Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 3rd, 2005
If you’re not the type who enjoys watching complete seasons of your favorite show on DVD, this set was made for you. Mad About You has already had its complete first and second seasons released on DVD, but this collection takes the best episodes from the show entire run, and slams them out in this “Best of” collection.
I for one, as a completist, prefer complete seasons over these best-of collections. I find the flow very disjointed, with each episode having very little to do with each other.
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on April 2nd, 2005
On June 7th, Buena Vista will release the Director's Cut of Gone in 60 Seconds (starring Nicholas Cage & Angelina Jolie). This "Unrated, New Enhanced Version" will include the following extras: four Featurettes ("Zero to 60", "Wild Rides", "The Big Chase", & "Stars of the Film"), Conversations with Jerry Bruckheimer on the role of the producer, Action Overload highlight reel, the Theatrical trailer, and "The Cult" music video.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 28th, 2005
The Monterey Pop Festival has been mostly ignored by a lot of people, compared to the two other two large concerts that occurred after it, Woodstock, and Altamont. Those who do remember Monterey always mention the one incident it is most known for, Jimi Hendrix’ appearance on the U.S. stage. Jimi had been tearing it up in England, and he ended by setting his guitar on fire, which turned out to be a defining moment in music history. Criterion brings this event and others back to life in a comprehensive 3 disc set which is designed not only to showcase Jimi’s set during the show, but also breathes new life into the festival in general. Artists who appeared were The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Otis Redding and Janis Joplin, to name a few.
The festival was shot over 3 days, and the DVD set is broken up into 3 parts: the film of the festival on disc 1, the performances of Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding take up disc 2, and almost 2 hours of outtake performances comprise disc 3. Disc 1 is the film of the festival. The usual components of a music concert documentary are here, including footage of crowds and artists flocking to the show, and some behind the scenes logistics, but that footage is quick, and it runs for about 10 minutes before the performances start. The performances are edited together fairly abruptly with almost no fanfare in between songs. The film is only 79 minutes, so I can‘t understand the need to get everything crammed in here as much as possible, but that helps to make the second and third discs a relief to see.
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on March 22nd, 2005
On May 17th, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the Complete Fourth Season of Seinfeld on DVD. This set will include each season four episode presented in 1.33:1 fullscreen with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio tracks. Extras will include Deleted Scenes, Episode specific Audio Commentaries, Behind The Scenes Footage, Bloopers, and much more!
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on March 16th, 2005
Buena Vista will release the Complete First Season of the popular J.J Abrams action series Lost on September 6th. Each episode will be presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers, along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Extras will include a never-before-seen extended uncut version of the original pilot, Featurettes ("Making of the show" & "Backstage with Drive Shaft" & "The art of Matthew Fox"), "Before They Were Lost" original casting tapes, a blooper reel, deleted scenes, as well as filmmak...r audio commentaries on multiple episodes.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 15th, 2005
Bright Young Things is a sumptuous adapation of Evelyn Waugh's novel "Vile Bodies". The book is a cutting satire of British cafe society of the 1930's. The director and adapter, Stephen Fry, retains much of the novels comic edge. I would expect nothing less from Fry, the noted British humorist and living embodiment of Oscar Wilde.
The movie is mostly about the posh lifestyle of novelist Adam Fenwick-Symes (played by Stephen Campbell Moore)and his lover Nina (played by Emily Mortimer). The circle ...f friends, however, add to the decadence; cameos by Peter O'Toole, Jim Broadbent, and Dan Akroyd add to the fun. However, World War II comes around, and we find out that glitz and glamour isn't what it's cracked up to be. This a very underrated movie that we didn't hear much about. Too bad.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 15th, 2005
Hype! is a documentary of the "Seattle scene" of the early 90's. Grunge was king. I remember wearing flannel shirts and listening to the big three: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. But what about the other bands? Hype! also talks about the lesser-known bands, like the Supersuckers and The Gits. Hype! is an examination of what went on underneath the "hype" of the Seattle music scene. This isn't some VH1 doc. And it's not all about Kurt Cobain either. Hype! covers it all, and cre...tes a gritty portait of the music landscape at a time when grunge ruled the world.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 15th, 2005
Phase IV isn’t a sequel, and it isn’t a remake of the 1974 movie about aliens brainwashing desert ants to wage war over its human desert inhabitants. Those of you looking for that film might be disappointed. Instead, you get this modern action film staring Dean Cain and the Boz, Brian Bosworth. And it ain’t half bad.
Simon Tate (Dean Cain) plays a reporter trying to clear the name of his best friend. The friend is involved in a mysterious death of a scientist. This death is just one in a s...ries of “accidental†deaths involving this group of scientists. See…the group is working on an experimental drug. There’s a conspiracy involving a corrupt cop (Brian Bosworth) and a United States politician (Mimi Kuzyk). Twists and turns ensue. There are lots of foot and car chases, for the chase crowd. And there’s lots of conspiracy, for the conspiracy crowd.
Posted in: Game Reviews by Archive Authors on March 13th, 2005
Day 1 Studio’s produced one of the most anticipated games associated with the early days of the X-Box; MechAssault. This original game captured gamers with in depth gameplay, excellent visuals and great sound. What’s not to like about jumping in a 40 ton carnage dealing machine and blowing up everything in sight? The only drawback to the first one was a lack of multiple modes of online play. Day 1 has returned with the sequel to the highly successful MechAssault with MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf and ...ives the fans everything that they asked for. Let the online devastation begin!
Gameplay
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 13th, 2005
At first glance when watching the MTV show Wildboyz with Steve O and the party boy Chris Pontius, one can easily say that some of the Jackass brethren found a nice little niche for themselves, with a nature appreciation show that could be described as National Geographic under the influence of Nyquil.
There is a quality to this show however that makes it worth revisiting several times, more than even Jackass would warrant. At the most basic element, MTV has given these guys a bunch of m...ney to travel the world, and explore some of the planet in ways that the tour brochures would never think to consider. Going to New Zealand, Australia and Africa and not having to pay for it is appealing no matter who you are. Sure, there are many jackass-caliber moments here (be prepared for lots of dumb bathroom jokes and scatological fun), but that’s also part of the theme behind the show, two people learning and understanding nature by experiencing some of the stupid things you’re told NOT to do. But watching great white sharks leap into the air one episode, and killer whales and bears within throwing distance of people in the next, makes for good TV, whether you’re Steve Irwin or Steve O. The young hipsters at MTV have managed to stretch the fruits from these trips into 2 small seasons of broadcasts (with a 3rd on the way), and the first of these seasons comes to DVD in a two-disc set.
