“GET SMART”
Blu-ray and enhanced widescreen, 2008, PG-13 for some rude humor, action violence and language
Best extra: “The Right Agent for the Right Job: Behind-the-Scenes Training” only available in standard-def.
SURE THERE’S BEEN numerous James Bonds, but, unfortunately, it appears there’s only one true Maxwell Smart (Don Adams).
Not that Steve Carell didn’t do a good job as the klutzy Control agent, but those superspy stories with Agent 86, Agent 99 and Chief from TV land are funnier than this attempt, even though this version include some pretty cool gadgets and high-speed chases.
In addition to a flimsy story line, the extras are weak, too – even on the Blu-ray presentation. “The Right Agent” featurette is fun with Carell, Anna Hathaway (99), The Rock’s Dwayne Johnson (Agent 23) and Alan Arkin (Chief), but it’s a short cliche.
Other features include: “Man in Moscow! On Location or on a Soundstage? Watch and Decide,” “Language Lessons: Spotlight on Linguistics Master Steve Carell;” gag reel; and “Spying on Get Smart’s Bruce and Lloyd ‘Out of Control.’” Also, there’s a digital copy for your computer and iPod and the Blu-ray includes a DVD game that’s barely worth mentioning.
Finally, a second version of the movie with bonus scenes and deleted scenes (45-minutes worth) which says it will deliver “62 percent more laughs” is the biggest joke. None are funny or seamless; taking a few seconds to be inserted into this so-called comedy.
— Toni Guagenti
“BARAKA”
Blu-ray widescreen, 1992, not rated
Best extra: We are graced with a documentary about the production and a featurette about the restoration of this groundbreaking documentary.
THIS IS A glimpse of heaven in hi-def. And a glimpse of hell. Shot in the large, 70mm format, "Baraka" was directed and shot by Ron Fricke, the award-winning director of photography for "Koyaanisqatsi." The film was restored via a state-of-the-art 8K Ultra High Resolution (four times more resolution than 1080p HD) mastering process, the first ever for 70mm, and the results are stunning. Hands down, this is the disc to have to show off what Blu-ray is capable of and is one of the finest Blu-rays to date.
There’s no story – simply a procession of powerful images captured around the world (24 countries), offering a view of life’s beauty and savagery.
You’ll see an assembly line of baby chicks taking a roller-coaster ride along conveyor belts and down chutes with no idea their journey will culminate in the tips of their beaks being burned off. Women and children scour a massive garbage dump in India. You can also look into the mouth of a volcano or the vast oil fires burning in Kuwait to gaze upon animals, plant life, and humans around the world in stunning clarity. The making-of documentary and the restoration featurette detail the huge undertaking, using an 8K scanning process for each frame. Also, the sound has also been restored and is available uncompressed DTS HD making for unbelievable Blu-ray experience.
— Josh Boone
“PLANET OF THE APES: 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION”
Blu-ray widescreen, 1968, G with violence and brief nudity
Best extra: The two hour documentary “Behind the Planet of the Apes” narrated by actor Roddy McDowall, with an interactive mode.
FRENCH AUTHOR PIERRE BOULLE never envisioned his 1963 sci-fi novel of a world where apes control the planet as a movie. Especially when compared to “The Bridge Over the River Kwai,” his mega bestseller based on Bouell’s imprisonment by the Japanese during World War II. That particular film raked in seven Oscars.
But producer Arthur P. Jacobs knew “Apes” had a cinematic future. First, he recruited famed TV writer/producer Rod Serling to create a workable screenplay. Thirty-drafts later, Serling’s script boasted one of Hollywood’s most shocking endings.
Fox studio executive Richard D. Zanuck wasn’t sold. He was concerned that moviegoers would laugh at actors dressed as apes. Zanuck ordered a $5,000 screen test using legendary actor Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Zaius in ape-like makeup and Charlton Heston as American astronaut George Taylor. The test was a smash and the movie went into production with director Franklin Schaffner (“Patton,” “Papillon”) at the helm. The test is included among the Blu-ray features.
