©
“ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS”
“THE PRISONER: THE COMPLETE SERIES”
“TINKER BELL AND THE LOST TREASURE”
“STARGATE: 15TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION”
“BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN”
“THE GUARDIAN: THE FIRST SEASON”
“PLASTIC MAN: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION”
“MONTY PYTHON: THE OTHER BRITISH INVASION”
“MAD MONSTER PARTY: SPECIAL EDITION”
“SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS 1960s: VOLUME 2”
“ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS”
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, PG for some mild rude humor and peril
Best extra: Although there are sometimes too many voices over the movie, the commentary with several of the movie’s principals, including the director, co-director, two producers and character developer, shows people who love their end product
THE SUN GLISTENING off ice-hard snow. Squirrel eyelashes that flutter in the wind. Dinosaur spit that looks gross and slimy. These are the things that make this movie stand out in high-definition; computer generated images have come a long way.
Fox has certainly released an entertaining movie that its makers and actors love, as you can tell in the bonus features. Unfortunately, what was released in the theaters in 3-D comes to home viewers without the gimmick. Still, it’s a fun movie, especially with new character, Buck, the swashbuckling, fearless weasel. Buck, voiced by Simon Pegg ("Shawn of the Dead") lost an eye to Rudy, the mongo-mean dinosaur who lives below the ice in a hot-house paradise with supposedly extinct creatures, including Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Voices from the two other "Ice Age" movies return, including Ray Romano (Manny), John Leguizamo (Sid) and Denis Leary (Diego). In this episode, Manny and Ellie (Queen Latifah) are expecting a little mammoth and there doesn’t seem to be room for Sid and Diego. Sid ends up finding some eggs on ice and decides he’ll be a mother to them. It turns out, they’re T. Rex eggs and the big lizard wants them back. Sid’s friends stop at nothing to find their friend, who has been taken to an underworld paradise filled with dinosaurs and weird creatures, including Buck.
In addition to the commentary, the Blu-ray, HD features are numerous. They include a cool story maker where kids of different ages can create and save their own "Ice Age" story; "Buck: From Easel to Weasel," myriad Scrat features, including shorts and interviews with his creator and the creator of his girlfriend, Scratte, in this film; "Walk the Dinosaur" music video with Queen Latifah; "Unearthing the Lost World" – a real-life look at some of the "Ice Age" creatures of yesteryear and what they could have evolved to today; unfinished deleted scenes; Fox Movie Channel features about the "Ice Age" movies; and BD-Live Lookup, where Internet is necessary to access the features.
Not all Blu-ray bonus features are on the DVD.
This set also includes a digital copy of the movie for PCs and Macs. Enjoy.
— Toni Guagenti
“THE PRISONER: THE COMPLETE SERIES”
Blu-ray full-frame, 1967-68, unrated
Best extra: "Don't Knock Yourself Out," a comprehensive, feature-length documentary
FIRST, THE GOOD news: "The Prisoner" shines in high-def. There isn't a pixel that's out of place. The picture is pristine; the colors vibrant and deep. You'd never know the series has been around 42 years. (Full disclosure: The sound gets dicey; the music is tinny, but the chirping birds and shadowy footfalls – the atmospheric stuff – ring true.)
Now, the better news: The stellar re-mastering in no way illuminates the story. A British agent resigns, is abducted and awakens in The Village, where he is now known as Number Six. Where has he been taken? Who is Number One? "The Prisoner," to borrow from another noted Brit, remains a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. It's why it has endured.
While conclusions are left for the viewers to draw, the extras – and there are a ton of them on the five-disc set – delve into everything else. They include commentaries with writers, directors and other crew members, original edits of two of the series' 17 episodes, trailers and a stills gallery with more than 1,200 images. All have been picked up from previous sets, but this one delivers two new short features: An interview with music editor Eric Mival and a Q&A of sorts with Peter Wyngarde, who played Number Two in "Checkmate."
