Van Damme is back!!! In spite of the lackluster reviews many of his films have received, "Desert Heat" is thoroughly entertaining!!!  Sure, it's cheezy in a lot of ways, but like an action-packed "Baywatch" episode, it's extremely pleasing to the eye, with well composed images, action, and effects.  The transfer from COLUMBIA TRISTAR is excellent, with no artifacts, crystal clear images, and excellent color values.  The dolby digital 5.1 mix offers an abundance of directional effects.   Even the music is engaging!  "Desert Heat" is a much better film than "Maximum Risk" or "Knock Off", and more easily re-watchable, unlike the preceeding titles.

Yes, the new Special Edition of "Sleepless In Seattle" offers enough advantage over the previous version for us to recommend buying it.  While the previous title looked extremely sharp, the new transfer has a slight edge over it in terms of contrast.  The blacks and greys are more distinguished in darker scenes.   Also, like the older dvd version, the dolby surround sound offers  subdued directional effects, only to come out kicking with the sensational musical cues.    Additionally, there's a wonderful music video, "When I Fall In Love" performed by Celine Dion and Clive Griffin.  Nora Ephron and her sister provide a warm and inviting commentary on an alternate track, offering the kind of behind-the-scenes info that anyone in love with the film will thoroughly enjoy.   There's also an excellent featurette and trailers.

The great director Edward Dmytryk helps make Alvarez Kelly rise above some of its more contrived scenes in "Alvarez Kelly".  William Holden plays a man without conviction trying to profit during the Civil war by selling cattle.  When Richard Widmark, a confederate Colonel captures him, he's forced to make hard decisions.  The transfer is far superior to that of the letterboxed laserdisc version that came out from COLUMBIA TRISTAR several years ago.  To begin with, whereas the laser had muted colors, the dvd is vibrant with various hues in almost every scene.  There is no grain anywhere either.  Although both pan&scan as well as letterboxed versions are offered, the pan&scan version isn't nearly as sharp as the letterboxed version.   The mono sound is fine.

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has released the long awaited dvd version of "Tommy".   The classic rock opera from The Who offered great music, and director Ken Russell has combined this with his unique(arguably "twisted")vision to create a film that is certain to leave viewers either loving or hating it!  Nothing is subtle about the film!  While the scene in which mass comercialism is dumped onto Ann Margret is supposed to be making a message about the materialism of her character and society as a whole, much of the film is filled with the same excessiveness!  This is one instance where Russell could really have benefitted from the adage "less is more!".   Still, Ann Margret received an Oscar nomination and she looks unbelievable.   The transfer from COLUMBIA TRISTAR also looks unbelievable with stunning clarity and detail in spite of many scenes with complex lighting.  The contrast is always right!  An inner sleeve discusses the lengths that the studio went to in ordere to present the "Quintaphonic sound" .  The result is purely subjective.   Some will relish in hearing the first "matrixed" soundtrack.  The (Lf/Lr) and (Rf/Rr)  were combined into two channels, whereas the center channel remains discrete and unprocessed. While care was taken to help ensure that the tracks weren't overprocessed, we actually prefer the "dolby surround" option over the "quintaphonic" track, finding it less muted.

Director/writer James Mangold created a stir at film festivals with "Heavy", his first full length film.  While Liv Tyler received great praise, this reviewer feels she was only adequate.  However, Pruitt Taylor Vince, the underappreciated cook and "Heavy" of the film, receives all the praise one can heap on him.  He's got the same type of presence and understated charm that Billy Bob Thornton has been praised for.  The story is uneven at times, but the characters are interesting enough, and most the acting is engaging enough to make "Heavy" a film worth seeking out.

We're also pleased that COLUMBIA TRISTAR is deciding to release films of this nature, (less than a box-office success) for new audiences to find!  The transfer is extremely sharp, with fine color values and contrast, although some scenes are a little to hard edged.  The dolby surround offers little in terms of directional effects, but there are a few atmospheric effects that add to the film's overall enjoyment.  The audio commentary with the film's director/writer is also more captivating than the one he did for the laserdisc version of "Copland".