This led me to two important questions I hope to answer in my review.  Firstly, if subsequent movies have taken advantage of a once-new filmmaking technique, does this make the originating movies any less relevant?  And secondly, can entertainment value survive in what is considered “experimental” cinema?  Although films can have artistic merits on their own, they must still be accessible to the common movie viewer.   

Film 

The theme of realism runs strongly through this film; this is really the best way to understand Contempt.  It is a story within a movie about a story, all of which are based on how things are, not how we want them to be.  There is also a reminder that no movie can ever portray reality, as it is impossible due to the inherent unreality of the medium.

Our main protagonist, Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli) has been approached by a repellant American producer, Jeremy Prokosh (the superb Jack Palance) to do rewrites on a movie adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey.  Prokosh is unhappy with the current direction of the film, which is being directed as an “art movie” by Fritz Lang (legendary director of Metropolis, played by himself).  Although Paul does not seem overly enamored with Prokosh or the project, he is enamored with his wife, and accepts the job to be able to help pay off their flat.  As Prokosh says to Paul, “You have a pretty wife; you need the money”

However, from the first meeting between Paul’s wife, Camille (the ever-lovely Brigitte Bardot) and Prokosh, things go bad.  Although on the surface there appears to have been little to cause trouble, small actions of Paul’s drive an irreparable wedge between he and Camille.

It has been said that Bardot was more of a celebrity than an actor, mainly due to her beauty, grace, and willingness to undress for the camera.  However, she displays the most “realistic” portrayal of a woman I have ever seen in a film.  Maddening yet seductive, passive yet aggressive, her impenetrable expression, mercurial temper and emotional committal is a work of art.  Her ability to use emotion to dissect Paul, to expose his insecurities, and to drive him into a rage is superb and believable.  And as per Godard’s theme, their relationship resembles reality, not a “Hollywood” relationship.

Piccoli is also superb as Paul.  He combines the tormented artist with an everyman sensibility; there is a problem with his relationship with Camille, and he’d like to fix it, but she won’t let him know how to.  He continually makes things worse through his words and actions, and does not have the sensitivity to understand when Camille feels threatened and needs protection.

The story within the movie is that of Homer’s Odyssey, with parallels drawn between our main characters and the novel.  Paul is sometimes compared to Odysseus, while Prokosh is compared to both Poseidon and the Suitors.  Camille is Penelope.  In making their movie, questions are asked of Odysseus’ motivations (Why did he take so long to return to Ithaca?  Did he really not want to get back to Penelope?), and we see the parallels with our main characters (Is Paul pushing Camille on Prokosh to advance his career?).  Paul and Lang discuss the relationship between Odysseus, Penelope, and the Suitors, without seeing how it relates back to Paul’s relationship with Camille.

It is often said about Jean-Luc Godard that he liked to remind his viewers that they were watching a movie.  Of Contempt this is certainly true – we see jump cuts that mix exposures and film colors, and have background singers stop in mid action so that dialog between the main characters can be heard.  Meanwhile, the repetitive, often overly loud score is interjected with regularity, oftentimes jarring the viewer into wondering “What is Godard doing?”  I would venture that he would state “Exactly what I wanted to – reminding you that you are watching a movie”.  It would be grossly unfair for Godard to make a realistic movie about the unreality of cinema without pointing out even a realistic movie is unreal.

I could understand how a movie such as this may have been very challenging in 1963, yet seem very un-revolutionary in 2010 after many directors have subsequently used Godard’s techniques for their own.  Has the movie lost its relevancy?  I think the previous sentence answers this – when we can still see Godard’s fingerprints on movies made today, his work, including this movie is still very relevant.

As entertainment, this is not a 2012 kind of “blow stuff up while running around madly brainless SFX extravaganza”.  This movie is very internal; anyone who has loved someone else, has felt contempt from another, or has been struck with the eternal struggle between our dreams and reality will fully appreciate this movie.  Although the movie is accessible and has a linear and comprehensible storyline, it is demanding.  It asks the viewer to understand and reflect on what they’ve seen, and leaves them the richer for it.  

Video 

Unfortunately, we know that Blu-ray and 1080p displays are merciless in highlighting any faults in source material.  That Contempt is considered one of the ten best films of all time by a number of academics likely meant that the Blu-ray transfer was as original as possible, with very little post-production.

It pains me to score this Blu-ray as low as I did, but it is fair and accurate.  The era in which the film was shot is revealed in all its glory on Blu-ray, including excessive “swimming” grain, which caused pronounced softness except in the brightest of shots.  Sunlight shots bloom with color, but interior shots vary between dull and washed, or cold and sterile.

There is a certain beauty to these older films – in a world where CGI further blurs the line between reality and imagination, it is almost uncomfortable to view a movie that has so much “human-ness” to it.  These were movies that were “made” not recorded, and the quality of the craft is evident.  Unfortunately, there is very little in the image that suited it to a high-def treatment.

Audio 

As expected, the original soundtrack suffers under the same recording limitations any early 1960’s mono track would have.  Besides being a solely front-loaded presentation, the DTS-MA 2.0 dual mono soundtrack is very harsh and forward in the mids, and is lacking both upper and lower dynamics.  One can almost hear the hiss of the original analog tape masters as sounds are reproduced, mainly due to the overall presentation of the sound.  The subwoofer is obviously unnecessary for this type of track.

As a side note, I did watch the movie in its original form (French, German, and English with English subtitles).  Not only is this true to Godard’s original, one has truly not been told they are contemptible unless they’ve been told so by a cold, angry French woman.

Although Studio Canal put an obvious amount of work into the soundtrack, it cannot escape its period limitations.

Special Features 

This is challenging for me to rate, as the features on this disc were different than seen on virtually any other disc I’ve seen.  Firstly, it comes with an 18-page booklet (yes, a real paper booklet) containing an essay on Contempt by Film Studies Professor Ginette Vincendeau.  This alone is one of the highlights of the package for me, though it can be a bit esoteric.

Video special features are mixed between period features (“The Dinosaur and the Baby” and “Conversation with Fritz Lang”) and more modern features in 16 x 9 (“Once Upon a Time There Was Contempt”, “Introduction by Colin McCabe”, and “Contempt…Tenderly”).

Combined, these features offer almost three hours of film-study quality documentary.  For a movie of this age, a feature level like this is unheard of.  And unlike most BRDs, I anticipate returning to this disc on subsequent occasions, simply to glean additional levels of film knowledge out of these features.  

