F|D DVD Reviews

[Daitenshi]

F|D DVD Reviews
Fieldy&Dai


Consider These Your Warning:

1: Comments go in to the discussion thread alone, you do not post in the review thread.
2: If you have written a review and wish to post it you must contact both Daitenshi & fieldy3000 for their approval before making a post in the review thread.
3: This is dedicated to DVD reviews, not movies.
4: Using "well, no one reads the rules" as an excuse will not be tolerated
5: Only constructive comments and discussions. Spam is not tolerated in the discussion thread. Yes, "good reviews guys" is spam, don't kid yourself.
6: ???
7: Profit!

Purpose:
To review new releases and old classic DVDs, Blu-rays and the now dead HD DVDs.

Reviewers:
fieldy3000
[fieldy]
Favorite Genres - Action, Comedy, Horror (zombie/vampire), Thriller, Comic Book/Fantasy.
Taste in Movies - Will watch anything that stands out or catches his attention.
Judging Style - Honest, will bash just about anything that deserves it, high standards.
Extra - fieldy plans on owning Blu-ray in the near future. Will take some requests.

Daitenshi
[Dai]
Favorite genres - Action, Thriller, Suspense, Fantasy, Comedic-Drama.
Taste in Movies - Broad and variant. Anything from independent low budget gems to big Hollywood block busters.
Judging Style - Brutally honest, anal, in depth. Lays importance on features and presentation.
Extra - Dai owns DVD, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players. Collects DVDs (including the new generation formats and animes). Will take requests.


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I, Dai, will take requests for anime dvds (box sets especially, but single releases also) with the exception of Naruto, Bleach, Inuyasha and any other commonly known as "mass produced junk". I buy DVDs every Tuesday and I own well over 700 (this including anime box sets) DVDs, Blu-Rays and HD DVDs. I'll only review the ones most commonly requested to me and the DVDs I feel need to be reviewed. PM me with your requests.

Fieldy will do reviews of movies I probably wouldn't review. This is why there are 2 of us. On big flicks we will double review or if people so request it, we can both review a DVD. He is also taking some requests but not anime or Blu-Ray or HDDVD.

We have different styles and it shows. We're both big movie and DVD guys but remember this is about DVDs, regardless of how crappy or good the movie is that won't affect the review.

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Fieldy's List

• Planet Terror

Dai's List

• Transformers 2 Disc Special Edition
• Coverfield Collector's Tin Case
• Juno 2 Disc Digital Copy Special Edition (coming)

[Daitenshi]

Transformers 2 Disc Deluxe (special) Edition
2 Discs
Standard DVD Format
Widescreen
English Audio with English/French/Spanish Subtitles


Back of the Box;
From director Micheal Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg comes a thrilling battle between the AUTOBOTS and the DECEPTICONS. When their epic struggle comes to Earth, all that stands between the evil DECEPTICONS and ultimate power ia a clue held by Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf).
Join the fight for mankind in the extraordinary adventure "features some of the most spectacular action and effects sequences of any movie of its kind and will appeal to the kid in all of us" Clausia Puig, USA Today


First Impressions;
Ok so like any big block buster; the studio really wanted to milk this so, of course the DVD came out quickly and in several different packages--including the HDDVD which included the regular DVD as well for whatever reason. Now, I'm aware most of you don't own and HDDVD player like I do (and you shouldn't since they got their ass handed to them by Blu-ray--I digress) so picking up that was out of the question and seeing that the 2 Disc Deluxe edition's just a little more of your green paper than the one disc solitude show; I'm guessing you're smart enough to pick this up. What about the other 5 editions you say? Transforming Box, Single Disc Edition + Back Story Combo, Single Disc + Comic book combo, Tin Box with respective insignia and Bundle Pack (whatever the fuck that is). Well I'm smart enough (and I hope you are too) to know that this gets you more content than any of that crap. Not to mention that the back story DVD and comic books can be bought at a cheaper price on it's own. However I do recommend for collectors and fans to pick up that awesome transforming box, it's worth the cash. I own the HDDVD, Deluxe and Transforming editions; But to the common people this is probably the best choice--specially if you liked the movie, which I know you did.

