March Mania Edition AMADEUS & Other Oscar Winners in HD Plus: GOODBYE MR CHIPS '69 and More
With the Academy Awards still fresh in viewers’ minds, this is a
good time to revisit past Oscar winners, several of which have been
newly released on Blu-Ray in spiffy new high-definition transfers.
If it weren’t for Laurence Olivier famously fumbling his
announcement of the Best Picture category, Oscar night for Milos
Forman’s AMADEUS (****, 180 mins., 1984, R [originally PG]; Warner)
couldn’t have possibly been more perfect: the opulent adaptation
of Peter Shaffer’s play copped eight Oscars in a terrific year
for movies, winning in all of its nominated categories except
Cinematography and Editing, where it lost to “The Killing
Fields.”
Long one of my favorite films, “Amadeus” is mostly regarded
as a speculative fiction (or a total fiction in certain respects) on
the part of Shaffer, chronicling the relationship between brash musical
prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) and Austrian court composer
Antonio Salieri (Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham), who watches as his
younger and seemingly less hard-working contemporary effortlessly
creates timeless works of art while Salieri consistently fails to earn
the distinction that Mozart does -- even when he’s not even
trying. It’s a lavish spectacle filled with gorgeous locales,
sets, costumes and, naturally, music as adapted by Sir Neville Mariner,
but it’s also a timeless story with a central subject matter
relevant to the human condition regardless of its time frame.
While I’m not overly fond of the “Director’s
Cut,” which restores 20 minutes of footage to a film that always
seemed perfect to this viewer in its Oscar-winning theatrical edit,
Warner has chosen to issue “Amadeus” on Blu-Ray only in
this expanded form. The result is a good-looking, if a bit glossy, HD
transfer that seems just a bit restricted in its crispness by noise
reduction that was employed to “smooth over” the image.
Overall, though, colors are strong, blacks are deep and
“Amadeus” has never looked so good on home video, while the
thundering Dolby TrueHD soundtrack provides a gorgeous stereophonic
soundscape when called upon. Extras, culled from the prior DVD release,
include a fine commentary track with Forman and Shaffer, plus an
hour-long Making Of documentary and the original trailer. The disc is
housed in one of Warner’s nifty “digibook” hardbound
packages, complete with full-color stills, production notes and both a
bonus CD sampler of the bestselling soundtrack and a digital copy for
portable media players bundled with the release.
Richard Attenorough’s GANDHI (***½, 191 mins., 1982, PG; Sony)
is one of those respected Oscar winners that, as the years have passed,
has diminished in visibility compared to some of its fellow nominees
(not just Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.” but also,
arguably, the Dustin Hoffman-Sydney Pollack comedy
“Tootsie” and Paul Newman in Sidney Lumet’s
“The Verdict”).
It’s still a stately, regal production with an outstanding cast
(“guest stars” Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud,
Trevor Howard, John Mills and Martin Sheen) and a deserved
Oscar-winning performance from Ben Kingsley as the iconic figure,
backed by gorgeous visuals (captured by cinematographers Billy Williams
and Ronnie Taylor), a fine score by George Fenton and a John Briley
screenplay that chronicles Mohandas Gandhi’s life and transition
from lawyer to spiritual leader of his nation.
Sony’s Blu-Ray disc goes a long way to reestablishing
“Gandhi”’s cinematic scope at home:
Attenborough’s visuals look spectacular in HD compared to past
video and TV prints I’ve seen of the picture, while the Dolby
TrueHD audio is superb, even if it’s not as potent as, say, the
more aggressive mix of a picture like “Amadeus.” Extras
include a Blu-Ray exclusive picture-in-graphics historical track as
well as extras from prior releases on a second disc, including
commentary from Attenborough and an on-camera introduction from the
director, numerous, extensive Making Of featurettes and vintage
newsreel footage.