Final Thoughts

Contempt has been cited as Godard’s most accessible movie, and I can wholeheartedly agree that this is no elitist art house movie.  Instead, we are treated to a perfectly enjoyable, superbly cast film with levels of subtext that demand our attention.  Although there are audio and video limitations due to the age of the movie, it is difficult to imagine any truly “classic” movies that will not have these issues. 

This movie will appeal to those who wish to understand Godard’s lasting influence in cinema today, and also those who look for more out of movies other than mindless entertainment.  Like any good movie, I have found myself reevaluating the film and its characters for days after its viewing. 

I can also see how this movie would not appeal to all.  The official wife of this reviewer spent a few minutes watching the movie, and was not engaged in any way, nor was even enticed to sit down and ask “So what’s going on?”.  There are those who do not wished to be challenged by movies; I believe they will find little to enjoy in Contempt.

Film 

Broken Embraces is one of those films that takes awhile to pull you in but once it does, you are in for good. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles which may put off some viewers. Please don’t let that fact dissuade you from experiencing this film. The opening is a bit disjointed as it is another film that contains a series of flashbacks to built the plot line.

The film is essentially two love stories both centering around Magdelena or Lena in yet another riveting and sensual performance by Penelope Cruz. The film opens in the present and focus on a former director who continues to make a living writing screenplays. He is blind as a result of some sort of accident that is not disclosed until later in the film.

After losing his sight, the director, refused to be acknowledged by his given name, Mateo Blanco, instead choosing to be known as Harry Caine. Once you are introduced to Harry, the film flashes back to introduce you to Lena and her older lover Ernesto, a high powered and wealthy power broker, who after a series of prior marriages, develops a fixation with Lena.

The relationship between Ernesto and Lena is clearly one of convenience, at least for Lena, who is using Ernesto for his wealth having come from very modest means, which Ernesto is happy to share in exchange for Lena’s physical attributes. However, over time, Lena begins to become dissatisfied with Ernesto and her life with him and seeks out to carve out a career as a film actress, a career which she had given up on in the past. She auditions for a role in Mateo’s latest film and he, quite naturally becomes quite smitten with her, a fact which does come to the attention of Ernesto, who will take any step necessary not to lose his beloved Lena.

I am hesitant to give up much more of the plot so as to not spoil the film for those of you who may want to see it. Suffice it to say that this is a beautifully written and directed film and features fine performances by the entire cast and is highly recommended.

Video  

The video on this release is visually appealing in more ways than one. Penelope Cruz looks sensational here as does the cinematography. The film features a natural color palette with bright and bold primary colors and deep blacks. Detail and background details are excellent as well, with the fine facial details in the actors’ faces, and in Ms. Cruz’ case, her physique, beautifully rendered. Clarity and depth of image are top notch as well. I was not able to detect any obvious evidence of the application of edge enhancement or digital noise reduction. In short, this is a great looking film that has been faithfully encoded to the Blu-ray format and looks exactly as it was meant to be by the director, which is how it should be.

Audio 

The quality of the audio reproduction on this release is very impressive as well. While the film is rather front heavy with only occasional use of the surrounds, the overall fidelity of the sound more than makes up for the shortcomings of the sound design in terms of immersion. The film features a rich and smooth sound with excellent transparency and imaging. While I wouldn’t call the sound design bombastic by any means, there are a few instances with rich, tight and dynamic bass. Just take a listen to the music track being played by the character Diego, at a local club where he is the DJ. The bass is deep and tight without even a hint of bloat.

Overall, the two brief scenes in the club offer the best sound in the film, with the most aggressive use of the surrounds to create a nice immersive sound experience. While I don’t speak much Spanish, the dialogue track features excellent fidelity as well and would be easy to follow were you fluent in Spanish. The overall musical score is also presented with excellent fidelity, with a smooth and natural sound with excellent transparency and depth. Other than the lack of an aggressive use of the surrounds, the audio on this release is top notch and very pleasing to the ears.

Special Features 

I can;t say that I was impressed with the extras included with this release. Unlike most releases, there is no making of featurette included. Also missing is the usual director’s commentary. The extras include some deleted scenes as well as a featurette “Pedro Directs Penelope” which consists of a split screen with the director coaching Penelope during one of the scenes of the film, in Spanish of course. Not exactly entertaining.

Also included is a brief featurette “On the Red Carpet: The New York Film Festival Closing Night” featuring interviews with Penelope Cruz and director Pedro Almodovar. Also included is a Variety Q & A with Penelope Cruz as well as an original film by Pedro Almodovar entitled “The Cannibalistic Councillor” which is an extended sequence of a scene that is featured in Broken Embraces.

None of the extras are presented in true HD. While some of the graphics are in HD, the actual video footage is widescreen standard definition. The release is BD-Live enabled but does not include a digital copy.

Final Thoughts 

Broken Embraces is a wonderful film that features a fine performance by Penelope Cruz and fine audio and video presentations. The film is well worth a look and is highly recommended.

Film 

I must say that I love Robin Williams and I would be reluctant to describe any film starring him as awful, as he has a wonderfully engaging on screen persona. When he is on he is on. However, his choices of films can at times be shall we say, a bit questionable One such choice is Old Dogs.

The film stars Robin Williams and John Travolta as Dan and Charlie, two lifelong friends who own a sports marketing firm together in New York. Both are single and happy and want nothing to do with kids. After Dan’s divorce 7 years prior to the time period featured in the film, Charlie invites Dan to accompany him to Miami where they can celebrate Dan’s divorce. While there, they both get hammered and Dan marries Vicky, played by John Travolta’s real life wife, Kelly Preston. In light of their obvious intoxication, the marriage is immediately annulled.

Flash forward 7 years and Dan is thrilled to learn that Vicky is traveling to New York to meet him. While Dan is hoping to rekindle their relationship, Vicky has a surprise, namely two twin children that Dan fathered unbeknownst to him during their brief fling in Miami. Vicky asks Dan to watch the kids for 2 weeks while she is serving time in jail for an incident of civil disobedience. As you could image, taking care of two 7-years-olds that he has never met before and inserting them into his busy life while he and Charlie are working on a 47 million dollar deal with a firm in Japan, proves to be somewhat of a challenge.

