An Aisle Seat HD-DVD Special
Andy Reviews Universal and Paramount's New High-Def Offerings
Plus: FLINT Ultimate Collection and More!
By Andy Dursin
www.andyfilm.com
While the high-definition DVD format war is just beginning to percolate
between HD-DVD and Blu Ray discs, the former format has gotten a shot in
the arm through the recent release of Microsoft's HD-DVD add-on for their
Xbox 360 console.
The unit offers 360 owners the opportunity to jump into the HD-DVD waters
without having to splurge on a more expensive stand-alone player (the add-on
retails for $199 and includes a universal media remote and a HD copy of
"King Kong" for a limited time). While the USB-powered player (it connects
directly to one of the 360's ports) doesn't do full justice to the new
Dolby and DTS audio formats, those will require consumers to buy new receivers
to begin with so the console's 5.1 optical output will suffice just fine
for most "current generation" receivers.
Since I now have an HD-DVD set-up here at home, I can better examine
and compare the format's new releases -- and so far, early adopters have
to generally be quite happy with the titles that are available. Here's
our Aisle Seat round-up of recent Universal and Paramount offerings in
high-definition and whether or not they take full advantage of the potential
of the new format...
New From Paramount
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: Ultimate Missions Box Set (Paramount, aprx.
$70): Paramount's collection of the three "Mission: Impossible" films ranks
as one of the HD-DVD format's strongest packages to date.
The HD presentations of the original 1996 "Mission: Impossible" and
John Woo's guilty-pleasure 2000 sequel both surpass their standard-definition
DVD counterparts with stronger, more vibrant colors and enhanced detail.
As with many HD-DVDs I've seen, outdoor and/or brighter sequences show
off the capability of the format better than darker interiors, and while
there's a hint of softness in the image of both Brian DePalma's original
"Mission" and the first sequel, both presentations are highly satisfying
and well worth the upgrade for fans.
On the supplemental side, all of the materials from the recent "Collector's
Edition" of the first "M:I" and the Special Edition of "M:I2" have been
reprieved and are offered in standard-definition with the exception of
the trailers.
Visually, the most spectacular presentation here is unsurprisingly in
J.J. Abrams' recent sequel, "Mission: Impossible III," a so-so thriller
that strips away the outlandish action of Woo's film for a story (written
by Abrams and his associates Alex Kurtman and Roberto Orci) that strives
for a human dimension but doesn't entirely come off. Tom Cruise's performance
as Ethan Hunt is nicely dialed down but the uneven pacing makes "M:I III"
seem like an episode from one of Abrams' TV series, with lots of handheld
camera and action that comes in fits and starts. Indeed, the film's ending
even plays like a typical "Lost" episode, with a weepy montage of emotional
shots backed by a somber Michael Giacchino score -- if this is all Abrams
has in his bag of tricks, I'm not so sure he's the hand that ought to be
guiding the "Star Trek" franchise, but we'll see what he comes up with.
The transfer on the HD-DVD is sensational at every turn, as you anticipate
it would be with a newly produced and released feature. Supplements have
all been ported over from the standard-edition DVD and include a self-congratulatory
visual commentary with Cruise and Abrams and a good amount of featurettes.
Included among the Making Of footage is Giacchino at work on his score,
even visited by Cruise on the set (it's nice to hear Cruise's fondness
for Lalo Schifrin's theme), plus deleted scenes and other goodies -- most
in HD as well.
Overall this is a tremendous set that nicely shows off the benefits
of HD-DVD in three movies that run the gamut from competent to outrageous
and just sort of respectable. The extras and transfers are top-notch across
the board and I highly recommend this package to all new adopters of HD-DVD.
New HD-DVD Releases From Universal
THE THING (****, 109 mins., 1982, R, Universal): Universal's
HD-DVD edition of John Carpenter's 1982 remake of "The Thing" offers a
nifty, sharp high-definition transfer that ought to satisfy all fans of
the now-classic genre effort. Rob Bottin's make-up effects and the movie's
pungent Dean Cundey cinematography are both enhanced by the new depth and
detail, making the overall presentation enormously satisfying. Another
plus: all of the extras from the Collector's Edition package (the overlong
documentary, commentary, deleted scenes) are also on-hand.
