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DVD Shopping Bag: Fishtar and Maleficent
Waterworld and Sleeping Beauty By
Robert T. Trate
November 04, 2008
Maleficent and Kevin Costner as the Mariner
© Robert Trate/ Mania
With this being the first week of the Holiday season I am going to change the DVD Shopping Bag Column up a bit. For the next four weeks I am going to feature films that would make great gifts for the film aficionado and to give to a member of the family. After all, DVDs are probably the best and easiest gift to get someone when you have little or no clue what to buy.
This week the two films that have caught my attention are from more opposite ends of the spectrum. The first is actually being released today and for the first time anywhere. Waterworld the 2 Disc Extended Cut features over forty minutes of deleted scenes reincorporated back into the film. Immediately one would think, “why would I want to go back and watch forty more minutes of Kevin Costner’s Fishtar?”. For the first time the film actually makes sense. Numerous sub plots and character moments are brought out into the open. In the original version of the film (also included) many things were left for the audience to just go with it. Why did Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) really go with the Mariner (Kevin Costner)? Exactly why did the smokers refer to Dennis Hopper as the Deacon? These questions are answered by showing us a witch trial of the Mariner in which Helen defends him and she too is then ostracized from the Atoll. This scene not only sheds light on her character and her motivations but allows the audience into the society that has survived. As for Hopper being a Deacon, that relates to his religious status on the ship and the reasoning for his sermon like rant at the end of the film. A scene which takes place right after the Smokers take the Atoll now becomes a sermon to all those that will listen. All this and the Mariner’s name, life in Waterworld and tiny scenes highlighting Michael Jeter’s performance as Gregor makes Waterworld feel like a real movie.
By having both versions of the film you’ll see how Hollywood will make cuts to the story and characters all so they can have a shorter running time. Sure Waterworld was the most expensive film ever made (at the time) but after seeing all these additional moments I feel as if I saw the actual film for the first time. Kevin Reynolds and Kevin Costner tried to make a cautionary tale that took us to another time and place and their running time is what killed their film. This extended cut is perfect for the Waterworld closet fan or even the Mad Max fan this holiday season. A truly great adventure now exists in a place known only as Waterworld.
Last month Disney Home video released Sleeping Beauty for the first time Blu-ray. Sure many of us would think that this is a film for little girls who wear Princess costumes bought at the Disney store. For the true film connoisseur and their nieces the film is a landmark in Walt Disney’s career. Style, animation and the fact that making the film almost closed the Disney studios make Sleeping Beauty a completely captivating DVD. Interviews with surviving artists and filmmakers offer great insight to a style of filmmaking which is disappearing in the digital age. Outside of the backstory behind the film, little facts about how many lines and the amount of screen time the title character has will amaze you. These small numbers are a great testament on how Disney could capture small moments and elevate characters to a different level. A Disney fan or an animation fan will love this special edition Blu-ray.
Each film is obviously for a different person this holiday season or perhaps not. Waterworld the Extended Cut and the fiftieth anniversary of Sleeping Beauty couldn’t be further from one another but both are great films. A princess waiting for her prince to come and fish man looking for dry land each had their own merits and delivered all that I ever look for in a film: to be entertained.
ACTION / ADVENTURE / KUNG FU/ THRILLERS / WESTERNS
ANIME
Dragon Hill
The Familiar of Zero: Box Set
Guyver -The Bioboosted Armor: Complete Box Set
Lucky Star Vol 4 Limited Edition w/TShirt and Character CD
Lucky Star Vol 4
Moribito: Guardian of The Spirit (Collector's Edition)
Moribito: Guardian of The Spirit Two Pack
Naruto, Vol. 29
Saiyuki, Vol. 2: Complete Collection
Silent Mobius: Motion Picture 2 Limited Edition w/Steelbook and soundtrack CD
Silent Mobius: Motion Picture 2
Summer Camp Sluts
Vexille (Special Edition)
Vexille (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]
CARTOONS
Batman - The Complete Animated Series
Futurama: Bender's Game
-Commentary by Matt Groening and David X. Cohen
-Hill.-Storyboard Animatic: Bender’s Game, Part One
-Futurama Genetics Lab
-Cross-breed Your Favorite Characters!
