X 9 transfer, dual layered. The sound is in both English 5.1 (Channel AC-3), and English 2.0 Dolby Pro Logic. English closed-captions are available. The first menu gives the user a graphically charming choice: click the upper sphere for heaven or the lower sphere for hell. Both lead into the same menu options, with one background bright and mystical and the other dark and fiery. Features of this special edition include notes on the visual effects, plus clips by the effect creators, a photo gallery, brief bios of the cast and filmmakers, a collection of Windows/Mac wallpaper images, two theatrical trailers, and a somewhat jerky behind-the-scenes featurette with comments by the actors and filmmakers. French and Spanish subtitles are included. The plastic package comes with a four-page booklet that includes some production notes, some small screen shots from this visually stunning film, and a list of chapters.