How to Spend $20
By Les Winan
March 30, 2005
Taking a look ahead at the week's DVD releases is always dicey for your wallet. Nearly every week, there's a disc that would fit nicely into any size collection. When it comes time to decide what to buy, there are really two determining factors: how much you love the content and the quality of the extra features on the disc.
As a result, decisions will be totally subjective (I bought the full run of the unjustly canceled ABC dramedy Sports Night, no matter that the discs are featureless, The Criterion Collection edition of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a disc I had been dreaming of for years). The massive unreleased studio (film and television) back-catalogue means that every week there's likely something for every film fan.
For getting a better than deserved DVD: After the Sunset (Widescreen) (2004)
I would wager that the minute the box office returns on After the Sunset came trickling in, director Brett Ratner was on the phone to Chris Tucker begging for Rush Hour 3. While certainly no disaster,
the heist movie featuring Pierce Brosnan as a smooth criminal ended up making about $30 million less than the original budget. Maybe The Thomas Crown Affair 2 isn't such a good idea, topless Renee Russo or not. On DVD, After the Sunset is receiving a far nicer treatment than it should, with extras including an audio commentary with Ratner; featurettes, deleted and alternate scenes and a blooper reel. No amount of Salma Hayek's facial hair is going to get me to watch the movie, much less the extra features.
For getting an audio commentary right: Apollo 13 (Widescreen Anniversary Edition) (1995)
Apollo 13, like all Ron Howard films, isn't the slightest bit risky or daring, but it is crowd-pleasing, well-made entertainment, and always worth watching. What's notable about the DVD is the audio commentary. In addition to an Academy Award-winning director sitting down and discussing one of his better films, the historical figure portrayed in the film joins him. The combination of the director Ron Howard and Jim and Marilyn Lovell makes for one of the more promising audio commentaries since the Rounders Special Edition featured actual poker players. This is what an audio commentary should be. Nothing adds authenticity to an extra feature like actual experts. While I realize that it's impossible to have Alexander the Great provide commentary on Colin Farrell's performance or Oskar Schindler on Liam Neeson, taking living participants and including them takes the "extra" in "extra features" to an appropriate level. Also included on this disc are featurettes and production notes. Here's hoping that one of the featurettes includes Tom Hanks doing a "Forrest Gump in Space" impression, as that would be the only good thing to come out of the Forrest Gump movie experience.
For everyone hoping for deleted scenes with Natalie Portman in stripper regalia: Closer (2004)
While it's clear from the near total lack of extra features, this DVD release of Closer is simply a tease edition, with a "special" edition yet to come. One can only hope for the participation of stars Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen and Jude Law in a commentary track along with director Mike Nichols and screenwriter/playwright Patrick Marber. That would be a fascinating discussion. If you're so in need of hearing America's sweetheart talk about sex that you have to buy this DVD, the only features you'll find are trailers and a music video. Closer is a good movie, but be smart and rent.
For people who can't wait for the Team America: World Police DVD: Orgazmo (Special Edition) (1998)
When Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the minds behind South Park, finally get to create a Special Edition DVD release of their "classic" comedy about sex and God, you should feel comfortable knowing that the extras will be as abundant as some of the, ahem, things in the movie. How comfortable you'll be with the subject matter, the images on the screen, or the memories the film with leave you with is another matter. But you'll probably laugh in the process. Probably. With Orgazmo, I don't think that's a guarantee.
Centered around Parker's character, Joe Young, a naïve young Mormon who becomes a porn star called "Orgazmo", the film features such luminaries as Ron Jeremy. A classic in no ways, the film was released on the heels of the success of South Park and is only now getting such impressive DVD treatment because of Stone and Parker's general success. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just don't go in to the Orgazmo experience expecting the brilliance of South Park or even the odd puppet love of Team America.
The Orgazmo DVD contains the very epitome of what a good DVD is, including an audio commentary by Stone and Parker, South Park writing staff, Weird Al Yankovic, and Kevin Smith. Also included are deleted scenes; interviews; photo galleries; a featurette; outtakes; and "The Book of Orgazmo" documentary. Considering the source, I think we should all be happy there isn't a "Measure yourself against Ron Jeremy" fold out in the DVD case in the DVD Pick of the Week, because that just wouldn't be good for anyone.
March 30, 2005
After the Sunset (Full Frame) (2004)
After the Sunset (Widescreen) (2004)
Apollo 13 (Full Frame Anniversary Edition) (1995)
Apollo 13 (Widescreen Anniversary Edition) (1995)
Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State (2005)
Blind Horizon (2003)
Blue Chips (1994)
The Bunker (1981)
Closer (2004)
Crimson Rivers: Angels of the Apocalypse (2004)
Descending Angel (1990)
The Flame Trees of Thika (1981)
The Girl Who Shagged Me (2005)
The Girl Who Shagged Me (Unrated) (2005)
High Lonesome (1950)
Intermedio (2005)
Jules and Jim (Criterion Edition) (1962)
Kagemusha (Criterion Edition) (1980)
Letter to the President (2005)
The Lone Gunmen: The Complete Series (3-DVD Set) (2001)
Mad Dog Morgan (1976)
Murder, She Wrote (3-DVD Set) (1984)
National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (2003)
Orgazmo (Special Edition) (1998)
The Record Deal (2004)
Remedy (2005)
Ring of Darkness (2004)
Road Kings (2003)
Sky High (2003)
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Toxic Avenger (21st Anniversary Edition) (1986)
Vera Drake (2004)
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