Earlier this week Wal-Mart unleashed a boatload of DVD titles at the low price of $7.50 each. This includes a number of popular titles, including "Clueless", "Aliens", and the SE's of the first four "Star Trek" films. After several months, catching up with the first two "Star Trek" films again on DVD (as of today) has been quite enjoyable - I've missed these guys! I don't know how much longer this deal will last, so get 'em now at this low price before they're gone. Tomorrow it'll be III when I get the oil changed in my car, which leaves only IV. Hopefully they'll roll out the remaining "Trek" titles in time at the same low price...
Speaking of "Trek", Paramount plans to reissue "Star Trek: The Next Generation" on DVD in a complete series box set this September 4, just in time for the series' 20th anniversary. Has it really been 20 years? I can remember sitting in Dale Jewell's house in south Jackson back home in Mississippi checking out the preview reel and the behind-the-scenes promotional reel... not to mention choosing between checking out the two-hour premiere and dancing the night away with Laura Ann King at an off-campus swap.... the memories it brings back.
I have no idea what Paramount plans to include in the complete TNG box set, whether it will simply be a repackage of all seven existing DVD season sets, or if they'll include some all-new extras. We'll see in the coming weeks. (They should do likewise for the other series!) All I know is that I hope to have a review in September, which I can promise will be more emotional and reflective than usual.
I've been hearing about this series "Heroes" that started last fall on NBC and is coming out toward the end of August on DVD. Being a fan of the "Superman", "Batman", and "Spider-Man" films, and also having seen the "X-Men" trilogy, naturally, this series intrigues me. I may have to check it out. Thoughts?
Next go-around I'll have a review of a big DVD title, one I'm surprised other websites haven't thought of reviewing at all. I guarantee you this... it'll be my longest one to date. And then I'll follow it up with the first installment of a series of blogs on the "Superman" Ultimate Collector's Edition, which will return to stores May 29th.
Have a great weekend, everyone out there! And feel free to post your thoughts on anything and everything I've shared thus far. I'd love to hear from you out there. Later!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
MASH: Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen
Over the years, there have been only two series finales that have had such impact upon me. One is "All Good Things", the final episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" which first aired in May 1994. The other, which is the subject of my review this week, is "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen", the epic series finale of "MASH", one of television's most successful and long-running comedy-dramas. When it first aired on February 25, 1983, the series finale garnered a then unheard-of viewership of over 106 million American households, a record that still stands to this day in the annals of TV history.
This would not have been possible had the cast and production crew of "MASH" agreed to one more season, provided that they would bring the series to an effective end like no other. While the actual Korean War (or police action, as it was often called) lasted only three years, and nearly everyone was glad to see it end, "MASH" ran for 11 seasons, and nobody wanted it to end. While some series lost their creative energy and originality over multiple seasons (and, in some cases, series - i.e., "Star Trek"), the crew of "MASH" were determined not to let the same thing happen to them, which resulted in the epic final episode.
In the summer of 1953, the Korean War is on its last legs, and both sides are hoping to get in as many final shots as possible before the eventual cease fire. At the 4077th, things were almost as chaotic. Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda, who directed and co-wrote the finale) had finally snapped and was committed to a mental hospital. BJ Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell) finally received his discharge papers and was looking to head home. Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) was torn between her continued military service and a possible stateside civilian career. The ever-stodgy Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) found himself successfully apprehending four Korean prisoners of war while wearing his bathrobe, only to discover with them a shared appreciation for classical music, his only refuge from war. And Klinger (Jamie Farr), who for all the years of the series looked for every way possible to be discharged via Section 8, found himself in love and forced to make a crucial decision.
Everyone couldn't wait to go home, yet nobody wanted to leave the extended family of the 4077th. And once the final shots rang out, everyone was affected and in some cases scarred by the experience, forever changing them in the process. And we, the viewers, were equally affected and changed by this final episode, realizing that this would be the last time we would see them together like this. And who could forget that final kiss between Hawkeye and Margaret? It was like high school or college - in my case, quite literally, as "MASH" began when I started first grade and ended in my junior year of high school. And nothing that came afterwards - not a year-long marathon of nightly reruns during my freshman year of college, not syndication across different networks, not DVD, not even the ill-fated spinoff "After MASH" (which continued the adventures of Klinger, Colonel Potter [Harry Morgan], and Father Mulcahy [William Christopher] working together in a stateside VA hospital) or the rarely seen spinoff pilot "Walter" (with Gary Burghoff reprising his role of Radar O'Reilly as a police officer in peacetime Iowa), neither of which will probably appear on DVD any time soon - would ever match that feeling of the final episode or of "MASH" as a whole. And like the end of school, nothing was ever the same again.
Ironically, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" was the first episode of "MASH" issued on VHS in the mid 1980's from Fox Home Video. It would be seen three times on CBS in 1983 and would remain unseen until the 1990's in syndication, though in a slightly edited form with footage and dialog cut from one critical moment in the episode. After that, it would periodically appear in syndication until FX, and later Hallmark Channel, picked up the rerun rights to the series.
This marks the third time that "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" has appeared on DVD from Fox Home Video. Previously it was issued as part of the final season DVD set released this past year, as well as part of the massive 36-disc "Martinis and Medicine" complete series box set. Over the years fans had been extremely concerned at the lack of extras on each set, apart from the option of viewing each episode sans the canned laugh track. Fans were further concerned at the fact that extras finally appeared only in the box set, and that it seemed like a waste of $200 to shell out double-dipping the entire series just to get the extras. Fortunately, Fox Home Video heard the fans' concerns and, in a true show of respect, has reissued "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" on DVD, this time as a separate release complete with all of the extra features from the box set. This may mean double- or even triple-dipping on the final episode, but at least it's presented at a much more affordable price for those fans who had shelled out some $300 on the season sets.
The 120-minute DVD presentation of "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" is nothing short of incredible. It's presented in its original broadcast aspect ratio, with your choice of English or French mono sound and optional English or Spanish subtitles. It's no 5.1 extravaganza to be sure, but then again such an effort is not needed here. It looks and sounds even better than in its original broadcasts. That for me is good enough right there!
The remaining discs are reserved for the bonus features that originally appeared in "Martinis and Medicine", which total approximately six hours in length. First off are three full-length TV documentaries - the 45-minute A&E Biography special "MASH: Television's Serious Sitcom"; the 70-minute CBS special "Memories of MASH", hosted by Shelley Long (who appeared in one of the episodes as one of Hawkeye's many brief romantic flings); and the 90-minute "MASH 30th Anniversary Reunion". Each one of these programs rightfully belong in such a DVD retrospect of the series, and while the material and conversations sometimes overlap, each program nonetheless provide interesting insight into what went into the production of a series that started on shaky ground but eventually went on to earn a staggering 99 Emmy nominations and a worldwide audience of millions of fans. It's interesting to watch these three programs and realize just how many recognizable film and TV stars dropped in at the 4077th over the years - including Leslie Nielsen, Burt Young (Paulie from the "Rocky" films), Ron Howard, Teri Garr, a pre-"Dirty Dancing" Patrick Swayze, George Wendt (Norm from "Cheers"), Laurence Fishburne (yes, all you "Matrix" fans out there, Morpheus himself!), George "Goober" Lindsey (who could ever forget "Roy Dupree from the 8063 - see, it rhymes"?), and Rita Wilson (before she became better known as Mrs. Tom Hanks), among others. And that's just for starters.
From there we have a collection of new and vintage features, many of which have not been seen by the public at large. First off is a collection of bloopers from the series, showing the cast members flub their lines, miss their marks, and, in the spirit of the early episodes, pull practical jokes on one another. Next we have a series of cast interviews and production footage shot on the last day of filming on "MASH". Ironically, while "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" was the last episode telecast, it was not the last episode to be shot, as the documentaries chronicle how production on the epic finale was moved forward in the middle of the season and shot under tight security, and the final episode filmed was the final half-hour segment focusing on the 4077th's development of a time capsule of memories from their time in Korea. (And to think that had this final episode been filmed today, it would have been spoiled all over the Internet months before its airing!) In addition, we also have a collection of public service announcements filmed with the cast members, as well as a collection of "My Favorite MASH" episode promo spots from the series' run. It's vintage footage and outtakes like these that stand out as pure gold.
But that's not all. We also have a "Just the FAQs" trivia game, a "Jocularity" compilation featurette, and a "Fan Base" featurette, all of which provide entertaining looks back at highlights of the series' run as well as a look at the fans' appreciation for the series. And we even have the complete script from an unproduced episode, "Hawkeye on the Double". After reading through this script, it becomes highly evident that after 11 years, you can easily see it in your mind how it could have looked on screen had it been filmed.
"Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" stands out as a true television classic, and if you're a serious "MASH" fan or even just a casual fan of classic television programming, this DVD is a great way to remember one of the most defining moments of TV history. And if you have to have only one episode of the series on DVD, this is definitely the one to own. Highly recommended!
See you next time!
This would not have been possible had the cast and production crew of "MASH" agreed to one more season, provided that they would bring the series to an effective end like no other. While the actual Korean War (or police action, as it was often called) lasted only three years, and nearly everyone was glad to see it end, "MASH" ran for 11 seasons, and nobody wanted it to end. While some series lost their creative energy and originality over multiple seasons (and, in some cases, series - i.e., "Star Trek"), the crew of "MASH" were determined not to let the same thing happen to them, which resulted in the epic final episode.
In the summer of 1953, the Korean War is on its last legs, and both sides are hoping to get in as many final shots as possible before the eventual cease fire. At the 4077th, things were almost as chaotic. Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda, who directed and co-wrote the finale) had finally snapped and was committed to a mental hospital. BJ Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell) finally received his discharge papers and was looking to head home. Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) was torn between her continued military service and a possible stateside civilian career. The ever-stodgy Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) found himself successfully apprehending four Korean prisoners of war while wearing his bathrobe, only to discover with them a shared appreciation for classical music, his only refuge from war. And Klinger (Jamie Farr), who for all the years of the series looked for every way possible to be discharged via Section 8, found himself in love and forced to make a crucial decision.
Everyone couldn't wait to go home, yet nobody wanted to leave the extended family of the 4077th. And once the final shots rang out, everyone was affected and in some cases scarred by the experience, forever changing them in the process. And we, the viewers, were equally affected and changed by this final episode, realizing that this would be the last time we would see them together like this. And who could forget that final kiss between Hawkeye and Margaret? It was like high school or college - in my case, quite literally, as "MASH" began when I started first grade and ended in my junior year of high school. And nothing that came afterwards - not a year-long marathon of nightly reruns during my freshman year of college, not syndication across different networks, not DVD, not even the ill-fated spinoff "After MASH" (which continued the adventures of Klinger, Colonel Potter [Harry Morgan], and Father Mulcahy [William Christopher] working together in a stateside VA hospital) or the rarely seen spinoff pilot "Walter" (with Gary Burghoff reprising his role of Radar O'Reilly as a police officer in peacetime Iowa), neither of which will probably appear on DVD any time soon - would ever match that feeling of the final episode or of "MASH" as a whole. And like the end of school, nothing was ever the same again.
Ironically, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" was the first episode of "MASH" issued on VHS in the mid 1980's from Fox Home Video. It would be seen three times on CBS in 1983 and would remain unseen until the 1990's in syndication, though in a slightly edited form with footage and dialog cut from one critical moment in the episode. After that, it would periodically appear in syndication until FX, and later Hallmark Channel, picked up the rerun rights to the series.
This marks the third time that "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" has appeared on DVD from Fox Home Video. Previously it was issued as part of the final season DVD set released this past year, as well as part of the massive 36-disc "Martinis and Medicine" complete series box set. Over the years fans had been extremely concerned at the lack of extras on each set, apart from the option of viewing each episode sans the canned laugh track. Fans were further concerned at the fact that extras finally appeared only in the box set, and that it seemed like a waste of $200 to shell out double-dipping the entire series just to get the extras. Fortunately, Fox Home Video heard the fans' concerns and, in a true show of respect, has reissued "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" on DVD, this time as a separate release complete with all of the extra features from the box set. This may mean double- or even triple-dipping on the final episode, but at least it's presented at a much more affordable price for those fans who had shelled out some $300 on the season sets.
The 120-minute DVD presentation of "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" is nothing short of incredible. It's presented in its original broadcast aspect ratio, with your choice of English or French mono sound and optional English or Spanish subtitles. It's no 5.1 extravaganza to be sure, but then again such an effort is not needed here. It looks and sounds even better than in its original broadcasts. That for me is good enough right there!
The remaining discs are reserved for the bonus features that originally appeared in "Martinis and Medicine", which total approximately six hours in length. First off are three full-length TV documentaries - the 45-minute A&E Biography special "MASH: Television's Serious Sitcom"; the 70-minute CBS special "Memories of MASH", hosted by Shelley Long (who appeared in one of the episodes as one of Hawkeye's many brief romantic flings); and the 90-minute "MASH 30th Anniversary Reunion". Each one of these programs rightfully belong in such a DVD retrospect of the series, and while the material and conversations sometimes overlap, each program nonetheless provide interesting insight into what went into the production of a series that started on shaky ground but eventually went on to earn a staggering 99 Emmy nominations and a worldwide audience of millions of fans. It's interesting to watch these three programs and realize just how many recognizable film and TV stars dropped in at the 4077th over the years - including Leslie Nielsen, Burt Young (Paulie from the "Rocky" films), Ron Howard, Teri Garr, a pre-"Dirty Dancing" Patrick Swayze, George Wendt (Norm from "Cheers"), Laurence Fishburne (yes, all you "Matrix" fans out there, Morpheus himself!), George "Goober" Lindsey (who could ever forget "Roy Dupree from the 8063 - see, it rhymes"?), and Rita Wilson (before she became better known as Mrs. Tom Hanks), among others. And that's just for starters.
From there we have a collection of new and vintage features, many of which have not been seen by the public at large. First off is a collection of bloopers from the series, showing the cast members flub their lines, miss their marks, and, in the spirit of the early episodes, pull practical jokes on one another. Next we have a series of cast interviews and production footage shot on the last day of filming on "MASH". Ironically, while "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" was the last episode telecast, it was not the last episode to be shot, as the documentaries chronicle how production on the epic finale was moved forward in the middle of the season and shot under tight security, and the final episode filmed was the final half-hour segment focusing on the 4077th's development of a time capsule of memories from their time in Korea. (And to think that had this final episode been filmed today, it would have been spoiled all over the Internet months before its airing!) In addition, we also have a collection of public service announcements filmed with the cast members, as well as a collection of "My Favorite MASH" episode promo spots from the series' run. It's vintage footage and outtakes like these that stand out as pure gold.
But that's not all. We also have a "Just the FAQs" trivia game, a "Jocularity" compilation featurette, and a "Fan Base" featurette, all of which provide entertaining looks back at highlights of the series' run as well as a look at the fans' appreciation for the series. And we even have the complete script from an unproduced episode, "Hawkeye on the Double". After reading through this script, it becomes highly evident that after 11 years, you can easily see it in your mind how it could have looked on screen had it been filmed.
"Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" stands out as a true television classic, and if you're a serious "MASH" fan or even just a casual fan of classic television programming, this DVD is a great way to remember one of the most defining moments of TV history. And if you have to have only one episode of the series on DVD, this is definitely the one to own. Highly recommended!
See you next time!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
The Adventures of Superboy - Season 1
Just recently the Home Theater Forum hosted its latest online chat with representatives from Warner Home Video on upcoming TV series and animated titles slated for DVD release. Among the titles mentioned by participants was "The Adventures of Superboy", the 1988-92 series that saw its first season released on DVD last summer. When asked about possible future releases of the remaining seasons, Warner reps stated that "Superboy" was not in the works any time soon - which is a real shame. Since that announcement, I figured it's time to go back and take a look at this underrated release.
In 1988 the Superman franchise was struggling to keep its head above water. The third and fourth "Superman" feature films, as well as "Supergirl", were critical and commercial box office disasters. The "Superman" franchise had changed hands, as the struggling Cannon Films now had the rights to the series and had begun considering a fifth installment. In the meantime, the animators at Ruby-Spears were looking to bring Superman back to television as an animated series (which would run for 13 installments). But Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the producers who brought the first three "Superman" films to life, had one more card up their sleeve, as they had the rights to the Superboy character as well. Prior to 1988, the only times Superboy had seen the light of day had been in the 1960's, in a 30-minute TV pilot produced by Whitney Ellsworth and starring John Rockwell (which didn't sell), and in animated form in 1966 from Filmation Studios as part of "The New Adventures of Superman" (which is set for DVD release later this year). Could the Salkinds pull it off and make their mark in television the same way they had done in films? By producing a pilot film entitled "Countdown to Nowhere" (which would be slightly re-edited and aired as the fifth episode of the season), "Superboy" was about to take flight. Many of the creative personnel who had worked on the "Superman" films returned to produce "Superboy", and directors like Jackie Cooper (Perry White from the films and himself a veteran TV director) and David Nutter (who would later helm episodes of "Lois and Clark" and "Smallville") directed a number of installments in the first season.
At the time, original series produced for syndication were something relatively new to the market, and at the top of the heap was "Star Trek: The Next Generation". Its success paved the way for many other series to bypass the main networks and run solely in syndication, relying on national and local advertisers for funding and promotion. When "Superboy" premiered in the fall of 1988, it became an instant hit and one of the most popular half-hour syndicated series of its time. Viacom, a TV distributor best known for syndicating older series to local stations, syndicated "Superboy" throughout its four-year run from 1988 to 1992 (in 1990 it would also handle the syndication rights to the extended version of "Superman IV").
