Bill Kelley
12-25-07, 11:41 AM
Here's the following HD DVD reviews from The Virginian-Pilot newspaper and online.
“BLADE RUNNER: FIVE-DISC COMPLETE COLLECTOR’S EDITION”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 1981, 1992, 2007, R for violence and brief nudity
Best extra: “Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner,” the three and a half hour documentary where Ridley Scott answers the question fans been arguing about for years: Is Harrison Ford's character a replicant? The answer? Yes. And as Scott so quaintly puts it: "If you don't get it, you're a moron."
WITHOUT A DOUBT, “Blade Runner” is the best DVD and hi-def collection of the year.
Ridley Scott’s sci-fi masterpiece finally has been given the treatment it deserves in a massive five-disc edition that compiles five versions of the film. Plus, there’s a definitive 3½-hour documentary culled from more than 80 new interviews (including Harrison Ford), an Enhancement Archive filled with featurettes about sci-fi grandmaster Philip K. Dick, screen tests, deleted and alternate scenes, promotional featurettes, trailers, TV spots, marketing material and four audio commentaries.
“Final Cut” looks the best, highlighting Jordan Cronenweth’s stunning cinematography, revealing every detail Scott crams into the dense exterior shots. It’s also the only version to support Dolby True HD sound, for the most dynamic experience.
Surprisingly, hi-def (Blu-ray and HD DVD) viewers get the cheapest deal for the five edits at $39.99. DVD owners have two options: the four-disc set $34.99 or the five-disc set at $78.92. Yet another reason to embrace the future and go hi-def.
— Josh Boone
“STARDUST”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 2007, PG-13 for fantasy violence and some risqué humor
Best extra: “Good Omens: The Making Of Stardust” taped in hi-def, features interviews from the cast, director/co-writer Matthew Vaughn, co-writer Jane Goldman, author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Charles Vess.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a family friendly fantasy for holiday viewing, “Stardust” is your best bet. Most didn’t seem to get it when it appeared on the big screen, but the charm fits right into the living room. So does the romance, villainy, magic, sword play adventure and humor.
Young Tristan (Charlie Cox) heads over the wall dividing his Victorian village from the land of fairy. Why? To pick up a recently fallen star for his lady love (Sienna Miller). But – surprise! – the star turns out to be a young woman (Claire Danes) whose magical properties are coveted by a wicked witch (Michelle Pfeiffer). In retrieving his gift, Tristan must also deal with a cavalier pirate (Robert De Niro), princely antagonists and a choir of nattering ghosts.
But what do you expect from British author Neil Gaiman. His “fairy tale for adults” was a graphic novel illustrated by Charles Vess, then a book and, now, a film. Clever imagery in prose was difficult to transform for the film. “I felt as if I wanted to go up and apologize to everyone who was working so hard to make it a reality,” he confesses.
Marvelous special effects, costumes and sets are outstanding on HD DVD. Color is good, but nicely muted as if watching Charles Vess’ illustrations move. Clever deleted scenes, bloopers and a trailer round out the package.
— Kay Reynolds
“BALLS OF FURY”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 2007, PG-13 for language and crude and sexually-related humor
Best extra: While the making-of featurette, "Balls Out," is not incredibly substantive – but then, neither is the film – it's worth a 14-minute investment to listen to writers Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon cut up. All the lead actors are interviewed, too.
SHAKESPEARE IT'S NOT, but this "Enter the Dragon" spoof with a ping-pong twist certainly has its moments. Randy Daytona (Dan Fogler) was a kid wonder with a paddle before being shamed at the Seoul Oympics in Seoul.
So, logically, nearly 20 years after he gives up the game, Daytona is enlisted by the CIA to start playing again – which will obviously help catch a deadly criminal, played by Christopher Walken (who is really just playing himself in every movie at this point, right?). A win-to-survive, international ping pong tournament (and a measure of hilarity) ensues.