The best of the lot, though, is "Don't Knock Yourself Out," a feature-length documentary from 2007. Using archival and then-new interviews with just about everyone involved, it traces the series from its inception. Especially interesting is the evolution of Rover, the iconic orb that prevented escape from The Village. It's no surprise that Patrick McGoohan, "The Prisoner's" tenacious star and its undeniable creative and driving force, was not involved in any of the extras; he guarded his privacy until his death earlier this year. But the documentary devotes considerable time to his impressive career, and it opens with a telling quote:
"If whatever we wanted to say is not already contained within the episodes of the series then I failed in the production of them and any amount of chit-chat will not make good that omission."
Dig in.
— Craig Shapiro
“TINKER BELL AND THE LOST TREASURE”
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, G for the whole family
Best extra: "Pixie Hollow comes to Walt Disney World" in the form of topiaries for an annual garden festival at Epcot
PIXIE DUST AND moonstones shine in high-def for Tinker Bell’s latest Disney adventure in Pixie Hollow – long before she meets up with Peter Pan and his Lost Boys. Just watching it in Blu-ray and then seeing a commercial for the movie on television shows the huge difference that hi-def can make.
This time, a selfish, bossy Tinker Bell gets an assignment that requires a steady hand and a big heart – she’s to make a special scepter for Pixie Hollow’s annual Autumn Revelry. Unfortunately, Tink messes up and blames it on her friend, Terence, who was only trying to help. She ventures out on her own – to another island away from her home, to find a magic mirror to help her repair what she has broken. She meets a new character, Blaze the firefly, along the way, as she tries to set things right before the celebration.
For Disney, the bonus features are scant but include an animated guide of Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell and Terence, her friend, deleted scenes, a Demi Lovato music video and made-up bloopers with the computer-generated pixies.
The two-disc set includes the DVD version of the movie and the bonus features found on the Blu-ray. Bonus features are mixed in hi-def and standard-def. The sound, as usual, for Disney, is uncompressed DTS HD and crisp.
For some reason, Disney left out BD Live for extra features online for the little ones. Plus, there were no games, either, which is unfortunate. Maybe that’ll be on the five-year anniversary of this pseudo-classic.
—Toni Guagenti
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2008, PG-13 for thematic elements including some sexual dialogue and brief drug references
Best extra: A commentary with actor/producer Freddy Rodriguez, director Alfredo De Villa and producer Robert Teitel
WHEN RELATIVES GATHER for the holidays something crazy is bound to happen. The Rodriguez family epitomizes holiday drama in “Nothing Like the Holidays.” When the siblings gather at their parents’ Chicago home for Christmas, holiday meals are flavored with old feelings such as resentment – but it’s nothing the joy of the season can’t cure.
John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez, Debra Messing and Alfred Molina star in the film. Rodriguez doubles as one of two producers and shares his thoughts on the commentary. He and others talk about the rich Puerto Rican heritage in the movie and the outpouring of support they received from the residents of Humboldt Park, the Chicago neighborhood featured in the film. In record low temperatures and snowfall in Chicago, the cast and crew were offered hot meals, a place to warm up and more from the residents.
Other members of the cast reminisce about working together, the below-zero temperatures and other incidents in “Nothing Like A Family: Cast Reunion,” which was taped in HD. A plethora of HD bloopers are a little long, but enjoyed in small doses can be very entertaining.
The Blu-ray features a rich hi-def picture with plenty of natural film grain and warm hues during the interior scenes. Also, the Blu-ray includes an exclusive pop-up video commentary with the cast and director. A major disappointment, their comments are only sprinkled here-and-there throughout the movie and doesn’t include any behind-scene footage. The audio commentary is much better.
— DeAnne M. Bradley/Bill Kelley III
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, R for disturbing violent content, some sexuality and language
Best extra: "Mama's Little Devils: Bad Seeds and Evil Kids," a 15-minute featurette (in HD) that explores the "evil kids" genre, is the lone extra other than 4-minutes of deleted scenes (SD).
