Sometimes, the DVD format can take a must-watch movie and turn it into a must-own movie. Warner Bros. gets a gold star for this excellent DVD edition of David O. Russell's Gulf War heist epic. The picture, a masterful 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, beautifully shows off the desert surroundings. Colors are rich and seem to shimmer with the heat. Even when the film changes stocks, the picture retains its crisp texture. The sound is simply awesome. Dolby 5.1 does the madcap gunplay and thunderous soundtrack justice. The extras too are worth their weight in gold. Russell's commentary, for starters, is top of the line. He details every inch of the production, from effects to locations and more. He is also well-schooled in the Gulf War and provides many fascinating historical notes. Also featured is a fact-filled commentary from producers Charles Roven and Edward McDonnell. There is a 20-minute documentary that offers a very straightforward look at the making of Three Kings. Production designer Catherine Hardwicke takes viewers on an exhaustive tour of the film's various sets, while cinematographer Newton Thomas Seigel provides a look at the process by which the film was shot. There is also a batch of deleted scenes with optional commentary from Russell, as well as a humorous clip of co-star Ice Cube explaining the "acting process." While all of these are impressive, the real standout is Russell's video journal. Starting from the day the script is greenlit, it chronicles the journey of bringing Three Kings to the screen. We see his first meeting with George Clooney, watch rehearsals, and view the actual shooting. From Mark Wahlberg's obvious discomfort with being videotaped to a rather pushy publicist telling Russell (obviously not knowing who he is), "Sir, no cameras are allowed!" at the film's premiere, the journal is an amazingly personal look at the creation and execution of a feature film. Also featured are bios, trailers, and 12 Easter eggs, called "hidden bunkers" here. After buying Three Kings on DVD, viewers may want to block out four hours of an evening -- two for the movie and the rest to pore over the fabulous extras.
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.
'Three Kings' is an enjoyable film that presents an entertaining and some times comedic story that is well worth the watch. Widescreen and lots of bonus features make this one worth owning. Recommended.
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.
'Red Dawn' is one of my all-time favorites. Good acting across the board and a cool story as well. I never tire of watching this film. Presented nicely in this 2-disc special edition featuring an anamorphic widescreen transfer. Highest recommendation!
Though Paramount didn't go out of its way with this DVD of John Hughes' Planes, Trains and Automobiles, what they did do has some merit. The 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer is the highlight of the disc. While it's certainly not, by any stretch of the imagination, reference quality, the picture still stands on its own. The earthy shades are captured pleasingly and skin tones always seem to be right on target. Black levels also look correct, as they are dense, but don't overtake the scene. It's not a film that's overly filled with color and the transfer reproduces that splendidly. The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack, though expectedly centered more up front for the majority of the film, does have moments where the surrounds are used effectively. Specifically, Hughes use of music livens up the audio. What's disappointing is the lack of supplements. Even Ferris Bueller's Day Off had a commentary track from the director, but here, nothing -- not even the seemingly obligatory trailer. It's a shame, because even though the movie does stand on its own, so much more could be said about this film in one way or another.
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 Candy and Steve Martin give perfect performances in this comedy classic, easily one of the best movies ever! Anamorphic widescreen. Highest Recommendation!
Columbia/TriStar should be proud of the job they have done on the Bridge on the River Kwai two-disc set. Though there is a single-disc version without any significant features also available, fans of this film should feel obligated to purchase this supplement-heavy edition. Before getting to the extras though, the image on this title, framed at 2.35:1 and anamorphic, is extremely good but not without some issues. The main problem is an often-evident lack of sharpness and detail. While not present throughout the film, since the majority looks magnificent, the imperfections do stand out. The sound, with both English and French 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks, is also less than perfect. There is next to no surround material, but fortunately the dialogue is centered up front and is distortion free. Also available are two-channel surround tracks in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Optional English, Korean, Thai, and French subtitles are also available. As for the extras, they are as impressive as the movie. The sole extra feature on the first disc is an isolated music track in stereo. It is the second disc that holds the majority of supplemental material. The main point of interest is an excellently detailed making-of documentary that runs nearly an hour. Also included is a brief promotional short called "Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant" and a USC short film on appreciating the art of movie making (featuring The Bridge On The River Kwai in particular), hosted by William Holden. Enthusiastic director John Milius, a great fan of this film, offers his personal insights in a short featurette. Finally, along with a lengthy sampling of posters and lobby cards from around the world, are four theatrical trailers, some selective talent files, and a number of DVD-ROM features. An outstanding DVD set for a very impressive film.
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.
'Bridge on the River Kwai' is considered by many to be one of the all-time great films. I personally was disappointed and found it kind of boring. Nevertheless, this widescreen dvd presentation will most likely please fans, as will the ample bonus features.
To many fans of the Caped Crusader, the Batman television series and this spin-off theatrical feature are superior to the somewhat overblown features that Tim Burton kicked off in 1989. Thankfully, this excellent 20th Century Fox DVD release of the 1966 Batman theatrical feature is perfectly tailored to fans of the ultra mod TV show. The DVD is dubbed the "Holy Special Edition, Batman!" and features a sparkling anamorphic widescreen transfer. Viewers can choose between a Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono or Stereo mix of the soundtrack. To be honest, there doesn't seem to be much discernible difference between the sound quality of the two audio mixes, but at least neither sounds bad. An audio commentary courtesy of stars Adam West and Burt Ward is wonderful, as is a better-than-average "making of" featurette. Full of humorous anecdotes and good cheer, the commentaries of Ward and the decidedly eccentric West can actually be revisited more than once -- and they are often more entertaining than the movie itself. If that weren't enough, the DVD also features a short documentary on the Batmobile, photo galleries, and genuinely funny theatrical trailers. While the Batman feature film itself isn't equal to the beloved 1960s TV series that spawned it, fans will still cherish this excellent DVD 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.
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 personally only cared for the original 'Superman' film, and thus cannot recommend any of the sequels. I can, however, recommend this ultimate box set to die-hard fans of the comic-book hero, which happens to be one of the most extensively loaded dvd sets I've ever seen.
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 first Superman film was truly great, this sequel however, is not quite up to par, but will be enjoyed and appreciated by fans of the comic book hero. Well put together special edition here.
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.