DVD Picks & Pans: Stocking Stuffers
Tom Miller
Dec 03, 2007
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 2-Disc Limited Edition," DVD-2007 ($34.99, Buena Vista Home Entertainment.) Also available in Widescreen ($29.99) and Blu-ray ($34.99) editions.
The third in the "Pirates" lucrative franchise, "At World's End" begins where the second installment left off with Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) looking to rescue Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from Davy Jones' Locker, a kind of watery purgatory, and concludes with a final swashbuckling stand to save the pirates' independent lifestyle.
"At World's End" clocks in at a lengthy 2 ¾ hours, and despite some rousing action sequences and state-of-the-art special effects, the movie hits more than a few spots of dead water. Even so, it's an improvement over the bloated, incoherent "Pirates 2," a.k.a. "Dead Man's Chest." (To be fair, plot was never the strong suit for a concept that director Gore Verbinski adapted from a theme park ride.)
The performances are suitably over-the-top with Depp as usual stealing the show as a loopy buccaneer. Ms. Knightley is one of the sexiest women alive even playing a tomboy. Rolling Stone Keith Richard shows up in an extended cameo as Jack's father.
Military.com Rating: ** ½
(DVD extras include an array of bonus features: "Keith & The Captain: On Set with Johnny Depp and the Rock Legend," "Bloopers of the Caribbean," "Deleted Scenes," "The Tale of Many Jacks," "Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom," "Masters of Design: Creating the Pirates' World," "The World of Chow Yun-Fat," "Inside the Brethren Court," "The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer," and "Hoist the Colours-The Story Behind the Song."
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"Saturday Night Live Season 2," DVD-2007 ($69.98, Universal Studios Home Entertainment)
The complete second season-all twenty-three episodes in their original 90-minute length-of one of television's landmark programs is available for the first time on DVD.
What would become "Saturday Night Live" premiered on October 11, 1975, as "NBC's Saturday Night." Originally conceived as a ninety-minute variety show, the program evolved over the course of its first season into a sketch comedy format featuring a cast of relatively unknown young comics. The diverse group of comics included John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, and Dan Aykroyd.
It wasn't until the second season that the program became a national sensation and Chevy Chase a breakout star. Chase left the show after two seasons for Hollywood-the first of many cast members to do so. Notably, Bill Murray joined the cast for Season 2.
Among the guest hosts for the second season were funny-man Steve Martin, actress Jodie Foster, NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton, and activist Ralph Nader. Musical guests included Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, George Harrison, and Chuck Berry.
For fans of the "Saturday Night Live"-especially those who believe the original cast has never been equaled-"Saturday Night Live Season 2" is a genuine treat.
Military.com Rating: ***
(Bonus features include the SLN Mardi Gras Special, an Andy Kaufman screen test, and a Collector's Scrapbook from the second season.)
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"Battlestar Galactica: Razor, Unrated Extended Edition," DVD-2007 ($26.98, Universal Studios Home Entertainment)
For those who can't get enough of "Battlestar Galactica," the Sci Fi Channel's hit series, "Razor" fills in some of the hitherto unrevealed background. First aired on the Sci Fi Channel on Nov. 24 as a two-hour movie, "Razor" flashes back to the original Cylon attack on the Colonies.
In order to survive, the commander of the embattled battlestar Pegasus, Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes), resorts to brutal tactics that include summarily executing her Executive Officer for refusing an order and ordering the execution of uncooperative civilians. Young Lieutenant Kendra Shaw helps carry out the commander's orders and is reshaped, albeit reluctantly, into a "razor"-a tool of war.
Back in the present, Shaw, who remains troubled by her earlier actions and tries to cope by taking drugs, is given a chance at redemption when Pegasus' new commander Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber) taps her as his Executive Officer. When the Cylons' launch a surprise attack, Shaw is faced with another tragic choice.
You don't have to be a fan of the television series to appreciate "Razor" as a stand-alone feature. But, for fans, the film also serves up some illuminating background and offers hints about the upcoming final season when the fate of mankind will be determined.
The DVD contains an extended, unrated version of the two-hour episode that aired on the Sci Fi Channel.
Military.com Rating: ***
(DVD extras include commentary with the series creators, deleted scenes, and featurettes "The Look of Battlestar Galactica," "My Favorite Episode So Far," and "Sneak Peek into Season Four.")
Military.com Picks & Pans Rating Scale
* Pan - Save your money & time
** Borderline Pick - Okay but only as a last resort
*** Pick - Worthwhile & enjoyable
**** Enthusiastic Pick - Excellent, not to be missed
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Copyright 2008 by Tom Miller
