This third movie in the Die-Hard series is far better than the second installment, but still pales in comparison to the first. Overall decent entertainment though, this dvd should please fans.
Some critics praised 'Die Hard 2' as being better than the first film, others simply gave it four stars heralding it as top-notch entertainment. This is why I often dislike the taste of many professional critics as I personally found this film to be way overblown and cheesy, and not in a good way. Nowhere near as good as the original. This dvd however, should make fans of this relatively poor film happy.
Action and thrills collide on the slopes in the Sylvester Stallone action vehicle Cliffhanger, directed by Renny Harlin. Columbia has done an excellent job on this 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Everything about this picture looks clean, crisp, and very well-rendered with no signs of edge enhancement or digital artifacting present. All color schemes and black levels are top-notch with the fleshtones appearing bright and natural. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 in English as well as Dolby Digital 2.0 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. This 5.1 soundtrack is very well-mixed featuring bombastic surround sounds through both the front and rear speakers. All aspects of the dialogue, effects, and Trevor Jones' music score are free of any excessive distortion or hiss. Also included on this disc are English, Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish subtitles. Cliffhanger: Special Edition DVD is filled with some great extra features, starting off with two commentary tracks, one by star Sylvester Stallone and director Renny Harlin, and a second by some of the effects crew from the film. Both of these commentaries provide a wealth of knowledge on the making of the film, and are insightful as to how the story came into focus for all involved (as expected, the effects crew commentary track is more on the technical side). A special introduction by Renny Harlin includes the director discussing why he decided to make the film. "Stallone: On the Edge" is a 20-minute look at the making of Cliffhanger, which includes a lot of behind-the-scenes footage. Two deleted scenes are available in a rough cut form, plus some explanation by the director on why they were cut from the final film. "Special Effects: How It Was Done" highlights two scenes from the film, showing how the effects were constructed and accomplished. Finally, there are some storyboard comparisons, two photo galleries with location and behind-the-scenes pictures, some talent files on the cast and crew, and a theatrical trailer of the movie with an introduction by the director (the trailer is considered one of the best movie previews ever made). This is an excellent edition of Cliffhanger and a must for any serious action movie fan.
Customer Rating
3
Good For One Viewing
on April 21, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
'Cliffhanger' is decent entertainment and is worth one viewing if only to see the beautiful scenery utilized in the film. This dvd offers just about everything a die-hard fan could want, although I can't imagine there are too many people out there who are head-over-heels for this movie.
Michael Mann's muscular adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel The Last of the Mohicans comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Closed-captioned English soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, and Dolby Digital Surround, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Although there are no supplemental materials to speak of, the transfer does an exquisite job of presenting this visually breathtaking film.
Customer Rating
4
One of Few Director's Cuts That's Better
on April 21, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
This director's version of 'The Last of The Mohicans' is actually one of few director's versions that is actually better than the original theatrical release. Presented here in its original 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen ratio, the sometimes washed out image seems as though it could have been better.
Other than the fact that this second release of 'Spaceballs' is anamorphic widescreen, I can't really say anything good about it. It is a great movie, but this transfer seems oversaturated with the color seeming a bit off as well. As much as I too love anamorphic widescreen, this 2-disc set is quite expensive and doesn't really offer a whole lot worth buying if you already own the original dvd.
MGM brings Mel Brooks' science fiction farce Spaceballs to DVD with both widescreen and standard versions on the same disc, and 5.1 Surround Sound, though the movie's lackluster production values make it difficult to discern the quality of the transfer. Still, for fans of actor/writer/director Brooks, the full-length commentary (originally recorded for the laserdisc release) includes his trademark quips and a genuine appreciation of the actors and other collaborators on the film. He has an amazing memory for the details of their careers before and after working with him. It's also refreshing for a director to mock his own work, as well as laugh at the comic bits he has undoubtedly seen dozens of times. In a brief behind-the-scenes featurette, cast members John Candy, Rick Moranis, and others talk about the pleasure of working with Brooks and share stories of on-set goofiness. Basically, for fans of Brooks' unique comic sensibilities, the DVD makes a worthwhile evening's entertainment.
Customer Rating
4
Great Spoof Comedy!
on April 21, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
Rick Moranis dominates, in very funny fashion, this space adventure spoof. Letterbox widescreen (non-anamorphic), and full-screen viewing options, with some good bonus content including a very funny commentary by Mel Brooks.
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.
One of the first movies to be released in the so-called 'next generation' hd-dvd video format, 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,' a great movie, is unimpressive at best on this disc featuring an anamorphic widescreen transfer virtually identical to the standard dvd release and the exact same bonus features as well. So what do you get for the extra $15 you pay for hd-dvd...well, nothing...except to say that you paid $15 more than you needed to...
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.
You would think the NFL would go above and beyond to celebrate the greatest team in pro-football history. No, instead we get a bland boxset with only 12 of the 19 game season. I know that this all has to do with rights to the games and so on and so forth, but c'mon fans both deserve and want more.
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 oddball gem is not a film everyone will enjoy, but it is fun for one sitting at least, and depending on who you are, maybe more. Contrary to box description, the film is offered in letterbox widescreen. This film also goes by the name 'Chicago Cab.'
Another MGM cult gem gets the DVD treatment with The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, a disturbing slice of '80s cinema that time wished it forgot about. After years of moratorium (some would say for good reason), the shelves can be stacked again with this Mackenzie Astin-starring bomb. The movie itself has been presented with an anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen picture and Dolby Digital sound, both of which splendidly bring out all the weirdness in the pic. Also included is the original theatrical trailer, featuring not one, but two classic voice-over announcers. Pick this disc up only if you're prepared for what's inside -- don't say you weren't warned.
Customer Rating
1
One of the Worst Films Ever
on April 20, 2008
Posted by: kevman79
At one point, 'Garbage Pails Kids' was pulled from theaters at the overwhelming request of infuriated parents who took their children to see, well, something just atrocious. Billed as a children's movie, it's actually hard to believe someone green-lit this tragedy of a film, but then again, everyone has different taste I guess. For whatever it's worth, let me just tell you 'Garbage Pail Kids' is just that, 'Garbage'.