Hi everyone! I hope all of you took time yesterday to reflect on the events of 9/11 and remember all of the families who lost loved ones on that horrific day in your prayers and thoughts. It's times like these that remind us why we're Americans and how we should never lose hope in the face of tragedy.
Recently Paramount Home Video had announced their plans to re-release the epic blockbuster “Titanic” on DVD in a new two-disc 10th anniversary edition. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t this make the third time that this film has been issued on DVD?
In the early days of the DVD format we got a single-disc version of the film (as well as one of the theatrical trailers) on disc. And it was just a couple of years ago that we got a really nice-looking three-disc special edition that was close to the cat’s meow as you could get. The only thing of it is, that set was missing some significant added content. First, James Cameron pulled the feature-length documentary produced and directed by Ed Marsh late in the game, which for a lot of “Titanic” fans was a shame, despite all of the wonderful production supplements the set had. Second, and this is where the real insult occurs, while the U.S. got a three-disc version, overseas markets got a four-disc set that included a whole slew of trailers promoting the film. (I’m still miffed at whoever made that lamebrain decision to withhold that fourth disc from the U.S. market!)
Now we’re getting a repurposed release of the film yet again, but this time it’s just the first two discs only from that really nice three-disc (or four-disc, depending on which side of the Atlantic you live on) set, with all the same content from those two discs, only now they’re holding back the third disc? Give me a break!
I’m not falling for this needless triple-dip. Unless you’ve got something really substantial and up your sleeve to make me warrant wanting to get this disc again (i.e. the Ed Marsh documentary and all of the trailers), I’m not even giving it the once-over. I know that’s pretty harsh to say, but sometimes you’ve got to know where to draw the line, and where this re-release is concerned I’ve drawn the line. My final word on the subject: stick with the 2005 release.
In the meantime, I’ve got a really wonderful review of the three-disc set which I wrote up and submitted to the Digital Bits for possible inclusion on their site, but for some reason Bill Hunt (who I have a lot of respect for as a film, DVD, and “Star Trek” buff) went with a longer rewrite of his own earlier review. I still have that review file on a disc somewhere, which hopefully I can pull up and share on this blog soon, perhaps in time for the film’s 10th anniversary.
Oh, lest I forget, on November 6th the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation will release a two-hour documentary DVD entitled “Hope in Motion”, which chronicles the late actor’s efforts to rebuild his life and overcome his paralysis. Directed by Chris’ son Matthew Reeve, the documentary will contain the original 2002 documentary (shown on ABC-TV as “Christopher Reeve: Courageous Steps”) and a never-before-seen second documentary further exploring Reeve’s life and efforts to walk again after his tragic 1995 accident. It sounds like a wonderful DVD, and I hope to have a review of this DVD when it becomes available. (Thanks to Jim Bowers of CapedWonder.com for sharing the information with everyone!)
Next time (if all goes well), I hope to have a review of one of this month’s two big Superman-themed DVD releases, either “Superman: Doomsday” or the sixth season of “Smallville”. See you then!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Heroes - Season 1
What if you suddenly found yourself with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men and were able to change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in your bare hands, survive bullet or bomb blasts, or leap tall buildings in a single bound? What would your life be like from that point? If you think I’m talking about Superman, think again. From this decades-old premise comes the concept of “Heroes”, which after only its first season on NBC in 2006-07 has found itself to be a highly entertaining series and a major surprise hit for the Peacock Network.
Created by Tim Kring, who had previously worked on the series “Providence” and “Crossing Jordan”, “Heroes” brings together ordinary people from different walks of life into contact with one another, all of whom have different concerns that are addressed throughout the series. Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy), a genetics professor from Chenmai, continues with the research begun by his late father and discovers that people across the world are developing superpowers. A drug-addicted artist (Santiago Cabrera) is able to predict the future through his incredible paintings. A politician (Adrian Pasdar) is blessed with the ability to fly like a certain Man of Steel. A New York police officer (Greg Grunberg) can hear and read other people’s thoughts. A shy Japanese computer programmer (Masi Oka) finds himself with the ability to distort the space-time continuum. A single mother (Ali Larter) who raises her son by working as a prostitute now finds herself with a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality split. A high school cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere, who made “Save the cheerleader, save the world” a household phrase) finds herself with the gift of invulnerability. And that’s just for starters. These and other ordinary people are linked together with a mysterious helix that brings them into contact with one another at different points, but are their lives changed for the better? To further complicate matters, they are all pursued by the mysterious villain Sylar (Zachary Quinto, who will inherit the role of Mr. Spock in the next “Star Trek” feature film) as well as a mysterious billionaire businessman (Malcolm McDowell), who has a few super-abilities of his own. And you thought keeping up with the “freak of the week” over the years on “Smallville” was complicated enough?
Until the DVD release, I’ve not seen a single episode of “Heroes”, but I’ve heard about how it’s become the hot “in” series right now on television. With lots of plot twists and turns, some of the best visual effects done for a TV series, and one of the most diverse ensemble casts this side of “Twin Peaks”, there’s lots for everyone to enjoy about “Heroes”. Given its comic book-style look and appearance, it’s one of the best comics-style live-action series to grace the TV screen this side of “Smallville”. Even more appealing is the fact that it’s not so much about the special effects as it is about the characters themselves and their quirks. (Of course, the only way I’ve been able to keep up with any recent TV series has been through DVD, since we don’t have cable or satellite TV in our house.) Now as the series prepares to launch into its sophomore year in September (and on my birthday, no less!), Universal Home Video has issued the complete first season of “Heroes” in a seven-disc set on simultaneous standard DVD and HD-DVD formats with lots of generous content that not only brings the excitement home but also expands upon the phenomenon by immersing the viewer into the mysterious realm.
Please note that this review will cover only the standard DVD version of “Heroes”, as I do not have a HD-DVD player in my home (see my earlier blog for the reasons why). I will, however, reference the exclusive HD-DVD features within the context of this review for completion’s sake.
All 23 episodes of the series’ first season are presented in this seven-disc set that takes advantage of the high-quality features only DVD (and I’m sure HD-DVD and even Blu-Ray) can offer. Each episode is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen format and English Dolby 5.1 Surround sound, with optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles. The 5.1 track really does this series justice! First off we have an extended version of the series’ premiere episode “Genesis”, running 73 minutes in length, with a lot of footage not shown on television. This version really does justice by introducing all of the characters and setting up the scenario for the season to come. Also accompanying the extended pilot is a running audio commentary with Tim Kring on how he developed the idea for “Heroes” and some of the substantial and nuanced changes from the broadcast version of the pilot to the extended version. It becomes very clear that this is his preferred cut that he wanted to see air on television but never got the chance. Thanks to DVD, he (like the rest of us) now has that chance. Since I missed out on the series’ run, I’m not able to compare the broadcast version to the DVD version (as with the broadcast and extended versions of “Pegasus” on the second season sets of “Battlestar Galactica”), though I would have liked to have seen an optional footage marker (similar to the “Gladiator” Extended Edition DVD) on the episode indicating where the extra footage was restored into the pilot episode. From what I understand, this extended pilot presents an alternate look at character and plot developments, including an interesting subplot that was ultimately cut from the broadcast version.
In addition, we have no less than 50 deleted and extended scenes from “Genesis”, “Don’t Look Back”, “One Giant Leap”, “Collision”, “Hiros”, “Nothing to Hide”, “Seven Minutes to Midnight”, “Homecoming”, “Six Months Ago", “Fallout”, “Godsend”, “The Fix”, “Distractions”, “Run”, “Company Man”, “Parasite”, “.07%”, “Five Years Gone”, and “Landslide” spread out across the seven-disc set. Most of these moments are cut bits of dialog and extensions that didn’t make the final telecast versions, but some of these lost moments add further bits of character development that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise, while others were cut simply for broadcast pacing. Having these deleted and extended scenes together on the set is a nice touch.
Along with the deleted scenes, there are selected audio commentaries on the extended pilot and many of the episodes on the set. These audio commentaries with Kring, executive producer Dennis Hammer, and various cast members and episode directors provide further insight into the creation of “Heroes” and the challenges this series brings to the table. On Disc 5 we have an interesting interactive bonus feature entitled “Mind Reader”, in which Matt Parkman’s mind-reading abilities reveal the viewer’s inner hero with a series of simple mathematical tests. It’s not too complex, just a fun little look at what kind of hero you are. I’ve taken it three times thus far, and each time he’s guessed my choices accurately! There’s no way you can fool him!
The remaining bonus features are located on Disc 7. Leading the block off is “The Making of Heroes”, which is a behind-the-scenes look at how the series went from concept to pop culture phenomenon. Next is “Special Effects”, a featurette on the secrets behind the spectacular visuals that give the heroes their amazing powers. This is followed by “The Stunts”, which is a backstage look at the many different stunts seen in the series. We also have a profile on comics artist Tim Sale, best known for his work on the DC Comics series “Batman: The Long Halloween”, among others, who discusses how his manga-style artwork influenced the look of the series. Finally, “The Score” is a 10-minute interview with Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (yes, that Wendy and Lisa from Prince’s band The Revolution), as they discuss the creation of the award-winning musical score and discuss their influence on the main hero theme for the series. They’ve come a long way since the days of “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry”, I’ll tell you that!
The DVD set is rounded out with two trailer galleries on Discs 1 and 7. The gallery on Disc 1 contains a teaser trailer for NBC’s upcoming remake of “The Bionic Woman”, DVD trailers for “Hot Fuzz” and “Knocked Up”, a Nissan spot, and a generic spot promoting the wonders of HD-DVD. This trailer gallery can be completely bypassed using the menu button on your DVD remote in order to get to the main menu. The gallery on Disc 7 contains DVD trailers for “House”, “30 Rock”, “Friday Night Lights”, “The Office”, and “Miami Vice”, among others, as well as another Nissan spot.