For those who might believe that only large-scale epics and action
movies gain the most from high-definition transfers, one only needs to
look at a Blu-Ray release like Sony’s new KRAMER VS. KRAMER (***½, 105 mins., 1979, PG) to see evidence to the contrary.
Robert Benton’s 1979 Oscar winner is a beautifully acted,
painfully real tale of a man (Dustin Hoffman) whose wife (Meryl Streep)
leaves him, putting him in sole charge of their young son (Justin
Henry), only to have her later re-appear -- and demand custody of their
child. It’s a straightforward and yet devastating story adapted
from Avery Corman’s book by the director, and gracefully acted
both by Hoffman (winning the first of his two Oscars) and Meryl Streep
(who likewise took home her first Academy Award here for Best
Supporting Actress).
Sony’s AVC encoded Blu-Ray transfer of “Kramer Vs.
Kramer” is excellent: the crispness of the image heightens Nestor
Almendros’ naturalistic cinematography, though the Dolby TrueHD
audio can do little to enhance the fidelity of a flat late ‘70s
stereo mix. While the film’s presentation is superb, extras are
sparse, with just a solid, earlier hour-long documentary on-hand that
dissects the picture’s production from both cast and crew members.
One of the strong performances Hoffman beat out for his “Kramer
Vs. Kramer” Oscar -- Peter Sellers as the gardener Chance in BEING THERE (***, 130 mins., 1979, PG; Warner) -- has also been newly released on Blu-Ray in an excellent package from Warner Home Video.
Sellers is brilliant in this Hal Ashby-directed adaptation of Jerzy
Kosinski’s novel (scripted by the author for the screen), and
Warner’s Blu-Ray disc offers a satisfying VC-1 encoded transfer
of the film with a monophonic Dolby TrueHD soundtrack and several
excellent features: an alternate ending and several recently discovered
deleted scenes, plus a gag reel, the trailer, and a Making Of
featurette that recounts the production of this memorable, gentle comic
drama with one of its star’s finest performances. Also New On Blu-Ray
RONIN (***½, 121 mins., 1998, R; MGM/Fox):
Director John Frankenheimer’s last great film, MGM has finally
brought their Blu-Ray edition of “Ronin” to the U.S. after
a myriad of international releases since the format’s inception.
Regrettably this bare-bones Blu-Ray release hasn’t been updated
at all, looking and sounding like the sort blah first-generation BD
title Fox and MGM have since improved immeasurably upon.
As far as the movie itself goes, Frankenheimer's realistically filmed
and impressively staged action sequences -- which were a precursor to
(and possible influence on) the “Bourne” pictures -- were
seldom more effective than they were in “Ronin,” a low-key,
taut, and decidedly old-fashioned thriller that enabled the director to
concentrate on what he does best -- provide excitement without padded
exposition or reliance on visual effects. Nowadays in particular, it's
refreshing to see a film that is fully satisfied to create a skillfully
told, if leisurely, tale that wouldn't have been made any different
thirty years before.
Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno are the principal leads in the simple,
straightforward and uncluttered plot, co-written by David Mamet under a
pseudonym, which could be best described as a more realistic rendition
of the James Bond movies some years after the fact, in that the
characters are former mercenaries and government employees, but seeking
work in a world where the employers and secret packages are more
suspect and deadlier than ever.
The performances of DeNiro, Reno, Natascha McElhone ("The Truman
Show"), and Jonathan Pryce give the material the required nuance,
double-crossing and deceit that it needs, but it's really
Frankenheimer's show all the way. The French locales add immeasurably
to the atmosphere and mood of the picture, while the car chase
sequences -- much discussed and lauded by critics and fans -- deliver
the goods in such a manner that you wonder why many prerequisite auto
pursuits are so bland by comparison. With crisp editing and a pounding
pace, Frankenheimer illustrated that pure filmmaking beats CGI,
blue-screen, and other modern forms of filmmaking trickery any day of
the week. From Nice to the tunnels of Paris, Frankenheimer evokes
favorable comparisons to the equally dizzying set-pieces of his more
memorable films ("French Connection II," "Black Sunday") with the
movie’s two extended, masterfully executed car chases, which
certainly rank as some of the finest action filmmaking of the '90s.
