Mid-November Wrap Up
New HD-DVDs & Blu Ray Discs Reviewed
Plus: The Latest From Criterion
An Aisle Seat Entry
by Andy Dursin
www.andyfilm.com
dursin.blogspot.com
With lots of big discs about to hit stores this week ("Close Encounters"
on DVD and Blu Ray) and next (the first season of "Star Trek" on HD-DVD),
this is a good time to get caught up on some of November's more recent
releases on DVD, as well as the competing high-definition formats.
Speaking of which, with "Black Friday" (aka the Friday after Thanksgiving
that's also the biggest shopping day of the year) looming, consumers interested
in HD-DVD may want to be on the lookout for player deals. Walmart and Best
Buy recently offered Toshiba's fine HD-DVD A2 player at a ridiculously
low $99 for a limited time, resulting in the sale of some 90,000-plus units
in the process during that span.
It's likely that similar deals will be in the cards the next week, so
keep an eye out and also check my blog -- plus the Aisle Seat Message Boards
-- for any late breaking details.
New in High Definition
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: HD-DVD (***1/2, 129 mins., 2005, PG; Focus/Universal):
Jane Austen's novel has been captured on film and television numerous times
over the years, but perhaps never so eloquently as Joe Wright's acclaimed
and vividly shot 2005 adaptation.
Some Austen purists carped at changes director Wright and screenwriter
Deborah Moggach made to its source, but those without a preconception of
the material will likely be enchanted by this splendid production. Keira
Knightley here stars as Lizzie Bennet, one of five daughters attracted
to the rich, "unpleasant" Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) in late 18th century
England. Their sparring eventually leads to romance over a period of time
that also finds Lizzie's sister (Rosamund Pike) initially turned down by
Darcy's friend, while an old acquaintance of Darcy's -- Mr. Wickum -- turns
up and runs away with a younger Bennet sister (Jena Malone), much to the
dismay of their parents (played wonderfully by Donald Sutherland and Brenda
Blethyn).
One of the wonderful things about "Pride and Prejudice" is that Wright's
film comes alive visually, far more than a typical, static Merchant and
Ivory piece: filling the widescreen frame with details, deftly utilizing
the superb work of cinematographer Roman Osin and the sublime score by
Dario Marianelli (making amends for his brittle score for "The Brothers
Grimm"), Wright accentuates the thoughts and feelings of Austen's characters
perfectly. Watching the sun rise at the beginning of the movie, and again
when Lizzie and Darcy finally merge at the end of the piece, is a joy that
only enhances the work of the performances and the strength of the story
itself.
In regards to the acting, Knightley and Macfadyen build up some serious
chemistry together, as one might anticipate, and supporting performances
from Pike, Malone, Sutherland, Blethyn and Tom Hollander (as Mr. Collins,
Lizzie's would-be suitor) are likewise strong across the board.
"Pride and Prejudice" may not have received a Best Picture nomination
but this was one of 2005's finest films, likely to satisfy most Austen
devotees and especially newcomers to the material, who are likely to embrace
this adaptation lovingly with open arms. Don't miss it.
Universal's new HD-DVD edition of the movie is a beauty. The VC-1 encoded,
1080p transfer vividly reproduces the film's visuals, while the Dolby TrueHD
sound prominently displays Marianelli's introspective score -- as such
it is a major upgrade on the poorly mixed DTS and Dolby tracks from the
standard-definition DVD. Extras culled from that prior release include
a commentary track by Wright and several Making Of featurettes, including
an HBO First Look
special.
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY: HD-DVD (**,
2007, 116 mins., PG-13; Universal): Awfully tired comic vehicle -- which
still grossed over $100 million thanks to laugh- deprived audiences last
summer -- offers Adam Sandler and Kevin James as NYC firefighters who pretend
they're gay...all for the sake of collecting a pension. Sandler looks particularly
long in the tooth in this Dennis Dugan-directed farce, which not only strains
credibility but rolls snake eyes in the comedy department: the script may
be co-credited to Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor ("Election"), but Sandler
reportedly performed his own re-writes, which may account for the movie's
strained, shrill tone. Either way the patently-offensive "Chuck and Larry"
isn't funny, in any capacity. Universal's HD-DVD edition includes numerous
featurettes, deleted scenes, a strong VC-1 encoded 1080p transfer, and
Dolby TrueHD sound. The disc is a "Combo" release with the standard-definition
version on the flip side.
MASTERS OF HORROR: SEASON 1 Volume 3: Blu Ray (169
mins., Anchor Bay): Latest HD edition of the inconsistent Showtime horror
anthology offers three episodes from "Masters of Horror"'s first season:
the Don Coscarelli-directed "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road," with
Bree Turner and Ethan Embry; Larry Cohen's "Pick Me Up," most notable for
starring the criminally under-utilized Fairuza Balk; and Tobe Hooper's
"Dance of the Dead," based on a Richard Matheson story, starring Robert
Englund and offering a score by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins.
The 1080i HD transfers are all solid, as are the PCM and 5.1 Dolby Digital
soundtrack offerings, while extras include multiple commentaries from the
filmmakers.
RATATOUILLE: Blu Ray (***, 111 mins., 2007, G;
Disney): Animator-director Brad Bird's "Ratatouille" didn't quite break
through to "Cars" or "Incredibles"-like box-office numbers, but truth be
told, the feature -- the newest from Bird and Pixar Animation Studios --
is a good deal more satisfying than most of Pixar's more recent efforts.