As if that weren’t enough to wet your whistle, the HD-DVD version of “Heroes” features even more exclusive interactive content that will further immerse yourself into the series. Each disc contains three exclusive features – “Character Connections”, which allows you to follow your favorite heroes throughout the series; “The Helix Revealed”, an interactive guide to the mysterious helix symbol that appears throughout the series; and “Artwork Presentation”, in which you can further study Tim Sale’s artwork that appears in the series. Disc 2 contains two more exclusive features – “Download Center”, where you can download exclusive content, trailers, and updates to your HD-DVD player; and the “Genetic Abilities Test”, which allows you not only to determine what kind of hero you are but also upload the test results to NBC.com and receive a unique access code to unlock even more exclusive media content. Finally, there is a running Picture-in-Picture cast and crew video commentary on Discs 4, 6, and 7 with the episodes “Godsend”, “The Fix”, “Distractions”, “.07%”, “Five Years Gone”, “The Hard Part”, “Landslide”, and “How to Stop an Exploding Man”. These PIP commentaries allow you to view exclusive running commentaries during the respective episodes. Since I’m not familiar with HD-DVD usage, this sounds like running video commentaries I’ve seen on “The Scorpion King” and “Superman: The Animated Series” in years past. For those of you who have HD-DVD access, these additional features only enhance the enjoyment of the series.
But we’re not done yet. Target has included a bonus eighth disc that includes 45 minutes of additional content not found on either the standard or HD set. From what I have heard, the additional content includes bonus interviews with creator Tim Kring and the cast members, as well as a series of character profiles. There’s also an exclusive deluxe collector’s edition available at Target that contains bonus foldout artwork and postcards. Even more so, Best Buy has included a free “Heroes” comic book with its standard DVD release. None of these bonuses were provided for review.
I’ve got to admit, just the concept of the series alone had me hooked from the beginning. Even my wife seems to like the concept just based on the premise alone, and for me that’s saying quite a bit. And bringing the first season of “Heroes” to DVD and HD-DVD is a great way to relive your favorite moments and catch up for the forthcoming second season, which I’m sure is going to be even bigger and better than the first season. Couple that with the absolutely staggering amount of bonus content on both the standard DVD and HD-DVD releases, and you’ve got a winning set that I’m sure will be one of the top TV-on-DVD sets of the year to beat. With Universal’s commitment to quality DVD presentations (as with their recent “Battlestar Galactica” sets), this is a nice addition to any DVD collection. I only wish I had been able to watch it from the beginning – oh well, better late than never. Time to save the world!
Created by Tim Kring, who had previously worked on the series “Providence” and “Crossing Jordan”, “Heroes” brings together ordinary people from different walks of life into contact with one another, all of whom have different concerns that are addressed throughout the series. Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy), a genetics professor from Chenmai, continues with the research begun by his late father and discovers that people across the world are developing superpowers. A drug-addicted artist (Santiago Cabrera) is able to predict the future through his incredible paintings. A politician (Adrian Pasdar) is blessed with the ability to fly like a certain Man of Steel. A New York police officer (Greg Grunberg) can hear and read other people’s thoughts. A shy Japanese computer programmer (Masi Oka) finds himself with the ability to distort the space-time continuum. A single mother (Ali Larter) who raises her son by working as a prostitute now finds herself with a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality split. A high school cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere, who made “Save the cheerleader, save the world” a household phrase) finds herself with the gift of invulnerability. And that’s just for starters. These and other ordinary people are linked together with a mysterious helix that brings them into contact with one another at different points, but are their lives changed for the better? To further complicate matters, they are all pursued by the mysterious villain Sylar (Zachary Quinto, who will inherit the role of Mr. Spock in the next “Star Trek” feature film) as well as a mysterious billionaire businessman (Malcolm McDowell), who has a few super-abilities of his own. And you thought keeping up with the “freak of the week” over the years on “Smallville” was complicated enough?
Until the DVD release, I’ve not seen a single episode of “Heroes”, but I’ve heard about how it’s become the hot “in” series right now on television. With lots of plot twists and turns, some of the best visual effects done for a TV series, and one of the most diverse ensemble casts this side of “Twin Peaks”, there’s lots for everyone to enjoy about “Heroes”. Given its comic book-style look and appearance, it’s one of the best comics-style live-action series to grace the TV screen this side of “Smallville”. Even more appealing is the fact that it’s not so much about the special effects as it is about the characters themselves and their quirks. (Of course, the only way I’ve been able to keep up with any recent TV series has been through DVD, since we don’t have cable or satellite TV in our house.) Now as the series prepares to launch into its sophomore year in September (and on my birthday, no less!), Universal Home Video has issued the complete first season of “Heroes” in a seven-disc set on simultaneous standard DVD and HD-DVD formats with lots of generous content that not only brings the excitement home but also expands upon the phenomenon by immersing the viewer into the mysterious realm.
Please note that this review will cover only the standard DVD version of “Heroes”, as I do not have a HD-DVD player in my home (see my earlier blog for the reasons why). I will, however, reference the exclusive HD-DVD features within the context of this review for completion’s sake.
All 23 episodes of the series’ first season are presented in this seven-disc set that takes advantage of the high-quality features only DVD (and I’m sure HD-DVD and even Blu-Ray) can offer. Each episode is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen format and English Dolby 5.1 Surround sound, with optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles. The 5.1 track really does this series justice! First off we have an extended version of the series’ premiere episode “Genesis”, running 73 minutes in length, with a lot of footage not shown on television. This version really does justice by introducing all of the characters and setting up the scenario for the season to come. Also accompanying the extended pilot is a running audio commentary with Tim Kring on how he developed the idea for “Heroes” and some of the substantial and nuanced changes from the broadcast version of the pilot to the extended version. It becomes very clear that this is his preferred cut that he wanted to see air on television but never got the chance. Thanks to DVD, he (like the rest of us) now has that chance. Since I missed out on the series’ run, I’m not able to compare the broadcast version to the DVD version (as with the broadcast and extended versions of “Pegasus” on the second season sets of “Battlestar Galactica”), though I would have liked to have seen an optional footage marker (similar to the “Gladiator” Extended Edition DVD) on the episode indicating where the extra footage was restored into the pilot episode. From what I understand, this extended pilot presents an alternate look at character and plot developments, including an interesting subplot that was ultimately cut from the broadcast version.
In addition, we have no less than 50 deleted and extended scenes from “Genesis”, “Don’t Look Back”, “One Giant Leap”, “Collision”, “Hiros”, “Nothing to Hide”, “Seven Minutes to Midnight”, “Homecoming”, “Six Months Ago", “Fallout”, “Godsend”, “The Fix”, “Distractions”, “Run”, “Company Man”, “Parasite”, “.07%”, “Five Years Gone”, and “Landslide” spread out across the seven-disc set. Most of these moments are cut bits of dialog and extensions that didn’t make the final telecast versions, but some of these lost moments add further bits of character development that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise, while others were cut simply for broadcast pacing. Having these deleted and extended scenes together on the set is a nice touch.
Along with the deleted scenes, there are selected audio commentaries on the extended pilot and many of the episodes on the set. These audio commentaries with Kring, executive producer Dennis Hammer, and various cast members and episode directors provide further insight into the creation of “Heroes” and the challenges this series brings to the table. On Disc 5 we have an interesting interactive bonus feature entitled “Mind Reader”, in which Matt Parkman’s mind-reading abilities reveal the viewer’s inner hero with a series of simple mathematical tests. It’s not too complex, just a fun little look at what kind of hero you are. I’ve taken it three times thus far, and each time he’s guessed my choices accurately! There’s no way you can fool him!
The remaining bonus features are located on Disc 7. Leading the block off is “The Making of Heroes”, which is a behind-the-scenes look at how the series went from concept to pop culture phenomenon. Next is “Special Effects”, a featurette on the secrets behind the spectacular visuals that give the heroes their amazing powers. This is followed by “The Stunts”, which is a backstage look at the many different stunts seen in the series. We also have a profile on comics artist Tim Sale, best known for his work on the DC Comics series “Batman: The Long Halloween”, among others, who discusses how his manga-style artwork influenced the look of the series. Finally, “The Score” is a 10-minute interview with Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (yes, that Wendy and Lisa from Prince’s band The Revolution), as they discuss the creation of the award-winning musical score and discuss their influence on the main hero theme for the series. They’ve come a long way since the days of “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry”, I’ll tell you that!
The DVD set is rounded out with two trailer galleries on Discs 1 and 7. The gallery on Disc 1 contains a teaser trailer for NBC’s upcoming remake of “The Bionic Woman”, DVD trailers for “Hot Fuzz” and “Knocked Up”, a Nissan spot, and a generic spot promoting the wonders of HD-DVD. This trailer gallery can be completely bypassed using the menu button on your DVD remote in order to get to the main menu. The gallery on Disc 7 contains DVD trailers for “House”, “30 Rock”, “Friday Night Lights”, “The Office”, and “Miami Vice”, among others, as well as another Nissan spot.
