John Rambo is back for the third time on DVD with this Ultimate Edition of Rambo: First Blood Part II from Lion's Gate Home Entertainment. Only George P. Cosmatos' commentary has been carried over from Artisan's previous discs, though that doesn't mean that this disc isn't packed. In probably one of the most overblown bonuses since the Blair Witch 2's "The Secret of Esrever" DVD feature, Rambo has been graced with a "Survival Mode" feature that is every bit as worthless as it sounds. Using branching technology, the disc's producers have outfitted the DVD to give the viewer access to special character information, map recreations, and some rather ridiculous animations that serve no purpose other than to just be "flashy." The fact that they have chosen a name like "Survival Mode" to represent all of these features is fitting, since watching the film like this really is like a game of endurance for people with very little time on their hands. Other than the uneven group of bonus features, the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture sports fine contrast and details, while the 5.1 Dolby Digital audio sports a exemplary mix that explodes with action and does a good job at transporting the viewer into the jungle setting. As far as the commentary goes, Cosmatos might be a little too technical at times, but his knowledge of the stunt work is a big bonus that keeps the track interesting throughout. When all is said and done, the disc is worth purchasing for first-time buyers of the series, but should be of no use to those who own the previous superior discs. This DVD is also available in a three-disc Collector's Set of all three Ultimate Edition discs of this blockbuster series.
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.
Danny Cannon directs Sylvester Stallone in the science-fiction action film Judge Dredd, which comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. An English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, and a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions on this release. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer. This is a fine release from Disney/Buena Vista.
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.
American Wedding, the third film in the successful film series that started with American Pie, gets some bonus footage added to it on this DVD release. This disc contains both the original theatrical cut and an unrated version. Both are presented in widescreen anamorphic transfers that produce an image with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. English, Spanish, and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. The extensive supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by members of the cast and crew, bloopers, deleted scenes, three featurettes, and a short section that defines the various unique phrases used by the irrepressible Stifler. This is a great disc for fans of the series.
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.
Jon Turteltaub's 1992 family action movie 3 Ninjas comes to DVD from Touchstone Home Entertainment with a widescreen transfer. The Dolby Digital Surround soundtrack is rendered in English. Closed captions are available. There are no special features to speak of.
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.
The heroes of the family adventure comedy 3 Ninjas return in this sequel (though not all of them are played by the same actors). Rocky (Sean Fox), Colt (Max Elliott Slade), and Tum Tum (Evan Bonifant) are three brothers whose Grandfather (Victor Wong) is a ninja master teaching them martial arts skills. The boys' Little League team has a big game coming up, but before they can hit the diamond, they have to help Grandpa return a sacred Ninja dagger to Japan. However, one of Grandpa's longtime enemies, now a wealthy and ruthless businessman, plans to steal the knife, and the boys are sent on a mission to Japan to rescue the valuable weapon. At first the tycoon sends his inept nephew to face off against the young Ninjas, but when that plan fails, Rocky, Colt, and Tum Tum are met by a team of trained warriors, who to their surprise are led by a teenage girl named Miyo (Caroline Junko King). Miyo soon strikes up a friendship with the brothers who are supposed to be her sworn enemies, and with her help they recover the knife and teach her a few things about baseball that come in handy when the big game finally rolls around.
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.
In yet another sequel to the surprise family hit 3 Ninjas, the three young Ninja brothers, Rocky (Michael Treanor), Colt (Max Elliott Slade), and Tum Tum (Chad Power), are spending the summer with their grandfather (Victor Wong), who is tutoring them in the martial arts. However, there are foul doings afoot -- Jack (Charles Napier), an unscrupulous business tycoon, has been dumping toxic waste on a nearby Indian burial ground and keeping the matter quiet with kickbacks to the local police. When the Ninja brothers try to come to the aid of the local Indian tribe, Jack tries to intimidate them and their Native American friends, a plan that only makes the boys more determined to see that justice is done. 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up was actually shot in 1994, a year before 3 Ninjas Kick Back, and features the same three actors who played the Ninja brothers in the first film. However, 3 Ninja Kick Back, which replaced two members of the original cast, was released first.
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 action comedy gets a simple but effective presentation on DVD. Gotcha! has been transferred to disc in its original widescreen aspect ratio, letterboxed on conventional televisions and enhanced for widescreen playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The English-language audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono, and the disc includes optional subtitles in French and Spanish. No bonus material has been included for this edition.
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.
Howard Zieff's childhood comedy-drama My Girl comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that fails to preserve the original theatrical aspect ratio of the film. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, and a Spanish soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Mono. Subtitles are accessible in all three of those languages as well. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer. This is an undistinguished release from Columbia/TriStar.
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.