Appearance;
I'm vein when it comes to my DVDs so looks do matter if you want a spot in my show case--The Transformers 2 Disc Deluxe Edition delivers in the simple spectrum of beauty. Clear case, white paper undercover with Optimus on one side and the ever so menacing Megatron on the other, clear, silver bordered sleeve with "TRANFORMERS Two-Disc Special Edition" written on both sides and a loose leaf back box sheet. Too descriptive? Maybe but I gotta cover all the bases; This kind of shit matters to me so I'm just assuming you are all Pseudo-Dais (sweet zombie jesus help us all). The inside-by the way-is a metallic print paper with the DVDs them selves matching.

Features;
Disc 1 - Standard Widescreen Theatrical Version with (optional) Commentary by Director Micheal Bay.
Not much to say about this really. I mean the commentary's good and the things Micheal shares are pretty interesting but very little unknown info is told. You can, however, get an idea of what he wanted to do with Transformers 2 at the time of the DVD release. Also he comments on several interesting tidbits but tends to drag on about stupid shit (like people protesting at his once used office or his computers being hacked). Also at the end of the movie there's a special trailer for Ironman along with some other trailers as well--promos for the movie.
Oh and if I'm not mistaken; there's a special special feature you can get to by going left or right over and other until a cybertronian symbol gets selected; Click ok and enjoy the lulz. This might just be on the 2nd Disc only but try anyways (I forget).

Disc 2 -
Our World - Explore the world of TRANSFORMERS through interviews with the cast and crew, stunt training footage, and exclusive access to the on-set locations.
Stuff like this is made mainly for movie buffs and for heavy duty fans. I can imagine Billy Everyteen watching this and being bored out of his mind. That being said--I recommend you watch it all, it'll make you want to be in the movie business for sure. If anything it'll make you appreciate the movie crew more. I'm a heavy fan and a movie buff so needless to say I loved this second disc.

Their War - Learn more about the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS with exclusive access to the production design, military advisers, and digital special effects.
If you want to be an animator or loved the effects then I don't even need to tell you why you should watch this. I had the opportunity to watch Transformers with my father before he passed away. So watching this has it's meaning to me (my father was a military man) as my father was pointing out all the military stuff going on in the movie as we watched it--which is what this special feature accomplishes. Seriously made me want to join the military.

More than Meets the Eye - An in-depth featurette on the making of the Skorponok Desert Attack scene and concept boards.
It's funny, it's very much so in-depth and you get to see more of Tyree's bad acting (which is BIG lulz).
Incredible how long it takes to film a short sequence in a long film. If I still had the energy in me I'd be going for a movie oriented career but, again, I digress. I'm one of those people whom has to know all that needs to know and this disc accomplishes the missing tidbits I needed to be a "know it all" on the movie so it was worth my time but honestly it would entertain just about anyone.

copypasta--there's a special special feature you can get to by going left or right over and other until a cybertronian symbol gets selected; Click ok and enjoy the lulz.

Over all;
The 2 discs combine into an orgy of geek-heaven. Not only will movie buffs and Transformers fans enjoy this package; but the average joe whom watched and liked the movie in theaters will also get a kick out of seeing all the special features. The menu to menu animation and transition is beautiful, the music epic, and the graphics not dumbed down; They didn't hold back any punches on presentation that's for sure. Also if you are a parent of a child or a young kid who enjoyed this movie; Do your self a favor and buy this. You'll thank me when your kid gets older and revisits a fond memory (on a then primitive) DVD. The only thing this was really missing was the extend version and some deleted scenes but that'll be fixed in time. Whether you're a hardcore fan, a bystander or a movie buff--the Transformers 2 Disc Deluxe Edition is a must have for your collection.

8 Reels out of 10

[fieldy3000]

Planet Terror

2 Disc special edition
Region 1
Standard DVD Format
Widescreen
English/Spanish Audio with English/Spanish Subtitles


Description:
Director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) is back with a rip-roaring, zombie-infested roller coaster of a movie that "sure as hell keeps you hanging on for the ride" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.)
Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Bruce Willis and an all-star cast fight for their lives in the ultimate showdown between an army of flesh-eating mutants and a motley group of rag-tag survivors. Featuring some of the most memorable screen heroines ever and the now legendary mock Machete trailer "Planet Terror is a total blast - funny, gloriously gory and over the top" (Christy Lemire, Associated Press.)