The premise of "Superboy" was interesting, as it sought to answer a question posed in the first "Superman" film: what could have happened in the years between the time Clark Kent left Smallville at age 18 and emerged as Superman at age 30? Ilya Salkind posited one notion that could have happened: he, like any other youth, would go to college. During his freshman year at Shuster University in Siegelville, Florida (an obvious tip of the hat to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster), Clark Kent (portrayed by John Haymes Newton) balanced his time between studying journalism, writing for the Shuster Herald, and saving the community as Superboy. Along for the ride were Lana Lang (the ever-fetching Stacy Haiduk), who had a crush on Superboy, and T.J. White (Jim Calvert), son of Daily Planet editor Perry White, here playing the Jimmy Olsen-like photographer sidekick for the Herald. At times, however, Clark, Lana, and T.J. had frequent run-ins with Lex Luthor (Scott Wells), here portrayed as a rich, snobby upperclassman who looked to line his pockets with as much money as possible through more than questionable means.
Many of the initial plots of the first season of "Superboy" were relatively simplistic, as nearly all of the stories had to fit within and be resolved by the end of the half-hour, though a number of plots were revisited throughout the season and, later, the series. A number of these plots pitted Superboy against local hoods attempting to get rich quick through shady means, including Lex Luthor at times, or saving Lana from disaster. By the second half of the season, as the series grew in its ratings, the plots began to grow significantly and explore the Superman mythology, introducing Kryptonite and Mr. Mxyzptlk, the fifth-dimensional prankster. One of the running themes of Luthor's attraction toward Lana emerged into a showdown between him and Superboy at the end of the first season, which would continue throughout later seasons.
Newton's portrayal of a more mature Clark Kent and Superboy steered away from the feature films and echoed elements of the George Reeves series of the 1950's, with a confidence then rarely seen in the character. Because of the popularity of the series, the Salkinds considered a "Young Superman" spinoff feature film with Newton in the title role. But just as plans for the film and the second season began to emerge, the Salkinds soon found themselves without an actor for the lead role. To this day, reports vary between a salary dispute Newton had with the Salkinds for a salary increase for the second season, and a reported run-in Newton had with the law which led to his being fired from the series during its hiatus in 1989. Whatever the reason, the first season of "Superboy" was Newton's only turn at bat, and the cape would be passed on to Gerard Christopher when the series returned in the fall of 1989. (Newton would later go on to star in the syndicated TV version of "The Untouchables" and continue working in TV films and series billed simply as John Newton.) Jim Calvert and Scott Wells would also depart the series at the end of the first season (I don't think I ever saw them in anything again), leaving only Stacy Haiduk as the sole cast member to return. Now the Salkinds had a challenge worthy of the last son of Krypton.
Since its final run in 1992, "Superboy" was not seen anywhere on television, though it was briefly considered for a return telecast on the Sci-Fi Channel in later years (which didn't materialize). When I caught this series during its run, I often missed a number of episodes simply because of poor scheduling on the station's part. And in the wake of other Superman incarnations throughout the last 15 years, "Superboy" got lost in the shuffle somewhere and was nearly forgotten.
Thankfully, Warner Home Video stepped up to the plate and offered the first season of "The Adventures of Superboy" in a nice four-disc collection. All 26 of the first season episodes are presented in their original broadcast form in Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, with your choice of French or Spanish subtitles. Because the series was shot on videotape, it echoes many of the others series that were also shot on video at that time, as it looks soft and fuzzy at times in terms of image quality. Almost as bad are some of the visual effects, which when compared to latter-day CGI efforts looks dated and cheesy. And certainly the flying effects have improved in later years. But you can't blame the Salkinds for giving it all they had in this first season.
Included on this set are two audio commentaries with Ilya Salkind and John Haymes Newton on "Revenge of the Alien - Part 2" (the season's lone two-part segment) and "Meet Mr. Mxyzptlk". Here Salkind and Newton reflect on their work on the first season of "Superboy" and discuss story points and production considerations. Having these audio commentaries is nice, but I wish their thoughts, along with Calvert and Haiduk, were included on other episodes as well.
Disc 4 contains the bulk of extra features included in this first season set, but sadly there's not a lot of love given to "Superboy". First we have "Superboy: Getting Off the Ground", a 12-minute featurette that takes a look back at the making of the first season. We have new interviews with Salkind, Newton, Haiduk, and Calvert, as they reflect on their attempts to bring "Superboy" to life. Salkind has the lion's share of stories about wanting to continue the Superman franchise with his first venture into television, while Newton, Haiduk, and Calvert reflect on their friendships during that first season. Sadly, Haiduk and Calvert have lost much of their youthful luster due simply to the passage of time, and only Newton looks as youthful yet mature enough to handle playing an older Superman. It's all too brief, punctuated by on-set photos and clips from the first season, but it's a nice retrospective look.
We also have a six-minute video of John Haymes Newton's screen tests for Superboy and Clark Kent. This one really brought a smile to my face, simply because Newton is seen testing for the role in none other than Christopher Reeve's Superman movie costume (which would make one more appearance during a second season segment involving Bizarro). Newton's test for Clark Kent is also interesting to watch, as he approaches the role with the same kind of maturity that he gave to Superboy. This is also all too brief, but it's a nice inclusion in this set.
The set is rounded out with trailers for the "Superman: Brainiac Attacks" direct-to-DVD animated film, the six-minute teaser for the Bryan Singer/Kevin Burns documentary "Look! Up in the Sky - The Amazing Story of Superman", and the Superman "Hero" trailer, all of which made the rounds on the different Superman-themed DVD releases in 2006.
Missing from this set are the original unaired version of the pilot episode "Countdown to Nowhere", which is very similar to the final presentation but without the bookend scenes included in the episode; production footage and outtakes from the first season; any and all preview trailers used to promote the series; and further commentaries with Newton, Haiduk, and Calvert on other episodes. Where Warner really delivers in a nice DVD presentation of its TV product, they really skimped on the opportunity for more extra features.
It's really sad that Warner Home Video announced that there were no plans to release the remaining seasons of "The Adventures of Superboy" on DVD. This is because of the reported low sales given to this first season set, and, as you know, sales translates into demand for later season sets of a series, particularly a very long-running series. I'm also thinking this announcement has something to do with the legal problems that DC Comics has had with the heirs of Siegel and Shuster and their claim to the Superboy character, which also has had a lot to do with the Superboy animated segments from the 1960's and the 1961 pilot film being kept off DVD in an official format. This kind of announcement only opens up the doors for bootleggers, and that only results in money lost from a studio. My advice to you is write to Warner Home Video and express your concerns for seeing the remaining seasons of "Superboy", as well as the 1960's animated segments and the 1961 pilot film, formally issued on DVD in an official format and given a lot of love and treatment it rightfully deserves.
See you next time with more DVD reviews and thoughts! Have a happy Mother's Day, and don't forget to call your mother!
In 1988 the Superman franchise was struggling to keep its head above water. The third and fourth "Superman" feature films, as well as "Supergirl", were critical and commercial box office disasters. The "Superman" franchise had changed hands, as the struggling Cannon Films now had the rights to the series and had begun considering a fifth installment. In the meantime, the animators at Ruby-Spears were looking to bring Superman back to television as an animated series (which would run for 13 installments). But Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the producers who brought the first three "Superman" films to life, had one more card up their sleeve, as they had the rights to the Superboy character as well. Prior to 1988, the only times Superboy had seen the light of day had been in the 1960's, in a 30-minute TV pilot produced by Whitney Ellsworth and starring John Rockwell (which didn't sell), and in animated form in 1966 from Filmation Studios as part of "The New Adventures of Superman" (which is set for DVD release later this year). Could the Salkinds pull it off and make their mark in television the same way they had done in films? By producing a pilot film entitled "Countdown to Nowhere" (which would be slightly re-edited and aired as the fifth episode of the season), "Superboy" was about to take flight. Many of the creative personnel who had worked on the "Superman" films returned to produce "Superboy", and directors like Jackie Cooper (Perry White from the films and himself a veteran TV director) and David Nutter (who would later helm episodes of "Lois and Clark" and "Smallville") directed a number of installments in the first season.
At the time, original series produced for syndication were something relatively new to the market, and at the top of the heap was "Star Trek: The Next Generation". Its success paved the way for many other series to bypass the main networks and run solely in syndication, relying on national and local advertisers for funding and promotion. When "Superboy" premiered in the fall of 1988, it became an instant hit and one of the most popular half-hour syndicated series of its time. Viacom, a TV distributor best known for syndicating older series to local stations, syndicated "Superboy" throughout its four-year run from 1988 to 1992 (in 1990 it would also handle the syndication rights to the extended version of "Superman IV").