ARMY OF DARKNESS (***1/2, 81 mins., 1993, R, Universal):
OK, so Universal's HD-DVD Combo package (the disc also includes the standard
definition DVD) doesn't offer any supplements outside of the trailer, AND
only includes the movie's theatrical release cut and none of the myriad
of other versions that exist of Sam Raimi's conclusion (?) to his "Evil
Dead" series. Still, I prefer the theatrical cut of "Army of Darkness"
to begin with (the re-shot ending is more fun and several of star Bruce
Campbell's best lines are missing from the "Director's Cut"), and the HD-DVD
transfer, while looking its age a bit, does contain added detail and warmer
colors, thereby enhancing the presentation of this modestly-budgeted 1993
release (needless to say, the film is unlikely to look any better than
it does here). Well worth it for fans but the lack of extra content and
higher (aprx. $25) retail tag may force some to hold off until its price
comes down a bit.
SLITHER (**, 96 mins., 2006, R, Universal): James
Gunn's gross-out horror comedy about an extraterrestrial presence that
mutates the poor residents of a small town is gooey and not nearly as funny
as it thinks it is. Too-good-for-this-material Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth
Banks try and rise above the fray, but other than a few chuckles (I loved
the use of Air Supply's "Only Woman In The World") "Slither" wears out
its welcome pretty fast.
Universal's HD-DVD edition does feature a terrific 1080p, 1.85 transfer
that takes advantage of the HD format here and there, but it's such a dark
film (literally) to begin with that the differences between the HD version
and standard DVD format (also included in this "Combo Format" release)
aren't as significant as one might anticipate. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus
sound packs a pretty good wallop, though, and all the DVD's supplements
(deleted/extended scenes, Making Of featurettes, commentary with Gunn and
Fillion) are included on the standard DVD side.
THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT (**1/2, 105
mins., 2006, PG-13, Universal): Here's a rare sequel that improves upon
its immediate predecessor, as a smaller budget and more obscure casting
resulted in a superior product for a change. This third go-round for the
"Fast and the Furious" franchise wisely starts fresh, with young American
hotshot Lucas Black heading to Japan and promptly getting mixed up with
the local, hot-rod ridin' underworld there. Director Justin Lin and writer
Chris Morgan have fashioned a good-looking, predictable thrill ride for
teens with plenty of exciting chases (as we've come to expect from the
series) and a throbbing Brian Tyler score. It's nothing out of the ordinary,
but it's definitely superior to "2Fast2Furious" and offers a surprise cameo
at the end that puts a satisfying cap on the action. Universal's HD-DVD
version is a noticeable enhancement over their standard-definition package,
with an at-times picture-perfect image, ample extras include a commentary
from Lin, the regulatory deleted scenes package and several Making Of featurettes.
Viewers should note this release utilizes Universal's "U Control" HD-DVD
feature, which includes on-screen prompts to access behind-the-scenes material
and adds further value to the higher-definition variation.
New & Coming Soon on DVD
ALIAS: Complete Fifth Season (2005-06, 724 mins., Buena Vista):
J.J. Abrams' vivacious and sometimes confounding spy series came to a close
this past May. This final collection of 17 episodes served to wrap up the
series' laundry list of loose ends (more or less; there's still some puzzles
left to viewers' imaginations even after the final show has concluded!)
by going back to basics. Story lines are more accessible and enegertic
than the program's preceding two years, and while the show lacked the urgency
and freshness it had in its early going, at least these last batch of shows
sent "Alias" off on a fairly strong note. Buena Vista's four-disc DVD box
set includes excellent 1.78 (16:9) transfers with 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtracks;
numerous featurettes including a blooper reel and a celebration of the
show's 100th episode; a look at the music; and a profile of co-star Rachel
Nichols, who was brought in to add some new life to the series. Overall,
strongly recommended for "Alias" fans and a respectable, well-deserved
send-off for Sydney Bristow.
ONCE IN A LIFETIME: The Extraordinary Story of the
New York Cosmos (***, 97 mins., 2006, PG-13; Buena Vista): Top-notch
documentary recounts the sudden rise of professional American soccer (football
to everyone outside the U.S.A.!) in the late '70s. At the center of the
craziness is Warner Communications head Steve Ross, who had a dream of
launching the New York Cosmos into the cosmos by recruiting stars like
Pele and making the international game into an American pastime...and for
a while his efforts worked, with the Cosmos selling out Giants Stadium
and becoming a bona-fide cultural fad in 1977. Sadly, like disco music
and bell bottom fashions, it all came crashing down as the '80s began,
but the journey is well-documented and irresistably appealing as told in
this 2006 documentary. Offering vintage footage and often hilarious interviews,
"Once In a Lifetime" looks at a fleeting moment in American sports when
soccer was almost king (incredible as it may seem, by the time I was growing
up in the '80s, the Cosmos had been basically erased off the face of the
Earth), and Buena Vista's DVD backs it up with supplements ranging from
classic Pele footage to deleted scenes. The 16:9 transfer is top-notch
and the 5.1 soundtrack layered with '70s tunes and narration from Matt
Dillon. For sports and '70s pop-culture enthusiasts, "Once In A Lifetime"
comes highly recommended.