Unlike Fox’s newer BD discs with AVC encoded transfers,
“Ronin” sports a 25GB Blu-Ray platter with an MPEG-2
transfer that’s good but not spectacular, along with DTS Master
Audio sound and, most telling of all, no extras of any kind! Forget the
original DVD’s alternate ending and commentary, or any of the
extensive extras from a subsequent 2006 Special Edition --
there’s nothing on here at all, making this a title that shows
just how far Fox and MGM have come in the last year or so in terms of
enhancing their Blu-Ray discs.
VANISHING POINT (**½, 99 [U.S.] and 106 [U.K.] mins., 1971, R; Fox): Weird
“counter-culture” action vehicle from director Richard C.
Sarafian offers a skeletal story involving anti-hero driver Barry
Newman, a former cop and Vietnam vet speeding from Denver to San
Francisco with the authorities in hot pursuit and only a sympathetic
radio DJ (Cleavon Little) offering much in the way of
support.
There’s not much else narratively to “Vanishing
Point,” with the big stars being the car chase sequences well
shot by Sarafian and cinematographer John A. Alonzo, plus an often
ironic period soundtrack peppered with songs. Though the film has
generated a cult following over the years I found “Vanishing
Point” to be an interesting, yet dated and pretentious work only
occasionally livened up by its action and the appearance of Charlotte
Rampling, who pops up in a sequence only retained in the UK theatrical
version of the picture.
“Vanishing Point” might seem to be an odd choice to receive
the Blu-Ray treatment at this stage of the format’s lifespan, yet
because Fox has issued several films with vivid auto sequences in HD
over the last week (“Ronin” above and the two “French
Connection” films), it’s likely that loose connection
explains this cult flick’s release on Blu at this time. Fans of
the movie ought to be pleased with the AVC encoded transfer and DTS
Master Audio soundtrack, with both cuts of the movie on-hand, as well
as a number of supplements, including commentary with Sarafian,
trailers and TV Spots, a trivia track and other Making Of featurettes.
FUTURAMA - INTO THE WILD GREEN YONDER (89 mins., 2009; Fox):
The latest feature-length follow-up to Matt Groening’s Fox
animated series -- which has generated a solid amount of fans in spite
of its lukewarm broadcast ratings – offers another colorful
continuation of the series for its admirers. Personally, I’ve
never cared for “Futurama” so I’ll leave it to its
fans to weigh in on how entertaining “Into the Wild Green
Yonder” is, though I can tell you Fox’s Blu-Ray disc offers
a splendid AVC encoded transfer with DTS Master Audio sound plus
commentary from the show’s creators, picture-in-picture BD
exclusive video commentary, numerous featurettes and deleted scenes.
SOUTH PARK - Season 12 DVD & Blu-Ray (308 mins., 2008, Paramount):
The South Park gang hit Blu-Ray for the first time in a daffy box-set
compiling the series’ 14 twelfth-season episodes. Trey Parker and
Matt Stone’s series is still a gas after all these years, with
episodes here riffing on everything from the election to “High
School Musical” and “Twilight,” while still
sprinkling in a few eccentric episodes of completely original zaniness,
such as the memorable two-part episode “Pandemic,” where
the world is threatened by pan flute bands!
Paramount brings Season 12 of “South Park” to both DVD and
Blu-Ray next week. To be honest, this isn’t a situation where the
Blu-Ray offers a massive upgrade on the DVD, since the cut-rate
animation is one of the series’ charms, and as such, only looks a
bit crisper and more colorful in HD. That said, if you have a Blu-Ray
player, the BD version is still the way to go, with Dolby TrueHD audio
offered in place of the standard DVD’s 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks.