IF YOU’RE LOOKING to scare yourself silly this Halloween, look no further than this fright fest from producers Joel Silver and Leonardo DiCaprio, which makes "The Good Son" look like a family trip to Disneyland. "The Departed's" Vera Farmiga and "Garden State's" Peter Sarsgaard play a married couple who adopt a creepy Russian orphan and welcome her into their home only to find their lives and the lives of their children in jeopardy. The acting is top notch, the direction would make Hitchcock envious, and the final plot twist is one of the year's most chilling.
"Orphan" looks incredible in hi-def, boasting a reference quality transfer. Colors are muted due to the film's icy winter setting but contrast and detail are exceptional. The uncompressed audio is less aggressive than most horror films, with hushed conversations and unnerving stretches of silence used to build tension until the inevitable violence happens.
Extras are disappointing, with virtually nothing to recommend. It's nice to have the featurette in HD, but there are far too many clips from the film beefing up the already short running time and the deleted scenes aren't particularly interesting. However, the film comes highly recommended and the Blu-ray is definitely the best way to experience it.
— Josh Boone
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, PG-13 for sexual situations including dialogue, brief nude images and thematic material
Best extra: As with every Woody Allen title, there are no special features.
THERE’S NO SUCH thing as a bad Woody Allen film. Though not all reach the heights of "Manhattan," "Hannah and Her Sisters" or "Crimes and Misdemeanors," even his least successful films are better than most of the dreck playing at your nearest movie theater ("Saw VI" anyone?).
In "Whatever Works" Allen teams up with "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David and returns to New York City, after shooting four films abroad ("Match Point," "Scoop," "Cassandra's Dream" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona") for this charming tale of Boris Yellnikoff, a self-professed genius and former nuclear physicist who sees the rest of humanity as "inchworms" and "cretins." The story focuses on his relationship with a sunny young runaway from New Orleans, played brilliantly by Evan Rachel Wood, who blows into his life and changes it for the better. Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson plays Wood's mother.
"Whatever" arrives on Blu-ray with a warm and pleasing hi-def transfer. There's nice grain present and while it's never razor-sharp, this is very film-like. Although there is an uncompressed audio track, those familiar with Allen's work know he prefers mono and to this day, that is how his films are recorded. His work is pretty much entirely dialogue-driven and the music he uses is almost always jazz or swing, recorded well before stereo became the norm. Although the box claims this is a 5.1 mix, it plays out through the front three speakers; there is only the slightest hint of bass and not even the slightest bit of ambience in the scenes outside in New York. A typical Allen track. No more, no less.
David can currently be seen on HBO reuniting the cast of "Seinfeld" on his acclaimed series "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Allen is at work on his latest film, still untitled, which stars Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, and Naomi Watts.
— Josh Boone
“STARGATE: 15TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION”
Blu-ray widescreen, 1994, PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Best extra: A new multi-part HD featurette with interviews from several “Stargate” fans, German director/writer Roland Emmerich and producer/writer Dean Devlin.
HERE’S SOME GOOD news. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has done this hi-def sci-fi adventure RIGHT!
Earlier this year, the studio’s re-release of “T2” on Blu-ray was a disaster. Yes, it featured three versions of the James Cameron classic and tons of extras. But the hi-def transfer was victimized by digital scrubbers that completely removed the film grain producing a soft and uneventful picture – a major NO-NO!
“Stargate: 15th Anniversary Edition” is a different story (avoid the 2006 Blu-ray release). A film school idea from Emmerich (“Independence Day,” “Godzilla” and “2012”), this edition includes both the theatrical and extended cut version. It features a robust hi-def picture with depth, sharpness and rich color while preserving the original film grain. Also, the soundtrack has been re-mastered into a seven channel DTS HD experience that’s active throughout your sound system – especially with David Arnold’s sweeping score.
Another major bonus: Most of the extras are in HD, including the multi-part featurette which breaks down the production. There you’ll discover the extreme conditions the cast and crew faced while filming in the scorching heat near Yuma, Arizona, and how they revamped a huge hanger in Long Beach, Calif., into a soundstage for the interior pyramid sequences. (Note: The hanger once housed Howard Hughes’ famous airplane the Spruce Goose.)