First impressions:
I was very excited about this, the movie itself blew me away so getting my hands on this double disc edition was a "no brainer."

Appearance:
The cover itself is simple, is compiles all the major players in the story with Rose McGowan's character, "Cherry" and her rifle leg as the main focal point while an army of mutants is creeping up behind her in the blaze of gunfire and explosions. The only thing my edition was missing was the cardboard sleeve like the Sin city DVD.

Features:
Disc 1:
An extended and Unrated cut of "Planet Terror" brings the movie to about a 105 minutes. adding a good chunk of the "missing reels" back in to the movie. Also featuring Optional commentary with Writer/Director Robert Rodriguez and a separate "Audience reaction" track which adds quite abit to the experience.
For some reason the "international Trailer & poster gallery" decided not to work for me so I can not really say anything about it.

Disc 2:
10 minute film school with Robert Rodriguez
This was an amusing little tidbit on the making of Planet Terror going through the "aging" process down to the special effects and the making of the gun leg. As a big fan of the movie I really wished that this lasted abit longer.

The badass babes and tough guys of Planet Terror:
This is basically a two part puffpiece for the actors, a mini (mini being used as a stretch here) documentary on the character development. While it definitely has it's moments even as a fan I felt that it dragged on for quite abit.

Casting Rebel:
This was fairly strange. it's basically a five minute documentary about Robert's son playing Tony, the little kid that lugs around a small petting zoo. It has a few moments that I can't go in to without spoiling things but overall felt unnecessary, seemed like it belonged on a family shelf rather than this DVD.

Sickos, Bullets And Explosions: The stunts of Planet Terror:
now this is where the meat of the DVD should be and unfourtunately it was chopped down to about 13 minutes. Behind the scenes footage is one of the things I really look forward to in DVDs and this just seemed like it was a tease or something they'd throw up on the internet instead of the actual documentary going over the stunts for such a CG/action heavy movie.

The Friend, The Doctor and the Real Estate Agent:
This was actually a pretty nice short bit on the few of the "character" actors that were used in the movie. Far from spectacular but still fairly interesting.

Overall:
Overall I felt that this could and should have been done alot better. I loved the movie and I completely understand that these days it's rare to get the basic 1 disc edition with anything except for a trailer and a directors commentary but I felt that this is one of those movies where you couldn't get enough extras, especially if you're a fan. This should have been packed with bonus features and instead they seemed to have scraped the bottom of the barrel. This easily could have been a fantastic 1 disc edition that contained all of the bonus features that were included in the double disc release but instead it just comes off as mediocre. Especially with 5 to 7 minutes of the roughly 20 minute "The badass babes and tough guys of Planet Terror" featurette being posted on the internet as part of the promotion for the original Grindhouse release it seems like you have been simply cheated out of your cash. Though the extra features are interesting even as a fan I can not recommend this to just about anyone. I say either wait for the Grindhouse release or import the 6 disc edition from Japan, all in all it seems a hell of alot cooler than this.

6.5 Reels out of 10

[Daitenshi]

CLOVERFIELD
Limited Edition Tinbox

Rated PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images.
Special Features Not Rated.
Standard DVD Format
Single Disc
Widescreen Enhanced for 16:9 TVs
Dolby Digital: English 5.1 Surround/French 5.1 Surround/Spanish 5.1 surround
Subtitles: English/French/Spanish




Back of the Box;
From visionary Producer J.J. Abrams (Lost)
and Director Matt Reeves comes
the worldwide sensation of nonstop terror
and suspense everyone is talking about.


First Impressions;
Surprise, only 2 editions. Regular light weight plastic box, and good ol' hefty tinbox. Yes it's single disc, but it's a collectors Tinbox with a little more on the DVD inside also. It's a pretty simple choice if you're a collector. Highly recommend. Looks pretty in my "Tinbox Showcase".