The film itself is totally predictable, with both Robin Williams and John Travolta mailing in their performances. They at least look like they are having a good time. The film is something of a family affair for John Travolta, with his wife in the role of Vicky and his daughter Ella Bleu, playing one of Dan’s children. However, the script is filled with lame and predictable jokes and scenarios that we have all seen before. The film certainly has some mildly humorous moments, but not enough for me to give this film anything other than a tepid at best recommendation as a rental.

Video 

All things considered, this is a fine looking encode and looks great on Blu-ray. With the exception of the skin tones in this film, this film features a fairly natural color palette with bright and bold and well saturated primary colors and deep and inky blacks. Detail is excellent with every skin pore and detail visible on the faces of each actor. Clarity is excellent as well, producing a razor sharp image. The is a little video noise during some night time exterior shots and some minor image softness during the dimly lit interior scenes. However, other than those two minor quibbles, this is a great looking release and is one that will no doubt please fans of the film. It looks much better than I had anticipated it to. I just wish that the script was a match for the video presentation.

Audio 

Much to my surprise, the audio on Old Dogs is a bit over the top, features aggressive use of the surrounds and really punched up base. Each any every sound effect features deep and tight bass, from falls to crashes and some musical sequences, there is a ton of base in this sound design. Bass junkies will love this film as it will certainly give your subwoofer a workout. However, I must say that the sound effects are a bit cartoonish in nature which can be either a plus or a minus depending on your point of view.

Overall, the fidelity of the recorded sound is excellent as well. The dialogue track is well recorded and well presented in the mix, although not quite up to the very best I have heard on the Blu-ray format. The surrounds are used early and aggressively, creating a nice immersive effect both during interior and exterior scenes. For a comedy, this element of the sound design was much appreciated and a surprise. While there is little in the way of subtlety in this sound design, it matches the overall tone of what the film aspires to be but does not quite achieve.

Special Features 

Old Dogs is available as a single Blu-ray release or as part of a three disc combo pack, with a DVD edition of the film as well as a digital copy. The extras are the same on the Blu-ray disc regardless of whether the single or combo pack editions are purchased. I was provided with a copy of the combo pack for review. On the plus side, all of the extras are presented in high definition and look quite good. On the down side, the extras themselves are pretty pedestrian.

The extras include a featurette entitled Young Dogs Learn Old Tricks, in which Robin Williams is the subject of an obvious scripted interview by the actor who plays his young son and John Travolta by his daughter. This is a fairly forgettaable exercise if you ask me. A short blooper reel is also included as well as three deleted scenes. A director’s commentary is also included featuring director Walt Becker, Producer Andrew Panay and writers David Diamond and David Weissman. The final extras are two music videos, “You’ve Been a Friend to Me” performed by Bryan Adams and “Every Little Step” featuring John and Ella Bleu Travolta.

Final Thoughts 

Old Dogs is a rather forgettable and predictable comedy that features very good audio and video presentations. If this sounds like your kind of film, by all means give Old Dogs a look. However, I would strongly recommended that you do so on the basis of a rental only.

Film

Michael Corleone’s rise to power and plunge into darkness is on the verge of completion within the sequel to Mario Puzo’s The Godfather. We see the Corleone family as their empire expands to Nevada and begins to thrive off of the casinos they own.

The film also takes us back prior to the first film and shows us the rise to power of the young Vito Corleone (played by Robert De Niro), which was part of the storyline cut out of the first Godfather script. Both tales are weaved together to form the continuation of the Corleone saga.

The sequel is often considered to be more of an extension of the first film, whereas The Godfather III is considered to be an epilogue. The film is sometimes edited with the timelines of Godfather I & II in chronological order, showing the strong relationship these films have.

The Sapphire Series version of The Godfather II, however is the original theatrical cut and does not contain some of the deleted scenes that appeared on previous releases of the film. We get to enjoy the film as the original audiences enjoyed it. If you’re disappointed by the fact that there are missing scenes of the film, please note that sometimes the edited down version of Francis Ford Coppola is the better version… Case-in-point: Apocalypse Now Redux!

The Godfather II is one of the few sequels that is as beloved as the original film and considering the fact that The Godfather is one of the most beloved films of all time… That says a lot! The film’s dark and noir tones really suit the content and with Paino giving a great performance once again as Michael Corleone, we get to truly see how the rise to power has so many consequences.

De Niro’s performance as the young Vito Corleone is definitely my favourite part as he captures the spirit that filled Marlon Brando’s iconic performance and gives us some backstory about what it takes to become the Don.

The film contains just as many thrills as the first and has just as many, if not more, emotional moments that make you both loathe and somewhat respect the characters you watch. Without giving anything away to those who may not have had the opportunity to see this great film, it’s an essential watch.

Video

Godfather II ‘s video is in 1080p and uses the AVC MPEG-4 codec to display the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The film overall is very clean considering the age and the concern surrounding whether or not the original prints would last. There are a few shots that are subject to noise and grain overloads, but they’re few and far between… The transfer is definitely well done.

The film’s dark and moody lighting definitely give the film a signature look; from the chiaroscuro style lighting that was a marquee of noir filmmaking and German expressionism within art, to the candlelit scenes where our characters spend more time dwelling on their thoughts than expressing them through dialogue. It definitely says a lot about a movie when characters spend a lot of time in silence and yet the way the actor is displayed speaks louder than words could… A scene that comes to mind is the great two-face moment where Al Pacino’s face is lit from one side leaving the other side of his face in darkness, representing that great battle of duality within. It brought back to memory a similar shot from Citizen Kane.

It was definitely a treat watching this film with my projector and it definitely stood up to being projected to 100” so it will look even more remarkable on an HDTV!

Audio 

The Godfather II’s sound comes at us in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Dolby Digital Mono in English only, there are also English and Portuguese subtitles.

It never comes as a shock to me that when I’m faced with a great transfer of an older film, that the time was really spent cranking out a stunning image while the audio is lower on the priorities. The sound lacks dynamic fidelity and really doesn’t take advantage of the surround presence that makes TrueHD one of my favourite audio codecs. I’d imagine that a new mix wouldn’t be too hard to get a go ahead for considering the importance of these films, but nonetheless we are presented with a less than great audio source to go along with The Godfather II. The sound definitely isn’t bad, it carries over that great seventies tone that came with the equipment and although the overall mix is a little quieter it definitely stpood up to being cranked through my speakers.

