Those mischievous green terrors are back for seconds in Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Warner has done a very presentable job at making sure this 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen print looks very crisp and clean. Aside of just a smidgen of edge enhancement, this picture appears to boast sharp, detailed colors and well defined black levels. The soundtrack is presented in a newly remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround mix in English, along with a Dolby 2.0 Surround track in English, French and Spanish. The 5.1 mix does a fine job of making sure the soundtrack is crystal clear, though directional effects are rather slim and spotty. All aspects of the soundtrack are free of any hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc are English, French and Spanish subtitles. Warner has gone the extra mile to throw a few extra features on this disc, starting with a commentary track by director Joe Dante and producer Mike Finnell. This is mildly funny track that features multiple stories about the cast, effects and difficulties working with little green puppets. A gag reel of funny flubs is included, as well as an entertaining behind-the-scenes featurette which is a parody of other boring featurettes found on most discs. An ample amount of deleted footage running over 20 minutes is included with optional commentary and allows viewers to see what ended up on the cutting room floor. Finally there is a goofy game called "The Gremlins Files," a theatrical trailer for the film, and a list of the cast and crew members.
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 original 'Gremlins' was such a great film, it really comes as no surprise that there wasn't any way a sequel, regardless of how good, could best it. Nonetheless, 'Gremlins 2: the New Batch' still has some great material that fans of the first film will enjoy. My personal favorite aspect of the film was Gizmo donning 'Rambo' garb to help defeat the gremlins near the end of the movie. Great bonus features on this widescreen disc. Recommended!
Jon Turteltaub's supernatural drama Phenomenon 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, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include theatrical trailers. This disc is a bit expensive considering its lack of extras, but the picture and sound quality are very good.
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.
John Travolta gives a fine performance in this film about a man in a small town who experiences an odd episode in which he believes he sees a U.F.O. People of the community are skeptical of his story at first, until he creates a major stir within the local medical community, when he begins performing feats that human beings shouldn't be capable of at this point of our evolution. Highly recommended! Widescreen.
Clint Eastwood directs Kevin Costner in the moody crime drama A Perfect World, which comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic 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 Stereo. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer. This is a fine release from Warner Brothers.
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.
Kevin Costner gives one of his best performances ever in this movie about an escaped convict taking a boy hostage to aid in his getaway. While on the road, they form an incredible bond, and Costner's character redeems himself by proving, in more ways than one, that he's a better person than most people who aren't criminals. Widescreen, Highly recommended, though some bonus materials would have been preferred.
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.
'Santa Claus Conquers the Martians' is one of the worst movies ever made, but unlike its competition, it at least has a semi-redeemable storyline. For those who love watching movies that are deemed some of the worst ever, this one's for you.
Randal Kleiser's Honey I Blew Up the Kid comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. There are no subtitles, but the soundtrack is closed-captioned. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence. This Disney/Buena/Vista release is difficult to recommend to anyone other than a person on the lookout for family-friendly entertainment.
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 sequel to 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids,' isn't quite as impressive as its predecessor, but it's still acceptable entertainment, especially for kids. Full-screen presentation, no bonus features.
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.
To the best of my knowledge, there are several aspects of this movie that are historically inaccurate. However, that's to expect since this is a movie, not a documentary. Very entertaining, and with a good cast, 'Dragon' makes for an enjoyable experience, especially for those who are fans of the late, famed martial artist. Excellent dvd package here, recommended!
When an evil snowman is resurrected in a horrific lab accident, even anti-freeze won't bring his reign of terror to a close in Unapix's chilly sequel to the winter horror hit Jack Frost. Presented in 1.33:1 full-frame and offering audio rendered in English Dolby Digital 5.1, this release also offers a variety of bonus materials. Extras include a director's commentary track, behind-the-scenes footage, an interview with the director, a music video spoof, and 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.
I generally find horror films worthless and stupid, and it's been years since I watched my last. I think in my whole life, I've probably seen 3 or 4 movies of the genre that were even remotely worthwhile. But here we go again with, 'Jack Frost 2,' a ridiculous movie about a killer snowman?! This movie has the second worst dvd insert-cover I've ever seen ('Jack Frost' is the worst). And just like its predecessor, this is an incredibly bad movie that isn't worth the filmstock it was shot on, but here it is...in widescreen?!!!
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.
I'm not at all a fan of horror films, and it's not a genre I even bother watching, let alone recommend. But 'Jack Frost,' a movie about a killer snowman, gets a dishonorable mention from me as having the most ridiculous dvd insert-cover I've ever seen! It's also an incredibly bad movie that isn't worth the filmstock it was shot on (trust me, I've seen it)...Don't bother wasting your time or money on this one, but do get a good laugh at the dvd cover!
Joe Johnston's Honey I Shrunk the Kids comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. There are no subtitles, but the soundtrack is closed-captioned. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence. This Disney/Buena/Vista release is difficult to recommend to anyone other than a person on the lookout for family-friendly entertainment.
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.
Considering the popularity of this film, and the work that went into its special effects, it's a shame that Disney has released it in a full-screen bare bones format. This is one movie that deserves a much better dvd release.
Elliott Hong directs Johnny Yune in the martial arts comedy They Call Me Bruce? Yune plays an immigrant who everyone refers to as "Bruce," because he reminds everyone of Bruce Lee. Bruce unknowingly works for a gangster making cocaine drop-offs. The film shows Bruce interacting with a variety of American stereotypes, and then figuring out how his bosses are using him.
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.
Johnny Yune is hilarious in this awful movie about an immigrant who comes to the U.S. and is unknowingly working as a delivery man for a narcotics dealer. Everyone refers to him as 'Bruce,' because he's asian, and because 'Bruce Lee' was one of very few asian Hollywood Stars of the era, it's simply an easy association. The kicker is, unlike the man in which he's being associated with, this 'Bruce,' isn't a martial arts expert, but tries to come off as being so in order to avoid getting beat up. This movie is one of those that's really so bad, it's good! Nothing impressive on this dvd here, which isn't much of a surprise considering the caliber of film it was (I'm sure fans are just happy to see it got a dvd release). Surprisingly, the sequel, 'They Still Call Me Bruce,' which was a much better movie than this first one, has yet to debut on dvd in any way, shape, or form.