The disc includes a pop-up video commentary that uses footage from a documentary produced for an older DVD, a featurette on author Erich von Däniken (“Chariots of the Gods”), gag reel and a sci-fi trivia game with multiple choice questions and a countdown clock that plays while you watch the movie. Finally, there’s an informative commentary with Emmerich and Devlin. The two cover everything from Kurt Russell’s famous crew cut to how they distanced themselves from the spin-off “Stargate” franchises. “We have nothing to do with the TV series,” says Devlin.
— Bill Kelley III
“BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN”
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, not rated
Best extra: "From Admiral To Director" focuses on star Edward James Olmos's approach to directing.
FANS STILL MOURNING the loss of the acclaimed sci-fi series will celebrate the release of this excellent straight-to-video (and soon to be seen on SyFy) feature film, which retells critical series’ moments from the point of view of enemy Cylons.
Many cast members return for this fascinating final visit to the "Battlestar Galactica" universe (until "Caprica," set 50 years before the events of "BSG" debuts on SyFy in early 2010, that is). The film, which runs nearly two hours, appears here in a harder extended cut than will be seen on TV. There's more violence (particularly in the spectacular destruction of the Twelve Colonies) and sex/nudity.
"The Plan" comes to Blu-ray with nearly identical results as this year's "Complete Series" release. The show has a very stylized and gritty look and "The Plan," which is made up partly of recycled footage from the first two seasons, does a seamless job cutting between the new and the old. The image is very strong if you go in understanding that noisy and grainy is exactly how the show is supposed to look. It may not always be pretty but it's accurate to the docudrama look. The uncompressed audio is thrilling, pushing television into the realm of cinema with lots of impressive surrounds and bass-driving sounds.
The extra features, though not plentiful, are a welcome addition to the package. Olmos and writer/producer Jane Espenson contribute a commentary track that manages to be both frustrating (too many silent gaps) and wonderful (when speakers are actually speaking). There's a wealth of information about making the film to be had if you can get through some tedious bits and occasional silence. You'll also get some deleted scenes (in SD) and four short featurettes (in HD!). The featurettes offer much insight into the production, with the longest piece on the planning and execution of the extensive visual effects work.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting this release since the series finale and should be pleased to find that the film is a worthy addition to the series. This Blu-ray comes highly recommended.
— Josh Boone
DVD widescreen, 1969, unrated, violence
Best extra: "It's Intentional: Costa-Gavras on 'Z,' " a new interview with the director
JUST IN CASE there's any question, the opening credits for this still resonant political-thriller affirms: "Any similarity to real persons and events is not coincidental. It is intentional."
On May 22, 1963, after speaking at an anti-nuclear rally, the Greek left-wing activist Gregoris Lambrakis was clubbed to death in the street. The ruling military junta – "The Regime of the Colonels" – called it an "unfortunate traffic accident." A determined magistrate uncovered the truth. Six years later, Costa-Gavras' uncompromising account opened to international accolades, winning Oscars for foreign language film and its propulsive editing.
Its success, though, spoke – and still speaks – to something else: "Z" defined its time; given the headlines today, it defines our time, too.
That doesn't mean the cinema is Costa-Gavras' pulpit.
In a new, wide-ranging interview, the director, a hale and hearty 76, says he doesn't try to connect with audiences through ideology. "People go to the movies to have feelings – to love, to hate, to cry; to have all these good human feelings. I'm trying to create feelings with stories without manipulating the reality of the stories. It's important to tell the story in a very strong way, a very passionate way."
Complementing that interview is one with cinematographer Raoul Coutard, who compares Costa-Gavras' approach to that of Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut. (Coutard manned the camera for "Breathless" and "Shoot the Piano Player" in the same year.) "Z's" documentary style, he says, simplified his job because "I didn't have to rack my brain over lighting choices and effects."
This Criterion title also includes a commentary with film historian Peter Cowie. It sometimes sounds as if he's reading from a script, but he does a nice job putting the film in its historical context and correctly points out that it's as much a film noir as it is a "gritty, fast-moving" thriller.
