Not nearly as bad as critics claimed during its brief theatrical run, "54" is simply not that good either!  Mike Meyers is outstanding in his portrayal of   Studio 54 owner Steve Rubell, but much of the film revolves around peripheral characters, and they're either uninteresting or just horribly miscast.  A fine example would be Neve Campbell playing a starlet, she's not a very good actress!!!   Ryan Phillippe, who can act, is horribly miscast here as the young waiter with high aspirations of stardom, and whom the film revolves around, even more so than Rubell.

The transfer is sharp.  Contrast is fine, and color values are perfect.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound offers an agressive sound mix and a wonderfully pumped up score. A music video is also offered.

Although "Playing by Heart" has numerous shortcomings, it's hard to lose interest in it.  The various storylines are captivating in the same way Altman's "Short Cuts" hypnotized viewers while ultimately leaving them stranded in the middle of nowhere after a long trip.  The trip in "Playing By Heart" is shorter than in "Short Cuts", and the stories are just as interesting.  The transfer is one of the best so far from BUENA VISTA, with flawless images throughout the film.  The dolby digital 5.1 soundtrack is also among the finest from BUENA VISTA so far, filled with directional effects and an awsome soundtrack.

Director Kevin Spacey's directorial debut, "Albino Alligator" is impressive at times, but in the end, disappointing.  The plot involves small-time hood/brothers holding up in a small bar following a botched robbery.  The pacing is so uneven that viewers will feel as if they're being held hostage along with the spooked patrons.   To BUENA VISTA and Spacey's credit, an audio commentary track with the director gives insight into what kinds of problems were involved in making the film, and Spacey seems to know the film's problems along with the viewer.  The transfer is generally sharp, although there are a few grainy sequences.  The dolby digital 5.1 soundtrack is effective, without being aggressive.

A misunderstood and beautiful film, "Powder" deals with alienation with powerful imagery as a young man's goodwill and mysterious powers affect those around him in a small town.  The acting, direction, and cinematography are outstanding.   The dvd transfer is superior to the laserdisc version with greater clarity and depth of color.  The dolby digital 5.1 soundtrack is filled with directional effects.

How does David Schwimmer keep getting parts?  He truly makes Steve Guttenberg look like a Shakespearian actor.  Schwimmer whines his way though this poor excuse of a film, stealing ideas from other films, and not even improving upon them.  Gwyneth Paltrow is actually not too bad in her role as the love interest, but the film's such a mess, she should be wearing dark shades and a hat to escape recognition.  The transfer is fine, with accurate fleshtones and contrast.  The dolby surround offers little in the way of directional effects, although the musical score is impressive.

BUENA VISTA has released some fun Jackie Chan dvds and "Operation Condor" is the best of them.  Whether it's the unusual larger-than-life gadgets(In the opening sequence, Jackie escapes villains by way of a giant bubble-ball), or the great stunts, there's plenty of action and fun here.

The plot is your standard action/adventure rehash of Raiders with villainous treasure-hunters etc., but plot doesn't matter here, action does.  The transfer is fine, although contrast is uneven at times.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound offers some fun directional effects, but the dubbing is horrible!

"Operation Condor 2" is actually a film released in 1986 as "Armour of God".  Although billed as a "pre-quel" to "Operation Condor", they have basically nothing in common.  When Jackie's ex-girlfriend is kidnapped by villains, the action begins.  There are some great stunts and intentional laughs, although we've seen this story before.  The transfer looks fine, with good color values and contrast, but the source material seems aged.  The dolby surround sound offers little in the way of directional effects.

Jackie Chan plays twins in "Twin Dragons".  One is a martial arts expert, the other a classical musician.  Due to mistaken identity the two very different lives are brought together, and to Jackie's credit, his acting is almost believable!  Directors Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam are two of the best chinese action film directors, and there's plenty of action here.  "Twin Dragons" should please old Jackie Chan fans as well as convert new viewers. 

The transfer is fine, although color values could be stronger.  The difference between blacks and grays isn't as distinct as in other BUENA VISTA masterings.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound offers some fine directional effects.

Juliette Lewis and Giovanni Ribisi star as two retarded lovers in "The Other Sister".  This one's a title you'll either love or "hate"!!!   There's really no in-between!  Either you'll be taken over by the sentimentality of the predicaments that these two characters are involved in, or you'll find it unrealistic and exploitative.  I hated it, my wife loved it! 

The transfer leaves no room for debate.  It's excellent!  The color values are bright and vibrant, the contrast perfect.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound offers great musical selections as well as some well placed directional effects.  Two music videos are included.

Dolph Lundgren does a decent job in "Black Jack", an action film by director John Woo.  As with any Woo film, there's plenty of things exploding or being shot, and although the plot doesn't have much to it, it's entertaining.  There's also beautiful girls, making this play like a big budget cable movie.  The transfer looks great with fine contrast and color values.  The dolby surround sound offers some fine directional effects, but they're often subdued.

"Wings of the Dove" is an updated version of the Henry James novel.   Well directed, acted, and beautifully photographed, fans of the film will be enamored with the wonderful transfer given by BUENA VISTA.  The exotic locales are brought to life with crystal clear images and unsurpassed detail.  The dolby surround is somewhat of a dissapointer, offering atmospheric effects, but little else.