Those who found this film mildly entertaining and are looking for a reason to check out the DVD are in for a big treat. The DVD features one of the best director commentary tracks ever. John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate) is a man who understands his craft and isn't afraid to share his knowledge. He details everything about this movie and himself, from pet peeves to happy accidents that happened during production. Also included is the film's alternate ending. Though it's only two minutes long, it offers a terribly different fate for one of the lead characters. Transferred from the work print with timecode numbers still on it, it's brave of the filmmakers to show alternate options considered in making the film. The film is available in two formats, a brilliant anamorphic widescreen transfer and standard full screen. The English and French languages are both 5:1 Dolby Digital Surround. There's an eight-page booklet featuring insights on the making of the film, but is not nearly as informative as the commentary. DVD-ROMs can access more info on the web with PC-friendly software.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Warner Brothers' presentation of Any Given Sunday is billed as a Special Edition Director's Cut and contains a handful of additional pieces of footage not seen theatrically. Visually, the film is very well presented. The colors are exceptionally bright, if a bit too red. This could have been the intention of director Oliver Stone, however, and not a fault of the transfer. The video is shown in an anamorphic widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The details, especially in anamorphic mode, are extremely crisp. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track is light on surround usage but full of pulse-pounding bass; each hit and tackle is rendered thunderous. Several special features are included: a documentary on the making of the film, an L.L. Cool J music video, trailer, and biographies. Unfortunately, there is no commentary. Any Given Sunday is also enhanced for DVD-ROMs with web events, chat-room access, Web-site links, reviews, and more. Although the extras are large in number, their quality is limited. As with any feature by a renowned director, some type of commentary would have been welcome. The trailer and bios are one-time views, if that, and the DVD-ROM features are hardly compelling. This DVD, however, is all about the presentation of the film. In this area it succeeds wonderfully. With added scenes, an incredible video transfer, and heavy-hitting sound, there is enough here for both fans of the film and newcomers to Stone's football opus.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
"The #1 Thriller of All Time" comes to DVD as part of Hollywood Pictures' Collector's Edition series. Fans of M. Night Shyamalan's ingenious supernatural story will revel in the 1.85:1 widescreen (enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions) format and 5.1 Surround Sound which fully capture the intricate details of the film and tangible paranormal presence. What makes this DVD especially enjoyable, however, is the multitude of behind-the-scenes features, many of which are narrated by Shyamalan and other key crew members. Included are a French-language track; a "Storyboard to Film Comparison" of the anniversary dinner scene; cast and crew interviews; a fascinating "Music and Sound Design" presentation that illustrates how the incredibly creepy background track was created; and "Reaching the Audience," an explanation of how word of mouth made this movie the cultural phenomenon it became. Also included are "Rules and Clues," a guide to the hints threaded throughout the movie before its explosive, surprise ending; four deleted scenes, one of which is an extended finale; and an interview with Shyamalan in which he talks about his background and how it affected his filmmaking. Theatrical and TV trailers as well as cast and crew biographies round things out. Finally, viewers should click on the beribboned box for a real treat -- Shyamalan's first horror film, "Nightmare on Old Gulf," which was written, produced, directed, and starred in by the film phenom when he was 11 years old.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.