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Specifications: - DVD-Video - Single-sided - Dual layer - Region 1 - Run time: approx. 98 minutes -
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, - Menus: Animated - Scene selection: Animated menus - Package: Keep case
Video Features: - Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85:1 aspect ratio
Audio Features: - English: DTS 5.1 - English: 2-channel Dolby Surround - French: Dolby Surround
Bonus Materials: -
Visual commentary featuring Barry -
Character animation studies using -
Tunnel scene deconstruction using - Extended and alternate scenes -
Conceptual art, storyboard, and - Storyboard comparisons - Original featurette -
All-new documentary: Metamorphosis -
Music video starring Will Smith & - Letter from Barry Sonnenfeld - Production notes - Theatrical trailer - Talent files - MiB recommends: trailers for Bad Boys, Ghostbusters - DVD-ROM* & web links**
Release Dates: Theatrical Release: 07/02/97 DVD Release: 09/05/00 Review Date: 09/01/00
List price: $ 29.99 On-line price: $ 20.99 Pre-order price is: $ 17.99
*DVD-ROM features require DVD-ROM drive on your PC with certain minimum system requirements
**web links require internet access
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 Collector's Series - DTS Digital Surround Sound |
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Starring:
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Studio: Columbia
Pictures (Sony Pictures Entertainment) |
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Movie: A- Video: A Audio: A+ Extras: A+
Summary:
"Men In
Black" is a story about two alien anti-terrorist agents out to
making this DVD a great value for action and
science fiction fans. As if the
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The Story
An N.Y.P.D. cop, James (Will Smith), is recruited by Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) of the top secret government organization known as "Men In Black", after he chases down a very unusual criminal. After passing the entrance screening tests, James is granted an opportunity to join the "Men In Black" organization. Upon accepting his new job, James is assigned a new identity as Agent Jay. His old identity is literally erased and his former existence is wiped clean. He is then briefed on the mission of the "Men In Black" organization and is clued-in on some of the best-kept secrets of the universe. The "Men In Black" have managed to keep these secrets from the citizens of America, claiming that it was done in the people's best interest. (I can't help but to wonder if such an organization really exist? Then again, maybe I don't want to know... ha, ha!)
Agent Jay accompanies Agent Kay on a mission to find out why many of the friendly aliens are in such a hurry to depart Earth, and why there has been some undue violence in the alien community in New York City. During their investigation, they come across a medical examiner in the N.Y.C. morgue, Dr. Laurel Weaver (Linda Fiorentino), who unknowingly helps them solve the mystery. Unknowingly since Agent Kay flashes Dr. Weaver with the "standard-issue neuralizer" to erase her short-term memory.
Yes, Will Smith does "make it look good". Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are great together playing the lead roles as Men In Black agents. Vincent D'Onofrio was great in portraying the alien "Edgar", particularly his physical approach to portraying an alien inside a human body.
So,
where can I order one of those "flashy memory thingies"... the
neuralizer that is. "TimeForDVD.com reader, you shall not remember reading this DVD
review. Instead, you will go out and get yourself the MiB DVD and
simply enjoy it." Zap!
Agent Kay says, "We are the best-kept secret in the universe. Our mission is to monitor extraterrestrial activity on Earth. We are your best, last, and only line of defense. We work in secret. We exist in shadow." Agent Jay adds, "And we dress in black."
The main menu is fully animated. There's an extraordinary amount of extra materials in this Collector's Series. The first area, called "Meet The MiB", includes: talent files, a "Visual Commentary", a music video starring Will Smith & Mikey (an alien disguised as an illegal alien), an Original Featurette, and "The MiB Recommend" which features trailers for "Bad Boys" and "Ghostbusters". The second area, called "Creating MiB", includes the "Tunnel Scene Deconstruction", "Metamorphosis of MiB", "Extended & Alternate Scenes", "Art & Animation", and a production photo gallery.
The innovative "Visual Commentary" shows director Barry Sonnenfeld and Tommy Lee Jones as two silhouettes sitting below a movie screen talking and literally pointing you through the special effects scenes with their hands and occasional use of light pen technology (in similar fashion to what sportscasters do for football games). It's an interesting and innovative approach to doing commentaries.
The MiB DVD takes advantage of the DVD angle feature in two bonus features. The "Character Animation Studies" uses the DVD angle feature to show the various stages of animation production (e.g., preliminary, adding skin and texture, animation with lighting, and final character composite into scene) for various alien scenes. You can watch each of the stages in sequence, or in real-time by choosing among the available angles. Second, the "Tunnel Scene Deconstruction" uses DVD angle feature to show the storyboard, blue screen shoot, blue screen composite, lighting and animation, and the final cut of the tunnel scene. These are good uses of the DVD angle feature to illustrate the development of certain special effects.
The "Extended & Alternate Scenes" features "Outside Leschko's Diner", "Jay's MiB Audition", "Mrs. Edelson", "Chinese Restaurant", and "Bouncing Ball without special effects". These scenes are relatively short and do not add much value to the movie had they been included.
The "Original Featurette" and the "Metamorphosis of MiB" are two featurettes worth watching. There's also plenty of storyboards and still pictures in the "Art & Animation" and production photo gallery features. Yes, there's a lot of bonus materials, so give yourself time to go through all of them.
Video & Audio
The image quality of this anamorphic widescreen DVD is top notch, although the bit rate frequently drops to about 2-3 Mbits/second in many scenes. The colors are accurate and saturated. Shadow details are excellent, making the black suits "look good" and the dark scenes very detailed. The DTS 5.1-channel surround sound is intense and well-balanced. The audio track is a real treat as DTS Digital Surround puts you right in the middle of all the action.
Recommendation
"Men In Black" is a cool movie, which explains why it was one of the biggest grossing movie of 1997, with nearly $250 million in box office revenues. The "Men In Black Collector's Series" DVD is an excellent value with an extreme quantity of quality bonus materials. There are three separate versions of the Men In Black DVD: Dolby Digital Collector's Series version, DTS Collector's Series version (reviewed here), and a Limited Edition version.
Buy
the "Men In Black" DVD at: |
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Rent
it at NetFlix.com
(Sign up for
NetFlix.com "Unlimited" DVD Rental Service Visit the "Men In Black" movie web site and the Columbia Pictures web site.
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