:: theLogBook.com DVD Reviews ::

The 2-disc special edition of Superman Returns is worthwhile, but the extras are a bit of a disappointment for those really interested in the creation of the movie and the thought processes of Bryan Singer and his writers and editors. There is no director’s commentary, nor are there any after-the-fact interviews, so no one has a chance to take a step back and tell stories of particular scenes or particular creative decisions.

There is a lengthy documentary called Requiem for Krypton, whose five parts total about three hours of behind-the-scenes footage during the preproduction and filming. The footage of the various flying rigs used to make the movie work was interesting, and Singer’s personality and filmmaking style become very clear. There is some discussion of the script itself, but that quickly goes by the wayside as sets are built and costumes designed. And plenty of sets were built – Singer was not shy about spending the money to put actual physical sets together, going so far as to plant his own corn field in Tamworth, Australia. (more…)

The legendary 1968 film Planet of the Apes struck a chord with filmgoers everywhere by mixing science fiction with social commentary. The film became so popular that several sequels were quickly released, including Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973). This set the stage for the 1974 television series Planet of the Apes, and ultimately, a cartoon series titled Return to the Planet of the Apes. Man, that’s a lot of apes.

The animated series Return to the Planet of the Apes consisted of thirteen episodes and ran for a single season in 1975. The series was originally included in the Planet of the Apes “ape head” 14 DVD box set, but for the new two disc release set the episodes have been restored, appearing (most likely) cleaner here than they did even when they originally aired. (more…)