The dialogue is handled very well and comes through crisp and clear while maintaining the warmth in the vocals. The foley was done quite well, some of the gunshots and fireworks (Vito timeline scene) were mixed a little louder, making me want to reach for the remote after turning up the volume to hear the dialogue, but it wasn’t that bad at all.

The epic and famous score comes at us beautifully, giving you goosebumps when you first hear it as it recalls all the memories from the first Godfather.
Although I wasn’t as impressed with the sound as much as the video, it’s definitely not a deal breaker.

Special Features

To hear that there is only one special feature within Paramount’s Sapphire Series, which Paramount considers their version of the Criterion Collection, is a bit of a disappointment. However the commentary by Francis Ford Coppola is definitely one of the best I’ve heard and considering the length of the film, is an achievement in itself… Can you imagine going on about a film for three and half hours while trying to be insightful and keeping the audience interested? Considering this is Francid ford Coppola, let’s just say he did it.

Final Thoughts 

The film is a classic and I believe the whole trilogy is a must-have… yes, even the third one. These films are some of the most important pieces of cinematic history and having them on Blu-ray is simply allowing you the ability to watch them in the best possible way. Although the Sapphire Series version of The Godfather II is practically barebones, whereas the Coppola Restoration Trilogy set has an entire disc dedicated to special features, most of the features are regarding the first Godfather film.

To lovers of the original saga, The Sapphire Series release of the first two Godfather films is probably the most essential Blu-ray purchase out there.

Film 

Where the Wild Things Are is based on the wildly popular illustrated children’s book of the same name by Maurice Sendak. Mr. Sendak is very proud of his book as he should be and has rebuffed many efforts over the years to bring his book to the silver screen, waiting for the right director with the right vision. Well, he has found the right man for the job in Spike Jonze, who has turned his book into a wonderfully moving, poignant and thought provoking film.

The film stars a total newcomer, Max Records, as Max, a young boy who has issues with anger management, who when agitated, becomes wildly angry, lashing out against members of his family. After a particularly nasty encounter with his mother, he runs away from home and finds a small sailboat on the bank of a small river. He imagines sailing away on that boat and landing on a strange island inhabited by a strange looking group of big furry creatures that can talk. They are quite a wild bunch but take a liking to Max, making him their king.

Max grows close to one of the creatures in particular, a burly and aggressive creature named Carol who is wonderfully voiced by James Gandolfini. Carol and Max are kindred spirits as they share an inability to control their anger. It is through watching Carol interact with his fellow creatures as well as himself, that Max learns how to deal with and control his anger and better interact and relate to his family and peers.

In addition to James Gandolfini, the film also features the voices of Forrest Whitaker and Catherine O’Hara. Where the Wild Things Are is a fine film and is well worth your time and is highly recommended.

Video 

Simply put, the cinematography on this film is excellent and looks great on this Blu-ray release. The film features a very natural looking color palette with spot on skin tones, especially during the early scenes in the film at Max’s home. The scenes that occur on the island with the creatures offer varying shades of browns and grays but look just as impressive nonetheless.

The film also features deep and inky blacks and excellent levels of detail and clarity. While I was very impressed with the overall loom of the film, there are a number of instances, mostly dimly lit interior scenes that are a bit soft, lacking the clarity, depth and detail of the rest of the film. Otherwise, this is a great looking encode and is one that should thrill fans of the film.

Audio  

Quite frankly, I was not really prepared for the quality of the audio on this release. The fidelity is simply astounding. The transparency and imaging is among the best I have ever heard in the home, with a sense of depth and three dimensionality that is wonderful. The surrounds are used often and aggressively, creating a totally immersive sound field. Dynamics are excellent as well. Just listen to the bass during the scene on the stormy sea and the landing on the beach in rough surf. This is true reference material. The same is true of the action sequences with the creatures on the island.

I can’t imagine how the sound on this release could be any better. Even better is the fidelity of the dialogue track, with the various actors sounding as though they are right in the room with you, which is high praise indeed. The audio presentation of this release is darn near perfect and fully worthy of a full 5 star rating.

Special Features 

The extras on this release are fairly plentiful. The main extra is a short live action animation film entitled Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More to Life, featuring the voices of Meryl Streep and Forrest Whitaker. This film is an adaptation of another of Maurice Sendak’s book by the National Film Board of Canada and is another interesting film that is well worth a look.

The rest of the extras involve the making of featurette, which contains sections of footage that is also featured in the more fleshed out sections that follow. These sections show detailed interactions with Spike Jonze and Maurice Sendak where they discuss why Maurice agreed to do the film with Spike, a section where the hunt and eventual selection of Max Records for the lead role of Max is discussed with the Spike and the Records’ family, and a more detailed look at the Records family.

They also include a discussion of the scoring of the film with composer Carter Burwell and short segments of fun on the set, including a vampire attack sequence with Spike Jonze and Max Records, an on set prank involving a scooter, kids on set and the difficulty involved in trying to film a dog barking while running. I would watch the main behind the scenes feature and should you be interested in more detail about one aspect of the featurette, check out the individual segments that follow.

The release is a two-disc set, with the second disc consisting of a DVD copy of the film along with a digital copy compatible with Macs and PCs.

Final Thoughts 

Where the Wild Things Are is a very original film which is engaging and through provoking and is well worth a look. The fact that is features excellent video and reference audio is an added bonus. Highly recommended.

 As a general rule of thumb, movies based on video games tend to well, lets say, not quite meet expectations.  Although there are exceptions to the rule (like Pokémon, or Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within), for each good movie there is three or four bad ones (like Street Fighter or Super Mario Brothers).

This being said, a quick read of the cover jacket piqued my interest, as this Blu-ray was a compilation of seven stories told through eight anime shorts.  As a lover of anime, I find that the art form (when done well) has both emotional and aesthetic resonance that stays with the viewer days afterward.

Therefore, I optimistically sat down to view this Blu-ray with an eager air of anticipation – even though it was based on a video game, I knew there was an opportunity to enjoy the work of at least seven different anime directors.

Film 

There is always some difficulty in reviewing anime, as I do find the animation art form we are raised with in North America affecting our frame of reference.  As we are conditioned to enjoy Chuck Jones-style slapstick or Scooby-Doo stupidity, I have often felt there are many levels to anime films that the North American viewer fails to appreciate.

