A DVD can be a double-edged sword, and trust me, you’re not the only ones with some not-so-choice choices collecting mildew in your closets. But we offer help by way of an answer to the decade-old conundrum, “How many times are you really gonna watch that?”
This week’s releases
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Based on the late Douglas Adams’ bestseller, Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) awakens one morning to learn his home–as well as the planet–will shortly be demolished to make way for an interplanetary bypass. He is then whisked away by his friend and alien-in-disguise, Ford Prefect (Mos Def), and embarks on a merry little ride across the galaxy.
Total box office: $51 million
Extras! The DVD has a nice twist on the staple deleted scenes–rarely worth perusing, as they’re almost always out of context and have little meaning–entitled “Fake Deleted Scenes.” Hmmm. Also the making-of featurette. Yes, this is also a standard extra, but for Hitchhiker’s Guide could provide a glimpse into how Adams’ novel, one seemingly difficult to transition to the big screen, finally came to fruition.
When it was relevant: Hitchhiker’s Guide was able to by default snag the novel’s devotees, desperate for the long-awaited, much-anticipated movie treatment. Thanks to word of mouth and a nice trailer full of sci-fi special effects, apocalyptic overtones and overt laughs, the film won over some converts, perhaps more than anticipated, and led to a decent run at the box office.
Worthy DVD purchase? A surprising and resounding yes! Granted, this doesn’t have the replay value of recent Dichotomy favorite Toy Story (10th Anniversary Edition) , but it is one big name away from being a major Summer ’05 release, rubbing shoulders with Spielberg and Lucas’s celestial brainchildren. The bottom line is that Hitchhiker’s Guide glided under the radar but its performances and overall fun deserves a better fate. Give the book and the movie at least a once-over.
All things considered: B+
Fever Pitch
With Jimmy Fallon‘s SNL shtick, a Boston Red Sox storybook 2004 championship and Nick Hornby soccer novel from the Farrelly brothers all in place, the story follows a woman (Drew Barrymore) who falls in love with a schoolteacher (Fallon) without previous knowledge of his Sox obsession.
Total box office: $42.1 million
Extras! The Brothers Farrelly rarely fail to make good on DVD extras. This time around they pitch us, feverishly, a gag reel (always reliable for good laughs on their DVDs) and many a featurette, some of which involve the BoSox’ Miracle. There is also the usual gigabyte-wasting sludge: deleted scenes, trailer, director(s) commentary, etc., but all in all, a nice selection.
When it was relevant: Pitch was supposed to be Fallon‘s coming-out party, but it didn’t entirely achieve the right response. The cast and crew had the good fortune of having access to the field and celebration that ensued when the Bosox surprisingly won the World Series. Oddly enough, the ending was supposed to be more bittersweet, but they improvised a different one once the dream became a reality. Nonetheless, it didn’t exactly fall flat at the box office, it proved Fallon can act (or at least joke his way through), and it will no doubt symbolize a nice stepping stone for him to look back on when he’s making millions of dollars per movie in, say, a few months.
Worthy DVD purchase? The film is almost great, and the Farrelly Bros.’ restraint and lack of sophomoric bathroom “humor” suits them surprisingly well. But, uh, maybe a purchase of the book, a rental of the movie and another viewing of your two-disc There’s Something About Mary set would be the best alternative here. Ah, yes, the glory days of the Farrellys.
All things considered: C+
TV on DVD
Da Ali G Show: The Complete Second Season
Extras! So many invaluable extras here that they could’ve used it to release a whole other season. But that would be too “TV,” which we know HBO is not. From Ali giving a commencement speech at Harvard to interviewing Noam Chomsky to visiting an historical naval vessel, G and his alter egos, Borat and Bruno, embark on any opportunity they don’t see fit. No complaints here.
Comments: The Briton from Compton (he wishes!) returns for his second season, and while neither as groundbreaking nor unexpected as the show’s first season, it’s still side-splitting and forehead-smacking. Ali (Sacha Baron Cohen) fears nothing and no one and is lucky enough to both convince public figures to be interviewed and conduct them under the guise of his baggy clothes and broken, er, Ebonics. But the man behind the mask is actually quite the genius, often exposing ignorance and perhaps racism when he “interviews.” If skeptical, look no further than the BAFTA (British Oscar) he’s received and endorsements from The Office‘s Ricky Gervais. Right blokes they are.
All things considered A-
Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Fourth Season
Extras! This has commentary from just about everybody, including Ray Romano and Romano‘s personal on-set chef, brings up a very important point–only diehards bother with the audio commentary. The more voices in the voice-over booth clamoring to be heard doesn’t translate into a better extra. But there are bloopers. Apology accepted, Ray.
Comments: Now that it’s finally off the primetime schedule, it’s hard to pinpoint the true allure of Raymond to anyone below the AARP cut-off. Who knew a little show about a guy and his family who lives across the street from his meddling parents would routinely trounce its competition and take home the No. 1 spot each week? The show is genuinely funny in spots, but altogether purchase-worthy? Leave it to Gramps to buy, and then steal it from his house while he’s sleeping after a decadent night of early-bird specials–if you’re bored, that is.
All things considered: C+
Smallville: The Complete Fourth Season
Extras!: Lots of stuff here for the die-hard fans–which, apparently and inexplicably includes “a lot of people” in their teens. Stuff like un-aired scenes and commentary from the cast will be lost on most, but it will no doubt find an audience with those who make this purchase. Mildly interesting are documentaries on writing an episode of the show and the Lois Lanes of years past. Not quite enough to keep viewers’ parents awake, though.
Comments: As one of many exploiters of the Superman name and brand, Smallville is amongst a specific cluster of teen-themed shows on the WB network. It isn’t bad for what it is, and it has launched several careers (Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, et. al.), but it still isn’t meant for the older set. Best advice? If you have a ‘tweener in the family who’s been especially well-behaved of late, surprise him or her with Smallville. Then take it back the following day and get something for yourself when you learn they’ve already burnt their own DVD copy.
All things considered: C
Re-releases
Ben-Hur (Four-Disc Collector’s Edition)
Extras!: Impressive lineup here considering the film’s age: 2005 documentary on how profoundly today’s filmmakers have been influenced by the 1959 epic; highlights from the April 4, 1960, Academy Awards ceremony; screen tests from those who auditioned. But with a grand four-disc extravaganza of one of the most highly regarded movies ever, maybe they could’ve come up with some more new footage–but then again, the fact that it was made almost four decades ago might preclude them from such. Okay, fine. I’ll shut up.
Comments: The Academy Award-winning blockbuster of Spielberg-esque proportions for its day, Ben-Hur finally gets the Lord of the Rings DVD treatment. That is, features tacked on that could easily fit on two discs, but necessitate four, thanks to shrewd but genius marketing. No matter. It’s a celebration of one of the preeminent, pioneering, prized movies ever released. Charlton Heston was everything to everyone at the time, and he was three years removed his other blockbuster epic, The Ten Commandments. It’s hard to really go wrong here, although it’s also hard to spare nearly four hours to watch–and that’s just the movie’s running time. But go on, don’t be afraid to bypass the whole system and watch in several sittings. It is an part of cinematic history.
All things considered: A-