As if that weren’t enough to wet your whistle, the HD-DVD version of “Heroes” features even more exclusive interactive content that will further immerse yourself into the series. Each disc contains three exclusive features – “Character Connections”, which allows you to follow your favorite heroes throughout the series; “The Helix Revealed”, an interactive guide to the mysterious helix symbol that appears throughout the series; and “Artwork Presentation”, in which you can further study Tim Sale’s artwork that appears in the series. Disc 2 contains two more exclusive features – “Download Center”, where you can download exclusive content, trailers, and updates to your HD-DVD player; and the “Genetic Abilities Test”, which allows you not only to determine what kind of hero you are but also upload the test results to NBC.com and receive a unique access code to unlock even more exclusive media content. Finally, there is a running Picture-in-Picture cast and crew video commentary on Discs 4, 6, and 7 with the episodes “Godsend”, “The Fix”, “Distractions”, “.07%”, “Five Years Gone”, “The Hard Part”, “Landslide”, and “How to Stop an Exploding Man”. These PIP commentaries allow you to view exclusive running commentaries during the respective episodes. Since I’m not familiar with HD-DVD usage, this sounds like running video commentaries I’ve seen on “The Scorpion King” and “Superman: The Animated Series” in years past. For those of you who have HD-DVD access, these additional features only enhance the enjoyment of the series.
But we’re not done yet. Target has included a bonus eighth disc that includes 45 minutes of additional content not found on either the standard or HD set. From what I have heard, the additional content includes bonus interviews with creator Tim Kring and the cast members, as well as a series of character profiles. There’s also an exclusive deluxe collector’s edition available at Target that contains bonus foldout artwork and postcards. Even more so, Best Buy has included a free “Heroes” comic book with its standard DVD release. None of these bonuses were provided for review.
I’ve got to admit, just the concept of the series alone had me hooked from the beginning. Even my wife seems to like the concept just based on the premise alone, and for me that’s saying quite a bit. And bringing the first season of “Heroes” to DVD and HD-DVD is a great way to relive your favorite moments and catch up for the forthcoming second season, which I’m sure is going to be even bigger and better than the first season. Couple that with the absolutely staggering amount of bonus content on both the standard DVD and HD-DVD releases, and you’ve got a winning set that I’m sure will be one of the top TV-on-DVD sets of the year to beat. With Universal’s commitment to quality DVD presentations (as with their recent “Battlestar Galactica” sets), this is a nice addition to any DVD collection. I only wish I had been able to watch it from the beginning – oh well, better late than never. Time to save the world!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Legion of Super-Heroes, Volume 1
While I’m awaiting the arrival of my review copy of “Heroes” Season 1 (which I’m more than anxious to review, based on hearing how good this series is), I’ve prepared this little review of the latest WB animated offering and the latest entry in the Superman/DC Comics DVD canon.
I’ve got to admit, one of my favorite comic books I enjoyed reading as a boy was “The Legion of Super-Heroes”. Created in 1958, “Legion” centered around a group of super-powered teenagers from a thousand years in the future and their efforts to protect not only the world but also the universe from the forces of evil. Originally the team focused on Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5 (a descendant of Superman’s modern-day foe), and Triplicate Girl, among others, as they recruited the then-teenaged Superboy to join their team. It was another title that added an extended bit of fun to the Superboy/Superman canon, as the Legion traveled back and forth in time embarking on one adventure after another. On occasion they’d come back to the 20th century and have adventures with the teenage Clark Kent in Smallville, fitting in as normal teenagers with the rest of the crowd. As the title grew and matured, so did the teenagers become adults, as in the 1980’s the title focused on the now-adult Legion and even more sophisticated threats to their survival. But through numerous revamps and additional characters, the title has continued to survive and thrive into the new millennium.
Ultimately, with the success of the animated incarnations of Superman, Batman, the Teen Titans, and the Justice League, DC Comics and Warner Bros. looked for another successful franchise to bring to the animated front. Naturally, the Legion of Super-Heroes was just such a franchise. Given the current penchant for anime-style series and a kid-friendly environment, everything locked in place for the “Legion of Super-Heroes” animated series to arrive. The premise is essentially the same as in the comics, but with its own unique twist. This time, the Legion is focused on adding 17-year-old Clark Kent, who’s not quite Superman, to their ranks. Clark’s still finding out more about himself, yet in the 31st century he’s seen not as Superboy but as Superman. This to me is a logical extension of the current trend that dates back to the original 1938 story (and the classic 1978 feature film) that shows Superman emerging as an adult, not as a teenager. Because of the current legal proceedings between DC Comics and the heirs of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster over the rights to the Superboy character, this has further resulted in the Legion referring to Clark’s character as Superman, which definitely makes sense.
This first volume of “Legion of Super-Heroes” contains four episodes from the animated series’ first season. In the premiere segment “Man of Tomorrow”, the story focuses on an updated version of the Legion’s efforts to recruit Clark Kent as a member of their team. Here, Lightning Lad is seen as the de facto leader of the group with a cocky edge to him and a jealousy toward the teenaged Superman because of his strength and abilities. This is followed up with “Timber Wolf”, centering around one of the later additions to the team (in the comics, that is), as the Legion investigates the rumors of a mad scientist pursuing a lycanthropic boy, only to discover the scientist’s terrible secret. In “Legacy” we see an interesting spin on one of comicdom’s classic love-hate stories, as Superman is pursued by a spoiled rich girl named Alexis who wants him as her friend, and if he won’t be her friend, then no one else will, either. The ending of the tale harkens back to one of the most classic Superboy tales of the 1940’s and 1950’s, with its own unique twist. (And be sure to look for a quick blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from the main man himself, Lobo! Now that would make for an interesting animated series – definitely not for the Kids’ WB, I assure you!) Finally, in “Phantoms”, Clark accidentally unleashes a dangerous villain from the Phantom Zone with powers similar to his own.
“Legion of Super-Heroes” is presented on DVD in its original full-frame aspect ratio in your choice of English or French Dolby surround stereo with optional English, French, or Spanish subtitles. The DVD format is a perfect presentation for the series, as it gives you a chance to check out all of the detail that went into this anime-style series. In addition, the DVD contains a nine-minute behind-the-scenes segment entitled “We are Legion”, featuring interviews with DC Comics vice-president Paul Levitz, series producer James Tucker (who also produced the two “Justice League” animated series), and different writers and producers as they discuss the challenges of translating the 50-year-old comic book into animated form. The DVD is rounded out with a trailer gallery for various DVD products, including “Scooby-Doo”, the third seasons of “The Batman” and “Teen Titans”, and “Tom and Jerry”, among others. Also unadvertised but included is a preview trailer for the upcoming “Scooby-Doo” direct-to-DVD animated movie.
The first volume of “Legion of Super-Heroes” is a nice addition to the WB and DC animated canon, and like past Kids WB animated series I’m sure we’ll see not only a second volume of episodes but also a full season set down the road in the near future.
Hopefully next time I’ll have that review of “Heroes” for you. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and I’ll see you again soon!
I’ve got to admit, one of my favorite comic books I enjoyed reading as a boy was “The Legion of Super-Heroes”. Created in 1958, “Legion” centered around a group of super-powered teenagers from a thousand years in the future and their efforts to protect not only the world but also the universe from the forces of evil. Originally the team focused on Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5 (a descendant of Superman’s modern-day foe), and Triplicate Girl, among others, as they recruited the then-teenaged Superboy to join their team. It was another title that added an extended bit of fun to the Superboy/Superman canon, as the Legion traveled back and forth in time embarking on one adventure after another. On occasion they’d come back to the 20th century and have adventures with the teenage Clark Kent in Smallville, fitting in as normal teenagers with the rest of the crowd. As the title grew and matured, so did the teenagers become adults, as in the 1980’s the title focused on the now-adult Legion and even more sophisticated threats to their survival. But through numerous revamps and additional characters, the title has continued to survive and thrive into the new millennium.
Ultimately, with the success of the animated incarnations of Superman, Batman, the Teen Titans, and the Justice League, DC Comics and Warner Bros. looked for another successful franchise to bring to the animated front. Naturally, the Legion of Super-Heroes was just such a franchise. Given the current penchant for anime-style series and a kid-friendly environment, everything locked in place for the “Legion of Super-Heroes” animated series to arrive. The premise is essentially the same as in the comics, but with its own unique twist. This time, the Legion is focused on adding 17-year-old Clark Kent, who’s not quite Superman, to their ranks. Clark’s still finding out more about himself, yet in the 31st century he’s seen not as Superboy but as Superman. This to me is a logical extension of the current trend that dates back to the original 1938 story (and the classic 1978 feature film) that shows Superman emerging as an adult, not as a teenager. Because of the current legal proceedings between DC Comics and the heirs of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster over the rights to the Superboy character, this has further resulted in the Legion referring to Clark’s character as Superman, which definitely makes sense.
This first volume of “Legion of Super-Heroes” contains four episodes from the animated series’ first season. In the premiere segment “Man of Tomorrow”, the story focuses on an updated version of the Legion’s efforts to recruit Clark Kent as a member of their team. Here, Lightning Lad is seen as the de facto leader of the group with a cocky edge to him and a jealousy toward the teenaged Superman because of his strength and abilities. This is followed up with “Timber Wolf”, centering around one of the later additions to the team (in the comics, that is), as the Legion investigates the rumors of a mad scientist pursuing a lycanthropic boy, only to discover the scientist’s terrible secret. In “Legacy” we see an interesting spin on one of comicdom’s classic love-hate stories, as Superman is pursued by a spoiled rich girl named Alexis who wants him as her friend, and if he won’t be her friend, then no one else will, either. The ending of the tale harkens back to one of the most classic Superboy tales of the 1940’s and 1950’s, with its own unique twist. (And be sure to look for a quick blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from the main man himself, Lobo! Now that would make for an interesting animated series – definitely not for the Kids’ WB, I assure you!) Finally, in “Phantoms”, Clark accidentally unleashes a dangerous villain from the Phantom Zone with powers similar to his own.