As a Halo neophyte, I found the order of the shorts and the information provided to be more than adequate to understand the stories.  However, I should caution that this is from the perspective of an experienced anime viewer – I am used to not having everything explained in detail to me.  For someone who has not watched anime, or is unfamiliar with Halo, they may find some of the shorts challenging to enjoy, as they’re too distracted trying to understand what they are about.  For this segment of the population, an advance visit to the Special Features before watching the shorts is advised.  

I can thankfully report that this Blu-ray covers the anime waterfront – from linear and traditional  (Origins, Part I and II), to incredibly stylistic and emotionally powerful (The Duel), to heavy and self-reflective (Homecoming), to mecha (Prototype), to action (The Babysitter), and to humor (Odd One Out).  Even the viewer who is inexperienced with anime should find something to like here.  The only short that seemed really out of place on the Blu-ray was the CGI-rendered “The Package”, which was more like Star Wars I through III, and less like traditional anime.

A very powerful theme that runs through the best anime is that of redemption – that a flawed character is eventually redeemed through making amends, self-sacrifice, a redemptive act, self-awareness, or choosing not to engage in an act.  Of the eight shorts, redemption was at the fore in four, and was considered in two others.  This gave the Blu-ray a credibility and weight far superior to what it should have from the source material.

Overall, this disc was very well done.  If asked to pick favourites, “Odd One Out” appeared at a great time on the disc, adding a needed levity after some heavier segments.  “The Babysitter”, “Homecoming”, and “Prototype” were also equally well done, and fit very well into a traditional anime mold.  However, special praise is reserved for “The Duel”, a short that is stylistically unlike anything I’ve seen previously. 

In “The Duel”, each scene looked like a shifting watercolor painted by a master like Renoir: sharp enough to suggest the scene, diffuse enough to allow your mind to add the details, yet having one fine detail at all times (like eyes) that jars and focuses the viewer.  It has to be seen to be understood; my words do not do it justice.  On top of this visceral beauty, the story dealt with strong concepts such as honor, power, loyalty, belief, murder, and revenge, very impressive in a short this length.

All in all, this was a very entertaining disc.  Although the Spartans (of which Master Chief is one) and their war are what tie this movie together, the variety of settings, character perspectives, and anime styles are what make the disc such a treat.

Video 

As can be expected from any animated picture, the transfer was incredibly clean and sharp.  Colors popped off the screen, yet tones were not lost, especially important when the color itself was being used to convey emotion.  This is especially noted at the beginning of “Prototype” (when tones are used to set a somber mood) and when the Spartan returns home in the middle of “Homecoming” (the bright clear sky and fountain convey joy in a way words cannot).

It is difficult to nit-pick this Blu-ray, as the video is superb and smooth, with no artifacting, black crush, or noise to be seen.  The only challenge is that with such different art styles and directorial visions, there would have been some compromise in color balancing the disk.  This shows up in a few of the paler shorts, mainly “Origins I” and “The Babysitter”.

Although this is not a reference disk (like Wall-E), it is very, very close, and looks superb. 

Audio 

As mentioned in the Video section, there can be a challenge when bringing together eight different shorts, yet getting them sonically balanced.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack of this Blu-ray did a surprisingly admirable job of doing so.

Dynamic levels were exceptionally good (considering the variety of anime presented), and dialog came through crisp and clear.  Combat scenes had thump and power, shell casings landed all around the viewer, and surround channels were used regularly and appropriately.  For DD 5.1, it was one of the best I’ve heard, and better than some True HD mixes.

My only complaint is the presence and mixing of the score.  Much of the music is beautifully composed, and adds to the mood and atmosphere of the disc.  However, there is too much of a good thing at times – the score can occasionally be invasive through the rear channels in some segments, and there is simply too much of it.

One of the things I appreciate about anime is that there does not always need to be a constant cacophony of dialog, music, and action noises.  Some of the best scenes in may favourite anime are where there is silent and contemplative reflection (anathema to the Hollywood studio).  Think of the trolley scene in Spirited Away or the train station scene with Shinji and Misato near the end of episode four of Neon Genesis Evangelion – there is a beauty to these scenes that North American studios would mangle. 

Special Features 

It is a special disk which contains shorts that are so memorable, you’d rather watch them a few times more before reviewing the special features.  But, the features must be reviewed.  Such is my duty as your humble reviewer.

As a non-Halo fan, I did not find the commentaries really that interesting, and I’m confident enthusiasts will get more out of these than I did.  Although discussions of the styles of the different directors were good, it was simply not enough to keep me interested.

For the same reasons, I did not find the “Gaming Evolved” featurette all that interesting either.  Presented in 1080i, at least its presentation and run time was good, and would be a walk down memory lane for the itchy-fingered masses.

“The Story so Far” was an interesting featurette, and would be a good starting place for the Halo uninitiated to start.  It explains a lot of the back stories (again in 1080i), and would be perfect for the person who needs to know everything about what they are watching.  Again, I do not have issues with the partial-plot nature of anime, and found I enjoyed the shorts better by knowing less.  However, this was a very good offering, and I could see how it would be appreciated by others.

To me, the cherry on the sundae was the almost hour-long “Making of” featurette which actually dissects each one of the shorts.  This is one of those great “behind the scenes” features that allow you to understand the craft better.  Recorded in 1080i, this is fully worth the time invested.

I was glad to see that Warner Brothers went the quality route with their featurettes on this Blu-ray.  Although not all were to my tastes, my score for these reflects more the overall value that others (especially the neophyte) will likely get from this package.

Final Thoughts

Although apprehensive before viewing the movie, I was actually rewarded with a nicely crafted “variety pack” of anime.  Through emotive storytelling and beautiful video/audio presentation, this disc surprised me with the depth, comprehensibility, and emotion of its stories.  Even though the material was a bit uneven, there was much more good than bad on this disc.  And when it was good, it was really good.

I would fully recommend this movie to those who appreciate anime, and to those who appreciate animation as an art form.  Even those who aren’t anime or Halo fans are presented with quality special features that would allow them to fully enjoy the shorts. 

In my experience, it is rare to be able to sample such a great variety of anime on one disk, especially one with such a high quality presentation.  Highly recommended.

Film  

I am sure that most of you are familiar with the uplifting and eventually tragic story of Amelia Earhart, the first women to fly solo over the Atlantic and a pioneer in the world of women’s aviation, who met her demise in 1937 over the Pacific, while attempting to become to first person to circumnavigate the globe in an airplane.