Additional Blu-ray extras include three carryover commentaries from previous DVD editions: The first, with actors Roddy McDowall, Natalie Trundy, Kim Hunter and makeup artiest John Chambers; a second with composer Jerry Goldsmith, whose score was nominated for an Oscar, and a text commentary “Planet of the Apes as American Myth” by author Eric Greene. Not too shabby for a film that produced four sequels and two TV series.
The disc also includes two hi-def documentaries highlighting the evolution of “Apes” and its impact on pop-culture. You can purchase the complete collection in a handsome Blu-ray box set “40-Year Evolution” containing “Planet of the Apes,” “Beneath The Planet of the Apes,” “Escape From The Planet of the Apes,” Conquest of The Planet of the Apes” and “Battle for The Planet of the Apes.” A foldout timeline from 1972 through 3955 and an amazing 200-page picture book with concept drawings, behind the scenes photographs, makeup prosthetic photos and tons more should satisfy even the biggest fans.
The Blu-ray edition contains an exclusive pop-up video commentary exploring the science of the story with Craig Stanford, professor of Anthropology and Biology at University of Southern California. He describes the movie as “a wonderful fantasy, that’s unlikely to ever happen.” Stanford also tell us that “As intelligent as apes are and as intelligent as they may become in the future – they wouldn’t necessarily become human.” Apes, he says, are incapable of producing human speech, especially consonants.
The hi-def imagery is solid with good contrast and sharpness, while exposing some film grain and the shortcomings of poorly lit interiors from cinematographer Leon Shamroy.
Overall this cautionary tale is worthy of any Blu-ray collection.
— Bill Kelley III
“WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER?”
Enhanced wide-screen, 2007, PG-13 for sexual content, thematic material and brief strong language
Best extra: Director Anand Tucker ("Shopgirl") provides a thoughtful commentary.
BASED ON BRITISH poet Blake Morrison's memoir, the film shuffles between the past and future and concerns the tumultuous relationship between a father and son. Covering the 50s to the late 80s, Colin Firth plays the son and the great Jim Broadbent plays the father. An extremely heavy-handed score and some directorial touches that draw too much attention to themselves keep this from being the gem it wants to be but the performances, particularly Firth's and Broadbent's, make this worthy of a rental.
Sony's video and audio presentation is very pleasing to the eyes and ears. Extras include the commentary by Tucker, who defends the stylistic excesses and overbearing score, and also delves into the production of the film, his fourth adaptation, and discusses his relationship with his own father. Also included are a handful of deleted scenes with commentary by Tucker.
— Josh Boone
“A CHRISTMAS STORY: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION”
Blu-ray widescreen, 1983, PG
Best extra: Commetary by Peter Billingsley and director/co-writer Bob Clark.
WELL, THIS COULD HAVE GONE BETTER. What is billed as the “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” on Blu-ray is nothing more than the previously released Blu-ray. It offers the same transfer which, sadly, wasn’t that good. Viewers won’t find the high-res, hi-def pop of color, dimension or sound here. They won’t find any new extras either.
No, this so-called ultimate collection is packaged in a neat green holiday tin with a string of leg-lamp lights packed inside. Previous press releases had promised an apron and cookbook. Times being what they are economically, it could be Warner Brothers decided to scale back. Just like the rest of us.
If you have “A Christmas Story” in your collection, there’s no need to purchase this new version. Even die-hard fans might better off with another selection – unless you’re desperate for a set of leg-lamp lights.
— Mike Reynolds
“UNIVERSAL SOLDIER”
Blu-ray widescreen, 1992, R for strong graphic violence, and strong language
Best extra: The alternate ending is a far darker conclusion to this classic 90s actioner.
BEFORE DIRECTING TRAVESTIES like 1998's "Godzilla," "The Day After Tomorrow," and "10,000 BC," Roland Emmerich made an entertaining and excessively violent sci-fi film called "Universal Soldier." Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren were killed in Vietnam but find themselves revived as perfect government engineered soldiers decades later. When they start to remember their Vietnam days, they find themselves on a collision course of destruction that takes us from the Hoover Dam to the Grand Canyon fans of "Total Recall" will enjoy.