“Legion of Super-Heroes” is presented on DVD in its original full-frame aspect ratio in your choice of English or French Dolby surround stereo with optional English, French, or Spanish subtitles. The DVD format is a perfect presentation for the series, as it gives you a chance to check out all of the detail that went into this anime-style series. In addition, the DVD contains a nine-minute behind-the-scenes segment entitled “We are Legion”, featuring interviews with DC Comics vice-president Paul Levitz, series producer James Tucker (who also produced the two “Justice League” animated series), and different writers and producers as they discuss the challenges of translating the 50-year-old comic book into animated form. The DVD is rounded out with a trailer gallery for various DVD products, including “Scooby-Doo”, the third seasons of “The Batman” and “Teen Titans”, and “Tom and Jerry”, among others. Also unadvertised but included is a preview trailer for the upcoming “Scooby-Doo” direct-to-DVD animated movie.
The first volume of “Legion of Super-Heroes” is a nice addition to the WB and DC animated canon, and like past Kids WB animated series I’m sure we’ll see not only a second volume of episodes but also a full season set down the road in the near future.
Hopefully next time I’ll have that review of “Heroes” for you. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and I’ll see you again soon!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Young Indy update...
Well, to follow up on my earlier post about the first volume of "Young Indiana Jones" coming on DVD October 23rd, DVD Times has posted a list of the specs of what exactly will be on that first set. Here's what's been announced:
The first of three comprehensive collections, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones Volume 1 is a 12-disc set presented in full screen with Dolby Digital English Stereo and English subtitles.
The DVD disc breakdown is as follows:
Disc One:
-- My First Adventure
While on an archeological dig in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, Indy uncovers an ancient mummy and fresh corpse. With the help of T.E. Lawrence, the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, Indy solves an intriguing murder mystery only to find himself thrust right back into danger when he is kidnapped by slave-trading brigands. Dragged on a terrifying journey across the burning sands of North Africa to the slave markets of Marrakech, Indy finds that he must rely on his courage and wits to survive the brutal ordeal.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Archaeology: Unearthing Our Past
-- Howard Carter and the Tomb of Tutankhamun
-- Colonel Lawrence's War: T.E. Lawrence and Arabia
-- From Slavery to Freedom
Disc Two:
-- Passion For Life
The beautiful Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya is the locale as Indy goes on safari with former President Teddy Roosevelt. When he becomes lost in the savage African bush, Indy finds that he must fight for his life against all manner of exotic and dangerous wildlife. Exotic wildlife of another kind await him in Paris when he accompanies a young Norman Rockwell on a rollicking tour through the bohemian world of Parisian fine art. Wild parties, wilder women and artist temperament are on full display as Pablo Picasso and Edgar Degas clash over their contrasting styles of painting, while painting the town red at a gaudy late-night soiree.
Disc Three (Passion For Life bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Theodore Roosevelt and The American Century
-- Ecology: Pulse of the Planet
-- American Dreams: Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post
-- Art Rebellion: The Making of the Modern
-- Edgar Degas: Reluctant Rebel
-- Braque + Picasso: A Collaboration Cubed
Disc Four:
-- The Perils of Cupid
In beautiful Vienna, Indy falls for the lovely young daughter of soon-to-be assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. But the course of true love does not run smoothly and he must seek advice from two of the founding fathers of psychology, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Romantic complications of another kind turn up in Florence, Italy, when Indy and his mother meet the great opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Dismayed to find his lonely mother succumbing to the sensuous charms of the charismatic Puccini, Indy frantically looks for a way to reunite his parents and rekindle their love before it's too late.
Disc Five (The Perils of Cupid bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Giacomo Puccini--Music of the Heart
-- It's Opera!
-- The Archduke's Last Journey--End of an Era
-- Powder Keg--Europe 1900 to 1914
-- Sigmund Freud--Exploring the Unconscious
-- Carl Jung and the Journey of Self Discovery
-- Psychology--Charting the Human Mind
Disc Six:
-- Travels with Father
A trip to Russia takes Indy from the opulent palaces of the aristocracy to the fetid villages of the peasant class when he runs away from home after an argument with his parents. Joining up with novelist Leo Tolstoy, the two go on the road, engaging in philosophical discussions and clashing with colorful Gypsies and ferocious Cossacks. Realizing that there's no place like home, Indy rejoins his mom and dad and travels with his father to an isolated Greek monastery perched high on the peak of a mountain. The arduous journey, including a harrowing trip in a tiny cage up a thousand-foot mountainside, brings father and son closer together.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Seeking Truth--The Life of Leo Tolstoy
-- Unquiet Voices--Russian Writers and the State
-- Aristotle--Creating Foundations
-- Ancient Questions--Philosophy and Our Search for Meaning
Disc Seven:
-- Journey of Radiance
A jaunt through the mystical Far East takes Indy to the Holy City of Benares where he befriends the lonely and isolated young leader of the Theosophy movement, Jiddu Krishnamurti. Surrounded by supplicants and hangers-on, Krishnamurti struggles to have faith in himself and to fulfill the destiny decreed for him by his worshippers. In the process he shows Indy just how strong the power of faith can be. Indy's mother also learns a lesson in faith and trust when she must rely on some poor Chinese villagers and their traditional medical techniques to save the life of her son who lies perilously close to death with typhoid fever.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Jiddu Krishnamurti--The Reluctant Messiah
-- Annie Besant--An Unlikely Rebel
-- Medicine in the Middle Kingdom
-- Eastern Spirituality--The Road to Enlightenment
Disc Eight:
-- Spring Break Adventure
Indy and his girlfriend Nancy Stratemeyer, whose father created the Nancy Drew mystery series, visit the fascinating laboratory of inventor Thomas Edison. The two must contend with dangerous German spies as they struggle to keep Edison's top secret new invention out of the hands of hostile enemy agents. To keep him from getting into any more trouble, Indy is sent to visit his Aunt in New Mexico. While there, he is kidnapped by Pancho Villa and swept up into the Mexican Revolution. Chaotic, free-wheeling border towns, a "Wild Bunch" style train robbery and a colorful barroom encounter with a young George Patton make for thrilling entertainment in this action-packed movie.
Disc Nine (Spring Break Adventure bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Thomas Alva Edison--Lighting up the World
-- Invention and Innovation--What's Behind a Good Idea?
-- The Mystery of Edward Stratemeyer
-- Wanted: Dead or Alive--Pancho Villa and the American Invasion of Mexico
-- General John J. Pershing and his American Army
-- George S. Patton--American Achilles
Disc Ten:
-- Love's Sweet Song
Landing in Ireland right before the Easter Rebellion, Indy mixes romance and revolutionary politics when he falls for a beautiful young colleen whose brother is mixed up in the Irish resistance movement. Across the waters in England he encounters a similar problem when his love affair with a strong-willed young woman is derailed by her fervent belief in the women's suffrage movement and her need for independence. Violent street brawls, a terrifying Zeppelin raid and a seriocomic dinner party with Winston Churchill provide plenty of thrills in this exciting, romantic adventure.
Disc Eleven (Love's Sweet Song bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Easter Rising--The Poets' Rebellion
-- The Passions of William Butler Yeats
-- Sean O'Casey vs. Ireland
-- Ireland--The Power of the Poets
-- Winston Churchill--The Lion's Roar
-- Demanding the Vote--The Pankhursts and British Suffrage
-- Fighting for the Vote--Women's Suffrage in America
Disc Twelve: (Interactive Disc)
Special Features:
-- "Revolution" Interactive Game, based on Spring Break Adventure allows players to become Indy and make their own decisions based on Indy's adventures. As well as entertaining, this game has educational elements.
-- Extensive Interactive Timeline that details the history and locations of Indy's adventures and previews footage of the companion documentaries.
-- Historical Lecture: The Promise of Progress is an exploration of the people and events of the Industrial Revolution, spanning the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
It looks like I was right in predicting that the first seven segments would be on Volume 1, and this listing seems to confirm it. And the specs - sweet! I only wish that the original broadcast versions were included, though. But with all this extra material, this should be one of the top TV-on-DVD sets of the year to beat. Later!
The first of three comprehensive collections, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones Volume 1 is a 12-disc set presented in full screen with Dolby Digital English Stereo and English subtitles.
The DVD disc breakdown is as follows:
Disc One:
-- My First Adventure
While on an archeological dig in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, Indy uncovers an ancient mummy and fresh corpse. With the help of T.E. Lawrence, the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, Indy solves an intriguing murder mystery only to find himself thrust right back into danger when he is kidnapped by slave-trading brigands. Dragged on a terrifying journey across the burning sands of North Africa to the slave markets of Marrakech, Indy finds that he must rely on his courage and wits to survive the brutal ordeal.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Archaeology: Unearthing Our Past
-- Howard Carter and the Tomb of Tutankhamun
-- Colonel Lawrence's War: T.E. Lawrence and Arabia
-- From Slavery to Freedom
Disc Two:
-- Passion For Life
The beautiful Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya is the locale as Indy goes on safari with former President Teddy Roosevelt. When he becomes lost in the savage African bush, Indy finds that he must fight for his life against all manner of exotic and dangerous wildlife. Exotic wildlife of another kind await him in Paris when he accompanies a young Norman Rockwell on a rollicking tour through the bohemian world of Parisian fine art. Wild parties, wilder women and artist temperament are on full display as Pablo Picasso and Edgar Degas clash over their contrasting styles of painting, while painting the town red at a gaudy late-night soiree.
Disc Three (Passion For Life bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Theodore Roosevelt and The American Century
-- Ecology: Pulse of the Planet
-- American Dreams: Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post
-- Art Rebellion: The Making of the Modern
-- Edgar Degas: Reluctant Rebel
-- Braque + Picasso: A Collaboration Cubed
Disc Four:
-- The Perils of Cupid
In beautiful Vienna, Indy falls for the lovely young daughter of soon-to-be assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. But the course of true love does not run smoothly and he must seek advice from two of the founding fathers of psychology, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Romantic complications of another kind turn up in Florence, Italy, when Indy and his mother meet the great opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Dismayed to find his lonely mother succumbing to the sensuous charms of the charismatic Puccini, Indy frantically looks for a way to reunite his parents and rekindle their love before it's too late.