JOYEUX NOEL [Merry Christmas] (***, 116 mins.,
PG-13, 2005, Sony): French filmmaker Christian Carion's moving, poignant
tale of a Christmas Eve shared between French, German, and Scottish soldiers
on the front line trenches of WWI comes to DVD in a highly satisfying presentation
from Sony. The movie manages to capture the insanity of the conflict between
men who find out they have as much in common with the other side as they
do in their own cause, while Philippe Rombi's reflective score and the
cinematography of Walther Vanden Ende give the picture a haunting, atmospheric
look and feel. The 16:9 (2.35) transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound are
both top-notch, while commentary from Carion and an interview with the
filmmaker are included on the supplemental side. For a superb war film
and an excellent choice for a holiday-themed film this season, "Joyeux
Noel" comes strongly recommended, examining war and the toll on its participants
from a distinctly moving and humane angle.
CLERKS II (**1/2, 97 mins., 2006, R; Genius/Weinstein):
Kevin Smith's return to the movie that jump-started his career is a funny
but somewhat lukewarm character drama. Jeff Anderson and Brian O'Halloran
are back as Randal and Dante, now working at a fast food chain but still
getting into plenty of trouble, particularly with new manager Rosario Dawson.
"Clerks II" does have a good quotient of laughs but there's no urgency
in Smith's film -- it's all kind of there, livened up by cameos from the
filmmaker's usual crew (Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, etc.), but just doesn't
have the lasting effect its predecessor had. Perhaps the weak performances
from the original leads is part of the problem; Smith's less polished original
"Clerks" made it easier to overlook their deficiencies, but here they pale
in comparison to their supporting cast and have a hard time carrying the
picture. Weinstein/Genius' DVD offers three different commentaries plus
deleted scenes, a full 90-minute documentary, bloopers, a 16:9 (1.85) transfer
with 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. (Avail. 11/28)
PULSE (**, 2006, Unrated, Genius/Weinstein): Yet
another American remake of a Japanese horror film squanders the talents
of stars Kristen Bell (so wonderful as "Veronica Mars" in the criminally-underwatched
show of the same name) and "Lost"'s Ian Somerhalder. Wes Craven co-wrote
this U.S. edition of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Japanese original, involving ghosts
from beyond who find a way to use the internet and other electronic devices
to devour the living. Some decent effects attempt to compensate for an
outlandish story that's routinely told, but it's an uphill battle capped
off by a silly ending ("why not take Peoria?" I kept thinking) that's unintentionally
funny. Genius Products' fine DVD does offer a better-than-average, amusing
commentary with director Jim Sonzero and make up artist Gary Tunnicliffe;
another commentary; deleted/alternate scenes; and numerous featurettes.
The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack and 16:9 (2.35) transfer are both top-notch.
(Available 12/5)
SIMON & SIMON: Season One (1981, 11 hrs., Universal):
Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker hit DVD! Yes, Universal has rolled out
the first season of the long-running (1981-88) CBS detective series marked
by laid back, amiable performances from its two leads and often leisurely-told
mysteries that savvy-eyed viewers can see unfolding before their eyes in
the opening minutes. Still, who cares? It's the chemistry between Parker
and McRaney that made "Simon & Simon" such an enduring network staple,
and Universal's box-set includes the series' initial group of episodes
(it debuted as a midseason replacement) in satisfying full-screen transfers
with apparently only a few shows plagued by music that's been changed for
video. Extras aren't on-hand but fans ought to be pleased regardless.
THE ULTIMATE FLINT COLLECTION (Fox): Terrific,
low-priced Special Edition of James Coburn's swingin' 60s spy spoofs includes
new commentaries from film scholars Lee Pfeiffer and Eddie Friedfeld, nine
new Making Of featurettes, and as a special bonus, the rarely-screened,
busted 1976 "Flint" TV pilot, "Dead On Target," starring Ray Danton in
a show that's more '70s cop drama than Bondian. The transfers on the "Flint"
films look just fine in 16:9 widescreen though Jerry Goldsmith's great
original scores could have used remastering (the sound is basic 2.0 mono);
still, this is an affordable and nifty new release that ought to please
any aficionado of Derek Flint's cinematic escapades.
NEXT TIME: SUPERMAN II: THE DONNER CUT, plus the
Brando Collection Box Set and More! Until then, don't forget to check out
my site, www.andyfilm.com, to discuss
the latest films on our Message
Board. I can also be reached via email there. Until then, cheers everyone!
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