The flick has a fair amount of chuckles. The extras, sadly, do not. Seven deleted scenes, covering less than seven minutes combined, add little. Nor does the alternate ending, a two-minute bit that simply serves to a hint that a sequel could be coming.
"Under the Balls: The Life of a Ball Wrangler" is a mildly funny, faux featurette that introduces us to Irina, who handles all the (ping pong) balls on set. This is, apparently, a terribly taxing job. Which we learn in five minutes. On the bright side, this may be Universal's sharpest HD disc to date – detail that's just not possible on your standard-def. As a nice bonus, all of the extras are in hi-def.
— Kyle Tucker
“THE OMEGA MAN”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 1971, PG for action violence and brief nudity
Best extra: Introduction by co-stars Eric Laneuville and Paul Koslo and screenwriter Joyce H. Corrington.
WITH THE RELEASE of “I Am Legend” starring Will Smith, we have the other earlier version of the film based on Richard Matheson’s story. (“I Am Legend” starring Vincent Price was reviewed last week.) “Omega Man” is cheesy sci-fi action with Charlton Heston doing his he-man shtick he does so well. You may have caught it in “Planet of the Apes” or “Soylent Green.”
“Omega Man” strays the most from Matheson’s material. This is a tale of international war gone wrong with the advent of germ warfare. (As if that could ever go well.) Heston is the man with the antidote, which he manages to take just before everything goes to ... heck. Now, he’s the lone survivor battling the mutant remainder of the human race. No vampires here, just ghastly actors in bad makeup and unimaginative costumes.
The film is available on HD DVD and Blu-ray. It’s cleaned up well and looking good in hi-def. Audio doesn’t fare as well, but you’ll still be able to hear all the campy dialogue. An additional feature, “The Last Man Alive: The Omega Man,” is a 1971 documentary exploring the deep, deep, deep significance of the film and its leading character as seen by Heston and anthropologist Ashley Montagu. It’s an unintentional hoot and worth the 10 minutes viewing time.
The final special is a $7 coupon to see the Will Smith movie.
— Kay Reynolds
“BLADE RUNNER: FIVE-DISC COMPLETE COLLECTOR’S EDITION”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 1981, 1992, 2007, R for violence and brief nudity
Best extra: “Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner,” the three and a half hour documentary where Ridley Scott answers the question fans been arguing about for years: Is Harrison Ford's character a replicant? The answer? Yes. And as Scott so quaintly puts it: "If you don't get it, you're a moron."
WITHOUT A DOUBT, “Blade Runner” is the best DVD and hi-def collection of the year.
Ridley Scott’s sci-fi masterpiece finally has been given the treatment it deserves in a massive five-disc edition that compiles five versions of the film. Plus, there’s a definitive 3½-hour documentary culled from more than 80 new interviews (including Harrison Ford), an Enhancement Archive filled with featurettes about sci-fi grandmaster Philip K. Dick, screen tests, deleted and alternate scenes, promotional featurettes, trailers, TV spots, marketing material and four audio commentaries.
“Final Cut” looks the best, highlighting Jordan Cronenweth’s stunning cinematography, revealing every detail Scott crams into the dense exterior shots. It’s also the only version to support Dolby True HD sound, for the most dynamic experience.
Surprisingly, hi-def (Blu-ray and HD DVD) viewers get the cheapest deal for the five edits at $39.99. DVD owners have two options: the four-disc set $34.99 or the five-disc set at $78.92. Yet another reason to embrace the future and go hi-def.
— Josh Boone
“STARDUST”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 2007, PG-13 for fantasy violence and some risqué humor
Best extra: “Good Omens: The Making Of Stardust” taped in hi-def, features interviews from the cast, director/co-writer Matthew Vaughn, co-writer Jane Goldman, author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Charles Vess.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a family friendly fantasy for holiday viewing, “Stardust” is your best bet. Most didn’t seem to get it when it appeared on the big screen, but the charm fits right into the living room. So does the romance, villainy, magic, sword play adventure and humor.
