Holiday DVD Review Round-Up Part 3

In our next installment of DVD wazzups for holiday buying and gifting, we tackle more of the hot and huge James Bond DVD collections; the fun animated Cars, Will Ferrell's recent Talladega Nights and Season 5 of TV's blockbuster "24" as well as Home Alone: Family Fun Edition, Mission Impossible 3, Idlewild and the wacky Nacho Libre. Somebody on your gift list has gotta want some of these!

From 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

James Bond Ultimate Edition

The "Ultimate Edition" consists of 4 Sets each containing five Bond films. Every Bond film ever made is covered. So, if you are a Connery or Moore or Dalton or Brosnan or even a Lazenby Bond fan, it's all here. We've reviewed two films from Volumes 1 and 2 in our Part One of this Round-Up series. Then we were sent volumes 3 and 4. We can't possibly review each film and ALL of the extras so we'll hit some highlights....

All of the films on Volumes 3 and 4 sound and look great. Fabulous restoration and "cleaning" jobs were done! Volume 3 contains: From Russia With Love, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Live and Let Die, For Your Eyes Only, and Goldeneye. Volume 4 contains: Dr. No, You Only Live Twice, Moonraker, Octopussy and Tomorrow Never Dies.

Each film has 2 discs and its own set of special features! Each movie has its own fun little booklet explaining the special features. Really useful.

The first "Feature Film" disc for each title gives you at least one audio commentary over the film. The "Special Features" discs contain all other bonus extras, each unique to that film. Included are vintage featurettes and interviews, deleted scenes, trailers, screen tests, special effects, action sequence break-downs and more. The list is extensive. You get interviews with Ian Fleming, the creator of the Bond books that started it all and it's interesting. There are recompiled interviews with cast and crews and some behind-the scenes stuff.. all fascinating. On Goldeneye, you get the Tina Turner music video.. awesome!

Wrapping Up: You can buy parts of this huge set (depending on the films you liked most) or all of it but either way, it is the most awesome Bond set yet. All the films look and sound great and you won't see this many extras on the world of Bond ever again. A definite gift bonanza for Bond fans!!

Home Alone: Family Fun Edition

Synopsis: If you don't know this one, you can't possibly be a child or teen. Little Kevin McCalister (MacCauley Culkin) gets left at home while his family goes to France. He comes up with hilarious ways to fool people into thinking he's the man of the house, and ultimately thwarts two bumbling burglars' attempt on his property.

Extras: There is a good mix of new material and old footage found from the 1990 production of the film. New extras include stuntmen talking about the precarious gags they committed to for our amusement and reflections on where the obnoxious brother Buzz may have ended up today.

Old stuff includes a very short blooper reel with nothing more than crack-ups on set and deleted scenes, which only add more filler to the set-up. Lots of scenes of chaos in the house the night before, but we already get it. They're too big a family and they didn't appreciate Kevin. There's footage of Culkin on the set with a video camera being cute and some clips of famous scenes dubbed in worldwide languages.

I don't normally listen to audio commentaries because they take too long, but the chance to hear a 20-something Culkin reflect on the film was too good to pass up. He and director Chris Columbus give one of the most interesting commentary tracks ever. They're funny but they remember everything that happened, including some dirt on the celebrity cast. It's for grown-ups to listen to with all the industry talk and obscure film references, but it's very fun. Great holiday viewing and gifting for all ages.

"24": Season 5

Synopsis: Jack is back from the dead in one of the most exciting seasons ever! Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), a skilled government agent, works in the Counter Terrorist Unit out of L.A.. Over the course of five very exciting seasons, he has evaded terrorists, nuclear weapons, assassins, and creepy baddies with evil goals all while having no real luck in his personal life. Each season takes place over 24 hours in real time, with each episode spanning one hour of the day.

Special Features: A big bonus on this seven disc DVD collection is a season-six prequel. This gives fans of the show a glimpse of what will happen after Jack was stuck on a boat bound for China at the end of the 5th season. This 10-minute prequel takes place seven months after that final shot (and a year or so before the events of season six). Jack is in China and has suffered torture to reveal info about a double agent. It's a nice teaser for Season Six.

"Unsung Heroes: 24 Camera Department" is a piece on the show's crew and how they actually manage to shoot a complex show like this on a tight TV schedule. It's kind of long but really very interesting. "Logan's Retreat" is a featurette on the construction from scratch of a set and in "Music by Sean Callery", composer Sean shows you how TV episodes are scored. "Supporting Players" contains some fun interviews with the supporting cast of the show that reveal more about their personal hobbies and activities. Fun.

Eleven episodes contain cast and crew commentaries that are both fun and informative for fans. Some of it is funny (hey, Jack Bauer does take time out (seconds) to eat!). There are also "deleted and extended" scenes with commentary and DVD-Rom links to exclusive online content.

Wrapping Up: If you or your potential "giftees" are "24" fans, this is one of the best seasons yet and the special features are awesome. Most TV show DVDs don't give fans this kind of extra attention and respect. Well worth the buy!

From Paramount Home Entertainment

Mission Impossible 3

Synopsis: In this Mission, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) has decided to settle down and get married. But he's called back into action to rescue one of his student agents, and must uncover the government mole that set her up. This requires him to form a new team to help him catch a villain (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who targets his wife to make things personal.

Extras: There are tons of featurettes of varying levels of interest on this DVD. "Inside the IMF" is just an extended self-congratulatory session were everyone compliments each other. "Mission: Action", on the other hand, takes you all the way inside all the awesome stunt sequences in the film. You see the stunt guys test and rehearse in their warehouse, and set up the stunts on the set.