The premise of "Superboy" was interesting, as it sought to answer a question posed in the first "Superman" film: what could have happened in the years between the time Clark Kent left Smallville at age 18 and emerged as Superman at age 30? Ilya Salkind posited one notion that could have happened: he, like any other youth, would go to college. During his freshman year at Shuster University in Siegelville, Florida (an obvious tip of the hat to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster), Clark Kent (portrayed by John Haymes Newton) balanced his time between studying journalism, writing for the Shuster Herald, and saving the community as Superboy. Along for the ride were Lana Lang (the ever-fetching Stacy Haiduk), who had a crush on Superboy, and T.J. White (Jim Calvert), son of Daily Planet editor Perry White, here playing the Jimmy Olsen-like photographer sidekick for the Herald. At times, however, Clark, Lana, and T.J. had frequent run-ins with Lex Luthor (Scott Wells), here portrayed as a rich, snobby upperclassman who looked to line his pockets with as much money as possible through more than questionable means.
Many of the initial plots of the first season of "Superboy" were relatively simplistic, as nearly all of the stories had to fit within and be resolved by the end of the half-hour, though a number of plots were revisited throughout the season and, later, the series. A number of these plots pitted Superboy against local hoods attempting to get rich quick through shady means, including Lex Luthor at times, or saving Lana from disaster. By the second half of the season, as the series grew in its ratings, the plots began to grow significantly and explore the Superman mythology, introducing Kryptonite and Mr. Mxyzptlk, the fifth-dimensional prankster. One of the running themes of Luthor's attraction toward Lana emerged into a showdown between him and Superboy at the end of the first season, which would continue throughout later seasons.
Newton's portrayal of a more mature Clark Kent and Superboy steered away from the feature films and echoed elements of the George Reeves series of the 1950's, with a confidence then rarely seen in the character. Because of the popularity of the series, the Salkinds considered a "Young Superman" spinoff feature film with Newton in the title role. But just as plans for the film and the second season began to emerge, the Salkinds soon found themselves without an actor for the lead role. To this day, reports vary between a salary dispute Newton had with the Salkinds for a salary increase for the second season, and a reported run-in Newton had with the law which led to his being fired from the series during its hiatus in 1989. Whatever the reason, the first season of "Superboy" was Newton's only turn at bat, and the cape would be passed on to Gerard Christopher when the series returned in the fall of 1989. (Newton would later go on to star in the syndicated TV version of "The Untouchables" and continue working in TV films and series billed simply as John Newton.) Jim Calvert and Scott Wells would also depart the series at the end of the first season (I don't think I ever saw them in anything again), leaving only Stacy Haiduk as the sole cast member to return. Now the Salkinds had a challenge worthy of the last son of Krypton.
Since its final run in 1992, "Superboy" was not seen anywhere on television, though it was briefly considered for a return telecast on the Sci-Fi Channel in later years (which didn't materialize). When I caught this series during its run, I often missed a number of episodes simply because of poor scheduling on the station's part. And in the wake of other Superman incarnations throughout the last 15 years, "Superboy" got lost in the shuffle somewhere and was nearly forgotten.
Thankfully, Warner Home Video stepped up to the plate and offered the first season of "The Adventures of Superboy" in a nice four-disc collection. All 26 of the first season episodes are presented in their original broadcast form in Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, with your choice of French or Spanish subtitles. Because the series was shot on videotape, it echoes many of the others series that were also shot on video at that time, as it looks soft and fuzzy at times in terms of image quality. Almost as bad are some of the visual effects, which when compared to latter-day CGI efforts looks dated and cheesy. And certainly the flying effects have improved in later years. But you can't blame the Salkinds for giving it all they had in this first season.
Included on this set are two audio commentaries with Ilya Salkind and John Haymes Newton on "Revenge of the Alien - Part 2" (the season's lone two-part segment) and "Meet Mr. Mxyzptlk". Here Salkind and Newton reflect on their work on the first season of "Superboy" and discuss story points and production considerations. Having these audio commentaries is nice, but I wish their thoughts, along with Calvert and Haiduk, were included on other episodes as well.
Disc 4 contains the bulk of extra features included in this first season set, but sadly there's not a lot of love given to "Superboy". First we have "Superboy: Getting Off the Ground", a 12-minute featurette that takes a look back at the making of the first season. We have new interviews with Salkind, Newton, Haiduk, and Calvert, as they reflect on their attempts to bring "Superboy" to life. Salkind has the lion's share of stories about wanting to continue the Superman franchise with his first venture into television, while Newton, Haiduk, and Calvert reflect on their friendships during that first season. Sadly, Haiduk and Calvert have lost much of their youthful luster due simply to the passage of time, and only Newton looks as youthful yet mature enough to handle playing an older Superman. It's all too brief, punctuated by on-set photos and clips from the first season, but it's a nice retrospective look.
We also have a six-minute video of John Haymes Newton's screen tests for Superboy and Clark Kent. This one really brought a smile to my face, simply because Newton is seen testing for the role in none other than Christopher Reeve's Superman movie costume (which would make one more appearance during a second season segment involving Bizarro). Newton's test for Clark Kent is also interesting to watch, as he approaches the role with the same kind of maturity that he gave to Superboy. This is also all too brief, but it's a nice inclusion in this set.
The set is rounded out with trailers for the "Superman: Brainiac Attacks" direct-to-DVD animated film, the six-minute teaser for the Bryan Singer/Kevin Burns documentary "Look! Up in the Sky - The Amazing Story of Superman", and the Superman "Hero" trailer, all of which made the rounds on the different Superman-themed DVD releases in 2006.
Missing from this set are the original unaired version of the pilot episode "Countdown to Nowhere", which is very similar to the final presentation but without the bookend scenes included in the episode; production footage and outtakes from the first season; any and all preview trailers used to promote the series; and further commentaries with Newton, Haiduk, and Calvert on other episodes. Where Warner really delivers in a nice DVD presentation of its TV product, they really skimped on the opportunity for more extra features.
It's really sad that Warner Home Video announced that there were no plans to release the remaining seasons of "The Adventures of Superboy" on DVD. This is because of the reported low sales given to this first season set, and, as you know, sales translates into demand for later season sets of a series, particularly a very long-running series. I'm also thinking this announcement has something to do with the legal problems that DC Comics has had with the heirs of Siegel and Shuster and their claim to the Superboy character, which also has had a lot to do with the Superboy animated segments from the 1960's and the 1961 pilot film being kept off DVD in an official format. This kind of announcement only opens up the doors for bootleggers, and that only results in money lost from a studio. My advice to you is write to Warner Home Video and express your concerns for seeing the remaining seasons of "Superboy", as well as the 1960's animated segments and the 1961 pilot film, formally issued on DVD in an official format and given a lot of love and treatment it rightfully deserves.
See you next time with more DVD reviews and thoughts! Have a happy Mother's Day, and don't forget to call your mother!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
A couple of additional thoughts...
I just read on The Digital Bits that Warner Home Video is finally going forward with the DVD release of Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" in a 2-disc special edition on August 14. I'm a serious "Hamlet" buff ever since graduate school, when my teacher, George Pittman, got me into "Hamlet" because of Mel Gibson and Franco Zeffirelli. This one looks like it's gonna be another must-add to my collection!
HTF had its latest chat with Warner Home Video last night on lots of upcoming TV releases in the coming months - here's the URL: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/050807htfchat.html.
One thing that left me a bit disappointed with the chat was the mention that no further seasons of the "Adventures of Superboy" series from 1989-1992 (featuring Gerard Christopher) were planned. While it wasn't mentioned, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why. First off, when the first season finally came out on DVD last summer, reportedly the sales were very low, and as you know, sales tallies determine whether a series' later seasons will arrive on DVD. Second, there's the continuing legal problems DC Comics has been having with the heirs of Siegel and Shuster over the rights to the Superboy character (which has also prevented the release of the Filmation animated "Superboy" segments from the 1960's onto DVD).
News like this only encourages the bootleggers to pirate DVD copies of the series and make a killing off them on eBay. If you truly care about a DVD product, and you want to see a legitimate release of the remaining "Superboy" seasons, write to Warner Home Video and express your thoughts. I know I will.
And on that note, I'm outta here! :)
HTF had its latest chat with Warner Home Video last night on lots of upcoming TV releases in the coming months - here's the URL: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/050807htfchat.html.
One thing that left me a bit disappointed with the chat was the mention that no further seasons of the "Adventures of Superboy" series from 1989-1992 (featuring Gerard Christopher) were planned. While it wasn't mentioned, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why. First off, when the first season finally came out on DVD last summer, reportedly the sales were very low, and as you know, sales tallies determine whether a series' later seasons will arrive on DVD. Second, there's the continuing legal problems DC Comics has been having with the heirs of Siegel and Shuster over the rights to the Superboy character (which has also prevented the release of the Filmation animated "Superboy" segments from the 1960's onto DVD).