Extras across both platforms are numerous, including
“mini-commentaries” from Parker and Stone,
behind-the-scenes featurettes and Making Of segments, including one
offered here in HD.
BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA: DVD & Blu-Ray (**½, 91 mins., 2008, G; Disney): Cute
enough Disney fare follows a pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua (voiced
by Drew Barrymore) who gets lost in Mexico while on vacation with her
owner’s niece (Piper Perabo). Ultimately little Chloe is saved by
a heroic German Shepherd (the “vocal talents” of Andy
Garcia) and meets a tribe of ancient Chihuahuas along the way.
There’s not much to “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” except
that the visual effects are fairly good, the film moves along at a
decent pace and director Raja Gosnell knows his target audience well
enough not to linger too long at the party. It’s silly, brainless
but also painless fun for kids, who along with their parents helped
turn the movie into a massive $90 million hit at the box-office last
fall. Disney’s DVD includes a rock-solid 16:9 (2.35) transfer
with 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, while the Blu-Ray boasts an even more
potent AVC encoded presentation plus the added benefit of uncompressed
PCM sound. Extras on both platforms include deleted scenes, bloopers,
commentary from Gosnell, and an animated “Legend of the
Chihuahua” short, while the Blu-Ray also offers exclusive extras
including a segment on the voices behind the dogs, additional deleted
scenes, an on-set featurette and announced BD-Live bonuses.
Also out from Disney this week on DVD is a new Special Edition of AIR BUD (**½, 98 mins., 1997, G), the
original tale about Buddy, a golden retriever with an uncanny ability
to knock down hoops. Producer Robert Vince’s first film may not
have felt like the start of an extended series of family features, but
it’s enjoyable, harmless entertainment for children and Disney
has packaged this new edition of “Air Bud” with a
“Dog-U-Commentary” from the “Buddies” puppies,
the original trailer, a new 16:9 (1.85) transfer, 5.1 Dolby Digital
soundtrack, and collectible “Buddy” dog tag.
SEX DRIVE: DVD & Blu-Ray (**½, 109 mins/129 mins., 2008, R/NR; Summit):
Box-office flop sold as a juvenile sex comedy is actually more of an
‘80s-flavored teen movie dressed up with the requisite raunchy
gags audiences today have become accustomed to. That said, director
Sean Anders (who wrote the movie with John Morris) has at least
fashioned an energetic and good-natured comedy that finds a trio of
likeable characters -- an 18-year-old hapless virgin (Josh Zuckerman),
his best-female-friend (Amanda Crew) and horndog pal
(“Greek”’s hilarious Clark Duke) -- embarking on a
road trip so Zuckerman can meet up with an online girlfriend who wants
to, of course, go “all the way” (also the name of Andy
Behrens’ book upon which the film is based). Their journey is,
naturally, filled with colorful encounters, including a sarcastic Amish
guy played by Seth Green who has a penchant for fixing broken-down
cars! Though not every gag works, “Sex Drive” is fairly
inspired for its genre, and also gets a boost from James
Marsden’s high-energy performance as Zuckerman’s obnoxious
older brother. Summit’s Blu-Ray and DVD packages both include the
original R-rated theatrical cut and an amusing, if overlong, 129-minute
Unrated version with discarded sequences and even more offensive
material (I recommend sticking with the R-rated original version, which
is long enough as is). The 16:9 (1.85) transfer on the DVD is sound,
while the Blu-Ray looks even more impressive with its 1080p
presentation. Regrettably, audio on the BD isn’t much different
than the DVD, offering only a plain 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack on
both versions of the picture. Extras include commentary from Anders and
Morris plus three short, if amusing, behind-the-scenes vignettes.