Disc Five (The Perils of Cupid bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Giacomo Puccini--Music of the Heart
-- It's Opera!
-- The Archduke's Last Journey--End of an Era
-- Powder Keg--Europe 1900 to 1914
-- Sigmund Freud--Exploring the Unconscious
-- Carl Jung and the Journey of Self Discovery
-- Psychology--Charting the Human Mind
Disc Six:
-- Travels with Father
A trip to Russia takes Indy from the opulent palaces of the aristocracy to the fetid villages of the peasant class when he runs away from home after an argument with his parents. Joining up with novelist Leo Tolstoy, the two go on the road, engaging in philosophical discussions and clashing with colorful Gypsies and ferocious Cossacks. Realizing that there's no place like home, Indy rejoins his mom and dad and travels with his father to an isolated Greek monastery perched high on the peak of a mountain. The arduous journey, including a harrowing trip in a tiny cage up a thousand-foot mountainside, brings father and son closer together.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Seeking Truth--The Life of Leo Tolstoy
-- Unquiet Voices--Russian Writers and the State
-- Aristotle--Creating Foundations
-- Ancient Questions--Philosophy and Our Search for Meaning
Disc Seven:
-- Journey of Radiance
A jaunt through the mystical Far East takes Indy to the Holy City of Benares where he befriends the lonely and isolated young leader of the Theosophy movement, Jiddu Krishnamurti. Surrounded by supplicants and hangers-on, Krishnamurti struggles to have faith in himself and to fulfill the destiny decreed for him by his worshippers. In the process he shows Indy just how strong the power of faith can be. Indy's mother also learns a lesson in faith and trust when she must rely on some poor Chinese villagers and their traditional medical techniques to save the life of her son who lies perilously close to death with typhoid fever.
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Jiddu Krishnamurti--The Reluctant Messiah
-- Annie Besant--An Unlikely Rebel
-- Medicine in the Middle Kingdom
-- Eastern Spirituality--The Road to Enlightenment
Disc Eight:
-- Spring Break Adventure
Indy and his girlfriend Nancy Stratemeyer, whose father created the Nancy Drew mystery series, visit the fascinating laboratory of inventor Thomas Edison. The two must contend with dangerous German spies as they struggle to keep Edison's top secret new invention out of the hands of hostile enemy agents. To keep him from getting into any more trouble, Indy is sent to visit his Aunt in New Mexico. While there, he is kidnapped by Pancho Villa and swept up into the Mexican Revolution. Chaotic, free-wheeling border towns, a "Wild Bunch" style train robbery and a colorful barroom encounter with a young George Patton make for thrilling entertainment in this action-packed movie.
Disc Nine (Spring Break Adventure bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Thomas Alva Edison--Lighting up the World
-- Invention and Innovation--What's Behind a Good Idea?
-- The Mystery of Edward Stratemeyer
-- Wanted: Dead or Alive--Pancho Villa and the American Invasion of Mexico
-- General John J. Pershing and his American Army
-- George S. Patton--American Achilles
Disc Ten:
-- Love's Sweet Song
Landing in Ireland right before the Easter Rebellion, Indy mixes romance and revolutionary politics when he falls for a beautiful young colleen whose brother is mixed up in the Irish resistance movement. Across the waters in England he encounters a similar problem when his love affair with a strong-willed young woman is derailed by her fervent belief in the women's suffrage movement and her need for independence. Violent street brawls, a terrifying Zeppelin raid and a seriocomic dinner party with Winston Churchill provide plenty of thrills in this exciting, romantic adventure.
Disc Eleven (Love's Sweet Song bonus disc):
Companion Historical Documentaries:
-- Easter Rising--The Poets' Rebellion
-- The Passions of William Butler Yeats
-- Sean O'Casey vs. Ireland
-- Ireland--The Power of the Poets
-- Winston Churchill--The Lion's Roar
-- Demanding the Vote--The Pankhursts and British Suffrage
-- Fighting for the Vote--Women's Suffrage in America
Disc Twelve: (Interactive Disc)
Special Features:
-- "Revolution" Interactive Game, based on Spring Break Adventure allows players to become Indy and make their own decisions based on Indy's adventures. As well as entertaining, this game has educational elements.
-- Extensive Interactive Timeline that details the history and locations of Indy's adventures and previews footage of the companion documentaries.
-- Historical Lecture: The Promise of Progress is an exploration of the people and events of the Industrial Revolution, spanning the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
It looks like I was right in predicting that the first seven segments would be on Volume 1, and this listing seems to confirm it. And the specs - sweet! I only wish that the original broadcast versions were included, though. But with all this extra material, this should be one of the top TV-on-DVD sets of the year to beat. Later!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
What to expect from Young Indiana Jones…
As we head into the fall season, one of the most eagerly anticipated sets I, like many others, am looking forward to is the first of the three volumes of Young Indiana Jones on DVD. With these three releases, alongside the upcoming fourth Indiana Jones feature film, it looks like we’re in for a real revival of the man with the hat!
Of course, I’m still bothered that George Lucas isn’t giving us the original broadcast versions of the episodes from the early 1990’s, and apparently there’s nothing that can be done to change that. However, let’s take a more positive approach and look at the good stuff that we can expect from this first volume…
First of all, Paramount has released the cover artwork for Volume 1, which to me looks pretty awesome right then and there! Based on this artwork, we can therefore make the following conclusions about what will be included in Volume 1:
- From the artwork alone, we’re getting all of the Corey Carrier segments in the set, and that accounts for the first five of the segments.
- If you notice very carefully, on the left side of the artwork, you’ll see Elizabeth Hurley’s picture included in the artwork. Based on this assumption, we can therefore conclude that we’re getting at least seven chapters.
- With 22 two-hour movies to account for, and given the amount of generous supplements included in the three volumes, we can assume that this first volume will be comprised of at least the first seven movies. It’s simple math when you think about it, so I’m thinking that the first two sets could have seven segments apiece and the third set will have eight segments. Also, when you divide the running time of the main content, which is 649 minutes, by the approximate amount of run time per segment (93 minutes), you get pretty close to seven, which would justify having seven segments in this debut volume.
With that established, what’s left to explore? How about all of those generous supplements that Lucas and Rick McCallum have promised? First of all, there are a number of historical documentaries which look at the real-life events and people referenced in the series. Reportedly there are going to be 100 such documentaries in the three sets, so that’s a huge chunk of meat right there for you! In addition, there’s something called “Revolutions Interactive Game”, whatever that is, followed by an “Interactive Timeline” and “Professor Video” (which may or may not be the historical documentaries).
And all this on 12 discs? That’s a lotta meat and potatoes right there for you! I hope that the final package is worthy of the years of development that have gone into this set. I also hope that somewhere in one of these volumes, Sean Patrick Flanery’s original screen test is also included, since it was featured on one of the VHS releases during the late 1990’s.
October 23rd cannot come soon enough! Stay tuned for my extensive review of the first volume of Young Indiana Jones when it happens! See you next time!
Of course, I’m still bothered that George Lucas isn’t giving us the original broadcast versions of the episodes from the early 1990’s, and apparently there’s nothing that can be done to change that. However, let’s take a more positive approach and look at the good stuff that we can expect from this first volume…
First of all, Paramount has released the cover artwork for Volume 1, which to me looks pretty awesome right then and there! Based on this artwork, we can therefore make the following conclusions about what will be included in Volume 1:
- From the artwork alone, we’re getting all of the Corey Carrier segments in the set, and that accounts for the first five of the segments.
- If you notice very carefully, on the left side of the artwork, you’ll see Elizabeth Hurley’s picture included in the artwork. Based on this assumption, we can therefore conclude that we’re getting at least seven chapters.
- With 22 two-hour movies to account for, and given the amount of generous supplements included in the three volumes, we can assume that this first volume will be comprised of at least the first seven movies. It’s simple math when you think about it, so I’m thinking that the first two sets could have seven segments apiece and the third set will have eight segments. Also, when you divide the running time of the main content, which is 649 minutes, by the approximate amount of run time per segment (93 minutes), you get pretty close to seven, which would justify having seven segments in this debut volume.
With that established, what’s left to explore? How about all of those generous supplements that Lucas and Rick McCallum have promised? First of all, there are a number of historical documentaries which look at the real-life events and people referenced in the series. Reportedly there are going to be 100 such documentaries in the three sets, so that’s a huge chunk of meat right there for you! In addition, there’s something called “Revolutions Interactive Game”, whatever that is, followed by an “Interactive Timeline” and “Professor Video” (which may or may not be the historical documentaries).
And all this on 12 discs? That’s a lotta meat and potatoes right there for you! I hope that the final package is worthy of the years of development that have gone into this set. I also hope that somewhere in one of these volumes, Sean Patrick Flanery’s original screen test is also included, since it was featured on one of the VHS releases during the late 1990’s.
October 23rd cannot come soon enough! Stay tuned for my extensive review of the first volume of Young Indiana Jones when it happens! See you next time!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
HD-DVD or Blu-Ray? My decision...
Typically I look forward to launching into reviews of the latest DVD titles, and recently I’ve been considering going back and reviewing older titles that I’ve always wanted to review but for some reason or another didn’t get the chance, or for that matter got overlooked – and goodness knows there are quite a few of those out there. Thank goodness I’ve got a blog site where I can do that now! However, I have to sidetrack for a while and offer my own thoughts on the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray format war.
