How to Spend $20
By Les Winan
May 6, 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 the overwhelming need to punch Joel Schumacher in the face: Phantom of the Opera (2-DVD Special Edition) (2004)
I think most rational people in the world have a strong urge to punch Joel Schumacher in the face. Directing the "long-awaited" (by whom, I'm unsure) film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera does nothing to remove that urge, from my perspective. If you're a huge Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, you'll enjoy this DVD for the movie and its brief extras, which go further into the magical world of the guy with the great voice and screwed up face. You know, sometimes we all wear masks, both literally and metaphorically. But unless it's Halloween and we're talking literally a mask of a singer, there's no reason to sing about it. For everyone else who accidentally rents this disc, you'll "enjoy" the featurettes it includes.
For real national treasures�like the photos from when Elvis met Nixon: National Treasure (Widescreen) (2004)
It's fun to think about the time that the humorless Sean Penn made a meaningful point. He was discussing Nicolas Cage and mentioned that Cage is no longer an actor, he's a performer. What Penn was saying is that Cage had stopped acting in films and had started performing in movies. Big movies. Jerry Bruckheimer movies and their ilk. Now, I'm not saying that there's anything inherently wrong with those movies, simply that they may be a sign of, when done exclusively, a certain laziness. Easy money, easy fame, no risks. Much like the lesser quality of these movies, done with a certain eye toward pleasing everyone. Movies that are essentially written by a focus group. Now, I'm not necessarily saying that National Treasure is one of those films, but it does involve action, a witty sidekick, a loveable rogue for a lead character, and foreigners trying to steal US national treasures. In this age of xenophobia, greed, The Da Vinci Code and bloodlust, what's not to love? If you're one of the people who made this movie a hit, don't miss the DVD, which has featurettes; audio commentary by director Jon Turteltaub; an alternate ending; an opening scene animatic and deleted scenes.
For being able to watch Joan Rivers in something without committing homicide on a massive scale: Spaceballs (Collector's Edition) (1987)
As a Star Wars fan with a healthy appreciation for Mel Brooks, I hold a special place in my heart for Spaceballs. Amusingly timed for release just before the third Star Wars prequel, Spaceballs may prove to be the fourth best Star Wars film ever made. I hope I'm wrong about that. Including such luminaries as Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, John Candy, Dick Van Patten, that guy from Police Academy who makes wacky noises with his mouth, Rick Moranis and Jim J. Bullock, Spaceballs is a relatively well-done spoof of the original Star Wars trilogy. Included on the disc are an audio commentary with Brooks; storyboards; interviews; photo galleries; and featurettes. Not a bad set.
For not having enough money and feeling sad at Best Buy: Gilmore Girls: The Complete Third Season (6-DVD Set) (2002)
The DVD Pick of the Week, Gilmore Girls: The Complete Third Season has but two major failings: not enough extra features and a high price. The second is my problem, the first, however, is everyone's problem.
One of the best shows on television, Gilmore Girls continued its rapid pace and high quality during the third season, which saw the aforementioned Gilmore Girls and their friends and family through new relationships, job loss, choosing a college, starting a band and having a baby. The show deftly mixes comedy and drama and features outstanding acting from all involved. Most importantly, as with nearly all quality television, the show has outstanding, intelligent, non-condescending writing that assumes each viewer is smart enough to keep up. If you've missed out on Gilmore Girls, there's never a better time to catch up.
Unfortunately, the one thing truly lacking from such a high quality DVD release is real, substantive extra features. On no episode of the first three seasons has there been an audio commentary. Given the noted verbosity of creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, it's a shame to not have some real insight into the process that goes into creating and maintaining a show like Gilmore Girls. The discs do include featurettes and deleted scenes, and while that's wonderful, it's still disappointing for fans not to hear more from the cast and creators.
May 3, 2005
American Dreamer (1984)
Back Roads (1981)
Bad Trip (1999)
Battle of the Bulge (1965)
The Big Red One (Special Edition) (1980)
Blood Alley (1955)
The Chorus (2005)
Chupacabra Terror (2005)
Dawson's Creek: The Complete Fifth Season (4-DVD Set) (2001)
Dogtown and Z-Boys (Deluxe Edition) (2001)
Dora the Explorer: It's a Party (2005)
Enduring Love (2004)
The Entity (1983)
Gilmore Girls: The Complete Third Season (6-DVD Set) (2002)
Go Further (2003)
The Graffiti Artist (2004)
Heidi (1993)
King of the Hill: The Complete Fourth Season (3-DVD Set) (1999)
License to Drive (1988)
McQ (1974)
Memorial Day (2004)
Microcosmos (1996)
National Treasure (Full Frame) (2004)
National Treasure (Widescreen) (2004)
Phantom of the Opera (2-DVD Special Edition) (2004)
Phantom of the Opera (Full Frame) (2004)
Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen) (2004)
Pocahontas (10th Anniversary Edition) (1995)
Prom Queen (2004)
The Sandlot 2 (2005)
The Sea Chase (1955)
Shaka Zulu: The Last Great Warrior (2001)
Spaceballs (Collector's Edition) (1987)
Summer Magic (1963)
Table for Five (1983)
Tall in the Saddle (1944)
That Darn Cat! (1965)
Train Robbers (1973)
Turk 182! (1985)
Vampires: The Turning (2005)
Work and the Glory (2004)
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