I was surprised to see how much she enjoyed "MAGNOLIA" in its dvd presentation via NEW LINE.  While I liked it upon seeing it in the theater, I did find it a little overbearing at times.  But, "MAGNOLIA" is such a "big" film, that it calls for repeated viewings, and this second time around really got to me.  It's brilliant!  That's not to say Director Anderson doesn't get a little too indulgent, but then again, that's a small price to pay when considering the work in its entirety.  There are numerous stories taking place in this film, all of it over a 24 hour period in Los Angeles.  All of the characters are suffering some crisis, and all of their situations look bleak at best!  Still, there's a calming manner with the style Anderson presents these stories, and there's an internal rhythm that works so well, it's hard to imagine the film being as powerful if anything was changed, including the editing.  The various stories interweave in a manner, not unlike what Altman achieved with "SHORT CUTS."  We do wish that NEW LINE opted to do what Altman allowed on the laser disc of that film, to have an option wherein the individual storylines could be viewed in their own chronological sequence.  While all the stories are moving, we found Tom Cruise's to be the most brilliant of them. He's never given a more stirring,passionate performance.  He's just incredible!  Fans will be grateful that NEW LINE has included two supplements related to his storyline.  An infomercial wherein his woman-hating guru character promotes his misogyny approach, and a long sequence, deleted from the film, further defining his character with a unique storyline approach.

Still, all the stories deserve viewing as well as praise.  Another storyline, involving a cop, basically ties everything together in a sense.  While this cop explains his view of the human condition in a voice-over, it also speaks to all of the characters' conditions.  He states that he has to make hard decisions, who deserves forgiveness etc., and that's in a sense what the whole film is about, forgiveness.  MAGNOLIA is a rare treat! Trying at times, but remarkable nonetheless!

The transfer is flawless!  The 2.40:1 (16:9) enhanced image has deep blacks, wonderful color values and perfect fleshtones.  The colors are vibrant, and there's no grain or artifacting anywhere!  The dolby digital 5.1 sound mix is also perfect!  While there is great atmosphere throughout the film, especially with regards to the environment(rain is typically present) there are splendid directional effects.  Add to this a sensational musical score and songs which resonate perfectly with every character!  NEW LINE is offering this as one of their "PLATINUM EDITIONS", and when considering how much is offered here, it's a must have for any collection!