I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (***, 117 mins., 2008, PG-13; Sony): Kristin
Scott Thomas gives a superb performance in this French import as a
woman, recently released from prison, who tries to reconnect with her
younger sister (a similarly excellent performance by Elsa Zylberstein),
her husband and their children, and ease back into the continuity of
life in the process – all the while facing questions about the
nature of her crimes. Philippe Claudel’s film moves leisurely
through its two hours and doesn’t offer too many shocking
revelations, but the conviction of its performances make for a
compelling character drama. Sony’s Blu-Ray disc includes a
finely-hued 1080p AVC encoded transfer with Dolby TrueHD audio and
extras including deleted scenes with optional commentary from Claudel,
and both French and English dialogue tracks (the latter with Scott
Thomas, naturally, voicing her character).
PRIMAL FEAR: DVD & Blu-Ray (**½, 130 mins., 1996, R; Paramount): Edward
Norton first broke onto the scene in this well-executed, if not overly
memorable, 1996 courtroom thriller as an altar boy convicted of
murdering a Catholic archbishop, and represented by an arrogant,
media-savvy defense attorney (Richard Gere) who becomes a bit
conflicted by his client’s behavior. A marvelous supporting cast,
including Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Frances McDormand, Alfre Woodard,
Terry O’Quinn, and Andre Braugher lend a great deal of class to
Gregory Hoblit’s adaptation of William Diehl’s novel, but
in the end “Primal Fear” isn’t any more substantial
than your typical episode of “Law & Order,” just with
superior cinematic trappings and excellent performances from both
Norton and Gere. Paramount is issuing “Primal Fear” in a
new Special Edition DVD and Blu-Ray set next week; both the 16:9 (1.85)
DVD and 1080p BD transfer nicely reproduce Michael Chapman’s
original cinematography, while 5.1 Dolby Digital (DVD) and Dolby TrueHD
(BD) audio faithfully replicate the film’s mostly subdued audio
mix. Extras include commentary from Hoblit, co-screenwriter Ann
Biderman and other members of the production team, the original
trailer, and a fresh Making Of featurette split into several
self-contained sequences, including a dissection of a discarded subplot.
TRANSPORTER 3 (**, 104 mins., 2008, PG-13; Lionsgate): Jason
Statham is Frank Martin yet again in the formulaic, yet still
watchable, third installment in the moderately popular action
franchise, directed here by the aptly-named “Olivier
Megaton.” Lionsgate’s Blu-Ray edition of “Transporter
3" boasts a terrific AVC encoded transfer with DTS Master audio sound,
while the DVD sports a rock-solid 16:9 (2.35) transfer with 5.1 Dolby
Digital sound. Extras housed on both versions include commentary from
Megaton (I keep writing Megatron, I can’t help it!), a Making Of
featurette, other assorted behind-the-scenes material including
storyboards, and BD-exclusive “MoLog” activities. Vintage Titles on DVD
EAST OF EDEN (1981, Acorn Media):
ABC mini-series adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel hasn’t
aged quite as well as the network’s gargantuan undertaking of
John Jakes’ “North and South” novels, but it’s
still an entertaining, classy production from an era in which the
television mini-series was a true viewing event.
Jane Seymour has the show’s breakout performance here as the
conniving femme fatale who causes a rift between brothers Timothy
Bottoms and Bruce Boxleitner, leading to a subsequent generational
confrontation between their sons Sam Bottoms and Hart Bochner.
Supporting roles from Karen Allen to Lloyd Bridges, Howard Duff, Anne
Baxter, and Warren Oates add a good amount of support to this
three-part, six-hours plus production, which is further enhanced by a
gorgeous Lee Holdridge score.
Acorn’s long-awaited DVD presentation of “East of
Eden” looks just fine, while a new, exclusive interview with
Seymour will prove to be of interest for the show’s fans.
