Phil Alden Robinson's elegiac ode to the healing powers of baseball, Field of Dreams, has been given the special edition two-disc treatment by Universal. The only complaint one could have about this disc, and it is a substantial one, is the fact that the film is presented in a standard full-frame image that fails to preserve the original theatrical aspect ratio of the movie. Cropping this film is a huge disservice, especially when one hears from cinematographer John Lindley during the commentary track on how much effort and skill went into the complicated lighting techniques used in the film. He and director Robinson provide an excellent commentary track that deftly balances actual filmmaking stories with production trivia and personal recollections. The copious supplemental materials include a look at the actual set as it looks today, a documentary in which the filmmakers and professional ballplayers discuss the effect the film and the game have had on them and their relationships with their fathers, a roundtable discussion featuring star Kevin Costner and major league pitcher Brett Saberhagen, deleted scenes, a nearly hour-long documentary about the making of the film that appeared originally on the Bravo cable network, and trivia abut each of the major league ballparks. The extras on this disc are excellent, but the full-frame image is a true disappointment.
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 is a good film. Unfortunately, this full-screen dvd version alters the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 to 1.33:1, giving a different picture than what was originally seen in the theater. Buy the widescreen version instead!
Considered by many to be the worst film of all time, Edward D. Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. There are neither subtitles nor closed captions on this release. Supplemental materials include a two-hour documentary on the film. This is a good title from Image that should appeal to Wood enthusiasts, while also helping people unfamiliar with his work understand why this man has become such a figure among film fans.
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 film, though completely undeserving of a dvd in any sense, is sure to be enjoyed by that small cult of people who think the movie is great. In all honesty, it's actually so bad, it's not even worth watching, which I learned quickly after just one viewing. The dvd quality is actually quite good though and does offer some decent bonus features.
This two-disc set from Disney will please fans of the family-adventure Swiss Family Robinson. The DVD offers a standard full-frame transfer. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are neither subtitles nor closed captions on this release. Supplemental materials include: a commentary track recorded by actors Ken Annakin, Kevin Corcoran, Tommy Kirk, and James MacArthur; an animated short; an interview with James MacArthur; and a handful of vintage Disney materials. This is an excellent disc for fans of classic live-action Disney films.
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 wonderful family film in every sense, 'Swiss Family Robinson' is a classic Disney film that is every bit deserving of this excellent 2-disc collector's set, featuring a gorgeous widescreen transfer and loads of bonus features in which fans of the film are sure to delight.
This 1954 Disney version of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea represented the studio's costliest and most elaborate American-filmed effort to date. Kirk Douglas plays a trouble-shooting 19th century seaman, trying to discover why so many whaling ships have been disappearing of late. Teaming with scientist Paul Lukas and diver Peter Lorre, Douglas sets sail to investigate--and is promptly captured by the megalomaniac Captain Nemo (James Mason), who skippers a lavish, scientifically advanced submarine. The film's special effects, including a giant squid, were impressive enough in 1954 to win an Academy Award.
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.
While not necessarily the best movie Disney has ever produced, Jules Verne's '20,000 Leaugues Under the Sea' has never been represented on film better than what we see here in this beautiful 2-disc collector's set, that is worth every bit of owning for those who love the film.
A comic fantasy combining live-action and animation, this would-be blockbuster from Disney has been given a beefed-up presentation for its release on DVD. Pete's Dragon has been given a letterboxed transfer to disc in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.66:1, which has also been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The audio has been remixed for playback in Dolby Digital 5.1 and the dialogue is in English. This edition features optional subtitles in French, as well as closed captioning in English. Bonus materials on this edition include two animated short subjects (Lighthouse Keeping, starring Donald Duck, and Man, Monsters, and Mysteries), a gallery of production art, memorabilia from Ken Anderson (the animator in charge of Elliott the Dragon), and an interactive game.
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.
Wonderfully blending live action with cartoon animation, 'Pete's Dragon' is a strong Disney film that is sure to be enjoyed by children. Beautifully presented here on this dvd, with bonus features the kids are sure to enjoy. Recommended.
