It seems like it was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, that the first Star Wars laserdisc was released. A lot has happened since the film was first released in the way of special effects technology, and a great deal has also happened in the way of laserdisc technology as well. Twentieth Century Fox re-released the Star Wars trilogy theatrically with enhanced special effects and extra footage, and the all of the films benefit from state-of-the-art special effects. All of the special effects appear to have greater detail than before, and the extra footage, while not monumental in scope, is still worthwhile for its entertainment value. There have been three domestic laser versions of each film, the old pan&scan, a letterboxed version, and most recently, a THX version. This new boxed set, taken from the recent theatrical release master, is greatly improved. It has stunning clarity and depth behind every shot. In addition, the Dolby Surround track is also improved upon with greater depth to rear speaker effects. More importantly, all three films are now encoded with Dolby Digital (5.1) sound. One can't help but be enthralled with the new depth to the Tie-Fighter dogfights and other action sequences making full use of directional sounds. Theatrical trailers, interviews and more are included. Following "Return of the Jedi" is a featurette about the "Special Edition". The premium price may at first raise eyebrows, but comparing the cost of previous versions seperately, and the significant enhancements of this definitive version,...it's well worth it!

What would happen if  Los Angeles suddenly discovered they were directly above an active volcano? "Volcano" puts that question to the test, and although it doesn't exactly fail, it's answer may seem long-winded. Director Mick Jackson creates some startling images of Los Angeles in the midst of molten lava, and the general havoc that a volcano would probably create on short notice, but the story isn't all that original, e.g. "Dante's Peak" and every Irwin Allen film ever made!  Tommy Lee Jones does a commendable job with material beneath him, but Ann Heche is as out of place as the volcano.  There are more than a few identifiable similarities between "Volcano" and "Dante's Peak" and they would actually be fun to watch next to eachother as some sort of rainy weekend "disaster" film weekend.   While "Volcano" isn't great filmmaking, it does offer some suspenseful moments and its Digital Dolby soundtrack adds a great sense of  suspense to events as they unfold. The picture is excellent with crisp images in spite of  constantly changing color designs.  The original 1.85:1 aspect ratio has been maintained.

Schwarzenegger plays a dad trying to obtain an elusive toy for his son at the last moment before Christmas. Fighting equally hard and remaining an obstacle to Schwarzenegger is another father played by Sinbad.  Phil Hartman is also on hand and provides some of the film's funnier moments, but this one's strictly for the kids.   The humor is far too simple to hold most adults' interests the whole way through. The disc looks fine with bright colors and accurate fleshtones. The standard Dolby Surround is suitable with a modest amount of rear speaker effects. The Dolby Digital soundtrack appears to be slightly out of synchronization in a few scenes.

Director Pat O' Connor has a real gift at character development.  This was first obvious with his overlooked "Cal."  What "Inventing the Abbotts" lacks in storyline, it more than makes up for with its well drawn characters and sense of   nostalgia. Everyone in this cast is wonderful. The film's pacing is may be a little to slow for some, but those who stick with it are rewarded with the film's ending.   An interesting plot device has viewers uncertain which of  two brothers the film will really focus on, even though only one is supposed to be narrating the tale many years later.   The image for this transfer looks wonderful, depicting a period forty years ago without succumbing to heavy filters.  The 1.85:1 aspect ratio is intact, and  fleshtones are excellent throughout. The Dolby Digital surround soundtrack features some fine music, but is lacking in directional effects.