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DVD Shopping Bag: Spaceballs 25th Anniversary Blu-ray

Holding up?

By Robert T. Trate     August 14, 2012
Source: Mania.com


Spaceballs celebrates its 25th Anniversary with another Blu-ray release
© MGM
Once Upon a Time Warp... before there was Family Guy and Robot Chicken, there was a spoof on Star Wars called Spaceballs. Mel Brooks let the satire run deep in his spoof of George Lucas’ (then) Holy Trilogy. However, does this spoof hold up with properties like Family Guy and Robot Chicken using 35 years (not ten) of Star Wars nostalgia, actual actors from Star Wars, and the blessings of Lucas himself? The answer is: not really. 

Don’t get in a huff. I still laughed, did all the lines, and wondered why my significant other wasn’t laughing as much. Let’s start with the positive. Thankfully, Spaceballs was made in the era when it was cheaper to do practical effects. The opening with Spaceball 1 was a great reminder that digital effects are and will never be as good as a real model passing by. Even seeing Mega Maid transform was a treat in the light of the Transformers we see in each Michael Bay abomination. 

In juxtaposition, it is the modern timing and pacing that makes Spaceballs feel like a relic. Today, even animated spoofs and satires have a pacing where jokes arrive again and again. Mel Brooks launches his jokes, they hang there for a while, and then they land. Often these jokes do nothing to further the plot, nor do they lead the story. They are a sight gag or a reference that has little to do with the subject matter. In short, they drag. 

Language is a another huge sore thumb in Spaceballs. It seems as if nothing was funny unless someone swore every other word. Now, I am not stickler or an old man waving his cane. It just shocked me that the film was rated PG, even in 1987. The profanity here could have been the reason why 12 year old boys, like myself, ate this film up so much. I also believe this film did indeed teach me it was okay to swear every other word. 

This Blu-ray release features only one new special feature and was basically a shortened version of the Spaceballs documentaries. So “prepare to fast forward, fast forward!” The picture quality and sound are great. Even Candy’s make-up holds up in 1080p. 

Some people can let nostalgia flow right over them and others cannot. I for one found Spaceballs to be fun, if only to let my 12 year old self out for nearly 2 hours. If Brooks made a sequel or even spoofed Lucas again with a “Special Edition” it would be something I would like to see. So how about it, Mel? Will we see “Spaceballs 3: the Search for Spaceballs 2” anytime soon? 

Top 5 Picks of the Week:
1. Jaws [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet] (Universal's 100th Anniversary)
2. Shaft [Blu-ray] 
3. The Royal Tenenbaums (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]
4. Iron Sky (Blu-ray + Digital Copy)
5. The Hunger Games [2-Disc Blu-ray + Ultra-Violet Digital Copy]

ACTION / ADVENTURE / KUNG FU/ THRILLERS / WESTERNS

A Man Apart [Blu-ray] Starring Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate, Jacqueline Obradors and Geno Silva

Assassin's Bullet Starring Donald Sutherland, Christian Slater and Timothy Spall

Assassin's Bullet SD//BD Combo Starring Donald Sutherland, Christian Slater and Timothy Spall

Breathless [Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo] Starring Gina Gershon, Val Kilmer, Kelli Giddish and Ray Liotta

Breathless Starring Gina Gershon, Val Kilmer, Kelli Giddish and Ray Liotta

Coffin Starring Kevin Sorbo, Bruce Davison, Johnny Alonso and Sunny Doench

Cradle 2 the Grave [Blu-ray] Starring Jet Li, Dmx, Anthony Anderson and Kelly Hu

Death Wish II [Blu-ray] Starring Anthony Franciosa, Vincent Gardenia, Charles Bronson

Death Wish III [Blu-ray] Starring Charles Bronson, Kirk Taylor, Martin Balsam and Ed Lauter

Death Wish IV [Blu-ray] Starring John P. Ryan, George Dickerson, Charles Bronson

Fallen [Blu-ray] Starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe

The Hunger Games [2-Disc Blu-ray + Ultra-Violet Digital Copy] Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

The Hunger Games [2-Disc DVD + Ultra-Violet Digital Copy] Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

Jaws [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss

John Wayne: In the Saddle Starring John Wayne

Kill List Starring Neil Maskell and MyAnna Buring

Kill List [Blu-ray] Starring Neil Maskell and MyAnna Buring

New Jack City [Blu-ray] Starring Wesley Snipes, Judd Nelson, Mario Van Peeples and Ice T

The Poker House Starring Bokeem Woodbine and David Alan Grier

The Raid: Redemption [Blu-ray] Starring Iko Uwais, Ananda George, Ray Sahetapy and Donny Alamsyah

The Raid: Redemption Starring Iko Uwais, Ananda George, Ray Sahetapy and Donny Alamsyah

Romeo Must Die [Blu-ray] Starring Jet Li, Aaliyah Haughton, Delroy Lindo

Shaft [Blu-ray] Starring Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn and Gwenn Mitchell

The Snowtown Murders Starring Lucas Pittaway

Sultry Assassin: Ninja Brainwash

Sword Identity Starring Yang Song and Yuanyuan Zhao

Yamada Way of the Samurai [Blu-ray]

ANIME

Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Starring Christina Marie Cabanos, Cassandra Lee, Patrick Seitz

Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror: Anime Movie Starring Christina Marie Cabanos, Cassandra Lee, Patrick Seitz

