Can you believe that Christmas is less
than a week away?! Before you go ballistic trying to find a spot at the
mall or hoping that online dealer ships out the previously out-of-stock
item you need to give as a present (hey, we’ve all been there
before, right?), here’s The Aisle Seat’s official Holiday
Buyer’s Guide for 2006, split into two convenient parts: Disney,
Warner and assorted titles today, and Fox, Paramount and Sony titles
for tomorrow. Sound good? Then let’s get straight to it -- eggnog
sadly not included!
New from Disney for Christmas: Depp, Narnia & More
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2: DEAD MEN’S CHEST (***½, PG-13). 150 mins., Disney.
Like a cold summer beverage, a trip to the beach on a hot August
afternoon, or an oasis in the middle of a mediocre summer season that
saw a needless “Omen” remake and a “Superman”
on anti-depressants, “Pirates 2" served up a much-needed slice of
high seas escapism for entertainment-starved audiences.
Overlong and flawed, director Gore Verbinski’s sequel is
nevertheless a hugely enjoyable romp, fueled by several knockout action
sequences and colorful characters most obviously lead by Johnny
Depp’s eternally sauced pirate Jack Sparrow. The film is
confident, big, bold and plenty of fun -- an element many of this past
year’s blockbusters completely lacked.
It’s tough to criticize a script that actually tries to do too
much, but original writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio here attempt to
develop several plot strands and weave a dozen returning characters
throughout this 150-minute follow-up to the 2003 smash hit. The result
is a story that’s both cluttered and padded, but the good news is
that the duo’s dialogue is still often as sharp as a
scalawag’s knife and the sprawling premise enables not just Depp,
Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley to reprise their roles from the
original, but also give other supporting characters (like Jack
Davenport’s agreeably disgraced Colonel Norrington and a pair of
Captain Barbossa’s minions played by Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie
Crook) an opportunity to get involved with the story.
Speaking of which, “Dead Man’s Chest” finds
newly-arrived British bureaucrat Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander)
sentencing poor Elizabeth Swann (Knightley) and her fiancee Will Turner
(Bloom) to prison for their involvement with Depp’s Captain
Sparrow. Unfortunately, while Will is let go under a directive to
retrieve Sparrow’s broken compass, o’l Jack has his own
problems -- namely a debt to Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) himself, who comes
calling out of the depths of the ocean with a crew of damned sailors,
each mutating into a sea creature while serving out their sentences.
Among them is Will’s father “Bootstrap” Turner
(Stellan Skarsgard), who attempts to save his son while Sparrow waivers
between helping out his friends and seizing Davy Jones’ chest for
his own personal gain. If that weren’t enough, the movie also
includes an escape from a tribe of restless natives, the arrival of
Jones’ oceanic beast the Kraken, and a dizzying, sensational
finale on a tropical island that’s both brilliantly edited and
choreographed.
“Dead Man’s Chest” is slow to get going and does
suffer from occasional repetition: the ILM special effects are more
than impressive (particularly the animation of Davy Jones and his
crew), but I wanted to see the Kraken do more than wrap its tentacles
around vessels and slam into crew members over and over. The running
plot of Davy Jones’ lost love is amusing but under-nourished,
with a good amount of pay-off intended to occur in the third film,
which is due out next summer.
Still, if you’re going to end on a cliffhanger, “Dead
Man’s Chest” is the way to do it: use the opportunity to
spring a last-minute surprise on the audience and in such a way that it
promises something we haven't seen before. It ends this installment on
a rousing high note that other movies with open endings (like the
“Lord of the Rings” films and “Back to the Future
Part II”) have failed to match, with the entire audience I was
sitting with cheering at the surprise re-appearance of a character from
its predecessor.
With Depp’s kooky, unpredictable central performance continuing
to hold the film together, “Dead Man’s Chest” is a
stylish, savvy sequel that offers more than enough pirate plunder to
overcome its various deficiencies. Arrr once again, me mateys, Sparrow
saves the day!
