Phil Alden Robinson's acclaimed fantasy about a man whose dreams bring him into contact with disgraced baseball legend "Shoeless" Joe Jackson goes into extra innings in this special edition DVD set. This release of Field of Dreams has been transferred to disc in letterboxed format at the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, which has also been enhanced for anamoprhic play on 16 x 9 monitors. The original English-language audio appears in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1, while a dubbed French-language soundtrack is in Dolby Digital Surround; optional subtitles in Spanish and French are also included. Bonus materials include a commentary track with writer and director Phil Alden Robinson and cinematographer John Lindley; a selection of deleted scenes; a visit to Galena, IL, the city where the film was shot, and the field which was built for the movie and still stands today; a documentary on the film from Bravo's From Page to Screen series; a discussion of the film (hosted by Kevin Costner) and how it relates to family, ambitions, and baseball; and a documentary on the movie's dominant themes, "From Father to Son: Passing Along the Pastime."
Customer Rating
3
Good Family Film
on April 22, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
This is a good movie the whole family can enjoy, and while I wouldn't consider it an all-time great, it's still worth watching once. Very nice collector's dvd set with many bonus features for fans of the film.
As the other two prequels before it, 'Revenge of the Sith' does nothing more than continue to ruin the once mysterious and magical elements of the Star Wars saga. Presented here nicely on this loaded dvd set for the people who enjoyed watching George Lucas wreck Star Wars.
The first film to be officially co-credited to Joel Coen and Ethan Coen as directors, The Ladykillers debuts on DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that fails to preserve the original theatrical aspect ratio of the film. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. A French soundtrack has also been recorded. French and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a reel consisting of co-star Irma P. Hall slapping around Marlon Wayans, a pair of featurettes about the gospel music heard in the film, and a script reader that allows those with a DVD-ROM drive to read the script -- and allow the viewer to see any scene in the film by clicking on the corresponding line in the script. This disc is fine for what it is, but the same extras are available on a different disc that also boasts a widescreen transfer of the film. That edition is superior to this one.
Customer Rating
1
Picture Format is Not Theatrically Accurate
on April 22, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
This is a good comedy 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!
20th Century Fox finally does right and delivers to Region 1 customers what Europeans have been enjoying for quite some time before this -- the two-disc Predator: Collector's Edition DVD! Save for packaging and some clips about the Alien vs. Predator knock-down-drag-out flick (which the disc was undoubtedly released to promote), the content is an exact transfer from the Region 2 disc that some region-free savvy customers have already indulged in. For many though, this stuff is all new -- finally, a disc that lives up to the blockbuster film that spawned a series. Also released in the recommended widescreen edition, this disc comes with a full-screen image and both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. The audio tracks have taken a bit of heat in the past for minor annoyances (directional gunfire is a bit off), while the dialogue can be a tad on the soft side, though for the most part, the mix works and delivers where the goods count. Disc one comes with the film and two commentary tracks -- one with director John McTiernan and the other, a text commentary from a film historian and most of the main crew. McTiernan isn't known to be the most engaging fellow on earth, though if you can get past his sullen mood, then there will be plenty to learn from this aging director as he looks back on his second feature. Disc two is packed with extras that every Predator fan will love, starting with the 30-minute "If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It" documentary. With interviews spanning almost the entire cast and crew, the grueling behind-the-scenes tales of the production are fleshed out in extreme detail -- from the catastrophe of the original monster costume (worn by none other by the "Muscles From Brussels" himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme!) to the sweltering heat and jungle infections, it's one heck of a tale and a nice documentary to boot. Seven featurettes are listed in the "Inside the Predator" menu, each ranging from tributes to Kevin Peter Hall (the big man inside the suit) to good old "Painless" -- Jesse Ventura's Gatling gun. With even more sections dedicated to the FX of the film (including some brief glimpses of the first suit -- Ouch!), one deleted and basically unneeded scene for you to chew on, some outtakes, and a flurry of galleries for you to enjoy, there's more than enough extra stuff on this disc to make it worthwhile. Add in the trailer, and you have one massive two-disc with enough on-set interviews and hidden Easter eggs to keep any film buff occupied for an entire afternoon.
Customer Rating
1
Picture Format is Not Theatrically Accurate
on April 22, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
This is a good sci-fi action movie. 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!
This Dr. Seuss/Chuck Jones collaboration has become a holiday classic for families around the world. Paired with the bonus feature Horton Hears a Who!, the DVD makes for a package that fans of any age can appreciate. The standard format presentation of the two titles is the original, intended aspect ratio, since both titles were made for television. The video quality is more than acceptable, but the print used for How the Grinch Stole Christmas shows signs of wear. Colors across both titles are generally translated well, and no digital flaws distract from viewers' enjoyment. The music and sound for Horton Hears a Who! seem to have aged better when it comes to preservation of the original elements. The dialogue, narration, and musical numbers in How the Grinch Stole Christmas don't seem to convey a full, dynamic range (fans might remember Boris Karloff's narration sounding more ominous many years ago). The bonus features provide little of interest. The "Scene Selections" menus allow instant access to all 16 chapters of both titles (32 in all). The "Pencil Tests" show only three drawings from each title and are big disappointments. The Grinch Trivia Test is a short, for-kids-only affair, presented in a hard-to-read typeface. The "Trivia" section, which should really be called "Biographies," gives brief biographies of Chuck Jones, Dr. Seuss, Boris Karloff, and June Foray. Fans and newcomers alike will be thrilled with this DVD, but anyone looking for supplemental material will have to search elsewhere.
Customer Rating
5
A Christmas Classic!
on April 22, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
Don't miss out on this great dvd edition of the animated Dr. Seuss Christmas classic. The whole family will enjoy this one. Highly recommended!
This is a good movie. Unfortunately, this full-screen dvd version alters the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 to 1.33:1, creating a different picture than what was originally seen in the theater (basically you lose 50% of the image in every scene!). Buy the widescreen version instead!
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This is a classic 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!
Scrooged, Richard Donner's darkly comic retelling of A Christmas Carol, 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 also been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials are limited to a theatrical trailer. The sound and picture on this disc are excellent, but they are the only reason to see this Paramount release.
Customer Rating
3
Good Holiday Comedy
on April 22, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
Bill Murray is his usual hilarious self in this Christmas comedy based off of Dickens' 'Christmas Carol.' Good widescreen presentation, but more bonus features would have been desirable.