A trilogy of terror awaits viewers in Stephen King's Cat's Eye. The film is presented in a decent looking 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. While a few imperfections abound (including an excessive amount of nicks and scratches), overall the transfer is adequate with bright colors and bold black levels. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo Surround in English and lacks any true fidelity or depth. The music, effects and dialogue are all free and clear of distortion or hiss, though overall this is an under-whelming track that could have used a new 5.1 remix. Also included on this disc are English, French and Spanish subtitles. Only a few extra features have been included on this disc, starting with a commentary track by director Lewis Teague. Teague rambles on about how the film was cast, what scenes were cut (including an original prologue), and other tidbits of information about the production. While this is an informative commentary track, it often borders on being almost too dry. Also included on this disc is a theatrical trailer for the film as well as some cast/director film highlights.
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 liked 'Cat's Eye' and found it very enjoyable to tell you the truth. It's a lot of fun to watch and the anamorphic widescreen presentation is very good. Great bonus commentary by director Lewis Teague.
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.
Here is two great films, together in one dvd set at a discounted price. While die-hard fans will probably want to purchase the special edition versions of each title individually, this set will more than suffice for people who just want to watch the films once every so often. Recommended.
The Terminator features a wonderful 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that is remarkable for a film released back in 1984. A few specks of dirt appear on the print, but they're extremely minor and don't hinder the experience in any way. This disc includes a brand-new 5.1-channel Dolby Surround transfer that showcases a significant amount of power and depth. It also contains the original mono track, which lacks the strength of its companion but does have a balanced level of sound. This special edition of The Terminator contains an impressive collection of supplements that should please its many devout fans. The highlights are two well-done documentaries that provide plenty of background material. "Other Voices" is a comprehensive new extra that includes basically everyone involved with the film in a significant capacity. "The Terminator -- A Retrospective" features an informal conversation between James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1992 about their experiences making the film. The other major inclusion is seven deleted scenes that are more interesting than the usual throwaway moments. Cameron offers commentary on each cut and tries to explain why he made the deletion. There's also a large still gallery that contains numerous drawings and photographs in five categories. The most interesting section includes artwork by Cameron of his original concepts and storyboarded sequences. This disc offers fans a chance at reading Cameron's original film treatment. Written in 1982, it's very extensive and includes the basic structure for the final version. There are also several original theatrical trailers and television commercials included on this 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.
Considering the small budget the film had, 'The Terminator' is one of the most impressive productions to ever grace the cinema. An incredible storyline, along with good acting and directing make this one of the best Sci-Fi films ever. Dvd quality is great, but seems to have dropped many of the bonus features from the original 2001 special edition."
Fans of Romancing the Stone will be happy to know that its sequel has gotten an upgrade with this special edition disc of The Jewel of the Nile. It has received a new, anamorphically enhanced video transfer that improves a bit on the previous DVD edition of the title. The audio portion of the disc retains the same Dolby 4.0 Stereo track that its predecessor has, and the mix is a solid one. There's also an array of extras for the film's fans. First up is a commentary with director Lewis Teague; despite periodic gaps of silence, it's an amiable, chatty track that offers plenty of interesting behind-the-scenes details. There are also six deleted scenes. None of these bits are revelatory, but fans will find them interesting enough to watch once. The package also includes two featurettes, one about the choices the filmmakers made in mapping out the sequel's plotline and another that is a more comprehensive making-of piece. The latter featurette is particularly interesting, as all the participants are candid about the problems involved in making the film. The package is rounded out by a theatrical trailer and an eight-page booklet of notes included in the disc case. All in all, any fan who liked The Jewel of the Nile will enjoy this special edition disc.
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.
Fans of this movie will delight in this special edition package featuring several bonus features that weren't on the original dvd release. 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.
I don't understand all the hype and support around this film. Yes, it's decent entertainment, but I feel that for such a serious movie, its completely unbelievable story ends up hindering its overall impact. Anyway, this is a good special edition dvd release for fans of the film, but for those who are purists, beware the digital altering of the bullet-hole under the warden's chin at the end of the film.