DVD GOODIES: Plenty of featurettes, including a “formal”
hour-long documentary that’s fairly candid in its look at the
difficult shoot, plus a fun examination of how the Disneyland/Disney
World attraction was neatly revised to accomodate Depp’s Jack
Sparrow creation. A commentary by writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio
is unfortunately a bit on the bland side (perhaps no surprise with the
two heavily involved in the shooting of the third movie when the track
was recorded). Visually the 16:9 (2.35) transfer is spectacular and the
5.1 Dolby Digital sound a powerhouse.
ANDY’S BOTTOM LINE: The highest-grossing film of 2006 (over $420
million domestic and a billion worldwide) is one of the most pure,
unabashed entertainments of recent years at the movies. Tons of fun
(though darker than the original), boasting a rousing cliffhanger
capped by a cameo that sets the stage brilliantly for Part 3. A
must-have for all but the most hardened curmudgeons of sea-faring
movie-goers!
INVINCIBLE (***½, 104 mins., 2006, PG; Disney):
Excellent sports movie bio of Vince Papale, who took advantage of a
one-time opportunity at becoming a walk-on for the Philadelphia Eagles
in the mid ‘70s and became one of the league’s all-time
folk heroes in the process. This atmospheric and extremely
well-performed underdog tale benefits enormously from Mark
Wahlberg’s winning performance as Papale, with Greg Kinnear as
understanding coach Dick Vermeil and Elizabeth Banks as his new love
interest (a character apparently cobbled together from several
different people). Director Ericson Core (who also shot the film) and
writer Brad Gann have made one of the best sports films to come down
the pike in several years; kudos also go out to Mark Isham for his
solid score. Disney’s DVD is fairly light on supplements --
offering only one behind-the-scenes featurette and two commentaries,
one from Papale and Gann and another with Core and editor Jerry
Greenberg -- but this is a terrific film that’s one of my
favorites of 2006. Highly recommended!
DISNEY TRUE-LIFE ADVENTURES (4 Volumes, aprx. $29 each):
If you’ve got an older Disney viewer on your list to shop for,
look no further than these “True-Life Adventures”
box-sets, compiling numerous, award-winning documentaries Disney and
RKO released during the ‘50s. Though somewhat dated in their
presentation today, keep in mind that, for audiences of the era, these
“natural life” tales offered breathtaking, revolutionary
footage of animals at play, and while many have been unseen for years,
fans will be delighted by their return to circulation here. Vol. 1,
“Wonders of the World,” features “White
Wilderness” (1958 Oscar winner for best documentary),
“Prowlers of the Everglades,” and Oscar-winning, two-reel
shorts “Water Birds” and “Beaver Valley”; Vol.
2, “Lands of Exploration,” sports “The Living
Desert” (1953 Oscar winner for best documentary), “The
Vanishing Prairie” and “Seal Island”; Vol. 3,
“Creatures of the Wild,” includes “The African
Lion,” “Jungle Cat,” and “Bear Country”;
and Vol. 4., “Nature’s Mysteries,” offers
“Secrets of Life” and “Perri.” All sets also
include additional vintage Disney shorts, introductions from Roy
Disney, trailers, restored transfers and soundtracks (the transfers are
in their appropriate, Academy full-screen format ratios), and colorful
packaging. Highly recommended, especially for vintage enthusiasts!
