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- Review count1106
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- First reviewApril 12, 2008
- Last reviewMay 22, 2008
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![Mad Max [Special Edition] [DVD] [1979]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4371/4371478_sa.jpg)
Mel Gibson stars in the futuristic action-thriller gone awry Mad Max. MGM has done a great job on this 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, which is easily leaps and bounds over Image Entertainment's initial release of the film a few years back. All aspects of the colors look even and bright with the black levels well-rendered and dark. Aside from a small amount of grain that shows up once in a while, this transfer of Mad Max: Special Edition looks fantastic. Also included on this disc is a cropped pan-and-scan version of the film which is not recommended. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in both the original Australian soundtrack as well as the horrible English-dubbed version fans had to put up with for years. The surround feature kicks in a lot during this soundtrack, and, overall, this is a great-sounding 5.1 mix with all aspects of the dialogue, effects, and composer Brian May's score clear and free of distortion. Also included on this disc is a Dolby 2.0 soundtrack in English and Australian, and subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. This new special edition of Mad Max includes some very exciting and insightful extras. To start with, there is an audio commentary by art director Jon Dowding, director of photography David Eggby, special effects supervisor Chris Murray, and film historian Tom Ridge. All of the participants on this track seem to really enjoy the film and have a lot of stories to share about the production and creation of Mad Max. A "road rants trivia and fun facts" track features info on the film shared through words and sentences appearing on the screen. Two featurettes, "Mad Max: The Film Phenomenon" and "Mel Gibson: The Birth of a Superstar," are both interesting and informative. Each featurette focuses on either superstar Mel Gibson and his role in the movie, or what the movie means now to modern-day audiences, as well as its place in cinematic history. Finally there is a colorful stills gallery, a theatrical trailer for the film, and some TV spots for Mad Max. Road rage should be kept to a minimum after fans get their hands on this great disc.
Customer Rating
5
the Beginning of the Best Movie Trilogy Ever
on April 14, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
'Mad Max' is a great movie not necessarily for what it was, but for what it would become. That is, the cornerstone for the best trilogy in movie history in my opinion (thus far). You don't agree with me? Just read famed movie critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert's reviews on the three Mad Max films and you'll see exactly where I'm coming from. An excellent story teamed with top-notch action and unmatched stuntwork lay the foundation in this first exhilarating film of the series. Very cool bonus features and several different viewing options make this special edition well worth owning.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Cyborg [1989]](https://bestbuy.ugc.bazaarvoice.com/profiles/3545w/static/noimage70.gif)
Albert Pyun directs Jean-Claude Van Damme in Cyborg, which comes to DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is preferable to the standard full-frame image. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, and a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer. This is a fine release from MGM.UA that will please fans of the Muscles from Brussels.
Customer Rating
5
Cool Post Apocalyptic Movie
on April 14, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
Any B-movie fanatic who relishes in sci-fi action films that premise themselves on a 'bleak' futuristic outlook will surely revel in 'Cyborg'. The overall plot of the movie is actually quite dumb, but honestly, who cares!? It's Jean Claude Van Damme in his prime, doing exactly what we know he is going to do, and look every bit of 'cool' while doing it. I love this film and never tire of watching it. The image is offered in both letterbox widescreen (non-anamorphic) and full-screen, and doesn't look all that bad. Worth the buy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Karate Kid [Special Edition] [DVD] [1984]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/7205/7205945_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Long Awaited Special Edtion Release
on April 14, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
This long awaited special edition release of the 'Karate Kid' has just about everything its fans wanted back when it was first released on dvd in 1998, most importantly the much anticipated anamorphic widescreen transfer. Initially released on a bare-bones disc displaying a theatrically chopped down (full-screen) image, 'The Karate Kid,' and Columbia/Tri-Star for that matter, found many of its fans shunning the initial release, opting instead to wait for the special edition of the film they knew would come sooner of later. This dvd re-release is worth every penny and includes a well put together package of extras, illuminated by a very enjoyable commentary with Avildsen, Kamen, Macchio, & Morita.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Lucas [DVD] [1986]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5207/5207206_sa.jpg)
Winona Ryder made her screen debut opposite Corey Haim in this comedy about a half-pint underdog determined to make the football team. Lucas has been given two transfers to disc for this release -- a letterboxed transfer in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (which has been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors) and a pan-and-scan full-screen version at 1.33:1. The original English-language soundtrack has been mastered in Dolby Digital 4.0, while a dubbed Spanish track appears in Dolby Digital Stereo, and a Spanish version is in Dolby Digital Mono. The movie also features optional subtitles in French and Spanish. No bonus materials have been included for this release.
Customer Rating
5
Heartwarming and Uplifting
on April 13, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
A superb movie with great acting that allows you to access just about every emotion the human mind & body can. This is a movie that just about anyone can enjoy, but teens will probably get the most out of it. The disc doesn't offer much in terms of extras, but offers both a nice anamorphic widescreen option as well as a full-screen presentation. It could be the locations used, but for some reason, I find the cinematography of the film to be exceptionally beautiful.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Much Better than Star Wars
on April 13, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
'The Last Starfighter' would rank in my top five favorite films of all time and is just a fantastic time. The story is very heartwarming and the special effects both pioneered and paved the way for the future of computer generated effects. Don't miss this movie, offered here in an excellent dvd package featuring an array of bonus features and a widescreen presentation that pretty much mimics that of the previous standard dvd release.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Kickboxer [DVD] [1989]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5656/5656765_sa.jpg)
When a Thai kickboxing champion paralyzes his American opponent, the fallen fighter's determined brother vows revenge in this classic martial arts opus starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Presented in 1.33:1 pan-and-scan and offering audio in closed-captioned English Dolby Digital Stereo with optional English subtitles, this release offers absolutely no extra features to speak of.