The film stars Hilary Swank as Amelia and Richard Gere as her business manager and eventual husband, George Putnam. The film starts out with Amelia on the last leg of her faithful journey and then in a series of flashbacks, tells her story, from her love of flying as a child, to her first flight across the Atlantic, fight for women’s rights, and status as a role model for other women. It also documents Amelia’s role as a pitchwoman to make the money necessary to continue her flying, her role in the launch of the first commercial air shuttle between New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, that helped usher in the role of regular air travel in the US as well as her personal life with her husband an eventually an affair with Gene Vidal, one of her partners in the shuttle endeavor.

What would a movie like this be like without a bit of a love story thrown in right? While I was aware of Amelia Earhart’s accomplishments, this films helps to put a little meat on the bones of her story, provides us, with a bit more of a glimpse into what she was really like as a person and as an aviation pioneer, beyond what one can glean from the printed page.

It is this regard that I really enjoyed the film, even though the ultimate ending of the film was known from the beginning. Amelia features fine performances from the three leads, including Ewan McGregor as Gene Vidal. With this cast, one would expect nothing less. I enjoyed this film and hope you will as well. Recommended.

Video  

I must say that I was a bit disappointed with the quality of the video on Amelia. My biggest complaint is in the level of sharpness and detail. The entire film has a soft look to it, lacking the clarity and depth that I have come to really appreciate with the Blu-ray format. While this is not the fault of the encode but a stylistic choice on the pat of the director, I would have nonetheless preferred an image with greater clarity and depth.

The color palette, while certainly appealing visually, is a bit on the warm side, with ruddy complexions the rule rather than the exception and with many exterior shots, bathed in a rather warm golden sunlight. Blacks, while stable, are far from inky but more than respectable. In addition to the level of clarity, I also thought the level of fine detail to be a bit below the best looking films, with facial detail lacking, with faces looking smoothed over a bit but without any real evidence of digital noise reduction.

The lack of detail is the result of the overall softness of the photography rather than the result of the application of the dreaded DNR as film grain looks well preserved. While I enjoyed the overall look of the film in terms of the color choices used, I would have preferred a film with better clarity and overall detail and three dimensionality than what is provided on this release.

Audio 

While I was a bit disappointed with the video I was more than pleased with the audio. What is evident from the very opening of the film is the excellent fidelity of the sound which is true for the entire film. The sound is smooth, rich and open with excellent transparency and imaging, without even a hint of shrillness or hardness to the sound.

While I would not say that the film sports a totally immersive sound design, the surrounds are used more often and more aggressively that I had imagined they would, especially during the various flying sequences. In particular, the night time flying sequence though a thunder storm was particularly effective, with the sound of thunder and the swirling of winds rendered in a very realistic manner. These “action” sequences featured excellent overall dynamics and excellent bass response. The same can be said for the musical score, especially the one live big band sequence in a club which sounded fantastic. The dialogue track was also well recorded and features excellent overall fidelity as well and was well placed in the mix. In short, I was more than pleased with the sound on this release.

Special Features 

While the extras included with Amelia are rather standard faire, I found most to be interesting and informative. I must say that my favorite extra is the Movietone news reel footage from the 20’s and 30’s, featuring actual footage of the real Amelia Earhart. Back in the day before TV, the only way to “see” the news and the news makers of the day was through these news reels shown before films at the local theater, much in the way trailers are today. Looking and hearing the real Amelia Earhart, I must say that Hilary Swank really got it right with her performance, capturing the look and sound of the real thing.

In addition to the Movietone news reel footage, the extras also include several deleted scenes and a making of featurette entitled Making Amelia featuring interviews with the director, Mira Nair, Hilary Swank, Richard Gere and other memebers of the cast and crew. Also included is the feaaturette The Power of Amelia Earhart where members of the cast and crew discuss the historical significance of Amelia Earhart and what she means to them.

Also included is a short featurette “The Plane Behind the Legend” which details how a real Lockheed Electra from 1941 was flown from Europe to Africa and used in the film and features an interview with the owner of the aircraft, which is in its original condition and kept in perfect working order. Rather than use CGI to recreate the look of the plane Amelia was flying at the time of her disappearance, it was felt that live aerial footage would look better and it sure did. What a great looking plane!

The final extra is another featurette entitled “Re-Constructing the Planes of Amelia” which details how the mock-ups for the other aircraft in Amelia were constructed. The release also includes a digital copy of the film that is compatible with Macs and PCs.

Final Thoughts 

While Amelia fell a bit short of what I was expecting in terms of picture quality, it is a well written, directed, acted and very engaging film that most audiences should find appealing and is recommended.

While the “science” and “scholarship” around these ends of days prophecies are dubious at best, it makes for great fodder for an action film. It is the fulfillment of this Mayan prophecy (actually, they didn’t predict then end of the world, rather just the end of their calender which aren’t necessarily the same thing), that forms the basis of Roland Emmerich’s film 2012. How does it stack up against two of his other well known action films, Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow? Unfortunately, not real well.

Film 

The best way I can describe this film is that it is a continuous action loop with no plot and ridiculous over the top action and mega disaster sequences. The film features the opening of fissure after fissures in the earth’s crust, the total destruction of many of the world’s largest cities, which are swallowed up before our eyes, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Speaking of Washington, D.C, what does Roland Emmerlich have against the White House? In Independence Day, it is blow to bits by an alien spacecraft.

In 2012, it is flattened by the USS John F. Kennedy, which is somehow swept into the D.C area by a giant tsunami and dropped on the White House. But I digress. The film has a very basic plot. The governments of the world discover that the tectonic plates are about to undergo massive changes which will remake the surface of the planet, all caused by a massive increase in the amount of neutrinos being released by the sun and heating up the Earth’s core (Don’t ask!).

In total secret, the world’s major governments put into place a top secret plan to save select members of the human race and humankinds’ achievements. However, the changes occur much faster than anticipated and have the governments scrambling to save themselves. While all this is going on, a family is racing against time to save themselves once the father figures out that a crazy radio host is correct about the impending doomsday. Will they survive? Will humankind survive? You get the picture.