DISNEY TREASURES Collectible Tins, Wave 4 (Available this Tuesday): The
latest assortment of lavishly-packaged Disney Treasures limited tins
arrives this week and offers another compilation of vintage,
rarely-seen Disney goodness on DVD. “Your Host, Walt
Disney” includes a collection of classic TV programs hosted by
Disney himself, along with comments from Leonard Maltin and Diane
Disney Miller; “The Hardy Boys” includes all the segments
from the “Mickey Mouse Club” adaptations (1956-57) of the
Franklin W. Dixon books, plus a reunion with stars Tom Considine and
Tommy Kirk; “More Silly Symphonies” (Volume Two) offers
over five hours of Disney-produced shorts in their acclaimed and
popular series, produced between 1929 and 1938, with restored transfers
and extensive commentary tracks; and “The Complete Pluto, Volume
2" continues the adventures of Disney’s favorite pooch with
shorts produced between 1947 and 1951, including a trio of efforts
starring Pluto’s “feline nemesis” Figaro. Packaging
and extras (bonus interviews, Leonard Maltin comments) are all on-par
with past Disney Treasures sets and, obviously, come strongly
recommended for any studio fan.
THE CHRONICLES
OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE Four Disc Extended
Edition (***½, 150 mins., PG; Disney): Elaborate, limited
four-disc release of last winter’s box-office smash contains a
new, extended version of the movie (running less than 10 minutes longer
than the theatrical cut) and two new discs of extra features. Included
in the latter is a terrific, feature-length look at the life of
“Narnia” author C.S. Lewis and another disc sporting
additional Making Of content. The 16:9 (2.35) transfer is right on-par
with the preceding DVD, as are the 5.1 DTS and Dolby Digital
soundtracks. Superior to the original 2-disc set and a nice pick-up for
fans this holiday season -- and if you’re one of them, snag
yourself one while you’re at it, as Disney will pull the lavishly
packaged set from circulation on January 31st.
THE FOX AND THE HOUND 2 (2006, 69 mins., G; Disney):
The studio’s latest direct-to-video sequel is a lightweight but
pleasant continuation of its 1981 predecessor, though decidedly not as
melancholy as the original. Solid animation and some engaging songs
(along with a breezy Joel McNeely score) sell the further adventures of
Tod and Copper, which kids ought to enjoy (adults may miss the
bittersweet tone that the original had, which is almost completely
absent here). Disney’s DVD includes a perfect 16:9 (1.78)
transfer with 5.1 DTS and Dolby Digital soundtracks, along with a music
featurette, music video, and interactive games for kids.
AIR BUDDIES (2006, 80 mins., G; Disney):
The seemingly never-ending kids’ series about a lovable lab and
his off-spring are back to celebrate the franchise’s 10th
anniversary (!) with this fitfully amusing new adventure -- this time
focusing on Air Bud’s lovable litter of puppies. Comical action
backed by various celebrity voices (from Michael Clarke Duncan to the
late Don Knotts) makes this a perfect present for little ones this
Christmas, with Disney’s DVD offering a 16:9 (1.78) transfer, 5.1
Dolby Digital sound, a Jordan Pruitt music video, behind-the-scenes
featurettes and more.
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: 2-Disc Remix Edition (98 mins., G; Disney):
One of the highest-rated cable movies of all-time is quickly back on
DVD in a new, double-disc edition to capitalize on the program’s
popularity. Sadly, while the movie is presented in its original version
as well as a new “sing along” release exploiting karaoke
potential, the film itself is presented in its same, standard
full-screen version (why no 16:9?) as the previous release. Despite the
added features (new interviews, making of footage, etc.), then, some
may want to hold off for the inevitable triple-dip that will follow in
the likely not-too-distant future.
STEP UP (**, 103 mins., PG-13; Touchstone):
Unlikely box-office sleeper hit from last summer is a fairly hackneyed
tale of a teen from the wrong side of the tracks (Channing Tatum) who
improbably becomes the partner for a pampered, beautiful young dancer
(Jenna Dwan) after doing community service at her performing arts
school. Ridiculous and predictable, “Step Up” nevertheless
captivated teen audiences, who, in turn, ought to enjoy Buena
Vista’s DVD, which offers deleted scenes, bloopers, commentary, a
handful of music videos, and a Making Of featurette, plus a 16:9 (2.35)
transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound.
Warner Delights: Superman, Smallville & More!
SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE 4-Disc Special Edition (****, 151 mins., 1978, PG; Warner)
SUPERMAN II 2-Disc Special Edition (****, 127 mins., 1981, PG; Warner)
SUPERGIRL (**½, 124 mins., 1984, PG; Warner)
If you didn’t splurge for Warner’s massive
“Ultimate” Superman box-set, the studio has offered all the
individual Man of Steel titles available for purchase separately.
The new, four-disc release of the original 1978
SUPERMAN
reprises the supplements from the previous Special Edition DVD
(commentary from Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz; screen test footage
and multiple documentaries; outtakes; isolated John Williams score and
separate score extracts) but adds a good amount of new special features
as well.
Chief among the additions is the restoration of the 1978 theatrical
cut, though sadly with the same, “enhanced” 5.1 remixed
soundtrack that was included in the previous, longer Director’s
Cut of the movie (also included here). Fans should note that the
original ‘78 Dolby mix was supposed to be included here in 2.0
surround, but all copies contain the “new” soundtrack on
that track instead, and Warner has since issued a phone number for
replacement discs (800-553-6937), which will be available at a future
date.
That disappointment aside, it’s great to see the theatrical cut
back in circulation: while I love watching the outtakes from the
series, the original cut plays better than Donner’s 2001 extended
edition, removing the lengthy (and needless) sequence where Lex Luthor
toys with Superman’s abilities and an awkward scene with Superman
and Jor-El that was only noteworthy for being one of the few discarded
Brando sequences from the first movie.
Also new here is a commentary track with Iilya Salkind and Pierre
Spengler, who offer background detail on the conception and history of
the production, making it a nice contrast to the sometimes overly
chatty Donner-Mankiewicz track. Salkind specifically mentions that
Donner wanted Jerry Goldsmith to score the movie but, since he
“wasn’t available,” the producers were fortunate to
get Williams, who they say not only did an outstanding job scoring the
picture but stayed over-time in London to accommodate the film’s
rushed schedule.
While fans may lament the fact that there’s still ample footage
from the three-hour plus “Superman” TV version that has
again failed to materialize on DVD, Warner has still provided even more
goodies being issued on disc for the first time.
Making its most welcome DVD debut is the original, 50-minute ABC
“Making of Superman” special, narrated by the great, late
Ernie Anderson (he of “Sunday Night Movie” announcing fame,
and father to Paul Anderson of “Boogie Nights”). This
promo-ish piece sports tons of great, vintage footage recounting the
film’s production, most particularly candid interviews with Reeve
and especially Brando, who unforgettably discusses his then-record
smashing salary for what amounted to a cameo (albeit top-billed) role.
The 1951 George Reeves feature “Superman and the Mole-Men”
is also on-hand here, along with nine of the classic Fleischer Studios
cartoons, all having been newly remastered from vault elements.
It’s a tremendous set that represents the definitive package of
“Superman” on video to date, and if it weren’t for
the soundtrack issue and lack of extra deleted scenes, I’d have
rated this as one of 2006's elite discs. As it is, it’s still a
must-have for any Superman fan!
While ample attention has been given to the Richard Donner cut of
“Superman II,” Warner has wisely decided to issue a
separate Special Edition for the theatrical cut of Richard
Lester’s
SUPERMAN II.
This new 2-disc set gets off to a rocky start in its opening moments
because of a fluctuating soundtrack and discoloration running down the
left hand side of the frame – but once the action begins, fans
ought to be happy with the presentation as the new 16:9 transfer and
5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack are appreciable upgrades on the prior 2001
DVD.
Watching “Superman II” (the “real” film) again
was a revelation following the recent release of the “alternate
universe” version, as so many of the film’s best scenes
were excised from the “Donner Cut”: the film’s
opening sequence in Paris, Lois’ discovery of Clark’s true
identity, and particularly the movie’s rousing finish with
Superman returning to the White House are all absent from the Donner
version, making it ironic how the more “heartfelt” and
supposedly “sensitive” of the two versions is actually
missing the true heart and soul of the movie.