— Craig Shapiro
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2008, not rated
Best extra: The candid half-hour making-of documentary details how tough it was to get financing for a film about such a controversial Italian figure.
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ITALIAN showstopper "Il Divo," an outrageously zany look at the rule of former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, plays like the lovechild of Martin Scorsese and Baz Luhrmann. Writer/director Paolo Sorrentino proves himself a master of his craft with this dazzling film, which makes it Blu-ray debut this week.
While the picture quality is impressive, often bordering on reference-quality, the lack of an uncompressed audio is disappointing. The 5.1 mix isn't bad but Blu-ray is supposed to offer hi-def picture and sound. There have been too many cases lately where studios have taken the easy (cheap) way out.
Extras are slim and all are presented in SD and subtitled. While the making-of documentary is the best of the lot, an interview with Sorrentino, a look at the film's special effects, and 12 minutes of deleted scenes are worth a look as well.
— Josh Boone
“THE GUARDIAN: THE FIRST SEASON”
DVD widescreen, 2001-2002, not rated
Best extra: Only one: CBS series launch promos
IT SEEMS AS if CBS has been looking for the right series vehicle for Australian actor Simon Baker – a big hit in 2008’s “The Mentalist” – for a while. And, for three seasons, “The Guardian” was a good fit.
Baker plays Nick Fallin, rich smart guy lawyer and son of the richer and powerful Burton Fallin, who is played by Dabney Coleman. What a good, edgy, believable match this is. Nick dances on the edge of disaster, runs afoul of the law and is sentenced to become a court appointed child advocate.
Can it be father and son might work out their issues while Nick learns about – and helps – the kids he’s assigned to? Maybe. The show never reveled in sentiment or easy solutions. And that’s a good thing.
Nominated for Emmys, Golden Globes and other awards throughout its three season run, the show is good and holds up well. Baker fans and others should enjoy this intriguing character drama. It’s too bad we don’t have more in the way of extras.
— Mike Reynolds
“PLASTIC MAN: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION”
DVD full-frame, 1970's, not rated
Best extra: "Stretch Your ‘Plastic Man’ Knowledge with a Plas-tastic Retrospective" featurette, including a talk about reproducing this super hero in the 21st century
EEL O’BRIEN HAS had his fair share of iterations, including Tom Kenny’s ("SpongeBob SquarePants"), but this DC Comics gem from the 1970's brings the wiry comic to life with his friends Penny and sidekick Hula Hula. The trio jet across the Earth in the Plastijet (that’s later retrofitted for space travel) and conquer bad clams, weeds, half-man, half-ape and even a disco mummy.
The four-discs include 35 episodes in standard-def. You need to look past 1970's quality and appreciate the stories and the plastic superhero himself.
The one featurette is a wonderful history of Eel and his creator, Jack Cole, in the 1940's. Plastic Man actually went from a bad guy to a hero, fighting crime and saving the world with his own unique sense of humor.
Kenny’s unaired pilot episode also is included on Disc 2. The updated Plastic Man version is closer to original story line.
Now, if Penny could just get a date with Mr. Flexible.
— Toni Guagenti
“MONTY PYTHON: THE OTHER BRITISH INVASION”
DVD widescreen, 2008, not rated
Best extra: An explanation from artist and writer Terry Gilliam about the unique and oddball openings he created for the "Flying Circus" on disc one, "Before the Flying Circus"
THIS TWO-DISC set offers Monty Python fans a look at the boys before they became the worldwide phenomenon of cut-ups and mad men who made this British comedy a trailblazer, not only for the U.K. but for future American funny folks.
The first disc is a look at how the six men – including Gilliam, the only American in the bunch – got together from various backgrounds. The standard-definition look is presented in black and white and includes myriad black-and-white photos of the guys at the time, along with tons of interviews with the folks who were around and gave the future Pythons their start, including David Frost. Eventually, "Monty Python’s Flying Circus" debuted on the BBC in October 1969.