-Dungeons & Dragons & Futurama feaurette
-How To Draw “Futurama” In 83 Easy Steps Featurette
-3D Models Featurette With Animator Discussion
-Deleted Scene: “Cup or Nozzle?”
-Blooperama 2: Outakes From Bender’s Game
-Bender’s Anti-Piracy Warning
-A Sneak Peek at Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder?
Futurama: Bender's Game [Blu-ray]
Kung Fu Panda (Widescreen Edition)
Kung Fu Panda [Blu-ray]
Kung Fu Panda (Full Screen Edition)
Popeye the Sailor: 1941-1943, Vol. 3
Shrek the Halls (Widescreen Edition)
COMEDY, HOLIDAY and LOVE Mania Style
A Christmas Story (Ultimate Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]
A Christmas Story (Ultimate Collectors Edition)
A Christmas Story [Blu-ray]
The Christmas Toy Movie
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
George of the Jungle 2 Pack
Get Smart [Blu-ray]
-Smart Takes – Alternate Scenes
-The Old “I Hid It In The Movie” Trick
-The Right Agent For The Right Job
-Max In Moscow!
-Language Lessons
-Get Smart’s Bruce & Lloyd Out Of Control
-The Vomit Reel
-Spy Confidential: Gag Reel
-DVD Game on separate disc - Advance from the analyst desk to top secret CONTROL agent through training, testing, and missions.
-Digital Copy on separate disc
Get Smart (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Get Smart (2 Disc Special Edition)
-Smart Takes – Alternate Scenes
-The Right Agent For The Right Job
-Max In Moscow!
-Language Lessons
-Spy Confidential: Gag Reel
-Get Smart’s Bruce & Lloyd Out Of Control (Sneak Peak/ Sizzle)
-Digital Copy
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Criterion Collection
Killing of a Chinese Bookie - Criterion Collection
-Restored high-definition digital transfer of John Cassavetes’ original 135-minute edit of the film
- Restored high-definition digital transfer of Cassavetes’ 108-minute edit for the 1978 theatrical re-release
- Video interviews with star Ben Gazzara and producer Al Ruban
- Audio interview with Cassavetes by film historians Michel Ciment and Michael Wilson, conducted after the film’s release
- Stills gallery featuring rare behind-the-scenes production photos
HORROR
13 Miedos: Primera Temporada
Autopsy: A Love Story
Bikini Bloodbath Carwash
Blonde Tales
Chill
The Craving
El Nominado
The Housesitter
La Brecha
Return to Sleepaway Camp
SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY
Battle for The Planet of The Apes [Blu-ray]
Battle Heater
Beneath The Planet of The Apes [Blu-ray]
Conquest of the Planet of The Apes [Blu-ray]
Escape from the Planet of The Apes [Blu-ray]
The Final Countdown [Blu-ray]
Moscow Zero
Planet of the Apes (40th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
Termination Point
They Came From Beyond Space [1967] DVD
Waterworld the Extended Cut
TV LAND
JAG (Judge Advocate General) - The Seventh Season
Primeval: The Complete Series 1 and 2
BOX SETS
The Bourne Trilogy
Budd Boetticher Box Set (Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome, Comanche Station)
Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Collection
Get Smart - The Complete Series Gift Set
The Howdy Doody Show- 40 Episode Collection
Planet of the Apes 40th Anniversary Collection [Blu-ray]
Reaper: Season 1
Route 66 - The Complete Second Season
Spin City: The Complete Season 1
Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Star Wars Trilogy
The Wild Wild West: The Complete Series
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