It’s been extremely interesting to read all of the comments lately about this studio siding with HD-DVD, that studio siding with Blu-Ray. It’s similar to everyone taking sides on the war on terrorism in Iraq, with Americans siding either for or against President Bush. Yesterday CBS/Paramount and Dreamworks announced that they threw in a lot of money to exclusively support HD-DVD, joining Universal in favoring HD-DVD. On the other side you have Disney and Buena Vista Home Video, who are supporting Blu-Ray exclusively. This isn’t some little schoolyard squabble here; this is now bringing in the big guns from all sides, and earlier today director Michael Bay (“The Rock” and this summer’s “Transformers”) publicly expressed his frustration about Paramount’s decision. I can’t say that I blame him.
What should the average consumer do? If he or she shells out X amount of big bucks to get a HD-DVD player and get HD titles only, or should he/she go with Blu-Ray? It really hurts the pocketbook, because you’re getting only certain titles on a certain format at the expense of other titles you may be interested in not being accessible to the other format.
Then there is the issue of HD and Blu-Ray releases with exclusive features. Take for example the upcoming “Star Trek: The Original Series – Season 1” Remastered set, set to come this October. This is certain to turn off a lot of people just because of the price tag alone, when you can spend around $180 to pick up all three seasons that were released in 2004. While having the remastered set is nice, there are exclusive features to the set, including several interactive features that cannot be accessed on standard DVD format. First of all, why should I shell out over $200 just to get exclusive features on the HD-DVD side that I can’t view on the standard DVD format? That’s ridiculous. My wife would agree with me on that. Somehow, seeing that it would be released on a DVD/HD combo set got me suspicious.
Then there’s the upcoming first season release of “Heroes” next week (which I’m hoping to have a review of soon, should I get a review copy of the set – please, Universal?). In addition to all of the DVD features, there’s a wealth of HD-DVD exclusive features that I wouldn’t be able to view on any of my standard DVD players, much less a Blu-Ray player (if I had one), to begin with. That would pretty much kill the HD version right then and there for me. How many of us have bought the cart before buying the horse too often? I think a lot of us are guilty of that.
And then you have Disney and Buena Vista. Having spent $20 picking up “Cars” last Christmas, only to find out that their Blu-Ray release will have all sorts of interactive features on it, why would I want to shell out more money for an upgraded disc that I can’t even watch?
I’ve got to hand it to Warner Home Video, who has made themselves accessible to all consumers with releases of catalog and new titles in all formats across the board, like their upcoming “Blade Runner” five-disc Ultimate Collection. Their decision to cater to everyone is a smart one, if you ask me.
So what’s my decision? I’m not going with either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. I’m sticking with good old standard DVD. First of all, it’s extremely frustrating to see studios lining up and doing format-exclusive releases at the expense of the consumer, who ultimately winds up the loser in this battle, because that’s going to cost a lot more money in siding off with one format or the other. I’d rather have something that’s going to be cost-effective and all-inclusive that is easily accessible. Second of all, why should one format or the other have exclusive features on their HD or Blu-Ray versions that aren’t available on standard DVD? Why should I have to shell out even more money for something that is all-encompassing on one disc? And why should I have to upgrade to a format that can’t support the opposing format? And you think Democrats and Republicans have a hard time getting along! As my wife and financial advisor would say, that’s stupid tax for you (go, Dave Ramsey!), and my wife and I will not allow our pocketbook to become a casualty of this war. Third and finally, as the format war heats up, we’re going to see more and more casualties in both camps, and that’s going to be a sad day when we see losers on every side of this format war.
It took me over three years before I decided to upgrade from VHS and laserdisc to DVD, and I’m not planning on converting to HD-DVD or Blu-Ray any time soon either. (If you give me a combination player and a number of discs absolutely debt-free and cost-free, however, then I’ll be happy to talk with you.) Besides, when you have to live on a budget, sometimes the best way to stay out of a war is not to get involved in it to begin with.
And there’s my two cents on it right there. More reviews next time – see you soon!
It’s been extremely interesting to read all of the comments lately about this studio siding with HD-DVD, that studio siding with Blu-Ray. It’s similar to everyone taking sides on the war on terrorism in Iraq, with Americans siding either for or against President Bush. Yesterday CBS/Paramount and Dreamworks announced that they threw in a lot of money to exclusively support HD-DVD, joining Universal in favoring HD-DVD. On the other side you have Disney and Buena Vista Home Video, who are supporting Blu-Ray exclusively. This isn’t some little schoolyard squabble here; this is now bringing in the big guns from all sides, and earlier today director Michael Bay (“The Rock” and this summer’s “Transformers”) publicly expressed his frustration about Paramount’s decision. I can’t say that I blame him.
What should the average consumer do? If he or she shells out X amount of big bucks to get a HD-DVD player and get HD titles only, or should he/she go with Blu-Ray? It really hurts the pocketbook, because you’re getting only certain titles on a certain format at the expense of other titles you may be interested in not being accessible to the other format.
Then there is the issue of HD and Blu-Ray releases with exclusive features. Take for example the upcoming “Star Trek: The Original Series – Season 1” Remastered set, set to come this October. This is certain to turn off a lot of people just because of the price tag alone, when you can spend around $180 to pick up all three seasons that were released in 2004. While having the remastered set is nice, there are exclusive features to the set, including several interactive features that cannot be accessed on standard DVD format. First of all, why should I shell out over $200 just to get exclusive features on the HD-DVD side that I can’t view on the standard DVD format? That’s ridiculous. My wife would agree with me on that. Somehow, seeing that it would be released on a DVD/HD combo set got me suspicious.
Then there’s the upcoming first season release of “Heroes” next week (which I’m hoping to have a review of soon, should I get a review copy of the set – please, Universal?). In addition to all of the DVD features, there’s a wealth of HD-DVD exclusive features that I wouldn’t be able to view on any of my standard DVD players, much less a Blu-Ray player (if I had one), to begin with. That would pretty much kill the HD version right then and there for me. How many of us have bought the cart before buying the horse too often? I think a lot of us are guilty of that.
And then you have Disney and Buena Vista. Having spent $20 picking up “Cars” last Christmas, only to find out that their Blu-Ray release will have all sorts of interactive features on it, why would I want to shell out more money for an upgraded disc that I can’t even watch?
I’ve got to hand it to Warner Home Video, who has made themselves accessible to all consumers with releases of catalog and new titles in all formats across the board, like their upcoming “Blade Runner” five-disc Ultimate Collection. Their decision to cater to everyone is a smart one, if you ask me.
So what’s my decision? I’m not going with either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. I’m sticking with good old standard DVD. First of all, it’s extremely frustrating to see studios lining up and doing format-exclusive releases at the expense of the consumer, who ultimately winds up the loser in this battle, because that’s going to cost a lot more money in siding off with one format or the other. I’d rather have something that’s going to be cost-effective and all-inclusive that is easily accessible. Second of all, why should one format or the other have exclusive features on their HD or Blu-Ray versions that aren’t available on standard DVD? Why should I have to shell out even more money for something that is all-encompassing on one disc? And why should I have to upgrade to a format that can’t support the opposing format? And you think Democrats and Republicans have a hard time getting along! As my wife and financial advisor would say, that’s stupid tax for you (go, Dave Ramsey!), and my wife and I will not allow our pocketbook to become a casualty of this war. Third and finally, as the format war heats up, we’re going to see more and more casualties in both camps, and that’s going to be a sad day when we see losers on every side of this format war.
It took me over three years before I decided to upgrade from VHS and laserdisc to DVD, and I’m not planning on converting to HD-DVD or Blu-Ray any time soon either. (If you give me a combination player and a number of discs absolutely debt-free and cost-free, however, then I’ll be happy to talk with you.) Besides, when you have to live on a budget, sometimes the best way to stay out of a war is not to get involved in it to begin with.
And there’s my two cents on it right there. More reviews next time – see you soon!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Hamlet (1996) - 2-Disc Special Edition
This review is dedicated with love and respect to Dr. George Pittman of Clinton, Mississippi.
I’ve got to admit a bit of a personal bias here: I am a sucker for William Shakespeare. Ever since my college and graduate school days, I have been intrigued with the many different ways Shakespeare has been interpreted and integrated into our culture. Whether it’s been through subtle integrations of various phrases and thoughts into our lexicon, or numerous variations that have appeared in print, TV, or film in everything from “Star Trek” to “Gilligan’s Island”, or even the recent wave of Shakespearean film and stage adaptations over the past 20 years, it’s no wonder that the works of a writer from 400 years ago continue to enthrall and spark passion in many a film or theatergoer. My earliest memories of Shakespeare go back to my junior high days, when the teacher would pull out the old reel-to-reel projector and show Franco Zeffirelli’s 1960’s version of “Romeo and Juliet” on the wall of our school. And who could ever forget Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd’s tip of the hat to “The Taming of the Shrew” in one of the most popular and riotous segments ever of their 1980’s series “Moonlighting”?
If I had to pick one Shakespeare play above all others that is my absolute favorite, it would have to be “Hamlet”. I have to credit three people in particular for birthing a love of Shakespeare and “Hamlet” in me that continues to this day, and they are Zeffirelli; director/actor Mel Gibson; and Dr. George Pittman, my Shakespeare teacher at Mississippi College (who’s now retired). It was Dr. Pittman who got me into studying “Hamlet” at the time Zeffirelli’s 1990 adaptation of “Hamlet” with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close came out in the theaters, so naturally I was assigned this play because of the then-timely release of the Zeffirelli film with my studies. Prior to this, the only actor I (and many others) had associated with Shakespeare was Laurence Olivier, possibly the greatest actor of the 20th century. At that time it was hard for anyone to associate the star of “Mad Max” and “Lethal Weapon”, an actor with a passion for practical joking on his film sets and playing crazy characters on screen, with the most emotionally and psychologically mixed-up characters in all of popular culture. But Gibson pulled it off extremely well, giving us a definitive Hamlet for the 1990’s. It caused me to study and analyze every aspect of “Hamlet” that could be explored – all of the dysfunctional relationships within the Hamlet family, the psychological motivations for revenge after the death of Hamlet’s father, who comes onto whom (Hamlet to his mother, or his mother onto Hamlet? Those were some pretty serious mother/son kisses on screen right there, I’ll tell you that!), pinpointing the exact moment when Hamlet goes crazy (or was it all an act to begin with?), and the ruminations of death that man must eventually explore in the course of his life. And I still have my Shakespeare notes and research from graduate school to this day.