"Visualizing the Mission" talks more about the pre-visualization process that helps the filmmakers plan out the film before they film it. "Mission: Metamorphosis" shows how they made the mask machine which finally explains how Hunt can look like anybody he needs to in his missions.

Those are the main ones. Further along the DVD, you can revisit the films' international premieres which you may have seen covered on television, or the Moviefone interview between Cruise and director J.J. Abrams that aired with the film's theatrical release. There's also a commentary track with Abrams and Cruise.

Nacho Libre

Synopsis: Ignacio (Jack Black) is a bad chef at a Mexican monastery who dreams of being a Luchador wrestler. So he puts on stretchy pants and gets in the ring as Nacho Libre. It's basically Jack Black being stupid for 90 minutes and that's how we like it.

Extras: There are plenty of featurettes that show all the various aspects of the film. The most humorous and revealing extras though are the deleted scenes and "Jack Sings" segments.

Deleted scenes include a much longer encounter with the gypsy king (Peter Stormare) featuring many more tests of Nacho's worth. It's equally silly but there's a lot more of it. The two other scenes show more of Ramses, Nacho's nemesis in the ring, including big fight scenes.

"Jack Sings" has Black rehearse and record two songs for the film. His lyrics are ridiculous and some are en Espanol, but the best moment is when the camera catches him watching playback of his song and realizing that he's been caught watching himself and laughing at his own jokes. If you or your "giftees" are Jack fans, this is muy hilarious!

From Universal Studios Home Video

Idlewild

Synopsis: Rooster (Big Boi) and Percival (Andre 3000) are childhood best friends living in prohibition era Chicago. Rooster becomes a gangster while Percival follows the family mortuary business but romances a singer in Rooster's club. They each perform hip hop musical numbers as their stories unfold.

Extras: There are only two big extras in this DVD but they are all you need. A single deleted scene shows Rooster taking his family shopping. It covers many different aspects of the character, from flirting, handling kids and being a tough guy in a backroom deal. There's also a lot of old timey hats in the scene.

The deleted song, The Clock, is a luscious romantic bedroom rhythm duet between Andre and Paula Patton. Once it goes into every character's bedtime ritual, it's less hot but it comes full circle to return to their passionate love nest.

Two music videos from the film are also included, one each from Andre and Big. Good stuff especially if you are OutKast fans or like each artist separately.

From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Synopsis: Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) grew up wanting to "drive fast". He gets his chance as a NASCAR pit crew member when his driver just walks away from the race to have some lunch. Ricky starts winning, gets rich and gets a hot wife ( Leslie Bibb). He is tested when Formula One champion racer, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen of Borat fame), arrives to challenge him and it leads to Ricky crashing and flipping out mentally. His best bud Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly) gets Ricky's wife and replaces him on the racing team. Can Ricky return to the track and his former glory?

Special Features: The commentary track by Will, director Adam McKay and John C. Reilly has the guys pretending it is 25 years later and they are looking back on this film experience. Hilarious and a very unique commentary track.

"Deleted and Extended Scenes" aren't necessary to the film's story but are all fun to watch. "Line-O-Rama" shows the real comedic talent of the dead actors as they deliver tons of punch-line choices. The director just let the team go and ad-lib and it's a laugh riot. Every one of these is creative and funny.

In "Will Ferrell Returns to Talladega" we see Will on the NASCAR track talking with real racers and plugging the movie. Probably especially good if you are a NASCAR fan.

The "Gag Reel" shows that Sacha Baron Cohen is, indeed capable of breaking character and being himself.. however wacky. "Interviews with Carley, Cal and Ricky" keep the actors in character and are zany fun. You get more track action in "Bonus Race Footage".

Wrapping Up: All the wacky special features are in the spirit of the film and just continue the fun. If Will is your fave comic actor or he's high on the list for your best buds and family, then this DVD will show him at his comedy best.

From Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Cars

Synopsis: In this animated funfest, narcissistic stock car rookie Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is on his way to a big race but is delayed in the quaint, rundown and forgotten Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. There, he meets other cars; hippie VW van (George Carlin) and a militant army jeep (Paul Dooley) and is transformed from a self-involved, gimme, gimme jerk to a nice guy with the help of a crotchety Hudson Hornet (Paul Newman), sexy Porsche (Bonnie Hunt) for whom he falls, and hillbilly tow truck Tow Mater (Larry The Cable Guy).

Special Features: We have the one disc widescreen edition of the film and would suspect that a more special edition will be out soon but for now..... No commentary, only one featurette on the making of the film but you do get:

"Mater and the Ghostlight" an new animated short featuring the character voices from the movie. Sheriff tells a ghost story and Lightning and Guido play a trick on Mater. It's funny, sweet and cute. Nice addition.

"One Man Band" is another short animated film that tells the tale of a peasant girl who comes upon two competing street performers who try to win her attention, and her gold coin. It was shown in theaters with Cars and is another great addition reminding us of the old, old days in which cartoons were shown with movies in theaters (ask your parents). "Epilogue" lets you watch what goes on under the credits in full screen size. Not really necessary.

"Inspiration for Cars" Has Pixar head John Lasseter talking about his inspiration for the story, the characters and everything else in the film. You meet racing legends and even a real life "Mater". Footage from the Pixar team's journey on historic Route 66 is cool. This is great but we sense there is more "making of" stuff out there for us. You get four "Deleted Scenes" with an intro and shown as rough storyboards. Fun to watch and it lets you know about other storylines that were changed.

Wrapping Up: This DVD looks and sounds great and it a must for the whole family as it teaches that life is all about the journey, not the finish line. You can't go wrong purchasing it for holiday fun but be aware that a more intense version is probably coming.