MGM is beginning to increase their share of DVD releases, and providing exciting extras on a more common basis.  Red Corner offers an insert with extensive production notes, theatrical trailer and audio commentary with the film's director Jon Avnet.

The story has Richard Gere playing a corporate lawyer framed for murder in China.   It's bad enough that he's accused of a crime he didn't commit, but in China, one is guilty until proven innocent.  The story drags a bit in the middle, but there's enough tension before and after to make this worthwhile. 

The DVD image is sensational.  The perfect quality and depth to the images is apparant in the film's opening title sequence.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is extremely active, offering great dimension to almost every scene.

Again, MGM has produced another exceptional DVD release with Wargames.  Director John Badham is on hand on an alternate track providing some intriguing information about the film's relevance at the time it was made and today.  The transfer looks impressive, and is an improvement over the laserdisc.  Still, it's not as consistently sharp as other recent MGM releases.  Where it is stupendous, is in its Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack.  The film's intensity is greatly magnified with an extremely active soundtrack, offering a tense and wide effects platte as well as more depth to the music.

The DVD version of  The Great Escape is "GREAT!"  The image has "never" been sharper in any viewing this reviewer has witnessed over the past 35 years.  The striking depth and color quality to these images is staggering in seguences like McQueen's famous motorcycle chase through the fences.  Of course, this is only one unforgettable moment in a film filled with them.  The Monaural soundtrack sounds alright, but it's a shame that the music couldn't have been re-channeled for Dolby Digital 5.1.  The 24 minute documentary that's been included is also entertaining, adding to the pleasure of this DVD.  It's also a shame, however, that the audio commentary available on the Criterion laserdisc isn't also offered here.