"Universal Soldier" comes to Blu-ray with a magnificent hi-def transfer, one of Lion Gate's best efforts to date. I haven't seen a film from the early 90s look this good on home video. Just take the same studio’s Blu-ray release of "Basic Instinct," filmed the same year and it’s not even close “Solider” has vivid colors and exceptional detail. The uncompressed audio track is aggressive and loud, highlighting an endless stream of gunfire and explosions.
The extras are identical to the 2004 special edition DVD and include a commentary with Emmerich, Van Damme, Lundgren, and writer Dean Devlin. You'd think with all those guys in the room there wouldn't be any dead air. Unfortunately, the track is a quiet one and Emmerich does most of the talking. Two short featurettes highlight Van Damme and Lundgren's parallel bios and takes you behind-the-scenes on the film. An alternate ending and an unimpressive trivia track are also included.
Recommended for exceptional audio/video.
— Josh Boone
“MONSTER'S BALL”
Blu-ray widescreen, 2001, R for strong sexual content, language and violence
Best extra: For some reason, Lions Gate dropped both the audio commentary with director Marc Forster, Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry and one with Forster and the film's cinematographer. All that's left is one with director Marc Forster and the writers. What gives?
HALLE BERRY won an Oscar for her work in this critically acclaimed film about how racism is passed down from one generation to the next. The late Heath Ledger plays Thornton's son.
As with Lions Gate release of "Universal Soldier" this week, "Monster's Ball" also boasts a strong hi-def presentation. If you're a fan of the film, this is worth an upgrade over the previous DVD versions. The uncompressed audio isn't a huge upgrade considering how quiet and dialogue-driven the film is, but the image quality is deeper with exceptional detail.
The Blu-ray includes the uncut version of the film, which adds a few seconds to the already incredibly graphic sex scene between Thornton and Berry. The commentary with Forster and the writers is okay but worked much better when supported by the other two commentaries. All three give a well rounded look at the production but by itself it doesn't add up to all that much. Deleted scenes and some brief featurettes are also included.
— Josh Boone
“THE MUNSTERS: THE COMPLETE SERIES”
Full-screen, 1964-66, unrated
Best extra: The touching feature, “Fred Gwynne: More Than a Munster”
THE FOLKS AT 1313 Mockingbird Lane are such long-standing fixtures in the pop universe it’s easy to forget that, back in the day, “The Munsters” broke significant ground.
You might not recall just how funny they were, too.
Which makes this handy-dandy set especially, well ... handy-dandy. Besides all 70 episodes from the show’s two-year run, it includes the pilot, two movies and excellent extras about the series and its talented cast.
Caveat: It doesn’t offer anything that wasn’t included when the individual seasons were released in 2004 and ‘05, but if you didn’t pick them up then, this package is the way to go.
The main reason the series clicked, of course, was the chemistry between Fred Gwynne (Herman) and Al Lewis (Grandpa), a rapport that was kindled when they were on “Car 54, Where Are You?” The retrospective “America’s First Family of Fright” looks at their partnership – and every other facet of the series’ history. In 1964, the country was hot for refashioned monsters, and “The Munsters” hit the air along with “Bewitched” and “The Addams Family.”
Other extras are devoted to Lewis and Yvonne De Carlo, who played Lily, but the most touching is the aptly titled “Fred Gwynne: More Than a Munster.” It may come as a surprise that the Harvard-educated Gwynne was an accomplished artist, children’s author and stage star (he once played Big Daddy in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”). It also may be a surprise that his personal life was darkened by tragedy or that for years he tried to live down the role that made him famous.
— Craig Shapiro
“WATERWORLD: TWO DISC EXTENDED EDITION”
Enhanced widescreen, 1996, theatrical cut rated PG-13 for some intense scenes of action violence, brief nudity and language; extended edition is not rated.
Best extra: The extended edition.
OK – I BOUGHT INTO the bad word of mouth on “Waterworld” when it was initially released in 1996. Shame on me. Years later, when I saw it on DVD, I had to wonder what all the negative press was about. Were people just in rebellion against Kevin Costner’s success with “Dances With Wolves,” “Field of Dreams” and other money-makers? Did they buy into Madonna’s “Costner is boring” shtick? Who can say.