From that time on I continued to explore the many interpretations of “Hamlet” that I came across, including a Mississippi College-produced adaptation Dr. Pittman directed that took the “play within a play” concept to the next level; a New York Shakespearean Festival modern-dress production with Kevin Kline; a 30-minute segment of the HBO series “Shakespeare: The Animated Tales” hosted by Robin Williams (now there’s a series I would enjoy seeing released on DVD!); and perhaps the most offbeat print adaptation that has ever surfaced, the “Klingon Hamlet” trade paperback from Pocket Books written by the Klingon Language Institute that borrowed a line from “Star Trek VI” and explored the notion that Shakespeare’s works were originally written in the Klingon language, that Hamlet’s murderer would have been exposed within 10 minutes, and that the play was later translated into the “debased” English language! Most recently there was a 2000 film adaptation with Ethan Hawke in the title role performing the famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy while checking out videos at the local Blockbuster Video – this version I admit I have not seen. But anything and everything that could further explore the very nature of Hamlet is worth studying and analyzing to understand all of the psychological themes Shakespeare posed 400 years ago.
If any one actor over the last 20 years has done an extremely successful job in making Shakespeare’s works accessible to the modern culture (other than Patrick Stewart), I would have to choose Kenneth Branagh. His groundbreaking adaptation of “Henry V” brought Shakespeare to the masses the same way Shakespeare’s plays did so to the English culture four centuries before. He also did the same with his comic adaptation of “Much Ado About Nothing”, which featured Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, and Branagh’s then-wife Emma Thompson. But it was Branagh’s 1996 adaptation of “Hamlet” which was extremely lavish in production and scale that has awed and astounded filmgoers since its release. Many prior (and recent) film adaptations, including “Hamlet”, “Henry V”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, and even Baz Luhrmann’s modern take on “Romeo and Juliet”, have always been abridged, simply because of the film audience’s attention span of sitting in a darkened theater for two hours – anything beyond that would have to be of epic scope and yet pass very seemingly quickly. And yet that’s been the key thing, making Shakespeare accessible to the modern audience yet staying true to the letter of the Bard’s works himself.
Branagh’s four-hour adaptation of “Hamlet” is especially distinctive because it marks the first time ever that the complete play has been adapted to the cinema screen. At the time of its release, a 150-minute cut version of the film was also released to theaters to allow for more showings. I’ve not seen this cut version, having only associated myself with the original four-hour cut. For years the only way to have seen Branagh’s adaptation of “Hamlet” has been on VHS, and with the advent of DVD many fans have wondered when this film would be released. Warner Home Video has just released “Hamlet” in a nice two-disc special edition, and I’ve got to admit this is one title that is long overdue and yet is well done.
Forget the cut version; the complete four-hour cut is the way to go. Every shot of every moment of this film is painstakingly created with the scope of the widescreen in mind. It’s meant to be seen as a large canvas, which the 2.35:1 aspect ratio perfectly delivers. There’s just no way of wanting to watch this in a cropped 1.33:1 full-frame presentation. Every little detail stands out as it’s meant to, which is the way Branagh intended. It’s extremely absorbing. Instead of the rough and crumbly 17th century atmosphere of Denmark, which Zeffirelli brought to the screen based on Shakespeare’s original intentions, Branagh’s interpretation posits the Hamlet family empire in the 19th century in a state of elegance that echoes the fall of the Russian Empire a hundred years ago. The delivery of the famous soliloquy, as Hamlet stands before a mirror looking at himself, echoes that very nature of man looking at himself and pondering his own fate. Do we feel for Hamlet? Certainly. Who couldn’t relate to the loss of a father figure, as Branagh so effectively portrays? Who couldn’t relate to dealing with betrayal, heartbreak, motivations for vengeance, plotting to expose the real reason for his father’s death for all to see? And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have high caliber stars like Richard Attenborough, Julie Christie, Billy Crystal, Gerard Depardieu, Sir John Gielgud, Charlton Heston, Derek Jacobi, the late Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams, and the ever beautiful Kate Winslet (why in the world after seeing her in “Hamlet” and “Titanic” didn’t I marry her?) associated with a stunning film adaptation like this. Their involvement harkens back to their roots of classical acting and never one time detracts from the overall story, despite their marquee name quality. The print is extremely beautiful and colorful, and the Dolby 5.1 surround mix is rich and absorbing. This film has never looked or sounded better. English, Spanish, and French subtitles are also included.
For its DVD presentation, Warner Home Video has presented a nice amount of supplements that complement the film. First off, on Disc 1 is a new eight-minute introduction to the film by Branagh, which is a nice touch. Here he talks about revisiting the film after 10 years and giving the fans a high-caliber DVD. Some people have claimed some difficulty in watching the introduction, but I experienced no such problems on any of my DVD players at home. From there we have an accompanying audio commentary with Branagh and Shakespeare scholar Russell Jackson that is split over both discs. Listening to this audio commentary is a treasure trove in itself, and over the course of the film it becomes very obvious that both Branagh and Jackson are true Shakespearean buffs to the nines. Their appreciation for the great Bard and for “Hamlet” is more than well worth it, and it’s easily one of the best and most enjoyable audio commentaries I’ve heard in a long time.
The remaining the bonus features are found on Disc 2. Leading off, we have “To Be on Camera: A History with Hamlet”, which is a 25-minute documentary feature on the making of the 1996 adaptation. We have interviews with Branagh and the cast members on how they became involved in Branagh’s adaptation, how Branagh chose to adapt the entire script for the film, and the challenge of bringing Shakespeare’s words to life. Don’t let the title mislead you into thinking this is a history of the many different film and stage adaptations of the play; there are too many of them. From there we are treated to a 12-minute promo reel that was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and was included on a number of Castle Rock VHS releases during the 1990’s. This is a nice touch, since a promo reel of this nature is hard to come by, and for me personally I am glad that Warner Home Video included it on the DVD, since it was my first introduction to Branagh’s “Hamlet”. The disc is rounded out with a Shakespeare-based trailer gallery of seven different adaptations, including the 1990 and 1996 film versions of “Hamlet”, the 1935 adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with James Cagney and Mickey Rooney, the 1965 and 1995 film adaptations of “Othello” (the former with Laurence Olivier, the latter with Branagh and Laurence Fishburne), the 1937 adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” with Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer, and the 1953 adaptation of “Julius Caesar” with Marlon Brando – quite a nice touch indeed to those who are either extremely familiar with Shakespeare’s works or who are wanting to examine his plays and various film adaptations for the first time.
In addition, “Hamlet” is part of Warner’s four-film Shakespeare Collection box set, which also includes “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1935), Olivier’s “Othello” (1936), and “Romeo and Juliet” (1937). As if that weren’t enough, Borders has a special offer where if you buy the film there, you also get an accompanying 28-page color booklet of still photos from the film. It’s a nice little complement to the DVD, but I wouldn’t knock myself out just to get this exclusive Borders item. If you want a real treasure trove, find a copy of the 1996 trade paperback of the “Hamlet” screenplay adapted by Branagh. I have a copy of this back in Mississippi – at least I think I still do – and I can tell you, this is where the real meat of the production occurs. Here you will find many anecdotes and thoughts that went into the making of the film, some of Branagh’s wit and humor that permeates throughout the script notes, and personal stories that occurred during the production, one of which I still get a laugh out of reading about Glenn Close visiting the set in full black-and-white regalia and makeup that at first made her stand out like the worst fashion victim in the history of cinema (this was because she was filming “101 Dalmatians” at the time). If you can find this paperback in your local bookstore, pick it up. It’s more than well worth the read.
Bottom line, Kenneth Branagh’s “Hamlet” is an attractive presentation on DVD and one that is a must-add to any serious film collection or Shakespearean study. It’s definitely welcome in my home and one that my wife will agree with me on. Granted, Branagh’s “Hamlet” is vastly different from Zeffirelli’s “Hamlet” (which I must admit is my one of my personal favorite Shakespeare-on-film adaptations, along with Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet”, which I taught in high school during the 1990’s). But whether you like it rough and rugged, or grand and opulent, both versions have it going for them. Seeing this DVD brings back fond memories of my days of graduate school and George Pittman – I wonder what he thinks of this film adaptation and which version he prefers. It would be nice to discuss this play (and film) again with him over a weekend.
I’ve got to admit a bit of a personal bias here: I am a sucker for William Shakespeare. Ever since my college and graduate school days, I have been intrigued with the many different ways Shakespeare has been interpreted and integrated into our culture. Whether it’s been through subtle integrations of various phrases and thoughts into our lexicon, or numerous variations that have appeared in print, TV, or film in everything from “Star Trek” to “Gilligan’s Island”, or even the recent wave of Shakespearean film and stage adaptations over the past 20 years, it’s no wonder that the works of a writer from 400 years ago continue to enthrall and spark passion in many a film or theatergoer. My earliest memories of Shakespeare go back to my junior high days, when the teacher would pull out the old reel-to-reel projector and show Franco Zeffirelli’s 1960’s version of “Romeo and Juliet” on the wall of our school. And who could ever forget Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd’s tip of the hat to “The Taming of the Shrew” in one of the most popular and riotous segments ever of their 1980’s series “Moonlighting”?
