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.
'Man on Fire' is not a bad film, it's simply disappointing because it had all the right ingredients to be so much better. A loaded collector's dvd, this price tag isn't too bad, but I can't imagine there are that many people out there that consider this one a necessity to their dvd collection.
Tony Scott's kidnapping thriller Man on Fire gets a fully loaded initial release to DVD. The image is presented in a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.40:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1. Spanish and French soundtracks have been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. Supplemental materials include a pair of commentary tracks. Tony Scott's commentary will please fans, but critics who find his films to be socially irresponsible trash will be able to point to it for evidence of their distaste. A second commentary track with producer Lucas Foster, screenwriter Brian Helgeland, and co-star Dakota Fanning is a more light-hearted track and offers insight into how the film came together. A making-of featurette rounds out this release from 20th Century Fox.
Customer Rating
2
Film Could Have Been So Much Better
on April 25, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
'Man on Fire' is not a bad film, it's simply disappointing because it had all the right ingredients to be so much better. Decent widescreen dvd release here for those who want to bother.
'Man on Fire' is not a bad film, it's simply disappointing because it had all the right ingredients to be so much better. A loaded collector's dvd, the price tag is hefty on this one, and I can't imagine there are that many people who liked it enough to spend $25.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off needed a new special edition DVD and it got it with the Bueller...Bueller...Edition, a release that adds plenty of bells and whistles to the much-loved film. While Paramount dropped John Hughes commentary from the 1999 release and has yet to include the film's trailer, enough insight can be gleamed from the making-ofs that it almost makes up for these oversights. On a positive note, the film has been given a stellar presentation for the digital age, with a new anamorphic widescreen picture and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound for best optimum viewing experience. The extras are detailed and feature most of the cast and crew, though interestingly, Hughes is only represented by some vintage 1986 clips, which are actually more in-depth than you'd think. Featuring clips on the casting, the inspiration, the general making-of, and even a special on Ben Stein, the disc goes a long way to cover certainly one of the most popular comedies of its time. Also included is are some tongue-in-cheek segments on-set in which the cast interviews each other, along with a gallery section consisting of the film's costume tests. The Bueller...Bueller...Edition might be awkwardly named, but it delivers the goods in a satisfying way that would make Ferris proud.
Customer Rating
3
Good Movie and Dvd
on April 25, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is an eccentric and fun teen comedy that is sure to get a few laughs here and there. This special edition is worth the buy for die-hard fans, but not necessarily for those who will only watch the movie once in a great while.
A very well done film, 'King Kong' is a classic that is almost sure to be enjoyed by anyone. Well put together dvd here, sure to please fans of the 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.
A very well done film, 'King Kong' is a classic that is almost sure to be enjoyed by anyone. Exceptionally well done special edition here, sure to please fans.
Amy Heckerling's adaptation of Cameron Crowe's Fast Times at Ridgemont High is often considered one of the finest films of a disreputable genre (the teen sex comedy), and kick-started the careers of many future stars. The center of this ensemble film is Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton. She is a young, innocent high-school student who, as the film opens, is asking for advice from her friend, the sexually outspoken Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates). Stacy takes a liking to nebbish Mark Ratner (Brian Backer), but he is too afraid to make a move even after Stacy all but throws herself at him. She eventually hooks up with Mark's more confident best friend, Mike Damone (Robert Romanus). When not concerning itself with these four characters, the film spends time with stoned surfer dude Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) and his ongoing feud with history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston). The film includes brief appearances by such future stars as Nicolas Cage, Eric Stoltz, and Forest Whitaker.
Customer Rating
3
Ok Movie, Good Dvd
on April 25, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
'Fast Times At Ridgemont High' is an ok movie, this widescreen dvd has several good bonus features, but I would only recommend purchasing it to those who really love the film.
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that fails to preserve the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. English soundtracks are rendered in both DD-EX 5.1 and Dolby Digital Surround. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions on this release. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by director George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, editor Ben Burtt, and effects creator Rob Coleman. A documentary about computer animation, a fistful of featurettes, and a gallery of posters round out this release from 20th Century Fox. While this disc is fine for what it is, a different version with the same extras contains a widescreen transfer. That edition is superior to this one.
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 full-screen dvd version alters the original theatrical aspect ratios of the movies from 2.35:1 to 1.33:1, giving a picture in which you lose almost 50% of the image on each side.
The Bridge on the River Kwai, one of the greatest films ever made, is given the appropriate reverential treatment by Columbia TriStar on the two-disc DVD of director David Lean's World War II prisoner of war epic that netted seven Oscars. For a film nearly half a century old, the transfer on the first disc is absolutely gorgeous. The jungle colors pop out so vividly it seems like the film was shot yesterday. The movie is presented in a special widescreen version that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. As for the soundtrack, the jungle never sounded so good; the soundtrack has been remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Disc one also contains an isolated musical score and special DVD-ROM components. The second disc is nothing but special features, including a making-of documentary, a period feature about the making of the film, and a short film narrated by star William Holden that compares and contrasts movies with novels. A photo gallery, talent files, and an homage by filmmaker John Milius completes disc two. A collectible booklet accompanies the double-disc set.
Customer Rating
2
Kind of Boring Movie, Bare-Bones Dvd
on April 25, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
'Bridge on the River Kwai' is considered by many one of the all-time great films. I personally was disappointed and found it kind of boring. Nevertheless, this widescreen dvd will most likely please fans, although they may want to opt for the special or limited editions instead of this bare-bones one.
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 extended version dvd set of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy is quite good, though I cannot recommend it if you already own the 12-disc box set or the 4-disc extended versions individually. There are some new bonus features on this most recent version, but unfortunately almost all the previous bonus features from the past dvd releases have been dropped, as has the DTS audio. Fanatic fans may want to purchase anyway, but it's a unnecessary and costly investment in my opinion.