“Waterworld” is an imaginative, beautifully filmed work of science fantasy. The new extended cut, available on this two-disc presentation from Universal, adds 40 minutes to the film. The new material is seamlessly cut in. It expands the story and characters, and is nicely scored by James Newton Howard (“The Dark Knight,” “The Sixth Sense”). There are wild action scenes with Costner’s Mariner on the rigging – shades of Errol Flynn and Burt Lancaster – and with Dennis Hopper’s Deacon, a relentless “Road Warrior” brother. Dialog is just the right mix of serious and humor.
The transfer is excellent, both in picture and sound. The theatrical release was available in the sadly defunct Hi-Def format back in 2006. Makes me wonder if a Blu-ray presentation won’t be far behind now. Still, unless you have a theater-sized screen and sound system, it’s hard to imagine how Blu-ray can improve this presentation.
This could be a fine gift for yourself or your favorite sci-fi fan.
— Mike Reynolds
“REAPER: SEASON ONE”
Enhanced widescreen, 2008, not rated
Best extra: The pilot episode commentary with the show's two co-creators and producer.
Talk about a case of switching gears. Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, writing partners for the ultra-dramatic "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," decided to try their hand at comedy. To an outside observer, the natural choice would not have been actor Bret Harrison, who had recently come off a role on "SVU" as a rapist. Still, Butters was convinced he'd have the comic chops for their new show. She was right.
Harrison plays Sam, a hardware-store nerd who's forced to capture escaped souls for the devil after a deal struck by his parents. While sounding like the setup for an awful horror film, the idea of slackers tasked with bagging supernatural entities is inspired. So is the "vessel," the unique object Sam must use to capture each soul. Finally, there's Ray Wise, the impeccably dressed Man Downstairs himself. With his toothy grin and silky charm, he doesn't appear to be much of a threat – at least until you cross him.
The biggest plus of buying the series on DVD is the presentation: it's shown in crisp letterbox format, and boasts a 2.0 Dolby digital audio track. The negatives are the extras, which are slight and not well packaged. While the heavily bleeped blooper reel is a riot, the box is a dirty liar. It promises more than one commentary, yet only one appears to be included. The deleted scenes, moreover, have no chapter settings or title cards. In other words, viewers not only lose the option of selecting deleted scenes from their favorite episodes, they won't even know which episode they're from. Still, if the goodies fall short, the show itself does not. Before this show ends up on television's endangered species list, check it out and give the devil his due.
— Carl Hott
“KNIGHT RIDER: THE COMPLETE SERIES”
Full-screen, 1982-86, not rated
Best extra: Extras include a made for TV movie sequel, “Knight Rider 2000” that is unremarkable, but nice to have alongside the original series. Less interesting is an incredibly dull documentary on how the car stunts were created and carried out. Perhaps the best of this lot is the documentary detailing the creation of the show’s distinctive theme song.
CLEARLY, THERE’S NOT much to say about this show, and why should there be? It was built to thrill; little additional commentary is needed.
David Hasselhoff first found fame here, playing Michael Knight. A former police officer shot and left for dead, he returns to fight crime with the help of Knight Industries for the Foundation of Law and Order and its owner, billionaire Wilton Knight.
But Hasselhoff played second fiddle to K.I.T.T. (“Knight Industries Two Thousand”), an intelligent, talking black Pontiac Trans Am. (Okay, I can wait till you’re done laughing.) While I found devouring more than a few of the set’s 85 episodes, 73 hours and 19 minutes spread over 24 discs to be a Herculean task best left for those who have LOTS of time, the show is a lot of fun and perfectly fluffy family fodder for those who like lots of action. If you indulge in the premise of this series, you’ll find it an admirable mix of action and humor. Depth? About as much as each disc. But this show is meant to be harmlessly entertaining. And it is.
The show is housed in a distinctive slip case. Hit the red button on the front of the box and you’ll hear the Knight Rider riff play, while K.I.T.T.’s flashing lights blaze in sequence, just like the TV show. There are even instructions on how to replace the batteries that power it.
My advice? Throw out the case before your kids see it. They will play the theme until it drives you to distraction.
— Larry Printz
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