News like this only encourages the bootleggers to pirate DVD copies of the series and make a killing off them on eBay. If you truly care about a DVD product, and you want to see a legitimate release of the remaining "Superboy" seasons, write to Warner Home Video and express your thoughts. I know I will.
And on that note, I'm outta here! :)
Rocky Balboa
"Everyone thought this was a joke, including me. Nobody's laughing now."
When I first heard about Sylvester Stallone's plans to bring his signature character back for one more round, I like many other people were skeptical about the concept. Over the course of 15 years and five films, Rocky had been there, done that, and fought just about everything and everyone that crossed his path. Back in 1990 I felt that the series had ended where it rightfully deserved, bringing Rocky and his family back home to Philadelphia to live in peace.
Flash forward to 2006. Stallone's acting and directing careers were in a slump, despite some well-received roles in smaller films that did little to further his career, and his reign as box office champion was long since over. But then there was the mention of "Rocky Balboa", the sixth entry in the series Stallone began in 1976 with the first Oscar-winning "Rocky". Just the mere mention of the title sent eyes rolling, including mine, I have to admit - another example of the old adage "Everything old is new again" come to life. George Lucas had done it, Steven Spielberg was promising to do it again, and even the "Superman" and "Batman" franchises had ventured down that road once again as well. Couldn't there be something new?
When the film hit the theaters in Christmas 2006, theatergoers were absolutely stunned silent, because here was a movie that, despite all of the odds, was actually very well written, produced, and directed. And when no less than Dr. James Dobson and Focus on the Family, Christianity Today, and WAY-FM (one of the top contemporary Christian radio stations in America which interviewed Stallone) give "Rocky Balboa" high praise and recommendation, it must really be that good.
In this new film, Rocky is sad and lonely. His beloved Adrian (Talia Shire, in flashbacks from earlier films) has been dead three years from cancer, and he spends every day at her gravesite mourning her death. Desperate to fill the hole in his heart, he has opened up Adrian's, a popular Italian restaurant decorated with memorabilia from his celebrated career, where among the fine dining he entertains patrons with tales of his classic fights. He tries to keep the bond alive with his son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia of "Heroes", who bears a very strong physical resemblance to Stallone), a struggling corporate ladder executive who is seen only for his name and fights to emerge from his father's shadow. His down-on-his-luck brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young), as irascible as he ever was, follows Rocky around the familiar haunts from the first film and tries to convince Rocky to quit living in the past but to no avail.
But he's still the people's champion with a heart of gold who freely gives without asking for anything in return. Among those he serves as a benign benefactor are Spider Rico, one of his former opponents who has become a Christian and works in his restaurant in return for free meals; Marie (Geraldine Hughes), a woman Rocky once knew years before who works as a waitress in a seedy bar, whom Rocky befriends and gives a good job at his restaurant; and Marie's teenage son Steps (James Francis Kelly III), whom Rocky takes under his wing and serves as a surrogate father.
Through it all, Rocky cannot seem to fight the one thing that's keeping him down: the anger and grief inside his own heart over losing Adrian. He allows "the beast", as he calls it, to dominate and suppress him from living and moving forward, and it seems he has no way of saving "the stuff in the basement" - that is, until he hears of a virtual championship bout against Mason "The Line" Dixon (played by real-life heavyweight boxing champion Antonio Tarver), pitting both men in the prime of their careers against each other in a CGI fight. When the computer declares Rocky the winner, that decision spurs him to see whether he really does have one more fight within him. He decides to fight locally and everyone from Paulie to Robert to the boxing commission dismisses his request as an old man's foolish joke to reclaim his pride. But Rocky sees it as something more: the perfect opportunity to make a difference once again and fight the beast consuming his heart.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Dixon isn't getting any respect in the ring, not fighting with everything he has inside him, and that bothers him inside. When he hears of the CGI fight, he and his promoters decide to give Rocky the chance to really prove it in the ring in an exhibition, which some unjustly call an execution. What emerges is a fight that Dixon sees as the perfect opportunity to claim the respect and honor he rightfully deserves, to see what he's really made of inside, for his career to grow in the right direction. For Rocky, what starts out as a cynical joke to many (even set to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "High Hopes") emerges as the real fight he has longed for over the past trhee years. For everyone around Rocky, it becomes the perfect metaphor for their own lives, to see their own self-worth inside their hearts and live victoriously.
I really have to admit, Stallone has pulled it off with "Rocky Balboa". While some of the other films in this series, not to mention the "Rambo" movies, have been for the most part formulaic, this one is far from formulaic. First off, Stallone is in monstrously fantastic shape at 60 - I only hope I look as good as he does at 60! His storytelling and filmmaking has aged gracefully, and he has a much more focused eye and heart now than ever before. Rocky's speeches are so from the heart, you'd think they were coming from Stallone's own heart, mirroring his desire to make a meaningful comeback in the cinema. His message of perseverance producing inner joy and peace is well told, so that by the time Rocky gets to the big fight, it doesn't matter whether or not he wins against Dixon, because he has already won the more important fight of getting rid of the anger and grief that consumes and threatens to overtake him. Tarver, like Stallone, brilliantly holds his own and underplays his character of Mason Dixon, growing throughout the film and emerging as a latter-day Rocky Balboa in the process. The blend of handheld photography, CGI, basic video, and high-definition video (for the climactic fight) are skillfully melded into one form that's perhaps better than anything Lucas or Spielberg have done in recent years. And Bill Conti's classic score is eloquently underplayed through the bulk of the movie, accompanying not only the essential "Rocky" moments (working out and going through the fight) but also the more important emotional elements, this time a perfect fit to both Rocky's crises at heart and his eventual triumph. And it's an equally perfect metaphor for anyone looking to conquer their inner demons and aspire to their greater dreams of success in life.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has delivered a solid DVD presentation of "Rocky Balboa" (also available in HD-DVD and Blu-Ray). The 102-minute film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format and in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, with your choice of English, Spanish, or French subtitles. The print is a visual and audio knockout, wonderfully crisp both on a standard monitor and on a HD receiver, especially during the final 30 minutes of the film. The colors are warm and rich, nicely juxtaposed with the starkly balanced blacks and whites, very reminiscent of Ridley Scott's "Gladiator". This is a great little touch that Stallone has brought to the table, adding to his maturity as a filmmaker.
Sony has alson added a nice collection of extras to this single-disc DVD release. First off is a very interesting and engaging audio commentary with Stallone. He discusses the need to return to Rocky's world one more time for this new installment, which mirrors his own battle to re-emerge as a more confident and nuanced filmmaker. He also focuses on the themes of anger, grief, respect, and perseverance he presents throughout the film, as well as his decision to blend standard photography, clips from past films in old-school video format, CGI for the virtual fight, and HD for the climactic fight, which he describes as the perfect sendoff not only for the character but also for the series. Those of you who thought Stallone was boring and formulaic will definitely toss your opinions by the wayside after hearing this audio commentary.
We have several interesting documentaries on this disc, produced by J.M. Kenny (best known for his work on recent DVD titles, among them Warner's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"). As opposed to the typical DVD fluff, this is pretty substantial and well-produced material. First off is the 18-minute "Skill vs. Will", which chronicles the filming of "Rocky Balboa". Stallone, Young, Ventimiglia, Tarver, and Hughes, among others, discuss the importance of producing this final installment, offering their thoughts of being part of an American original. Next up is "Reality in the Ring", which chronicles the choreography Stallone and Tarver undertook to make the final film fight look as real as possible. What's just as interesting here is that instead of the ten days they'd hoped to shoot the fight, they had only six, which raised their stakes of getting the fight to look right - and as Stallone reveals, every punch delivered in the fight is painstakingly accurate.
We also have the six-minute "Virtual Champion", which looks at the creation of the CGI fight. We see early CGI tests for the fight and Stallone's uncompromising desire to make it as real and accurate as possible. We also see Stallone and Tarver undergo CGI modeling and production to make Rocky and Dixon look as accurate as possible in CGI. And as an added treat, Stallone offers up the complete, unedited final version of the virtual fight (which we saw in bits and pieces in the film), a very nice touch indeed for the fans.
But that's nto all. We have an all too brief collection of bloopers, showing Stallone and the cast flub their lines and miss their marks during filming. In addition, there is a hidden Easter egg in the special features section on the DVD of a makeup featurette, showing how Rocky and Dixon's makeup was accurately achieved for the film.
