I'll have to admit, I hated this movie after seeing it in its brief theatrical run.   But,  after much pressure from friends eager to see this on my 16:9 toshiba with dolby digital sound, etc., I gave in, and guess what?  I actually enjoyed the film alot!!!  It's still not an extremely good film, the script is horrendous!!!   But, Director Renny Harlin creates some great moments of suspense here and there, and this dvd offers demonstration quality picture and sound, in addition to loads of extras.  We can't stress how silly the plot is.  A research facility using highly developed sharks in the attempt to cure alzheimers, becomes threatened when the facility is damaged and sharks are on the loose.  Add to this the fact that the head researcher would place the sharks above humans trying to kill them, because her father suffers from alzheimers and,...you get the picture???  It's to Harlin's credit, that although we don't care much about the characters, we're still shocked at the inevitable end that several of them meet.  One actor in particular is killed with the most ingenius surprise in recent film history.

The presentation is glorious.  There's a lot of underwater photography, and it looks perfect in this transfer due to flawless color values and solid blacks/grays.   There is great detail in every scene.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound offers extensive directional effects, and a decent musical score.  The LFE effects are certain to shake up the room, so keep those sub woofers adjusted low.  There is an extensive supplementary section, including a deleted scenes section with/without commentary.  While we would've liked one scene in particular to have remained in the film, Harlin explains why it needed to be excised.  There is an option for a running commentary which we found surprisingly entertaining(Harlin isn't the easiest person to understand at times, but he's passionate) and a great documentary with behind-the-scenes footage. There's also another documentary(more like a featurette) with more behind-the-scenes info.  But we prefer "Sharks of the Deep Blue Sea" the best as it offers the most special effects/technical info.

Alas, WARNER BROS has finally released one of our favorite films of all time on dvd!!!   No, it doesn't have the audio commentary with director/writer Darabont, first mentioned over a year ago, and no, it doesn't even have the audio commentary with Morgan Freeman mentioned this past year.  But, it does offer the best possible presentation of the film so far!  We loved this in the theaters, but hearing it now in dolby digital 5.1 sound, and seeing such a sharp unblemished picture is an experience by itself.   During the rain sequence near the film's conclusion(chapter 36) wherein most dvd transfers would show some artifact problems due to the compression and movement of rain, there is "none"!  The picture is simply remarkable!  A perfect picture for a perfect film.  We mean that, "THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION" is one of the greatest films of all time, and we still can't believe it wasn't included on the American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time, when "Tootsie" was??? 

The previously available laserdisc was excellent, offering a terrific picture with fine sound.  The colors were solid, the surround sound thoroughly complimented the wonderful musical score.  However, it's only after seeing and hearing the dvd that we realize how the excellent laserdisc only pales in comparison.  Everything is strengthened!!!  The colors are even more solid!  There's greater depth and clarity to every image.  Morgan Freeman's visit to the secret by the tree(chapter 38) looks more beautiful than ever.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound, while not filled with directional effects, uses them carefully, bringing more depth to the musical cues, punctuating the drama on screen.  THIS IS A DISC THAT MUST BE IN EVERY COLLECTION!!!!

The 1994 version of "Black Beauty" is certainly the best film version of the famous story, but it's also one of the best family films of all time too.  What makes the film so powerful is not only the flawless writing and direction by Caroline Thompson, but the message this version puts out.  This is as much a story about humanity as it is about horses, and we feel all the humanity and inhumanity of man by watching how various characters interact with the main horse.  Wonderfully narrated, the film is moving from beginning to end.  While the laserdisc version was in great shape, this dvd boosts the image quality even further, adding more depth to the colorful foliage and extensive outdoor locations the horses run around in.  The contrast is flawless.   Although we're disappointed the sound wasn't remixed for dolby digital 5.1, the surround sound is also improved over the already fine laserdisc track, with greater clarity and range.  One can sense the sound mix's impact when the film first begins with the unforgettable score from Danny Elfman surrounding the viewer.  The same score was used at the funeral of Princess Diana's televison coverage.  Another "can't miss" for any dvd collection with family night!

"PAPILLON" is a perfect example of what dvd fans can expect from WARNER BROS' when they dig into their vast library of classics.  What a film!!!  This is one of those rare films that instantly becomes a favorite to whomever watches it.  Based on a true story, it explores the trials/tribulations of Henri Charriere, a wrongly convicted man sent to a prison colony in French Guyana.  While there he meets Degas(Dustin Hoffman) and they both discover they need eachother's friendship to survive.   McQueen is at his best here, and it's hard to decide where he's best, in this, "THE GETAWAY"  or "THE NEVADA KID", but it's close.  The director, Franklin J. Schaffner, responsible for "Patton", creates many stirring moments.  The script from the famed Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple, Jr., is smart, funny, and poignant without resorting to sentimentality.