Young Tristan (Charlie Cox) heads over the wall dividing his Victorian village from the land of fairy. Why? To pick up a recently fallen star for his lady love (Sienna Miller). But – surprise! – the star turns out to be a young woman (Claire Danes) whose magical properties are coveted by a wicked witch (Michelle Pfeiffer). In retrieving his gift, Tristan must also deal with a cavalier pirate (Robert De Niro), princely antagonists and a choir of nattering ghosts.
But what do you expect from British author Neil Gaiman. His “fairy tale for adults” was a graphic novel illustrated by Charles Vess, then a book and, now, a film. Clever imagery in prose was difficult to transform for the film. “I felt as if I wanted to go up and apologize to everyone who was working so hard to make it a reality,” he confesses.
Marvelous special effects, costumes and sets are outstanding on HD DVD. Color is good, but nicely muted as if watching Charles Vess’ illustrations move. Clever deleted scenes, bloopers and a trailer round out the package.
— Kay Reynolds
“BALLS OF FURY”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 2007, PG-13 for language and crude and sexually-related humor
Best extra: While the making-of featurette, "Balls Out," is not incredibly substantive – but then, neither is the film – it's worth a 14-minute investment to listen to writers Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon cut up. All the lead actors are interviewed, too.
SHAKESPEARE IT'S NOT, but this "Enter the Dragon" spoof with a ping-pong twist certainly has its moments. Randy Daytona (Dan Fogler) was a kid wonder with a paddle before being shamed at the Seoul Oympics in Seoul.
So, logically, nearly 20 years after he gives up the game, Daytona is enlisted by the CIA to start playing again – which will obviously help catch a deadly criminal, played by Christopher Walken (who is really just playing himself in every movie at this point, right?). A win-to-survive, international ping pong tournament (and a measure of hilarity) ensues.
The flick has a fair amount of chuckles. The extras, sadly, do not. Seven deleted scenes, covering less than seven minutes combined, add little. Nor does the alternate ending, a two-minute bit that simply serves to a hint that a sequel could be coming.
"Under the Balls: The Life of a Ball Wrangler" is a mildly funny, faux featurette that introduces us to Irina, who handles all the (ping pong) balls on set. This is, apparently, a terribly taxing job. Which we learn in five minutes. On the bright side, this may be Universal's sharpest HD disc to date – detail that's just not possible on your standard-def. As a nice bonus, all of the extras are in hi-def.
— Kyle Tucker
“THE OMEGA MAN”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 1971, PG for action violence and brief nudity
Best extra: Introduction by co-stars Eric Laneuville and Paul Koslo and screenwriter Joyce H. Corrington.
WITH THE RELEASE of “I Am Legend” starring Will Smith, we have the other earlier version of the film based on Richard Matheson’s story. (“I Am Legend” starring Vincent Price was reviewed last week.) “Omega Man” is cheesy sci-fi action with Charlton Heston doing his he-man shtick he does so well. You may have caught it in “Planet of the Apes” or “Soylent Green.”
“Omega Man” strays the most from Matheson’s material. This is a tale of international war gone wrong with the advent of germ warfare. (As if that could ever go well.) Heston is the man with the antidote, which he manages to take just before everything goes to ... heck. Now, he’s the lone survivor battling the mutant remainder of the human race. No vampires here, just ghastly actors in bad makeup and unimaginative costumes.
The film is available on HD DVD and Blu-ray. It’s cleaned up well and looking good in hi-def. Audio doesn’t fare as well, but you’ll still be able to hear all the campy dialogue. An additional feature, “The Last Man Alive: The Omega Man,” is a 1971 documentary exploring the deep, deep, deep significance of the film and its leading character as seen by Heston and anthropologist Ashley Montagu. It’s an unintentional hoot and worth the 10 minutes viewing time.
The final special is a $7 coupon to see the Will Smith movie.
— Kay Reynolds