At any rate, Warner has not only given us a superior DVD presentation
of the theatrical “Superman II” here, but added some
excellent supplements to go along with it.
Another commentary by Ilya Salkind (with comments from Pierre Spengler)
is on-hand, and gives an alternate perspective on the dealings that led
to Richard Lester’s firing (basically, he says everyone was drunk
with power after the original film’s success). Salkind mentions
the film’s TV version (and how many scenes were restored for it),
as well as the music, saying that John Williams wasn’t available
to score the sequel, but that Ken Thorne stepped in with instructions
to re-use Williams’ themes and add some flourishes of his own
(which Salkind notes at various points throughout). If Salkind and
Spengler spend some time defending the released movie, it’s
understandable, as the reputation of the massively successful 1981
sequel has been tarnished over the years from revisionist criticism and
the whole Donner situation becoming more public. Now that both versions
are out there for all to see, perhaps it’ll lead some fans back
to realizing how satisfying the original “Superman II” is
to begin with.
Two interesting, vintage specials are also on-hand: “The Making
of Superman II” boasts more tremendous behind-the-scenes footage
of the picture being made, though for whatever reason, Warner had to
make use of a PAL print for its inclusion here. Sadly, because of
conversion/pitch-correction issues, the sound is sluggish throughout,
with every speaker (from Christopher Reeve to Ernie Anderson) sounding
as if they’re in slow-motion.
“Superman’s 50th Anniversary” was a 1988 CBS special
that was produced by “Saturday Night Live”’s Lorne
Michaels and boasted the participation of numerous SNL’ers (Jan
Hooks, Al Franken, and host Dana Carvey to name just a few). This dry,
comical retrospective on Superman’s history is pretty funny and
includes many familiar faces playing bit roles (from Peter Boyle and
Ellen Greene to Noel Neill and a young Marcia Gay Harden), and while
the joke wears thin after a while, it’s a refreshing switch from
the usual promotional fare.
A full slate of trailers, all the Fleischer Studios cartoons, AND a
bonus featurette on the Fleischer shorts rounds out a disc that, again,
only falls short in the deleted scenes department: while one excised
moment (the brief, laughable bit where Supes bakes souffle for Lois) is
on-hand in the supplements, numerous deleted scenes contained in the TV
version of the movie are NOT available here.
Also newly released from Warner is
SUPERGIRL,
in its 124-minute “International Cut” that’s a basic
reprise of Anchor Bay’s out of print DVD from some years back.
Regrettably, special features on Warner’s disc pale in comparison
to the Anchor Bay effort, with the Anchor Bay commentary with director
Jeannot Swarzc reprieved and the original trailer included -- but no
deleted scenes or the “Making of Supergirl” present and
accounted for. What’s more, the 16:9 transfer seems a bit
grainier than the Anchor Bay DVD, while the framing appears to be
identical (and, subsequently, a bit over-matted) to its predecessor.
Recommended only if you missed the previous release.
SMALLVILLE: Season 5 HD-DVD (2005-06, 22 episodes, 925 mins., Warner).
The fifth season of the contemporary “Superman” series on
The WB saw the series move to Thursday nights in what was anticipated
as being the final year for the program -- particularly with the
much-hyped “Superman Returns” feature film due out at
year’s end.
Fortunately, as series co-creator/executive producer Al Gough mentions
in his liner notes, the series truly did see both a creative and
ratings renaissance in its fifth year, with exciting new storylines and
plot developments that took advantage of its fine cast and the
potential that exploring the life of a young Clark Kent entailed.