If I had to pick one Shakespeare play above all others that is my absolute favorite, it would have to be “Hamlet”. I have to credit three people in particular for birthing a love of Shakespeare and “Hamlet” in me that continues to this day, and they are Zeffirelli; director/actor Mel Gibson; and Dr. George Pittman, my Shakespeare teacher at Mississippi College (who’s now retired). It was Dr. Pittman who got me into studying “Hamlet” at the time Zeffirelli’s 1990 adaptation of “Hamlet” with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close came out in the theaters, so naturally I was assigned this play because of the then-timely release of the Zeffirelli film with my studies. Prior to this, the only actor I (and many others) had associated with Shakespeare was Laurence Olivier, possibly the greatest actor of the 20th century. At that time it was hard for anyone to associate the star of “Mad Max” and “Lethal Weapon”, an actor with a passion for practical joking on his film sets and playing crazy characters on screen, with the most emotionally and psychologically mixed-up characters in all of popular culture. But Gibson pulled it off extremely well, giving us a definitive Hamlet for the 1990’s. It caused me to study and analyze every aspect of “Hamlet” that could be explored – all of the dysfunctional relationships within the Hamlet family, the psychological motivations for revenge after the death of Hamlet’s father, who comes onto whom (Hamlet to his mother, or his mother onto Hamlet? Those were some pretty serious mother/son kisses on screen right there, I’ll tell you that!), pinpointing the exact moment when Hamlet goes crazy (or was it all an act to begin with?), and the ruminations of death that man must eventually explore in the course of his life. And I still have my Shakespeare notes and research from graduate school to this day.
From that time on I continued to explore the many interpretations of “Hamlet” that I came across, including a Mississippi College-produced adaptation Dr. Pittman directed that took the “play within a play” concept to the next level; a New York Shakespearean Festival modern-dress production with Kevin Kline; a 30-minute segment of the HBO series “Shakespeare: The Animated Tales” hosted by Robin Williams (now there’s a series I would enjoy seeing released on DVD!); and perhaps the most offbeat print adaptation that has ever surfaced, the “Klingon Hamlet” trade paperback from Pocket Books written by the Klingon Language Institute that borrowed a line from “Star Trek VI” and explored the notion that Shakespeare’s works were originally written in the Klingon language, that Hamlet’s murderer would have been exposed within 10 minutes, and that the play was later translated into the “debased” English language! Most recently there was a 2000 film adaptation with Ethan Hawke in the title role performing the famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy while checking out videos at the local Blockbuster Video – this version I admit I have not seen. But anything and everything that could further explore the very nature of Hamlet is worth studying and analyzing to understand all of the psychological themes Shakespeare posed 400 years ago.
If any one actor over the last 20 years has done an extremely successful job in making Shakespeare’s works accessible to the modern culture (other than Patrick Stewart), I would have to choose Kenneth Branagh. His groundbreaking adaptation of “Henry V” brought Shakespeare to the masses the same way Shakespeare’s plays did so to the English culture four centuries before. He also did the same with his comic adaptation of “Much Ado About Nothing”, which featured Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, and Branagh’s then-wife Emma Thompson. But it was Branagh’s 1996 adaptation of “Hamlet” which was extremely lavish in production and scale that has awed and astounded filmgoers since its release. Many prior (and recent) film adaptations, including “Hamlet”, “Henry V”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, and even Baz Luhrmann’s modern take on “Romeo and Juliet”, have always been abridged, simply because of the film audience’s attention span of sitting in a darkened theater for two hours – anything beyond that would have to be of epic scope and yet pass very seemingly quickly. And yet that’s been the key thing, making Shakespeare accessible to the modern audience yet staying true to the letter of the Bard’s works himself.
Branagh’s four-hour adaptation of “Hamlet” is especially distinctive because it marks the first time ever that the complete play has been adapted to the cinema screen. At the time of its release, a 150-minute cut version of the film was also released to theaters to allow for more showings. I’ve not seen this cut version, having only associated myself with the original four-hour cut. For years the only way to have seen Branagh’s adaptation of “Hamlet” has been on VHS, and with the advent of DVD many fans have wondered when this film would be released. Warner Home Video has just released “Hamlet” in a nice two-disc special edition, and I’ve got to admit this is one title that is long overdue and yet is well done.
Forget the cut version; the complete four-hour cut is the way to go. Every shot of every moment of this film is painstakingly created with the scope of the widescreen in mind. It’s meant to be seen as a large canvas, which the 2.35:1 aspect ratio perfectly delivers. There’s just no way of wanting to watch this in a cropped 1.33:1 full-frame presentation. Every little detail stands out as it’s meant to, which is the way Branagh intended. It’s extremely absorbing. Instead of the rough and crumbly 17th century atmosphere of Denmark, which Zeffirelli brought to the screen based on Shakespeare’s original intentions, Branagh’s interpretation posits the Hamlet family empire in the 19th century in a state of elegance that echoes the fall of the Russian Empire a hundred years ago. The delivery of the famous soliloquy, as Hamlet stands before a mirror looking at himself, echoes that very nature of man looking at himself and pondering his own fate. Do we feel for Hamlet? Certainly. Who couldn’t relate to the loss of a father figure, as Branagh so effectively portrays? Who couldn’t relate to dealing with betrayal, heartbreak, motivations for vengeance, plotting to expose the real reason for his father’s death for all to see? And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have high caliber stars like Richard Attenborough, Julie Christie, Billy Crystal, Gerard Depardieu, Sir John Gielgud, Charlton Heston, Derek Jacobi, the late Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams, and the ever beautiful Kate Winslet (why in the world after seeing her in “Hamlet” and “Titanic” didn’t I marry her?) associated with a stunning film adaptation like this. Their involvement harkens back to their roots of classical acting and never one time detracts from the overall story, despite their marquee name quality. The print is extremely beautiful and colorful, and the Dolby 5.1 surround mix is rich and absorbing. This film has never looked or sounded better. English, Spanish, and French subtitles are also included.
For its DVD presentation, Warner Home Video has presented a nice amount of supplements that complement the film. First off, on Disc 1 is a new eight-minute introduction to the film by Branagh, which is a nice touch. Here he talks about revisiting the film after 10 years and giving the fans a high-caliber DVD. Some people have claimed some difficulty in watching the introduction, but I experienced no such problems on any of my DVD players at home. From there we have an accompanying audio commentary with Branagh and Shakespeare scholar Russell Jackson that is split over both discs. Listening to this audio commentary is a treasure trove in itself, and over the course of the film it becomes very obvious that both Branagh and Jackson are true Shakespearean buffs to the nines. Their appreciation for the great Bard and for “Hamlet” is more than well worth it, and it’s easily one of the best and most enjoyable audio commentaries I’ve heard in a long time.
The remaining the bonus features are found on Disc 2. Leading off, we have “To Be on Camera: A History with Hamlet”, which is a 25-minute documentary feature on the making of the 1996 adaptation. We have interviews with Branagh and the cast members on how they became involved in Branagh’s adaptation, how Branagh chose to adapt the entire script for the film, and the challenge of bringing Shakespeare’s words to life. Don’t let the title mislead you into thinking this is a history of the many different film and stage adaptations of the play; there are too many of them. From there we are treated to a 12-minute promo reel that was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and was included on a number of Castle Rock VHS releases during the 1990’s. This is a nice touch, since a promo reel of this nature is hard to come by, and for me personally I am glad that Warner Home Video included it on the DVD, since it was my first introduction to Branagh’s “Hamlet”. The disc is rounded out with a Shakespeare-based trailer gallery of seven different adaptations, including the 1990 and 1996 film versions of “Hamlet”, the 1935 adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with James Cagney and Mickey Rooney, the 1965 and 1995 film adaptations of “Othello” (the former with Laurence Olivier, the latter with Branagh and Laurence Fishburne), the 1937 adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” with Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer, and the 1953 adaptation of “Julius Caesar” with Marlon Brando – quite a nice touch indeed to those who are either extremely familiar with Shakespeare’s works or who are wanting to examine his plays and various film adaptations for the first time.
In addition, “Hamlet” is part of Warner’s four-film Shakespeare Collection box set, which also includes “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1935), Olivier’s “Othello” (1936), and “Romeo and Juliet” (1937). As if that weren’t enough, Borders has a special offer where if you buy the film there, you also get an accompanying 28-page color booklet of still photos from the film. It’s a nice little complement to the DVD, but I wouldn’t knock myself out just to get this exclusive Borders item. If you want a real treasure trove, find a copy of the 1996 trade paperback of the “Hamlet” screenplay adapted by Branagh. I have a copy of this back in Mississippi – at least I think I still do – and I can tell you, this is where the real meat of the production occurs. Here you will find many anecdotes and thoughts that went into the making of the film, some of Branagh’s wit and humor that permeates throughout the script notes, and personal stories that occurred during the production, one of which I still get a laugh out of reading about Glenn Close visiting the set in full black-and-white regalia and makeup that at first made her stand out like the worst fashion victim in the history of cinema (this was because she was filming “101 Dalmatians” at the time). If you can find this paperback in your local bookstore, pick it up. It’s more than well worth the read.
Bottom line, Kenneth Branagh’s “Hamlet” is an attractive presentation on DVD and one that is a must-add to any serious film collection or Shakespearean study. It’s definitely welcome in my home and one that my wife will agree with me on. Granted, Branagh’s “Hamlet” is vastly different from Zeffirelli’s “Hamlet” (which I must admit is my one of my personal favorite Shakespeare-on-film adaptations, along with Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet”, which I taught in high school during the 1990’s). But whether you like it rough and rugged, or grand and opulent, both versions have it going for them. Seeing this DVD brings back fond memories of my days of graduate school and George Pittman – I wonder what he thinks of this film adaptation and which version he prefers. It would be nice to discuss this play (and film) again with him over a weekend.
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