12 Monkeys finally gets stellar treatment on DVD from Universal Home Entertainment with this special edition of the 1995 hit. Two previous movie-only DVD versions have been released through the years, but neither was able to touch the laserdisc release, which included the incredible Hamster Factor documentary and the commentary from Terry Gilliam and producer Charles Roven. For those that have been waiting to throw those valuable discs in storage, this is your chance. Both features have been added to this DVD, and rightly so! For those who don't know, The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of 12 Monkeys is a 90-minute making-of from the same people that brought you the fabulous Lost in La Mancha documentary, which Gilliam granted permission to film because of Hamster's success. The commentary is just as entertaining and informative, with both bonus features acting as a complimentary story of the long and arduous shoot, which in itself provides just as much drama and comedy as the actual film. Other extras include the original theatrical trailer, along with the 12 Monkey Archives, which is packed with plenty of production sketches and storyboards. Production notes have been included if anyone is interested, though the real good stuff lies in the rest of the extras and the all-new digitally remastered picture, which showcases the truly incredible anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen image that paired with the Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks make for a well done and highly in-demand disc that should do quite well on the rental and retail shelves.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fans of this lighthearted romantic fluff will no doubt be pleased with Paramount's DVD edition. The picture is an eye-pleasing 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer that nicely captures the Chicago settings. A film as dialogue-heavy as this one doesn't usually benefit from Dolby Digital 5.1, but certain scenes do stand out, most notably during Mel Gibson's dancing to Frank Sinatra. Director Nancy Meyers and production designer Jon Hutman provide a commentary that is more informative than one might expect. Meyers gives some good behind-the-scenes info and shares some good anecdotes as well. Additionally, there are a pair of featurettes that are mostly promotional in nature, but offer up some good footage of the film being shot, as well as a couple of good bits about the film's creation. A complaint must be lodged about the lack of deleted scenes, as the included trailers show a handful of sequences that were indeed removed from the final cut. Still, it's a minor quibble when compared to the other solid offerings to be found on this DVD.
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 Stanley Cup showdown turns into a tense standoff with terrorrists in Universal Studios Home Video's release of Peter Hyams's Sudden Death. Presented in 1.33:1 full frame and offering audio rendered in English Dolby Digital 5.1, alternate French and Spanish soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Surround Sound with optional Spanish subtitles. Extra features include production notes, talent biographies, film highlights 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.
Philip Kaufman's adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel Rising Sun comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include the original theatrical trailer. This is a decent disc from 20th Century Fox that will satisfy fans of the film, but does nothing to reach those who ignored it during its theatrical release.
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.