Appearance;
Oh yes, Paramount did good. Nice hefty tin box. Military shades of green made to look like a secret, lost, government file. Even has "U.S. GOVERNMENT" imprinted on the back, on the tin it's self. Oh yeah, classy. The inside, wallpapered, is the classic Cloverfield Poster. Back view of the headless Statue of Liberty and a wide view of the distressed NYC. The DVD it's self looks like it was meant to look beat up and lost but that failed and it instead just looks messy. But that's not enough to turn me off to the sexiness of it all.


Features;

Deleted Scenes -
What every DVD should have and what most lack. Cut scenes. Some of these I had to stop and ask my self "why did we get 1 minute of pure smoke and chaos when they could have shown us this instead? A question who's answer doesn't even exist, but regardless of the fact, you still get to see these hidden treasures. I'm obviously not going to ruin them for you, you have to buy the DVD and watch it for your self. Though it's not enough to warrant a DVD purchase all on it's own.

Alternate Endings -
If you're anything like me, just the thought of alternate-anything in a movie makes your nuts drop. Boy did they ever drop..in disappointment. I'm going to tell you right now and save your the heart ache and depression. If you've seen the movie, then you know the last 5 minutes. That, take back the video does to them at Coney Island. Yes well the alternate ending, it's just different scenes of them at Coney Island...THAT'S IT. I wish I was bsing you but that's all it is. After crying for hours upon hours, I rejoiced at the fact that they come with commentary. That alone saved the shitty alternates for me. For you? Well you might be different, but honestly he explains why he chose the one he did out of the others and well, yeah. It's still a huge feature tease, and that's a negative every time.

Outtakes -
Lulz can be found anywhere. Even in creepy cam-corder style horror films. What? -- Yeah I'm not joking, some of this stuff is pretty funny. Though that's about as far as that goes. But really..that's all outtakes need to be, funny, short and seldom spontaneous happenings rather than constructed chaos.

Featurettes -
Mini-features. Seldom just behind the scenes things or some exclusive explanation. That's the definition of the word. What this DVD actually includes that falls under featurettes are some behind the scenes things and a few interviews including one with the maker of the beast and some interesting info on our terrorizing friend. Oh and there's a little Of J.J. Abrams explaining his motive for the idea of such a film and what not. Also there's a link to a website with the remaining featurettes. Yes, I hate it when DVDs do this. It wasn't cute when I Am Legend did it and it's not cute now =/.

Commentary by Director Matt Reeves -
The commentary is pretty interesting and surprisingly informative. I wasn't expecting that much from it to be honest but Matt did a bang up job. Granted I would have preferred some J.J. Abrams in there also just for some extra solid supportive commentary but that's pushing it apparently. As I mentioned also, the Alternate Endings are also commented on by Matt Reeves.

Hidden Research Into the Case Designate CLOVERFIELD -
All in all this includes things from, behind the scenes to special info, never before seen until the release of this DVD. This is not included in the regular Cloverfield DVD and only in the tinbox does this feature come. Now, does it make a big difference? Yes, yes it does. Huge difference, in fact. It helps you understand the talk of a sequel and just about everything else that goes unanswered from the other features and press releases/interviews/ect. Not to mention, answers questions you didn't even knew existed and explains the origins of the monster as well as an explanation on the parasites that come off of it. Great feature honestly, makes the DVD for me. There are also some funny behind the scenes stuff when they are filming in secret still and this annoying little lady keeps jumping at the camera "Seriously! It's extremely secret, this is not allowed!". She should have been punched in the uterus but that aside, amazing stuff.


Over All;
Though I ended up not being a big fan of the movie it's self (I like it just..too much hype over a just good movie, not spectacular) the DVD it's self is solid enough to make it worth a purchase. Though, granted, I would have bought the DVD regardless and I did without knowing what I was getting into but I'm glad I wasn't let down. Aside from the Alternate Ending disappointment, everything else even the online feature crap, was pretty on par with my standards for a DVD. Not to mention, they fit all of this crap on one little DVD format disc. Impressive indeed. I was extremely satisfied with uppon finishing everything on the DVD, starting with the Feature Presentation and ending with the Commentary Feature Presentation. I would recommend this to anyone. Rather you loved the movie or just mildly enjoyed it, the tinbox does not disappoint.

7.5 Reels out of 10