Finally, we have several deleted, extended, and alternate scenes cut from the film. Some of these moments just simply didn't belong, as they would have slowed down the film's pacing and taken away from the central core of the story. Three of these moments allow for further character insight into Paule, including his love of painting, his relationship with his girlfriend, and an extended moment of Paulie breaking down and mourning Adrian's death - the latter of which just didn't fit within the balance of Rocky going through the same grief, emerging as repetitious to the essence of the film's core. We also have an alternate version of Rocky and Marie meeting in the bar, originally filmed with more character interaction but pared down to its starker bare elements that make the final version work more effectively. Another cut moment of Rocky's sparring session (set to classical opera) just didn't seem to fit within the framework completely, because it's not as convincing as Rocky's uplifting workout set to Conti's classic "Gonna Fly Now". And then there's the alternate ending of the movie - I agree, this version was rightfully cut, because it wouldn't have served neither Rocky nor Dixon any character growth and justice to the film. Stallone made the wise artistic decision here, choosing to end Rocky's emotionally fulfilled journey in the final film with two simple words: "Let's go." I only wish Stallone had served some optional audio commentary with these cut scenes, to sweeten the package just a little more.
Surprisingly, the film's original theatrical trailer is not present on this disc, though there's a wide array of other Sony films and DVD titles, including "Spider-Man 2.1", "Spider-Man 3", "Casino Royale", "Are We Done Yet", "The Pursuit of Happyness", and the special edition DVD of "The Natural", among others.
There's a line that serves the whole concept of the film perfectly. During the final fight Robert says to his father, "Everyone thought this was a joke, including me. Nobody's laughing now." That single line drives home the whole theme of "Rocky Balboa" as a movie and as one man's journey to excise his anger and hurt to face the rest of his life with dignity. After seeing this on DVD, I can see why. It truly is that good.
When I first heard about Sylvester Stallone's plans to bring his signature character back for one more round, I like many other people were skeptical about the concept. Over the course of 15 years and five films, Rocky had been there, done that, and fought just about everything and everyone that crossed his path. Back in 1990 I felt that the series had ended where it rightfully deserved, bringing Rocky and his family back home to Philadelphia to live in peace.
Flash forward to 2006. Stallone's acting and directing careers were in a slump, despite some well-received roles in smaller films that did little to further his career, and his reign as box office champion was long since over. But then there was the mention of "Rocky Balboa", the sixth entry in the series Stallone began in 1976 with the first Oscar-winning "Rocky". Just the mere mention of the title sent eyes rolling, including mine, I have to admit - another example of the old adage "Everything old is new again" come to life. George Lucas had done it, Steven Spielberg was promising to do it again, and even the "Superman" and "Batman" franchises had ventured down that road once again as well. Couldn't there be something new?
When the film hit the theaters in Christmas 2006, theatergoers were absolutely stunned silent, because here was a movie that, despite all of the odds, was actually very well written, produced, and directed. And when no less than Dr. James Dobson and Focus on the Family, Christianity Today, and WAY-FM (one of the top contemporary Christian radio stations in America which interviewed Stallone) give "Rocky Balboa" high praise and recommendation, it must really be that good.
In this new film, Rocky is sad and lonely. His beloved Adrian (Talia Shire, in flashbacks from earlier films) has been dead three years from cancer, and he spends every day at her gravesite mourning her death. Desperate to fill the hole in his heart, he has opened up Adrian's, a popular Italian restaurant decorated with memorabilia from his celebrated career, where among the fine dining he entertains patrons with tales of his classic fights. He tries to keep the bond alive with his son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia of "Heroes", who bears a very strong physical resemblance to Stallone), a struggling corporate ladder executive who is seen only for his name and fights to emerge from his father's shadow. His down-on-his-luck brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young), as irascible as he ever was, follows Rocky around the familiar haunts from the first film and tries to convince Rocky to quit living in the past but to no avail.
But he's still the people's champion with a heart of gold who freely gives without asking for anything in return. Among those he serves as a benign benefactor are Spider Rico, one of his former opponents who has become a Christian and works in his restaurant in return for free meals; Marie (Geraldine Hughes), a woman Rocky once knew years before who works as a waitress in a seedy bar, whom Rocky befriends and gives a good job at his restaurant; and Marie's teenage son Steps (James Francis Kelly III), whom Rocky takes under his wing and serves as a surrogate father.
Through it all, Rocky cannot seem to fight the one thing that's keeping him down: the anger and grief inside his own heart over losing Adrian. He allows "the beast", as he calls it, to dominate and suppress him from living and moving forward, and it seems he has no way of saving "the stuff in the basement" - that is, until he hears of a virtual championship bout against Mason "The Line" Dixon (played by real-life heavyweight boxing champion Antonio Tarver), pitting both men in the prime of their careers against each other in a CGI fight. When the computer declares Rocky the winner, that decision spurs him to see whether he really does have one more fight within him. He decides to fight locally and everyone from Paulie to Robert to the boxing commission dismisses his request as an old man's foolish joke to reclaim his pride. But Rocky sees it as something more: the perfect opportunity to make a difference once again and fight the beast consuming his heart.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Dixon isn't getting any respect in the ring, not fighting with everything he has inside him, and that bothers him inside. When he hears of the CGI fight, he and his promoters decide to give Rocky the chance to really prove it in the ring in an exhibition, which some unjustly call an execution. What emerges is a fight that Dixon sees as the perfect opportunity to claim the respect and honor he rightfully deserves, to see what he's really made of inside, for his career to grow in the right direction. For Rocky, what starts out as a cynical joke to many (even set to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "High Hopes") emerges as the real fight he has longed for over the past trhee years. For everyone around Rocky, it becomes the perfect metaphor for their own lives, to see their own self-worth inside their hearts and live victoriously.
I really have to admit, Stallone has pulled it off with "Rocky Balboa". While some of the other films in this series, not to mention the "Rambo" movies, have been for the most part formulaic, this one is far from formulaic. First off, Stallone is in monstrously fantastic shape at 60 - I only hope I look as good as he does at 60! His storytelling and filmmaking has aged gracefully, and he has a much more focused eye and heart now than ever before. Rocky's speeches are so from the heart, you'd think they were coming from Stallone's own heart, mirroring his desire to make a meaningful comeback in the cinema. His message of perseverance producing inner joy and peace is well told, so that by the time Rocky gets to the big fight, it doesn't matter whether or not he wins against Dixon, because he has already won the more important fight of getting rid of the anger and grief that consumes and threatens to overtake him. Tarver, like Stallone, brilliantly holds his own and underplays his character of Mason Dixon, growing throughout the film and emerging as a latter-day Rocky Balboa in the process. The blend of handheld photography, CGI, basic video, and high-definition video (for the climactic fight) are skillfully melded into one form that's perhaps better than anything Lucas or Spielberg have done in recent years. And Bill Conti's classic score is eloquently underplayed through the bulk of the movie, accompanying not only the essential "Rocky" moments (working out and going through the fight) but also the more important emotional elements, this time a perfect fit to both Rocky's crises at heart and his eventual triumph. And it's an equally perfect metaphor for anyone looking to conquer their inner demons and aspire to their greater dreams of success in life.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has delivered a solid DVD presentation of "Rocky Balboa" (also available in HD-DVD and Blu-Ray). The 102-minute film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format and in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, with your choice of English, Spanish, or French subtitles. The print is a visual and audio knockout, wonderfully crisp both on a standard monitor and on a HD receiver, especially during the final 30 minutes of the film. The colors are warm and rich, nicely juxtaposed with the starkly balanced blacks and whites, very reminiscent of Ridley Scott's "Gladiator". This is a great little touch that Stallone has brought to the table, adding to his maturity as a filmmaker.
Sony has alson added a nice collection of extras to this single-disc DVD release. First off is a very interesting and engaging audio commentary with Stallone. He discusses the need to return to Rocky's world one more time for this new installment, which mirrors his own battle to re-emerge as a more confident and nuanced filmmaker. He also focuses on the themes of anger, grief, respect, and perseverance he presents throughout the film, as well as his decision to blend standard photography, clips from past films in old-school video format, CGI for the virtual fight, and HD for the climactic fight, which he describes as the perfect sendoff not only for the character but also for the series. Those of you who thought Stallone was boring and formulaic will definitely toss your opinions by the wayside after hearing this audio commentary.
We have several interesting documentaries on this disc, produced by J.M. Kenny (best known for his work on recent DVD titles, among them Warner's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"). As opposed to the typical DVD fluff, this is pretty substantial and well-produced material. First off is the 18-minute "Skill vs. Will", which chronicles the filming of "Rocky Balboa". Stallone, Young, Ventimiglia, Tarver, and Hughes, among others, discuss the importance of producing this final installment, offering their thoughts of being part of an American original. Next up is "Reality in the Ring", which chronicles the choreography Stallone and Tarver undertook to make the final film fight look as real as possible. What's just as interesting here is that instead of the ten days they'd hoped to shoot the fight, they had only six, which raised their stakes of getting the fight to look right - and as Stallone reveals, every punch delivered in the fight is painstakingly accurate.
