One of the funniest films of all time, Blazing Saddles, is awarded an excellent 30th anniversary DVD release by Warner Bros., a company that has often shown great care to the important titles in its vault. The film itself is presented in a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio. The English soundtrack has been remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1, which makes it seem like one is hearing the infamous farting scene for the very first time. There is a healthy amount of quality extra materials, including a commentary by director Mel Brooks. Although it seems as if he was simply recorded while talking about the film (he never once refers to what is happening onscreen, and the commentary ends only an hour into the film), he recollections are amusing and enlightening. He discusses in detail how the various behind-the-scenes people as well as the cast came together. The other five-star nugget included on this disc is the pilot for the television spin-off Black Bart. Starring Louis Gossett Jr., the show is as amazingly unfunny as the movie is uproarious, but one may be struck by the crudity of the comedy that would have been telecast in the mid-'70s. A making-of documentary and a section from a special on the late great Madeline Kahn help make this DVD a must-own for comedy enthusiasts.
Fighting, check. Vampires, check. Lots of guns, check. Explosions, check. Blood, double check. An amazing story line where vampires die, not sparkle. A must have for all action and sci-fi lovers!
This sweeping release from the fantasy anime series Moribito includes all 26 episodes of the show, following the story of a wandering warrior woman named Balsa, who strives to fight for good in order to atone for the evil sins of her own troubled past.
The Adrien Brody trippy sci-fi flick The Jacket comes to DVD in this edition from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Including the matted anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen image and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, the disc actually sports a less-than-stellar picture transfer that digitally blocks up the shadows in most of the picture. Hopefully this bit of annoyance is something that will be fixed in future re-releases. Bonus features are a cut above the rest, thankfully. Instead of displaying the deleted scenes in their own menu system, the disc's producers decided to include them in one 27-minute featurette that includes interviews with the director, producer, and stars of the film. Included you'll find an extended steamy sex scene, along with extra small bits of scenes that progress the story beyond the theatrical cut. Also included is a nine-minute clip on the special effects of the film that also features the director along with one of the art directors, Rhian Nicholas. Also available for viewing is the original theatrical trailer, which amounts to a reasonable amount of features for a film that will probably get another expanded release down the road.
A Gulf War amnesic veteran is declared criminally insane after being framed for murder. While inside the asylum, he finds out he can travel to the future. He discovers how he dies, and more importantly, how he lives.