The DVD Files for January 29
by Tim Wick
Dang!
This week is just amazing!
The real question is why the studios are putting out such a good selection
of cult favorites and new releases in the months AFTER the holidays.
Couldn't they have made more if they had released some of these films in
time for Christmas? This is possibly the problem of studios only recently
discovering just how much money they can make by restoring old films for a
new audience. They would have loved to release some of these titles over
the holidays, but they were already releasing dozens of others.
Personally, I'm going to start setting aside money from every pay check just
for DVD acquisition. It seems like the only reasonable compromise.
Atlantis (Special Edition)
Atlantis is one of those movies that people should buy just to encourage
Disney to do more of this kind of animated feature. No, it's not the best
film they have produced in recent memory. But along with The Emperor's New
Groove it showed a willingness to strike out in different directions, to
expand their horizons and keep animation a vibrant art form. Disney has
done a pretty good job packaging their animated features with a lot of solid
extra material. The special edition has a 2nd disc packed with all sorts of
animation tests and other juicy tidbits. While not at the level of the
stunning Pixar DVD releases, Disney certainly knows that animation fans want
more than just a movie with their movie.
The Princess and the Warrior
Tom Twyker's follow up to 1999's fantastic Run Lola Run stars Lola herself
- Franka Potente (which, I'm sure, has nothing to do with the fact she is
dating the director). The film was in and out of Twin Cities theatres that
most of us didn't have a chance to see it. Here is your chance. Mine too.
Breaking Away
Nominated for an Oscar in 1980, this picture was arguably the weakest in a
field that included Kramer Vs. Kramer and Apocalypse Now. But that
hardly made this film a bad one. Although Breaking Away did not invent
the coming of age story, it may well have perfected it. I remember seeing
this film twice while in high school. It left such an impression on me that
I immediately resolved to purchase the DVD when I saw that it would be
available. The cast of unknowns really didn't do much beyond this picture
(star Dennis Christopher has since appeared in such classic films as Deadly
Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare and Dead Women in Lingerie), but look
for Dennis Quaid and Daniel Stern in extremely early film roles. The film
hasn't been available in widescreen since it's theatrical release.
Groundhog Day (special Edition)
One of Bill Murray's best outings, this movie fits into the "far better than
it has any right to be" category. Trapped in groundhog day for what must
have been years, we watch Murray's character go through a remarkable
transition from being a lout who views it as the ultimate pick up
opportunity (you never have to worry about the girl being there in the
morning) to someone who is really only concerned with making that one day he
is stuck in be the best day it can possibly be. Oddly, the film stars two
actors I am rarely impressed with (Bill Murray and Andie Macdowell) and
works anyway. Previously released with nothing in the way of extras, this
is a far more complete version with commentaries, documentaries and
everything else the DVD enthusiast might want.
Beverly Hills Cop (Special Edition)
Still Eddie Murphy's best film, this film is being released on it's own and
as part of a Beverly Hills Cop boxed set. Don't buy the boxed set. The
second film is an entertaining diversion, but the third film is one of the
worst movies ever made. Murphy wrote much of his characters' dialogue for
this film while the cameras were rolling. His ad libbing is really what
makes Axl Foley such an engaging character as he lies his way through
Beverly Hills to find a friends killer. Like Breaking Away this is the
first time Cop has been available in widesreen format on the home video
market.
And now the DVD pick of the week
This is Spinal Tap
The movie is hysterical. One of the funniest movies ever made. You want to
laugh at it in a whole new way? Listen to the commentary track on this DVD
that features the stars of the film playing the characters from the film.
Hearing them bemoan the fact that the film makes them look like idiots is
almost as funny as the film that makes them look like idiots. There are
also nearly 60 minutes of deleted scenes that range from hysterically funny
to thank-goodness-this-didn't-make-it-into-the-film dull. Without a doubt,
the extras on this disk - yes I'm going to say it - go to eleven.
|