We also have the six-minute "Virtual Champion", which looks at the creation of the CGI fight. We see early CGI tests for the fight and Stallone's uncompromising desire to make it as real and accurate as possible. We also see Stallone and Tarver undergo CGI modeling and production to make Rocky and Dixon look as accurate as possible in CGI. And as an added treat, Stallone offers up the complete, unedited final version of the virtual fight (which we saw in bits and pieces in the film), a very nice touch indeed for the fans.
But that's nto all. We have an all too brief collection of bloopers, showing Stallone and the cast flub their lines and miss their marks during filming. In addition, there is a hidden Easter egg in the special features section on the DVD of a makeup featurette, showing how Rocky and Dixon's makeup was accurately achieved for the film.
Finally, we have several deleted, extended, and alternate scenes cut from the film. Some of these moments just simply didn't belong, as they would have slowed down the film's pacing and taken away from the central core of the story. Three of these moments allow for further character insight into Paule, including his love of painting, his relationship with his girlfriend, and an extended moment of Paulie breaking down and mourning Adrian's death - the latter of which just didn't fit within the balance of Rocky going through the same grief, emerging as repetitious to the essence of the film's core. We also have an alternate version of Rocky and Marie meeting in the bar, originally filmed with more character interaction but pared down to its starker bare elements that make the final version work more effectively. Another cut moment of Rocky's sparring session (set to classical opera) just didn't seem to fit within the framework completely, because it's not as convincing as Rocky's uplifting workout set to Conti's classic "Gonna Fly Now". And then there's the alternate ending of the movie - I agree, this version was rightfully cut, because it wouldn't have served neither Rocky nor Dixon any character growth and justice to the film. Stallone made the wise artistic decision here, choosing to end Rocky's emotionally fulfilled journey in the final film with two simple words: "Let's go." I only wish Stallone had served some optional audio commentary with these cut scenes, to sweeten the package just a little more.
Surprisingly, the film's original theatrical trailer is not present on this disc, though there's a wide array of other Sony films and DVD titles, including "Spider-Man 2.1", "Spider-Man 3", "Casino Royale", "Are We Done Yet", "The Pursuit of Happyness", and the special edition DVD of "The Natural", among others.
There's a line that serves the whole concept of the film perfectly. During the final fight Robert says to his father, "Everyone thought this was a joke, including me. Nobody's laughing now." That single line drives home the whole theme of "Rocky Balboa" as a movie and as one man's journey to excise his anger and hurt to face the rest of his life with dignity. After seeing this on DVD, I can see why. It truly is that good.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Random tidbits at the end of the week
Well, as this week comes to an end, I've got a few little random tidbits to share with you...
First of all, Warner Home Video has just launched a new website for their upcoming direct-to-DVD release of "Superman: Doomsday", coming this September. This adaptation of the popular 1992-93 storylines "The Death of Superman", "Funeral for a Friend", and "The Return of Superman" should really be an exciting visual feast for the eyes in animated form. While it won't squeeze in every single story element from a year-long tale into 75 minutes, it should be quite interesting nonetheless.
It had previously been adapted by BBC Radio into the audio drama "Superman Lives" and by writer Roger Stern into the best-selling epic novel "The Death and Life of Superman". (It was also considered as a potential movie during the 1990's by a certain writer whose crap shall remain in the toilet where he belongs - thank goodness that crappy script was never made!) It also spawned the sequel "Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey", which explored Doomsday's frightening origins.
Has it really been 15 years since Superman fought Doomsday to the death? The link to the new website is http://www.warnervideo.com/supermandoomsdaydvd/ - check it out and mark your calendars for September! I'll have a review of it when a copy becomes available for review.
I was recently in the video stores and happened to see something I never thought I'd actually see on DVD: Season 2 of David Lynch's cult classic series "Twin Peaks". While I'm glad that it's finally out on DVD, I hope that the box set containing the entire series and the original pilot episode (issued in the Asian market as a Region 0 DVD) comes out very soon. I also hope that they've got the clearance issues with Lynch and Warner Home Video to release the alternate European theatrical cut (with a 15-minute alternate ending that was never used in the series) as part of the set as well. There's just been way too many hands all over this series... Artisan, Paramount, Warner, New Line (for the separate DVD release of the prequel movie)... it just boggles the mind. I definitely need more than a donut and a damn fine cup of coffee for this one.
Question for Paramount Home Video and George Lucas: "Young Indiana Jones" on DVD - WHEN????? And why not include the original TV broadcasts with the George Hall-narrated bookends? If that's left out, it's just another notch in Luca$' "creative rethinking" that robs the fans of its memories.
Finally, you just have to check out this web link: http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1678. What will the Asian market bootleg next??? What, DVDs and CDs aren't enough? This is just way too funny to pass up.
Well, next Tuesday I'll be back with a full-length DVD review of Sylvester Stallone's surprising box office hit from this past Christmas, "Rocky Balboa". Simply put, if you've not seen it, you owe it to yourself not to miss this film on DVD.
That's it for today. Have fun checking out "Spider-Man 3" this opening weekend, faithful True Believers! See you again on Tuesday!
First of all, Warner Home Video has just launched a new website for their upcoming direct-to-DVD release of "Superman: Doomsday", coming this September. This adaptation of the popular 1992-93 storylines "The Death of Superman", "Funeral for a Friend", and "The Return of Superman" should really be an exciting visual feast for the eyes in animated form. While it won't squeeze in every single story element from a year-long tale into 75 minutes, it should be quite interesting nonetheless.
It had previously been adapted by BBC Radio into the audio drama "Superman Lives" and by writer Roger Stern into the best-selling epic novel "The Death and Life of Superman". (It was also considered as a potential movie during the 1990's by a certain writer whose crap shall remain in the toilet where he belongs - thank goodness that crappy script was never made!) It also spawned the sequel "Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey", which explored Doomsday's frightening origins.
Has it really been 15 years since Superman fought Doomsday to the death? The link to the new website is http://www.warnervideo.com/supermandoomsdaydvd/ - check it out and mark your calendars for September! I'll have a review of it when a copy becomes available for review.
I was recently in the video stores and happened to see something I never thought I'd actually see on DVD: Season 2 of David Lynch's cult classic series "Twin Peaks". While I'm glad that it's finally out on DVD, I hope that the box set containing the entire series and the original pilot episode (issued in the Asian market as a Region 0 DVD) comes out very soon. I also hope that they've got the clearance issues with Lynch and Warner Home Video to release the alternate European theatrical cut (with a 15-minute alternate ending that was never used in the series) as part of the set as well. There's just been way too many hands all over this series... Artisan, Paramount, Warner, New Line (for the separate DVD release of the prequel movie)... it just boggles the mind. I definitely need more than a donut and a damn fine cup of coffee for this one.
Question for Paramount Home Video and George Lucas: "Young Indiana Jones" on DVD - WHEN????? And why not include the original TV broadcasts with the George Hall-narrated bookends? If that's left out, it's just another notch in Luca$' "creative rethinking" that robs the fans of its memories.
Finally, you just have to check out this web link: http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1678. What will the Asian market bootleg next??? What, DVDs and CDs aren't enough? This is just way too funny to pass up.
Well, next Tuesday I'll be back with a full-length DVD review of Sylvester Stallone's surprising box office hit from this past Christmas, "Rocky Balboa". Simply put, if you've not seen it, you owe it to yourself not to miss this film on DVD.
That's it for today. Have fun checking out "Spider-Man 3" this opening weekend, faithful True Believers! See you again on Tuesday!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Everyone's Hero
Welcome back to this week's Blog! Sometimes when a movie is released to theaters, it arrives to very little fanfare and box office reception, sometimes disappearing within a matter of weeks without being given the chance to survive. But thank goodness for home video and DVD! Without this format, some movies would go completely unnoticed. And in this day and age, I'll very rarely go to the movies except once, maybe twice, a year at most; I'll usually wait until the DVD before checking it out. One such movie that deserves a chance is the recent Fox Home Entertainment animated release "Everyone's Hero", the final work from the late Christopher Reeve.
"Everyone's Hero" is the story of Yankee Irving, a 10-year-old boy growing up in New York in 1932. He's small for his age, and nobody around him gives him a snowball's chance of proving himself. He has a love for baseball, but in his neighborhood he's always the last one picked for sandlot baseball. Even with the love of his parents, he still seems insecure and unable to prove himself...
...until one day he learns that Babe Ruth's prized baseball bat has been stolen during the World Series. So Yankee Irving takes it upon himself to embark on a cross-country journey to retrieve Ruth's stolen bat from an unscrupulous character and get it back to the "Bambino" before it's too late. It's on his travels that Yankee discovers the meaning of hope and perseverance against all odds. It's funny, lighthearted, and filled with warmth and heart. If this story is quite familiar, it should. We can all relate to Yankee Irving at one point or another in our lives. And it certainly relates to the odyssey Christopher Reeve embarked on in the last decade of his life.