GOODBYE MR. CHIPS (***, 154 mins., 1969, G; Warner):
Producer Arthur P. Jacobs and director Herbert Ross’ 1969
musicalization of the James Hilton novel has been something of a
polarizing title for musical aficionados: while Leslie Bricusse’s
lovely score is filled with haunting thematic material and lyrical
songs (all of them brilliantly orchestrated by John Williams), the film
itself isn’t as satisfying, lumbering along for over two and a
half hours and coming across like it was embarrassed to be a musical,
with numerous songs either cut or trimmed, or shot as montages instead
of actual “musical numbers.” In spite of its semi-identity
crisis, “Goodbye Mr. Chips” ‘69 is nevertheless a
satisfyingly old-fashioned adaptation of the classic story,
atmospherically lensed by Oswald Morris and splendidly acted by Peter
O’Toole as Mr. Chipping.
MGM/UA previously restored the “Roadshow” version of
“Goodbye Mr. Chips” for laserdisc back in the ‘90s.
That print was compiled from the best available sources, some of which
showed their age and certainly looked inferior to other portions of the
transfer. For their long-awaited DVD release, Warner Home Video has
done the best they could to further improve on that edition, and the
results are mostly quite satisfying: the 16:9 (2.35) transfer is much
sharper and better framed than the laserdisc, with whatever
“softness” there exists in the image likely being more a
result of how the film was photographed than an issue with the transfer
itself. The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack works best during the musical
numbers, with the dialogue and quieter sections of the picture being a
bit erratic in their fidelity by comparison.
Trailers for both the 1939 version and the 1969 release are on-hand
here, though disappointingly, Warners missed the opportunity to include
a half-hour promo featurette that often screens on Turner Classic
Movies, offering some glimpses into the creative process and alternate
musical performances than what ended up in the finished film.
CANNERY ROW (**½, 120 mins., 1982, PG; Warner):
Writer-director David S. Ward might’ve struck out at the
box-office with his 1982 adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novels
“Cannery Row” and “Sweet Thursday,” but the
movie itself has aged rather well: a deliberately old-fashioned period
romance between marine biologist Nick Nolte and Debra Winger, a floozy
new to the colorful coastal town of Cannery Row. John Huston’s
flavorful narration sets the scene, while a fine supporting cast (Audra
Lindley, M. Emmet Walsh, Frank McRae), Sven Nykvist’s
cinematography and an effective underscore by Jack Nitzsche combine to
make this an appealing, if flawed, romantic comedy that’s not
nearly as unwatchable as its disastrous reception would lead you to
believe. Warner’s DVD of this MGM release sports a fine 16:9
(1.85) transfer with mono sound and the original trailer.
DODES’KA-DEN (***, 140 mins., 1970; Criterion):
Even certain aficionados of the great Akira Kurosawa may not be
familiar with this 1970 work from the master fimmaker, which examines
the lives of a group of lower-class individuals living in a slum
outside of Tokyo. This first foray into color filmmaking from Kurosawa
-- and his first project in some five years at the time of its release
-- seems to have been met with mixed reaction from scholars and
viewers, but while it may not be one of his classic works,
“Dodes’ka-Den” is nevertheless a well-acted and
vibrantly told character study that Criterion has perfectly captured on
DVD.
Presented in its original 1.33 presentation with mono sound,
“Dodes’Ka-Den” looks remarkably fresh on disc, while
extras include more segments from the Japanese documentary “Akira
Kurosawa: It’s Wonderful to Create,” along with the trailer
and extensive booklet notes. Recommended for Kurosawa fans. Also New on DVD
ALIEN RAIDERS (**, 85 mins., 2009, R; Warner): Warner’s
latest “Raw Feed” direct-to-video horror outing is
certainly an improvement on the “Rest Stop” franchise,
though Ben Rock’s feature about an extraterrestrial invasion and
supermarket shoppers feels a bit too close to “The Mist” to
really satisfy. A slumming Carlos Bernard (“24"’s Tony
Almeida, who likely took the gig because a former colleague of that
series, Tony Krantz, is a Raw Feed producer) appears in a thankless
starring role here, but give credit to writers David Simkins and Julia
Fair for at least keeping your interest until the bottom falls out
during a distressingly predictable “twist” ending.