Customer Rating
5
Van Damme's Best Fight Scene
on April 13, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
'Kickboxer' is an awful, awful film that almost isn't worth the filmstock it's printed on. Its only saving grace is the unbelievable physical performance of Jean Claude Van Damme during the final fight scene. Van Damme was really in his prime during this film and looked every bit of it. This dvd transfer is quite good, but it's full-screen only, a step back from the 1999 HBO anamorphic widescreen dvd release.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Karate Kid, Part III [WS/P&S] [DVD] [1989]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4191/4191984_sa.jpg)
The third entry into The Karate Kid series, The Karate Kid Part III finds Ralph Macchio once again defending his title against some suburban bad guys. Sporting a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer (with a full-frame version on side B), this transfer looks very crisp and clean. Colors are bright and clear with black levels very solid. Some edge enhancement exists in the picture, but overall the image is void of any dire imperfections. Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French), and while nothing spectacular, it does do the job that's needed. All aspects of this track, including dialogue, effects, and music, are all well-mixed with no distortion or hiss present. Also included on this disc are English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Thai, Korean, and Chinese subtitles. Sadly, The Karate Kid Part III's only extra material comes in the form of filmographies on some of the cast, plus bonus trailers for The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles -- The Pluto Campaign, Godzilla 2000, and the Chris Farley comedy Beverly Hills Ninja. Conspicuously missing from the bonus material is a theatrical trailer for The Karate Kid Part III. Fans of this series may enjoy this transfer but will most likely be disappointed at the lack of substantial extra features.
Customer Rating
5
So Bad It's Good
on April 13, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
This final film of the 'Karate Kid' trilogy was generally disliked by critics and audiences alike. I never quite understood why because it was actually my favorite film of the series. For all its shortcomings, I found the over-the-top performances made this film simply fun to watch. Thomas Ian Griffith was the true star of this movie and deserves a lot of credit for his performance in my opinion.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Karate Kid, Part II [WS/P&S] [DVD] [1986]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4191/4191975_sa.jpg)
The Karate Kid Part II lacks any exciting bonus features, but it does offer a few supplements. A six-minute featurette contains basic information about the film from interviews with director John Avildsen, producer Jerry Weintraub, and Pat Morita. Created at the time of its original release, this feature comes in an unimpressive full-frame format. The other major section is a series of trailers for this film and a few other Columbia Tristar releases. The previews for The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II come in poor, full-frame transfers with very limited sound. There are also selected filmographies for Ralph Macchio, Morita, and Avildsen. The 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer features impressive moments of shining colors and excellent clarity. Much of this transfer works nicely, but there are some moments where the contrast suffers and the picture becomes dark and grainy. This could stem from the age of the print, but it's still disappointing in the overall sense. Even given its uneven nature, this transfer still does a decent job in presenting the story. This disc also contains a 1.33:1 full-screen transfer for people more accustomed to television viewing. Bill Conti's rousing score and Peter Cetera's cheesy title track both spring nicely from the speakers on this well-done audio transfer. Although it is only a 2.0-channel Dolby Surround track, the force of the sound renders the limitations less important than usual. The dialogue is clear and understandable throughout the running time, and the sounds have a full texture with plenty of depth.
Customer Rating
3
The Weakest Movie of the Karate Kid Trilogy
on April 13, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
Although a box office success and praised by critics, I found 'The Karate Kid Part II' to be a lousy story that just dragged on too long, making it the worst film of the trilogy. The dvd widescreen transfer itself is quite good, but there is an almost complete absence of bonus features.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Jumanji [Deluxe Edition] [2 Discs] [DVD] [1995]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/7462/7462319_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Good Fun for the Whole Family
on April 13, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
Robin Williams is top-notch in this film about a boy who finds and innocently begins playing a magical game that ends up being quite dangerous. Pure fun for the whole family, 'Jumanji' has something everyone will enjoy with exceptional special effects to boot. The 2-disc dvd set features an anamorphic widescreen transfer and several bonus goodies as well."
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Jumanji [Special Edition] [DVD] [1995]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3825/3825702_sa.jpg)
Fans of Jumanji who own the original DVD release might want to sell off that old copy and look for the newer special edition. Once again, the picture is outstanding, maybe even reference quality. It is alive with color, while the dark scenes look perfectly natural, without any noticeable grain. The sound is problematic, as the dialogue is recorded lower than the music and sound effects. This means continuously raising and lowering the volume. For the most part, however, the extras make up for any inconsistencies. Though far from the best, they are plentiful. First up is an audio commentary track, not from the director or actors, but from the real "stars" of the film -- the visual effects crew. They create a track about the technical details while trying to keep it as uncomplicated as possible. In addition, there are three featurettes. The longest, a 20 minute "making of" documentary, has some interesting interviews, but little behind-the-scenes footage. The other two, one on the visual effects and the other on the production design, are shorter, but still appealing for those interested in an effects-laden picture such as this. A small storyboard section allows the viewer to look at drawn images of specific scenes while watching a smaller window with the final results. A brief photo gallery rounds out the main supplemental material. There are talent files and theatrical trailers for this film as well as for Madeline and Matilda. While certainly not the greatest special edition ever produced, this will no doubt please fans that enjoyed the film.
Customer Rating
5
An Excellent Film for the Family
on April 13, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
Robin Williams is top-notch in this film about a boy who finds and innocently begins playing a magical game that ends up being quite dangerous. Pure fun for the whole family, 'Jumanji' has something everyone will enjoy with exceptional special effects to boot. The dvd is a very good release featuring a digitally mastered anamorphic widescreen transfer and several bonus goodies as well.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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