Academia will never be the same when Rodney Dangerfield enrolls to become the wackiest student ever in the quintessential 1980s comedy Back to School! Presented in non-anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen, MGM has done a fair job on this transfer. Although there are some dirt and imperfections present, overall the color levels are dutifully even, with solid blacks. It is a shame that MGM decided not to make Back to School enhanced for widescreen TVs, but what is available should please fans of the film. With only a slight amount of edge enhancement present, this transfer ranks well above average. Also included on side B of this disc is a standard 1.33:1 version of the film (same quality as side A, only this version of Back to School is chopped off on the sides). Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (in English, French, and Spanish) and could have really benefited from a Dolby 5.1 remix. As it stands, this Dolby 2.0 Surround track works well, with center and front directional speakers utilized (though not to the fullest extent). The dialogue, effects, and Danny Elfman's energetic score are all distortion-free, with minimal hiss present. Also included on the disc are French and Spanish subtitles. Back to School certainly could take a few lessons from other DVD editions, as MGM has decided to make this version very basic. The only supplemental feature included on this disc is a humorous, full-frame theatrical trailer. For audio and video this disc makes the grade. For bonus materials, Back to School is going to need some serious extra credit work to pass.

Stan Dragoti's football comedy Necessary Roughness comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Closed-captioned English soundtracks are rendered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Surround, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround as well. English subtitles are accessible. Although there are no supplemental materials of any consequence, it should be noted that this Paramount DVD makes the film look and sound superb.

Finally, a version of Death Race 2000 that's worth adding into any DVD collection. Long available in separate cheap versions that offered little of interest to the film's cult fan base, this new edition sports an anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen picture and a bevy of extras that provide fine detail into the low-budget 1975 production that continues to entertain and delight fans to this day. Bonus materials include a ten-minute making-of as well as a full-length audio commentary with producer Roger Corman and actress Mary Woronov that are filled with fun facts and insight into the stripped-down production. The original theatrical trailer is also included in this release from Buena Vista Home Entertainment, whose Disney ties make for a curious match to the brutally satirical picture, but who can complain after the time put into this beefed-up edition? Far superior in transfer quality from previous releases, this is the disc to get for anyone who craves a little Frankenstein and Machine Gun Joe Viterbo action every once in a while.