Warner’s DVD offers a satisfying 16:9 (2.35) transfer with 5.1
Dolby Digital sound and ample special features (Making Of featurettes,
etc.) on-hand.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON COLLECTION (Lionsgate): Three-DVD
box-set offers a trio of Johansson’s earlier starring vehicles:
her early role in Eva Gardos’ “An American Rhapsody”
(2001), plus the 2004 feature “A Good Woman” (2004) with
Helen Hunt and Tom Wilkinson, and the critical favorite “Girl
With The Pearl Earring.” Extras, transfers and soundtracks are
all reprieved from the prior DVD releases of each film.
WILDFIRE Season 3 (539 mins., 2007; Lionsgate): Season
three of the popular ABC Family series hits DVD in a box-set with 16:9
(1.78) transfers, 2.0 Dolby Stereo soundtracks, and select episode
commentaries with the cast and crew.
MY WIFE AND KIDS Season 1 (264 mins., 2009; Lionsgate):
Damon Wayans’ sitcom also hits DVD this month from Lionsgate,
with the studio’s double-disc set offering its complete first
season in 16:9 (1.78) transfers and 2.0 Dolby Digital soundtracks.
IRONWEED (143 mins., 1987, R; Republic/Lionsgate): Jack
Nicholson earned an Oscar nomination for his role in this downbeat 1987
Hector Babenco period drama -- scripted by William Kennedy from his
novel -- co-starring Meryl Streep and Tom Waits and hauntingly scored
by John Morris. Republic’s DVD of “Ironweed” offers,
lamentably, just an okay full-screen transfer and 2.0 stereo sound,
with no extras, making for a dank disc of an appropriately gloomy
picture.
RICK AND STEVE - Season 2 (176 mins., 2008-09; Paramount): Logo
Channel animated series -- most definitely not for kids! -- about the
“happiest gay couple in the world” and their assorted
friends hits DVD again in a Season 2 box-set offering eight episodes,
bonus shorts, cast interviews and other irreverent “gay
crap!” (as the packaging describes), plus full-screen transfers
and stereo soundtracks.
THE HILLS - Season 4 (392 mins., 2008; Paramount):
Lauren, Audrina, Lo and the gang are back for another year of
scandalous “reality” television from MTV. Season 4 for the
ever-popular program arrives on DVD in a three-disc set from Paramount,
offering 4:3 widescreen transfers, deleted scenes, interviews, photo
shoot footage, the “Virtual Hills” and other extras for
fans.
HIS NAME WAS JASON (90 mins., 2009; Anchor Bay):
For-fans-only documentary recounts the production of the “Friday
the 13th” films offering a cavalcade of interviews with the
series’ leading ladies, directors, make-up experts and fans among
others. Loads of extras from fan films to bonus interviews, as well as
a $5 coupon to see the new remake (quick! before it exits theaters),
round out the disc, which features a 16:9 (1.78) transfer, 5.1 Dolby
Digital audio, and some four hours of bonus features.
THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS (**½, 94 mins., 2008, PG-13; Miramax): Adaptation
of John Boyne’s book about a young boy who befriends a Jew on the
other side of a concentration camp fence is well-acted and produced,
with a mostly subdued James Horner score. However, the quasi-fairy tale
tone of writer-director Mark Herman’s adaptation makes for an odd
film-going experience with a bleak ending that makes it best left for
older children with parental supervision. The messages are commendable
but as a movie it’s not entirely satisfying. Buena Vista’s
DVD includes deleted scenes, commentary and a Making Of featurette,
plus a 16:9 (1.85) transfer with 5.1 Dolby Digital sound.
HAPPY GO-LUCKY (119 mins., 2008, R; Miramax):
Mike Leigh’s newest film hits DVD from Miramax in a 16:9 (2.35)
transfer with 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, and extras including commentary
from the director and two Making Of featurettes. NEXT
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