In
year five, Clark (Tom Welling) and the gang have gone their separate
ways after high school graduation, and young Mr. Kent enrolls at a
college where his new teacher (played by “Spike” himself
James Marsden) is actually the villain “Brianiac,” sent
from Krypton to unleash General Zod and all hell on Earth. Meanwhile,
Clark’s on-going off-again/on-again relationship with Lana Lang
(Kristin Kreuk) reaches a breaking point; Lex Luthor’s continued
mining of Kryptonian meteorites comes closer to unlocking the truth
about Clark, though with decided ramifications for his father (the
superb John Glover); and Jonathan Kent’s running for U.S. senator
necessitates much of the family’s energy, with Lois Lane (Erica
Durance) assisting Kent’s run against challenger Lex himself.
As usual with “Smallville,” a compelling central plot line
is augmented by fun, effective standalone episodes, like
“Aqua,” featuring a young Aquaman (which nearly led to a
spin-off series before the pilot was rejected); the excellent,
holiday-oriented “Lexmas,” exploring an alternate existence
for our young villain-in-training; and “Thirst,” with
Kreuk’s Lana temporarily becoming a fetching vampire vixen (!) in
an amusing, if over-the-top, Halloween episode.
DVD GOODIES: Warner’s five-disc HD-DVD edition surpasses our
review of the standard definition set with enhanced 1080p transfers,
while most of the extras from the standard version have been carried
over (two commentaries, unaired scenes, a featurette on the 100th
episode) with the addition of an “in-program” feature
boasting a look at the visual FX (this function is accessible during
the premiere episode “Arrival”). The Dolby Digital Plus
soundtracks are also superb.
ANDY’S BOTTOM LINE: A perfect present for
“Smallville” fans with an HD-DVD player or
drive.
E/R: Season 6 (1999-2000, 22 Episodes, 976 mins., Warner):
Alan Alda’s guest starring stint as a veteran doctor at the end
of his career highlighted the sixth season for the long-running NBC
series. Sadly, “E/R” had begun to wane in the creativity
department by this point, offering more unspeakable tragedies for some
of its characters (plus, Clooney had long, and wisely, jumped ship by
this point), but long-time fans should still enjoy this collection of
22 episodes from the show’s 1999-2000 season. Warner’s
presentation is excellent, offering 16:9 transfers, 2.0 Dolby Stereo
soundtracks, unaired scenes and a gag reel.
THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS (90 mins., 2006; Warner):
Live-action, fairly agreeable TV remake of the old Rankin-Bass animated
special. John Goodman is a perfect fit for Santa and Delta Burke an
ideal Mrs. Claus, while Eddie Griffin and Chris Kattan serve up
appropriate shenanigans as the elves who save Christmas for one and all
(sadly, Harvey Fierstein and Michael McKean are less than satisfactory
as the miserable Snow and Heat Misers, respectively). Director Ron
Underwood does a decent job mixing the slapstick and sentiment in this
90-minute NBC film, which comes to DVD in a straightforward Warner
release in 16:9 widescreen and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound.
Nostalgic TV on DVD: D&D and The Electric Company Return!
One of the happiest developments of 2006 has been the rise of several
independent labels and their release of vintage TV shows that
you’d never have imagined would be released on DVD years ago
(“Match Game,” anyone?)
BCI Eclipse has been leading the charge in that department, having
released numerous classic Filmation series from “Flash
Gordon” to “Blackstar.”
Now the label has unearthed another favorite among Saturday morning devotees: the Marvel Productions series
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS,
which ran for two years (a total of 27 episodes) on CBS from 1983-85.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played D&D itself
(heck, I haven’t), as this self-contained adventure-fantasy
series focused on a group of kids who magically found themselves
transported into the land of the “Realm,” where giant
dragons, assorted villains and monsters lurk around every corner.
The animation is strictly along the “G.I. Joe” lines of the
era (this was a Marvel animated series, after all), but the stories are
actually not half-bad. In fact, as the years have progressed, the
D&D program has actually gained a robust cult following, with many
fans signaling out the later episode “The Dragon’s
Graveyard” as the series’ finest.