2012 has the thinnest of plots. From the begging of the film to the end, the picture is nothing but one action sequence after another. If you love an onslaught of action sequences, each seemingly bigger and more ridiculous than the one before, you will love 2012. If on the other hand, you are like me, and prefer a plot, meaningful dialogue and character development and stellar acting, you will be very disappointed with this film. if you love mindless non stop action films, 2012 is the film for you. Otherwise, 2012 is rated as a rental only.

Video 

While I didn’t care for the film, the video is excellent. It features well saturated deep and rich colors, a fairly natural color palette and deep blacks. While some of the scenes can be a bit dark, shadow detail is excellent. Overall detail is very good although it does fall just a bit short of the very best looking films in regards to facial and background detail. Some of the darker interior and nighttime scenes exhibit a tiny degree of softness compared to the more brightly lit exterior scenes.

I didn’t detect any obvious evidence of edge enhancement, digital noise reduction or excessive video noise. Other than the softness as noted which is rather minor and the lack of a uber degree of detail, this is a film looking film and an excellent encode and fully worthy of a 4.5 star rating. I have no doubt that fans of the film will be more than pleased with the video presentation on this release.

Audio 

While I found the video presentation to fall just a tad short of the best looking Blu-ray releases, the same can’t be said for the audio which is simply astounding. Every aspect of the audio is of reference quality, with balls to the walls bass and dynamics which is off the charts. The film’s sound design features an aggressive use of the surrounds that creates a totally immersive sound experience. When the walls of homes and buildings begin to split and rip apart, it sounds as though your room is being torn apart too. Talk about floor and wall rattling bass, this encode has it in spades.

The fidelity of the recorded sound is excellent as well an is not fatiguing, even at reference and beyond levels. The dialogue track is also well recorded and well placed in the mix. Despite all the raucous action and cacophony, the dialogue track is always audible and intelligible. The sound design here represents an all out aural assault and is reference in all respects.

Special Features 

The one disc release of this film contains a rather threadbare set of extras, limited to an alternate ending to the film as well as a commentary with writer/director Roland Emmerich and co-writer Harald Kloser. Also included is a PIP feature where Roland Emmerlich discusses various aspects of his vision for the film. We also get a movieIQ feature where information, trivia, etc. related to the film will pop up while you are watching the film. While I would have preferred being provided with the 2-disc Special Edition to review, I wasn’t… so I guess you will have to explore the extras found on the Special Edition release on your own.

Final Thoughts 

2012 is really a mindless action film that has little in the way of a plot. If you enjoy this type of film, by all means pick up a copy. For the rest of you, I would still rate the film as a rental, if only to experience to truly reference audio track which is stupendous.

Series 

It’s hard to call “The Clone Wars” a series, mostly due to the fact that the story arcs don’t last more than a few episodes and it’s really a stab in the dark to tell when each storyline is taking place. Remember, I know as much about Star Wars as I do about quantum mechanics. However, even though these tangent storylines are short, they’re the perfect length to tell a quick story within the Star Wars universe without having to worry about infringing on canon set forth by the films.  Lucas knows how to please his fans in a way that is both exciting and completely null considering we know Anakin isn’t going to suddenly die in a storyline that takes place before the Darth Vader days… I may know a little about star wars.

When I started watching the first episode I was frightened when opposed to having your regular scrolling text like they do in the films, they decided to put in a narrator to recap the storyline. A bad thing? Not at all, time is tight on a 23 minute tv show… However when the voice of the narrator is that of a 50’s car salesman, perhaps your casting director should be fired. You get used to the voice over time though.

Throughout the different storylines we’re presented with a mixture of different elements. There’s great action scenes that contain amazing visual effects and very intense battles and then there’s these odd Saturday morning cartoon moments that really show you the seams of the production, this is a television show that needs to acceptable due to the fact it’s for kids. If you’re fearing that nothing tastes more bitter than a sugar-coated version of something you cherish like the Star Wars films, don’t worry. For the most part the droids are the main element that caters to younger audiences, from their silly dialogue to their slapstick antics… Did I laugh when a group of droids accidentally jumped to their death and the only droid who made the landing was subsequently hit by a train? Perhaps.

For the most part the series is a great watch mostly for the visuals, but the storyline isn’t as campy and cheesy as I feared. It’s definitely the perfect helping for a quick dose of some sci-fi adventure. The distribution of television series is probably my favorite aspect of being an avid movie watcher, because when you only have an hour to kill and can’t finish a full length feature, sometimes it’s nice to kick back and watch something short and sweet. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 1 is definitely short and sweet!

Video 

The Clone Wars comes at us in 1080p/VC-1 and surprisingly uses 2.35:1 aspect ratio for a television series. I was originally going to critique the animation at times throughout the series. I was going to say when you compare it to the amazingly fluid animation from other Lucas arts or ILM projects that the Clone Wars series seems a bit lesser in quality… but then I remembered THIS IS A WEEKLY TELEVISION SERIES! Considering they have to pump out 2 hours (roughly a Pixar movie’s length) worth of animation within a month is insane.

The animation is great, the backdrops are detailed and well designed, and the character models have this unique and almost anime look to them that really fits the style of series.

The graphics look phenomenal being projected onto a 100″ screen and I was blown away by the colors and lighting throughout. The details are crisp and clear and everything moves smoothly and fluidly. The visual effects look amazing as well, it seems Lucas Arts spends just as much detail on the compositing on the show as they do in their bigger projects.

This is definitely showroom quality!

Audio

I had high expectations, being a bit of an audiophile, and my expectations weren’t met. Considering this is a Lucas Arts project and it was mixed at Skywalker Ranch (one of the top audio studios in the world), it better have some amazing sound!

I immediately expected to see a THX codec used or at the very least DTS-HD, but instead we’re given a subpar Dolby digital 5.1 mix that wasn’t mixed incredibly well. Sounds bled into one another in the multi-layered scenes such as a battle sequence that involves dozens of audio tracks on top of each other.

That being said the film doesn’t have a bad mix, just not a great one. The dialogue comes through nicely, the score sounded great and everything can clearly be heard when a million things are happening at once, but when the complex mixing is pushed to the limits the codec shows its weakness.

Special Features

The Blu-ray offers only two special features, minus trailers. They’re labeled Jedi Temple Archive and the Enhanced Jedi Temple Archives Mode. Although that doesn’t seem like much, both are actually quite insightful and allow the fans to see every facet of the development of the show from early concept art to pre-vis 3D tests.