One Piece: Collection Seven Starring Colleen Clinkenbeard, Luci Christian and Eric Vale

This Boy Can Fight Aliens [Blu-ray]

Trinity Blood: The Complete Series (Classic) Starring Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke and Troy Baker

CARTOONS

The Angry Beavers: Season Three, Part 2 Starring Richard Steven Horvitz and Nick Bakay
Gruffalo: The Gruffalo's Child Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Robbie Coltrane

The Smurfs and the Magic Flute Starring Richard Ashley, Robert Axelrod, Bill Capizzi and Cam Clarke

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 10: The Complete Final Season DVD

COMEDY AND LOVE Mania Style

Jay & Silent Bob Get Old:Tea Bagging In The UK Starring Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes

Criterion Collection

La promesse (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Jeremie Renier

La promesse (Criterion Collection) Starring Jeremie Renier

Rosetta (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Emilie Dequenne

Rosetta (Criterion Collection) Starring Emilie Dequenne

The Royal Tenenbaums (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller

HORROR

Bigfoot [Blu-ray] Starring Barry Williams and Danny Bonaduce

Bigfoot Starring Barry Williams and Danny Bonaduce

Brains That Wouldn't Die! Collection

Father's Day 4 Disc Limited Edition Numbered Blu-ray/ 2x DVD/CD Starring Adam Brooks, Matthew Kennedy, Conor Sweeney and Amy Groenig

Juan of the Dead Starring Jorge Molina and Alexis Diaz De Villegas

The Life and Death of a Porno Gang (Special Edition) [Blu-ray] Starring Mihajlo Jovanovic, Ana Acimovic, Predrag Damnjanovic

Life And Death Of A Porno Gang, The Starring Mihajlo Jovanovic, Ana Acimovic, Predrag Damnjanovic

Les Vampires: 2-Disc Kino Classics Edition [Blu-ray] Starring Edouard Mathe

Les Vampires: 2-Disc Kino Classics Edition Starring Edouard Mathe

The Portal Starring Jenna Zablocki, Michael Muhney, Michael Madsen

Zombie Horror Fright Fest!

SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY

2012 Apocalypse Starring Brian Krause, Cliff Deyoung and Dale Midkiff

Godzilla Vs. Megalon Starring Katsuhiko Sasaki

Iron Sky (Blu-ray + Digital Copy) Starring Julia Dietze, Peta Sergeant, Kym Jackson and Udo Kier

TV LAND

Community: The Complete Third Season Starring Joel McHale

Dexter: The Sixth Season Starring Michael C. Hall

Dexter: The Sixth Season [Blu-ray] Starring Michael C. Hall

Dalziel & Pascoe: Season Six Starring Warren Clarke, Colin Buchanan and David Royle

Glee: The Complete Third Season Starring Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Cory Monteith and Jane Lynch

Glee: The Complete Third Season [Blu-ray] Starring Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Cory Monteith and Jane Lynch

Happy Endings: Seasons 1 & 2 Starring Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton

Vegas: The Third Season, Vol. 2 Starring Tony Curtis, Robert Urich, Greg Morris and Bart Braverman

Vegas: The Complete Series Starring Tony Curtis, Robert Urich, Greg Morris and Bart Braverman

BOX SETS

Laurel & Hardy Premium DVD box set with collector's items Starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Buster Keaton

Robert Trate writes three weekly columns for Mania: the DVD Shopping Bag, the Toy Maniac, and The Geek Life. Follow Robert on Twitter for his for Geek ramblings, Cosplay photos and film criticisms.

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COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

Showing items 1 - 4 of 4
1 
Dazzler 8/14/2012 4:28:37 AM

I wonder what happened with the Spaceballs toon?

 

MrEt 8/14/2012 5:10:32 AM

Alot of my fav Cult movies are less about the movie and more about the fun time everyone in the room has while watching, I mean Rocky Horror is OK but going out to see it is a blast, this holds true to Spaceballs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankinstine, Monty Python. All Great with a group of friends an ok time at best when alone or maybe a guilty pleasure.

redhairs99 8/14/2012 9:06:30 AM

I tried my hardest to watch the Spaceballs toon on G4TV, Dazzler.  It was garbage.  Utterly, disappointingly...garbage.  And I say all that being one of Spaceballs' biggest fans.  I freakin' love this movie! It's probably my favorite comedy of all-time, if for no other than than what Bob said, nostalgia.

I'd probably still be first in line for that long-awaited sequel, though after seeing what Mel did with the cartoon, I'm kind of glad (maybe slightly hopeful) that that will never happen.

Bob, it's funny you mention the language thing.  My parents actually banned me from watching this movie for probably 5 or 6 years after we originally rented the vhs when it came.  I guess the laughing of a 7 year old whenever a profanity was uttered was too much for them.  Although, I've always found it strange that my parents restricted my veiwing of "R" movies until I was at least a teenager (even then some I had to wait...at least until my parents weren't looking).  For some reason, though, I was able to watch Conan the Barbarian since I was 3.  Go figure.

Well, I think I will pass on this release.  I upgraded my Mel Brooks DVD set with the Bluray for my birthday last year, so I don't see any reason here to do so.

redhairs99 8/14/2012 9:42:53 AM

 Forgot to add that, I have heard Mel talk about Spaceballs being the most fun he's ever had making a film and if he did a sequel to any of his movie's, this would be the one.  Though as I said earlier, I'm not sure that's a good thing anymore.

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