The dvd transfer is wonderful.  Sure, there's some grain in spots, but the film's 27 years old! There are minimal artifacts, and for the most part, colors are vivid, contrast is sharp.  The 16:9 enhancement adds great clarity to the stunning cinematography.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound mix keeps most of the effects focused in front, but there's some rear directional effects.  Mostly, the sound mix is used to boost the wonderful Jerry Goldsmith score, which is also offered by itself on a separate stereo track.

"THE WILD WILD WEST" gets a SPECIAL EDITION TREATMENT with this dvd presentation from WARNER BROS.  While the film never achieves the kind of thrills and madcap adventure of the tv series, it's actually better for home viewing.  The big screen actually seems to magnify the film's shortcomings, whereas in a nicely set-up home theater, one can at least sense the spectacle of a failed film.  Will Smith and Kevin Kline aren't bad, but the script is horrible, offering nothing worthwhile or unpredictable.  The film does have some pretty girls, as did the tv show, but the inventions aren't nearly as fun as what the tv series achieved with a comparatively miniscule budget.  Kenneth Branagh's "Dr. Loveless" is a horrible idea, and even though his dialogue is bad, his acting also seems horrible. 

The transfer is one saving grace of the dvd.  It's flawless!  Real demonstration quality, with vibrant colors, perfect hues, and sharp contrast.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound mix is filled with directional effects, and an LFE track that makes the most of the subwoofers during explosions.  There are also several featurettes, as well as stills, music videos and a running commentary. We've heard Sonnenfeld before on a commentary, and unfortunately, this time, it tends to drag as he goes too much into the mechanics behind every scene, rather than discussing film theory to any extent.

Francis Ford Coppola followed "APOCALYPSE NOW" with "THE OUTSIDERS", one of the first of numerous teen-oriented films to follow in the '80s.   Coppola remains faithful to the novel, while also creating a unique look with stunning cinematography complimented in this dvd transfer.  While the story, which basically deals with preppies and kids from the wrong side of the tracks, is simplistic in many ways, it's also effective. 

The dvd looks sharp for the most part.  Many scenes offer exquisite color values and solid blacks and grays.  Unfortunately, some of the darker scenes lose their detail. The dolby surround sound mix offers minimal directional sounds, but does a good job in boosting the terrific soundtrack, including the classic "GLORIA".

Based on the excellent play by Ira Levin, Sidney Lumet's film version deserves a first, second, and repeated looks.  It's a fun murder mystery, even before there's a murder.   The sophisticated plot involves a young writer(Christopher Reeves) getting help from an older writer(Michael Caine) who hasn't written anything good in years.  We begin to suspec the older writer wants to do in the young writer, but nothing is as it seems, and we mean "nothing"!!!  The film's pacing is a little trying for the first 30 minutes or so, but after that, audiences will be gripped in its plot.

The dvd transfer got the "no-frills" budget priced treatment from WARNER BROS.  While it's not letterboxed, the image appears to be full frame, not pan&scan, so nothing appears cropped.  There is some grain and artifacts present, but nothing too problematic. The mono sound is adequate, but limited in clarity.

Director Lasse Halstrom(Cider House Rules) is great at bringing out the heart of small town life.  He did so masterfully in "My Life as a Dog" and "Whatever Happened to Gilbert Grape".  "Something to Talk About" isn't as magical as either of those films, but there are "some" magical moments here, and the film is ultimately enjoyable.  Things go astray all over town after a young wife(Julia Roberts) finds out her husband(Dennis Quaid) has been cheating on her.   The script by Callie Khouri is far more believable than her previous, overrated "Thelma & Louise". 

The transfer looks great, with the overall picture looking well polished and glossy.   Colors are sharp and contrast is perfect.  The dolby digital 5.1 soundtrack offers some well placed directional effects, but is utilized mostly for atmospheric effects and music.

Director Michael Apted(The World is Not Enough) has displayed his directorial skills in the past with "Coal Miner's Daughter" and others.  "EXTREME MEASURES" is a gripping thriller wherein Hugh Grant begins to investigate the mysterious death of a patient of his, initially found running naked in the streets of New York.  When the body can't be found, his search leads to secrets rivaling the ones exposed in "COMA".   The acting is first-rate, the cinematography outstanding, and the pacing is fast and furious.

Unfortunately, the dvd transfer is inconsistent.  At times, offering great detail and excellent color values, and at others, suffering from artifacts and compression.   This is most noticeable during chapter 2, while the camera pans around the emergency room, we find clothing seeming to look like water and other problems.  The dolby surround is excellent, offering numerous directional effects and a wonderful score.   We're still disappointed that this didn't receive a dolby digital 5.1 sound remix.