Reeve, who served as one of the film's three directors and six executive producers, brought this film to life from a story by Howard Jonas and a screenplay by Robert Kurtz and Jeff Hand. Reeve began working on "Everyone's Hero" in late 2003, partnering with IDT Entertainment, a digital telecommunications company venturing into its first foray of film production and CGI animation. Reeve saw the first development of the film's story and storyboarding process, working tirelessly to put his heart into the film. After Reeve's untimely passing in 2004, Colin Brady and Daniel St. Pierre continued moving the vision forward, honoring Reeve's original ideas and vision. With the artists at IDT, they brought the film to completion for its 2006 release.
The talented voice cast bringing the characters to life also had many personal and professional connections to Reeve - among them his wife Dana Reeve (who also served as one of the executive producers); friends William H. Macy, Rob Reiner, Mandy Patinkin, Robert Wagner, Richard Kind, and Whoopi Goldberg (who starred in Reeve's 1997 directorial debut "In the Gloaming"); and in addition to Brian Dennehy, Raven Symone, Jake Austin (as young Yankee Irving), Forest Whitaker, and real-life New York Yankees manager Joe Torre - making "Everyone's Hero" a wonderful ensemble piece.
IDT and Fox have brought "Everyone's Hero" to DVD in a nice little presentation that both kids and kids at heart will enjoy. The film is presented as a DVD-18, with one side carrying the film in a full-frame format and the other side in its original 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation. As a CGI film, the transfer is nothing less than sharp and crisp throughout. The audio is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish Dolby 2.0 sound, with optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles and English closed-captions. On a standard monitor or an HD monitor, this film is going to look and sound really great.
The DVD also contains several additional features - not terribly a lot by comparison to, say, any Pixar or Disney offering, but then again, not a lot is needed. On each side of the disc is a running full-length audio commentary with Colin Brady, Daniel St. Pierre, Robert Kurtz, and Jeff Hand, who discuss working with Reeve and the animators at IDT, honoring Reeve's vision and carrying it forward after his death.
We also have two behind-the-scenes featurettes on the disc, one per each side. The first one is "The Little Guy's Journey: The Making of 'Everyone's Hero'". This featurette takes a standard look at the development of the film and features interviews with the cast and crew, and we get to see the work in progress, from pencil animation to storyboard development, from rough work-in-progress animatics to their final forms, to the cast's performances and nuances into their characters.
The other featurette, "Remembering Chris", is the more touching of the two, as cast and crew discuss their memories of working with and knowing Christopher Reeve. Here we get to see video footage from 2004 of Reeve directing and overseeing the first storyboard developments and story ideas for the film. Those particularly closest to Reeve - especially Dana Reeve (who would follow her husband in death in 2006), Kind, Wagner, Macy, Goldberg, Reiner, and Patinkin - offer heartfelt anecdotes and personal memories of knowing him over the years. Other cast members and production crew have high praise for Reeve and his uncompromising vision, remaining firmly committed to honoring his vision and standards for the film after his death and seeing his heart all over the film upon its release. It's extremely bittersweet to know that the footage of Reeve in this featurette is among the last video of him before his death.
The DVD is rounded out with the original theatrical trailer for "Everyone's Hero", also presented in anamorphic widescreen format, along with a preview trailer for the upcoming "Care Bears" movie and several generic Fox Kids and Fox DVD titles.
"Everyone's Hero" is a wonderful little film and a perfect final coda to the lives and careers of Christopher and Dana Reeve, to whom the film is dedicated in their memories. As he stated in his autobiography "Still Me", the real heroes are not the larger-than-life figures who move great mountains, but the ordinary people who fight each day to make a difference. That definition certainly defined the Reeves, and it certainly defines Yankee Irving in this movie. This DVD definitely belongs in every family's film library. If you've not seen it, check it out.
I'll have more notes and thoughts later this week, followed by another full-length review next week. See you then!
"Everyone's Hero" is the story of Yankee Irving, a 10-year-old boy growing up in New York in 1932. He's small for his age, and nobody around him gives him a snowball's chance of proving himself. He has a love for baseball, but in his neighborhood he's always the last one picked for sandlot baseball. Even with the love of his parents, he still seems insecure and unable to prove himself...
...until one day he learns that Babe Ruth's prized baseball bat has been stolen during the World Series. So Yankee Irving takes it upon himself to embark on a cross-country journey to retrieve Ruth's stolen bat from an unscrupulous character and get it back to the "Bambino" before it's too late. It's on his travels that Yankee discovers the meaning of hope and perseverance against all odds. It's funny, lighthearted, and filled with warmth and heart. If this story is quite familiar, it should. We can all relate to Yankee Irving at one point or another in our lives. And it certainly relates to the odyssey Christopher Reeve embarked on in the last decade of his life.
Reeve, who served as one of the film's three directors and six executive producers, brought this film to life from a story by Howard Jonas and a screenplay by Robert Kurtz and Jeff Hand. Reeve began working on "Everyone's Hero" in late 2003, partnering with IDT Entertainment, a digital telecommunications company venturing into its first foray of film production and CGI animation. Reeve saw the first development of the film's story and storyboarding process, working tirelessly to put his heart into the film. After Reeve's untimely passing in 2004, Colin Brady and Daniel St. Pierre continued moving the vision forward, honoring Reeve's original ideas and vision. With the artists at IDT, they brought the film to completion for its 2006 release.
The talented voice cast bringing the characters to life also had many personal and professional connections to Reeve - among them his wife Dana Reeve (who also served as one of the executive producers); friends William H. Macy, Rob Reiner, Mandy Patinkin, Robert Wagner, Richard Kind, and Whoopi Goldberg (who starred in Reeve's 1997 directorial debut "In the Gloaming"); and in addition to Brian Dennehy, Raven Symone, Jake Austin (as young Yankee Irving), Forest Whitaker, and real-life New York Yankees manager Joe Torre - making "Everyone's Hero" a wonderful ensemble piece.
IDT and Fox have brought "Everyone's Hero" to DVD in a nice little presentation that both kids and kids at heart will enjoy. The film is presented as a DVD-18, with one side carrying the film in a full-frame format and the other side in its original 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation. As a CGI film, the transfer is nothing less than sharp and crisp throughout. The audio is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish Dolby 2.0 sound, with optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles and English closed-captions. On a standard monitor or an HD monitor, this film is going to look and sound really great.
The DVD also contains several additional features - not terribly a lot by comparison to, say, any Pixar or Disney offering, but then again, not a lot is needed. On each side of the disc is a running full-length audio commentary with Colin Brady, Daniel St. Pierre, Robert Kurtz, and Jeff Hand, who discuss working with Reeve and the animators at IDT, honoring Reeve's vision and carrying it forward after his death.
We also have two behind-the-scenes featurettes on the disc, one per each side. The first one is "The Little Guy's Journey: The Making of 'Everyone's Hero'". This featurette takes a standard look at the development of the film and features interviews with the cast and crew, and we get to see the work in progress, from pencil animation to storyboard development, from rough work-in-progress animatics to their final forms, to the cast's performances and nuances into their characters.
The other featurette, "Remembering Chris", is the more touching of the two, as cast and crew discuss their memories of working with and knowing Christopher Reeve. Here we get to see video footage from 2004 of Reeve directing and overseeing the first storyboard developments and story ideas for the film. Those particularly closest to Reeve - especially Dana Reeve (who would follow her husband in death in 2006), Kind, Wagner, Macy, Goldberg, Reiner, and Patinkin - offer heartfelt anecdotes and personal memories of knowing him over the years. Other cast members and production crew have high praise for Reeve and his uncompromising vision, remaining firmly committed to honoring his vision and standards for the film after his death and seeing his heart all over the film upon its release. It's extremely bittersweet to know that the footage of Reeve in this featurette is among the last video of him before his death.
The DVD is rounded out with the original theatrical trailer for "Everyone's Hero", also presented in anamorphic widescreen format, along with a preview trailer for the upcoming "Care Bears" movie and several generic Fox Kids and Fox DVD titles.
"Everyone's Hero" is a wonderful little film and a perfect final coda to the lives and careers of Christopher and Dana Reeve, to whom the film is dedicated in their memories. As he stated in his autobiography "Still Me", the real heroes are not the larger-than-life figures who move great mountains, but the ordinary people who fight each day to make a difference. That definition certainly defined the Reeves, and it certainly defines Yankee Irving in this movie. This DVD definitely belongs in every family's film library. If you've not seen it, check it out.
I'll have more notes and thoughts later this week, followed by another full-length review next week. See you then!
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