:: 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…)

Whether media is electronic, print, or online it’s a window to a different era. Even that post on a blog is a miniature time machine, tapping into a past perhaps just a few minutes ago. Maybe more than most, works in the public domain capture the zeitgeist of their times more than works in which copyright has been kept up to date.

The classic Superman cartoons produced by Max and Dave Fleischer in the 1940s are a prime example. The brothers are most well known for dozens of Popeye cartoons and for creating Betty Boop. They pioneered rotoscoping, which was used to animate live action, a process that is still in wide use.

The Superman cartoons are much like any of the other Fleischer cartoons, but at an even higher level. (more…)

I was fond of Revenge of the Sith when I saw it in theaters, and I feel no differently about it now that it’s on DVD. George Lucas apparently feels the same, as it’s the only one of the six movies to have no alterations made for the DVD release. While this 2-disc edition is not quite as loaded with features as the DVD for Attack of the Clones, it still provides a fairly extensive look at the filmmaking process. (more…)

Plan 9 From Outer Space is one of those films that seem to get released by a different company every few years. Although not quite as prevalent as the films found at the local dollar store, Plan 9 has had dozens of releases over the years from multiple companies. There are currently three DVD releases in the US alone (and several more abroad). The release under consideration here is the one made available through Image Entertainment under the auspices of the Wade Williams Collection. (more…)

The third and most recent DVD release of Stargate is rather light on special features, but offers very good sound and picture for two versions of the film. (A few frames appear to have suffered significant damage, but other than that, it’s a very good remastering.) An extended director’s cut mostly features scenes designed to embellish the background characters or add a slightly different shade to the main characters’ actions. For example, the Giza prologue is extended slightly to show the fossilized remains of a Horus warrior who rematerialized in the rock after the gate was buried. The Air Force has those remains, which shows that the military knew there was a good chance the expedition would encounter hostile aliens. None of the changes are essential, and a few slow down the pace of the movie. But with the theatrical version also available in this set, it’s worthwhile to see a more complete picture of what the creators envisioned. (more…)

Ask even the most casual fan how many Star Wars films there are, and the majority of them will tell you that there were six. More devoted fans, however, will probably begin naming some of the more obscure entries in the Star Wars universe. There’s the now-infamous Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978 (the one George Lucas would rather forget about), the multiple animated Droids and Ewoks movies which spawned from the animated television programs, and the most recent Clone Wars series. But only those strongest with the force will mention 1984’s Caravan of Courage and 1985’s The Battle For Endor, the two made-for-television Star Wars movies starring those lovable but feisty forest-dwelling teddy bears, the Ewoks. (more…)

Of all the spinoffs that make up the Star Wars Expanded Universe, I don’t think any project reflects the vision of a single creator who isn’t George Lucas more than Cartoon Network’s animated Clone Wars shorts. While executive producer Genndy Tartakovsky worked with Lucasfilm to incorporate the film series’ sound design, music, and certain familiar vehicles and characters, the look, pacing, and style are very reminiscent of Tartakovsky’s work on Samurai Jack. If you like that aesthetic style and want to see it explored in the Star Wars universe, this series is for you. If not, you’re probably going to want to pass on the DVD. (more…)

2004 has been a banner year for superhero movies, and now the first contender for the prestigious title of Dave’s Favorite Hero Movie Ever has arrived on a fairly packed 2-disc DVD that will almost certainly be eclipsed by an even more special edition some time in the next twelve months. If you want to get Spider-Man 2 on DVD today, I have to say, your impatience will be rewarded. The extra features in this set are enlightening, entertaining, and often amusing. And the movie looks pretty darned great, too. (more…)

Just to lay my cards out on the table, there is almost no possible way for any DVD set of the original Star Wars trilogy to meet my greatest hopes. Lucasfilm could put out a series that dwarfs the upcoming 10 disc Matrix extravaganza, and I would still want more interviews, more documentaries, and more behind the scenes footage from the making of the films. And I am almost certain that at some point down the road, probably when high definition video is as commonplace as DVD is today, there will be an Even More Special Edition of these films with additional extras. (Digital Bits has already reported that such a thing is in the works, in fact.) That said, I really enjoyed this 4-disc set, and it delivers very good value for the $40-$45 most retailers are selling it for. (more…)

So…I promise I’m not going to get on the bandwagon bashing this movie. Really, I’m not. I’m just going to talk about what’s on the DVD.

The first Star Trek movie to feature a real live director’s commentary (not an audio track of spliced-together interviews) on its first DVD release, Nemesis - the disc - spends a lot of time massaging director Stuart Baird’s ego. Baird is at the center of most of the featurettes on the DVD, and his stage-whispered commentary manages to be both informative and slightly amusing, just because of the almost sinsiter intensity of his voice! Stu, buddy, we’re not in the theater. You could’ve spoken up. If we’re listening to your audio track, it’s because we want to hear you talk - really. (more…)