The enhanced version of the archives plays while you’re watching the series and when a nugget of info is available for the scene you’re watching you have the option to learn more. The regular archive is more of a mini behind-the-scenes documentary that you don’t need to watch in the middle of each episode.

Even though there’s truly only two special features, they provide for information, back-story and insight into the development and production of the series then I’ve seen on a lot of other Blu-ray’s that have a giant list or separate discs full of features.

The only thing that may have been missing was a commentary track.

Final Thoughts 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 1 is definitely a well-made series on a technical level and although the show does have a lot of sugar-coated elements for kids, the action is intense and the storylines aren’t as 2 dimensional as they seem. With showroom quality video and great special features; newcomers, such as myself, are going to enjoy this release just as much as the fans. Even though I still have no idea how the Star Wars chronology goes, this series is a great watch!

However, no-one would compare Trailer Park Boys with M*A*S*H or The Simpsons.  Whereas the other shows became legendary for their subtlety, heart, and humor, the Trailer Park Boys possesses little of these qualities. 

And although this works in 30-minute slices on their TV show, can a feature length movie be carried by this sort of nihilistic and profane humor?  After its viewing I can say yes, but only if you are already a fan of the show and its “acquired taste” type of humor.

Film 

If you are not familiar with the series, there are a number of main characters around whom the plot eternally revolves.  Our three main protagonists are Julian (John Paul Tremblay), Ricky (Robb Wells), and Bubbles (Mike Smith), three residents of Sunnyvale Trailer Park.  Our two main antagonists are Jim Lahey (John Dunsworth) the alcoholic trailer park supervisor, and his ever shirtless live-in assistant, Randy (Patrick Roach).

Like most episodes of the show, the movie follows a similar pattern.  Shot as a “mockumentary” of Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles, the story begins on a day when all three are being released from jail.  Bubbles (who is released early in the day) returns to the trailer park to find the trailers destroyed, and his cats and kittens missing (revealed to be at the SPCA due to Jim).  Julian and Ricky are released later in the day, and promptly steal a corrections van to use in a liquor store hold up (in a very funny scene – Ricky uses a cardboard box as a disguise).

The main plot of the movie revolves around a now-sober Jim and his new deluxe trailer park, and his efforts to get Julian to sell out his old trailer so Jim can build a sewer line for the new park.   Meanwhile, Julian’s is attempting to “go straight” with “Success Autobody”, a business he has set up in his trailer, while Ricky is evaluating his relationship with Julian, and if this is a cause of all his life’s troubles.  Overriding all, both Julian and Ricky want to raise money to help their friend Bubbles rescue his cats from the SPCA.

Of course, Jim starts drinking again, creating huge complications for our protagonists and driving Randy away.  Julian, his business struggling, comes up with the perfect plot for financial freedom.  Ricky sets out to get his Grade 12 equivalency.  And Bubbles meets another kind soul who loves kitties and pot as much as he does.

To describe the goings-on would be to give away too many spoilers.  Suffice it for me to say that the movie is 100% consistent with the television show, though (unbelievably) the humor actually takes a step down at points.  Watch the car chase scene – you’ll know what I mean.  However, the additional run time allows us to get a bit more into the hearts of each character, something that makes them all a little more likeable, and allows us as viewers to empathize more.

If you like Trailer Park Boys, you will like this movie, guaranteed.  All of the elements, including Julian’s Rum and Coke, Randy’s gut, Ricky’s shirts and pants, and Jim running around drunk in tighty-whities and a bathrobe are there.  If you don’t like Trailer Park Boys or were unimpressed by the TV show, I’m not sure there’s much here that you would find appealing.

Video

The production values of the show have always been somewhat…frugal.  I mean, the show is set in a trailer park, right? From the outdated Chevy Astro vans, to the low-rent sets, this was not a premium production.  Mind you, at least there are some scenes that take place outside the trailer park.  Even though this is a feature length movie, there appeared to still be the same level of budgetary restraint that we saw in the TV show. 

This carried over to the video of the movie.  It appears to have been shot entirely on video, with bright scenes being extra sharp with no hint of grain.  Shadows in bright scenes showed hints of video noise and lack of detail, while dark scenes had excessive digital noise, and sparkling in black areas.  Camera work itself was also pedestrian, and although true to the “mockumentary” concept, it was well below what I expect in a movie. 

Overall, the video in Trailer Park Boys was better than most direct-to-video productions, and better than some transfers I’ve seen lately.  However, the inherent limitations of this low-cost video production were certainly visible, and the picture lacked the color, depth, and grain we would see in a film-based movie.       

Audio

Presented in DTS-HD MA, the audio of the movie was at a par with what is normally heard in the Dolby Digital 5.1 feed when watching the HD broadcasts of the shows.  This is unsurprising; this move appears to have production values that are consistent with the TV show.

Dynamic levels were not well balanced, with the dialog being very uneven through the centre channel.  Loud noises were very “spiky” – for example, when J-Roc shows up at Julian’s business, the rap percussion from his red and wood-paneled Cutlass wagon (yes, I know how that reads) quickly had me reaching for my remote.  

The surround channels were used sparingly during the movie, and became noticeable when information was fed to them.  This was actually distracting, but was consistent with the overall production values for the movie.

Overall, not a great audio presentation.

Special Features

The list of special features fits the general value-level of the overall package – this is a one-disc set in a fairly limited budget production.  What were included were an alternate ending, deleted scenes, and three featurettes, plus a commentary provided by fans from the show’s fan site.

Even though the bonus material is in 480p, some of its content will be of high quality to fans.  Notable features are the many deleted scenes, and the featurette “Sunnyvale Stories”, where it shows the making of the movie (by the actors who stay in character – remember, this is a mockumentary).

Although this is not the greatest set of special features, it somehow feels “right” for this particular package.  Thematically, it neatly ties the disc together. 

Final Thoughts

If you have watched Trailer Park Boys and have not enjoyed it, then this is not the movie for you.  If you find drugs, alcohol, or profanity offensive, I’d also give this one a pass.  However, if you have a taste for subversively crude comedy and bumbling yet good-hearted criminals, this may be worth a rent. 

However, the market for this movie will remain the dedicated legion of fans who tune into Trailer Park Boys at every opportunity.  For them, this movie is a buy, even just to watch Ricky tell Randy his magic-markered head looks “tough”, or to watch Randy toddle around in a wig, heels and a terry cloth sun dress (yes, I know how that reads).