Outstanding character design and appropriate Parisian flavor make this
tale of an unlikely alliance between a rat named Remy and a restaurant
bus boy named Linguini a tasty treat with rich comic timing, perhaps not
as moving as other Disney-Pixar offerings but still satisfying for both
kids and adults alike.
Disney's Blu Ray disc includes a spectacular 1080p transfer with beautiful
textures and warm colors. The uncompressed PCM sound is superb, while all
the extras from the standard DVD are here -- deleted scenes, a new animated
short with Remy and Emile, the theatrically-released "Lifted" short, and
a featurette with Bird and chef Thomas Keller. Exclusive to the Blu Ray
release are an interactive game and more elaborate menus.
Criterion: November Releases
A double-disc edition of Alfred Hitchcock's classic THE LADY VANISHES
(***1/2, 96 mins., 1938) highlights Criterion's slate of new DVD releases
for November.
With a new, digitally restored transfer superior to the label's prior
DVD edition of the film, Criterion here also includes a number of new supplements,
including the 1941 feature "Crook's Tour," starring Basil Radford and Naunton
Wayne reprising Charters and Caldicott (one of several movies they appeared
in after "The Lady Vanishes"); excerpts from Francois Truffaut's 1962 audio
interview with Hitchcock; a video essay, "Mystery Train," about the picture
from scholar Leonard Leff; a stills gallery; and Bruce Eder's original
commentary from prior editions.
Akira Kurosawa's DRUNKEN ANGEL (1948, 98 mins.)
has also been newly dusted off from the Criterion Collection. This early
"noir" from the great Japanese filmmaker stars Toshiro Mifune and boasts
a number of excellent special features, including commentary from author
Donald Richie; a 31-minute documentary on the film's production culled
from the "It's Wonderful to Create" Toho series on Kurosawa; a video piece
on Kurosawa's run-ins with Japanese censors in creating his late å40s masterwork;
an extensive collection of essays and liner notes.
SAWDUST AND TINSEL (1953, 92 mins.), an early work
from Ingmar Bergman, also hits DVD this month from Criterion. This pre-"Seventh
Seal" effort from Bergman will be worth an examination from scholars and
fans of the auteur, the DVD offering a new digital transfer with five minutes
previously edited from U.S. prints; a commentary from Peter Cowie; a 2003
introduction by the director; and additional essays.
Last but not least is Rainer Werner Fassbinder's epic
15-hour television series BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ (1980, 940 mins),
a massive tale of an ex-con trying to navigate through Weimar-era Germany.
This eagerly-awaited box-set preserves the complete Fassbinder epic in
full-screen with numerous extras, including two documentaries (one on the
film, the other on its restoration); interviews; and a complete book on
its production, offering comments from filmmaker Tom Tykwer ("Run Lola
Run"), Fassbinder and others. A unique viewing experience that foreign
cinema fans ought to savor.
New & Coming Soon From Paramount
HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER'S APOCALYPSE (***1/2, 1991, 96
mins., R; Paramount): Classic documentary account of the making of "Apocalypse
Now," rich with production footage and candid interviews, finally hits
DVD in a Special Edition next week from Paramount.
Eleanor Coppola shot miles of footage during the turbulent production
of her husband Francis' 1979 epic, which Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper
fashioned into an acclaimed 1991 documentary feature. While some thought
Coppola's personal reservations about the project were the reason for the
delay in seeing "Hearts of Darkness" on DVD, the title has at last arrived
on disc in a 2-disc set from Coppola's own Zoetrope Studios, complete with
a new commentary track by Francis and Eleanor Coppola and a second disc
of extras.
Included in the latter is "Coda: Thirty Years Later," a 62-minute profile
of Coppola helming his latest opus, "Youth Without Youth," on-location
in Romania. It's a nice companion to "Hearts of Darkness," which ought
to rank as essential viewing for any cinephile, regardless of your opinion
of "Apocalypse Now" itself. Technically the full-screen transfer and 2.0
Dolby Surround track are both perfectly acceptable.
CSI: SEASON 7 (2006-07, 17 hrs., Paramount): The
writers strike getting you down? Not caught up on TV on DVD? Paramount
has some answers this month, beginning with the complete Season 7 of CBS'
top-rated crime drama "CSI." Featuring all 24 episodes from the most recent
season of the William Petersen-Marg Helgenberger series in solid 16:9 (1.78)
transfers and 5.1 Dolby Digital audio, Paramount's DVD box also includes
a decent assortment of special features, including seven audio commentaries
and numerous Making Of featurettes.
MELROSE PLACE: SEASON 3 (1994-95, 24 hrs., Paramount):
Fox ordered some 30 (!) episodes of this "90210" spin-off back in 1994,
following the more grown-up misadventures of a group of attractive young
people dating, cheating, and generally causing a raucous in the sexiest
cul-de-sac seen on network TV since the heyday of "Knots Landing." Paramount's
DVD box set preserves the complete third season of "Melrose Place" in good-looking
full-screen transfers, stereo sound, and a few bonus featurettes.
CHRISTMAS IN SOUTH PARK (1997-2004, 154 mins.,
Paramount): Comprehensive selection of holiday-themed episodes from "South
Park" includes the perennial favorite "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics,"
offering a robust array of musical numbers and some of the only references
to the "Star Wars Holiday Special" you'll ever see. Raunchy belly laughs
just in time for the holiday season.
NEXT TIME: STAR TREK! CLOSE ENCOUNTERS! Until then,
don't forget to check out my site, www.andyfilm.com,
to discuss the latest films on our Message
Board, and check out our new Aisle
Seat Blog. We can be reached via email at mailbag@theaisleseat.com.
Cheers everyone!
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