The second disc explains how the Pythons did for comedy what the Beatles had done for music to America. "Monty Python Conquers America" is something John Cleese never thought would happen. The troupe’s history in the states is amazing, considering it made its foothold through public television. You can find out what Owen and Luke Wilson’s dad’s had to do with that in Dallas in1974.
Also included in the second disc are interviews with Americans influenced by the troupe including Hank Azaria, David Hyde Pierce, Trey Parker and Matt Stone (creators of the controversial "South Park") and Judd Apatow ("The 40 Year Old Virgin").
Unfortunately, the only missing Python in the two-disc set is Graham Chapman who died of cancer in 1989. Still, having the other five talk about their experiences and tell stories of their legendary rise makes this DVD priceless.
— Toni Guagenti
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, not rated
Best extra: “Expedition Africa: The Making of History” is almost as high-minded as it sounds, but offers good information.
MOSQUITOES. DEHYDRATION. MALARIA. SWEAT. IN-FIGHTING. Nothing brings it home like “Survivor” producer Mark Burnett who developed this recreation of journalist Henry Morton Stanley and his search for Dr. David Livingston (as in, “Dr. Livingston, I presume?”) for the History Channel.
Here four modern-day explorer/adventurers set off with antique compass, maps, Stanley’s journals and Massai warrior guides. They seem chosen for their individual expertise as well as their inability to get along as a team. This is History Channel in “Survivor” mode – with a whole lot of childish manipulation going on. It makes the Massai appear even more glorious.
On Blu-ray, viewers will experience extraordinary scenery. The journey begins in Zanzibar and ends 970 miles later in Ujiji. Sadly, there isn’t much history to be found among the explorer’s wrangling and direct-to-camera “Survivor” whining, but the animals, jungle, ocean and desert are gorgeous, even with some edge-enhancement flaws. Sound is good; it’s not surround sound quality but what’s there is clear.
Extras are also worthwhile although generally brief, most hovering around two minutes: “Stanley and Livingston” provides historical context; “The Maasai” offers a tantalizing look at the warrior tribe; “Wild Beasts, Disease and the Elements” reiterate the dangers of travel as does “Dangers of the Wild,” while “Survival Strategies” explains the obvious.
Kudos to the History Channel for stepping outside their usual documentary-like style; a great big boo to the resulting “Survivor” overkill. Let’s hope HC returns to what it does best and save the artificial conflict for mainstream misanthropes.
— Mike Reynolds
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, unrated
Best extra: The only extras, aside from a near-minute of deleted scenes, are three very short featurettes (totaling under 20 minutes viewed together) that give you a look behind-scenes.
WHILE THE FIRST two installments in the "Wrong Turn" series can be recommended for their inventiveness and entertainment value, this new entry gets it all wrong.
The "Wrong Turn" films are primarily about inbred redneck West Virginia cannibals murdering young folks. "Left for Dead" seemingly doesn't understand why people watch these movies and proceeds to bore the pants off viewers for nearly its entire running time, with the before-mentioned inbred cannibals (actually, it's only one this time) barely making an appearance. Instead, we get a busload of convicts stranded in the middle of nowhere who talk, and talk, and talk until they're finally killed. And horror fans, the kills are the worst kind. Instead of trying to impress with makeup and effects work, we get laughably bad CGI blood spurts. Add in terrible acting and poor direction and you have a SyFy channel movie.
The Blu-ray looks soft and noisy for the most part. It’s certainly better than the first and second, which were released on Blu-ray recently to very poor results, but not by much. The lossless audio track is a step above the video, with some nice atmospherics and sound effects.
Extras are negligible. Three brief featurettes include interviews with the actors (if we must call them that), behind-scenes footage, and a look at the stunts and effects.
Skip it.
— Josh Boone
“MAD MONSTER PARTY: SPECIAL EDITION”
DVD full-frame, 1967, not rated
Best extra: A making-of the cult classic from Rankin/Bass – also the creators of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and other Animagic classics from the 1960's
TO FIND OUT Jim Henson modeled The Count after Dracula in this Arthur Rankin Jr./Jules Bass classic is just one of the cool tidbits in a making-of feature of this seldom-seen Animagic, or stop-motion animation, 95-minute flick.