BCI’s lavishly packaged box-set offers all 27 episodes of the
series with occasional commentary tracks and fresh full-screen
transfers. A colorful booklet includes synopses of every episode and
airdate, while a hard-bound “Animated Series Handbook”
offers stats for a playable D&D adventure starring the heroes and
settings of the series.
Not only that, but a bonus disc is packed full of supplements, from a
half-hour retrospective documentary to a script of the final,
unproduced episode -- and a radio dramatization of that said story!
Additional scripts, storyboards, a live-action fan short
“Choices,” alternate and rare footage, and DVD-ROM
materials round out another marvelous, vintage TV release from BCI, and
a must for fans of the series.
One possible problem for fans, though: some music, in various second
season episodes, was apparently changed for the DVD box set. Fans have
carped that some of the music in “The Dragon’s
Graveyard” was altered, though as I’ve never seen the
episode before, I can’t comment on the differences (this
“alternate score” is actually mentioned on the
episode’s DVD trivia page). The music that IS present is rousing,
Johnny Douglas action scoring (similar to “Spider-Man and His
Amazing Friends,” which Douglas also composed) and contains a
particularly sweeping, Asian-influenced end title that would make for a
perfect album...if the day ever comes when Marvel opens its vaults and
enables one to happen.
Also newly available from The Shout! Factory is
THE BEST OF THE ELECTRIC COMPANY VOL. 2,
which offers 20 of the best episodes from the classic,
fondly-remembered PBS series of the ‘70s (which was broadcast
well into the ‘80s) with Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman leading
delightful, talented cast.
As with their prior “Electric Company” DVD box set, the
shows contain some of the series’ most memorable skits; an ample
dose of The Amazing Spider-Man (“...nobody knows who you
are!”); guest star appearances from the likes of Victor Borge,
Bill Cosby and others; and the unforgettable “Adventures of
Letterman.”
Special features this time out include a retrospective featurette
offering cast members Luis Avalos, Jimmy Boyd, Judy Groubart, Skip
Hinnant, and Hattie Wilson; a bonus interview with Dick Cavett talking
to Cosby; trivia; and more.
They seriously, and sadly, don’t produce children’s
programming like this any more, so buy a set to remember -- and show
your kids what quality educational TV ought to be!
December Capsule Takes: New From Genius and More
POLICE STORY: Dragon Dynasty Edition (1993, 100 mins., Fortune Star/Weinstein/Genius):
After botching so many Asian imports for over a decade, the Weinstein
Company has turned the corner and created a new “Dragon
Dynasty” label that will deservedly do justice to the films
they’re importing. First on the list is Jackie Chan’s 1993
favorite “Police Story,” presented here intact with
Cantonese 5.1 audio and subtitles; rare deleted scenes including an
alternate beginning and ending; commentary from Chan’s
“Rush Hour” director Brett Ratner; an interview with Chan;
trailers; and more. The 16:9 (2.35) transfer is solid and the
presentation finally one that befits one of Chan’s finest
outings. Here’s hoping more “Dragon Dynasty” packages
follow down the line...
ALEX RIDER: OPERATION STORMBREAKER (2006, 93 mins., PG; Weinstein/Genius):
Horribly botched British import attempts to do for teens what
“Spy Kids” did for kid-spies. Needless to say it
doesn’t work, despite a game cast (Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy,
Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry, Andy Serkis, Mickey Rourke, and a miscast
Alicia Silverstone among them). Genius’ DVD offers a 16:9 (1.85)
transfer, 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, and numerous featurettes plus the
original trailer.
CHESTNUT (2004, 87 mins., G; Miramax/Genius): Cute
dog tale (unsurprisingly from the same folks who produced “Air
Bud”) about a baby Great Dane puppy and the two young sisters who
adopt him. Predictable but harmless family fare, presented in
full-screen by Genius with 5.1 Dolby Digital sound.
NEXT TIME: Part 2 of our annual Aisle Seat Holiday Buyer's Guide! Also, don't
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