The details are incredible, although unfortunately, not in high-definition. Regardless, the painstaking amount of time that went into making this show with puppets, where 24 frames make a second, is a movie-making marvel.
Boris Karloff voices Baron Von Frankenstein, who calls together a party to announce his retirement from the Worldwide Organization of Monsters. What ensues is a party to end all monster parties, where some conspire to overtake Frankenstein instead of his geeky nephew. Phyllis Diller plays herself in many ways as the bride of Frankenstein. Hysterical.
Other bonus features include two sing-along songs, the trailer, a look at the original music by Bass and composer Maury Laws, and a great modern look at stop-motion animation, which hasn’t changed much in the 40-plus years since Rankin/Bass scored with the American viewing public.
— Toni Guagenti
“SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS 1960s: VOLUME 2”
DVD full-frame 1960s, not rated
Best extra: “Completely Bananas: The Magilla Gorilla Story” featurette that gives a glimpse into some of the behind-scenes decisions of Alan Melvin, the voice of Magilla, who’s better known as Sam the butcher from “The Brady Bunch.”
HOW FUN WAS IT to wake up early Saturday morning, turn on the TV – often still in your pajamas – and watch several hours of cartoons? Before computer-generated special effects, before play dates, back when being a kid meant, well, being a kid. Thanks to Warner Bros., some of us old enough to remember can relive that time with “Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s Vol. 2.”
There also are “Saturday Morning Wake-Up Calls” included in this set.
Included are: Quick Draw McGraw, Peter Potamus, The Road Runner, Space Kidettes, Young Samson and Goliath, The Jetsons, Wally Gator, Porky Pig, Young Gulliver and Atom Ant.
The shows are presented the way they were originally broadcast, grouped with each segment they way we saw them … the first time, usually with three segments per episode. For example, with “The Peter Potamus Show” there is “Wagon Train Strain,” “Missile Fizzle” and “Black Bart.”
Most of the shows are from Hanna-Barbera productions, although some are from Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry.
Each disc starts with a short rundown of the content, narrated by Gary Owens. You might remember him as the announcer on the NBC TV hit “Laugh In.”
Also during the featurette, cartoon historian/author Jerry Beck mentions that before Magilla Gorilla, most Hanna-Barbera cartoons were just plain simple. Magilla Gorilla was “high” concept in that he’s already in a pet store and the owner, Mr. Peebles is busy trying to get him sold. (It doesn’t work out; Magilla returns after every episode.) Magilla marked the era of the funny animal characters, although once “Johnny Quest” entered the scene toons quickly became “high-tech.”
An interesting point on the box is this: “Saturday Morning Cartoons: The 1960s Vol. 2 is intended for the adult collector and is not suitable for children.”
Hmmm. My, how times have changed.
— Cliff Redding
DVD widescreen, 2009, rated R for adult situations, nudity, drug use
Best extra: Making of documentary
THINK OF IT as a TV movie on Lifetime and you might be prepared for the most un-Stephen Frears (“The Queen,” “High Fidelity”)-like film you’re ever likely to see.
The story is an adaptation by Christopher Hampton (“Atonement,” “Dangerous Liaisons”) of the novel by Colette, about an aging courtesan during Paris’ “Belle Epoque.” Lea (Michelle Pfeiffer) falls in love with the handsome 19-year-old son (Rupert Friend) of a “colleague” (Kathy Bates) and eventually suffers heartache when he marries someone of his own generation. Pfeiffer does her best in the role, looking ravishingly world weary in myriad fabulous costumes, but neither she nor her co-actors can save this tedious soap opera.
Aside from two deleted scenes, the only extra is a making-of documentary containing the typical glowing sound bites from stars, director, writer, producer, etc.: Pfeiffer praises her young co-star for “not making me feel like an old hag,” and he returns the favor by saying that acting with pros like her “raised the bar” for his efforts. (Yawn).
— Peggy Earle
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
