Stars:
Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, Robert Picardo, Dick
Miller, and Vernon Wells
Writers:
Jeffrey Boam and Chip Proser
Based
On A Story By: Chip Proser
Director:
Joe Dante
Feature
length: 120 minutes
Extras:
Feature Length Audio Commentary With Director Joe Dante, Producer Michael
Finnell, Co-Stars Kevin McCarthy and Robert Picardo, and Visual Effects
Supervisor Denis Muren, Select Cast and Crew Credits, and the Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1, and English and Japanese Dolby Surround, and French
Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese,
Chinese, Bahasa, Thai, and Korean Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Snap Case
Chapter
Stops: 34
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Stereo Surround Sound, and Monaural Sound.
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1987/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Produced by Steven
Spielberg in a co-production with Peter Guber and John Peters with a screenplay
co-written by "Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade" scribe Jeffrey Boam,
"Innerspace" features former husband and wife Hollywood couple Dennis
Quaid and Meg Ryan with SNL/SCTV alumni Martin Short in a film with mock action
heroics that modernizes the theme from "Fantastic Voyage" with
outstanding special effects and excellent screen direction from
"Gremlins/Gremlins 2: The New Batch" filmmaker Joe Dante. "Star
Trek: Voyager" cast member and frequent Dante collaborator Robert Picardo
appears in the film along with Vernon (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior) Wells, Kevin
McCarthy, and Dante regular character actor Dick Miller.
I remember seeing “Innerspace” back
in 1987 and was just blown away by the mix of sci-fi, action, comedy, and
special effects. “Innerspace” was “Fantastic Voyage” for my generation
as only Steven Spielberg could deliver. It is hard to believe that the film is
over ten years old because I remember seeing it on the big screen with high
school friends like it was yesterday. The film has a few 80s fashions and even a
few inside gags that date it like a subtle reference to “E.T.” with a
scientist being chased by a villain while riding a bicycle or watching Martin
Short slip into “Ed Grimly” with various phrases and physical comedy. Meg
Ryan had not yet appeared in “When Harry Met Sally,” which I think she
appears to remake every couple of years under a different title, and Dennis
Quaid is still just a great leading man who I feel at times is vastly under
appreciated for his acting. Reference his roles in “Frequency,”
“Dreamscape,” “D.O.A.,” “Wyatt Earp,” and “Traffic” and let me
know what you think…
The film won an Oscar® for Denis Muren
and ILM for the outstanding special effects, which still look great today.
Warner Home Video presents “Innerspace” in a beautiful anamorphic (1.85:1)
widescreen aspect ratio with a wonderfully well-mixed brand new English Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack made especially for this DVD release. The
picture features an excellent textured look with vibrant colors and patterns
that DVD captures very well. While not aggressive, the Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Sound is quite discrete with full use of the rear, front, and center
channel speakers as well as the subwoofer. Overall, Warner Brothers has done a
fine job with delivering “Innerspace” to DVD and I think fans will be
pleased with the picture and sound presentation.
English
and Japanese Language Dolby Surround Soundtracks and a French Language Monaural
Soundtrack are provided along with English Captions and Closed Captions and
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Bahasa, Thai, and Korean
Language Subtitles are also encoded on to the DVD as options. The gem of the
extra features is the excellent feature length audio commentary with Director
Joe Dante, Producer Michael Finnell, Co-Stars Kevin McCarthy and Robert Picardo,
and Visual Effects Supervisor Denis Muren. Joe Dante is a very lively speaker as
one should know from his previous commentaries back in the days of Laserdisc and
he is still quite insightful while maintaining a sense of humor with everyone
involved. Denis Muren is screen specific revealing how the heart pumping
sequence was achieved by using a 6ft prosthetic with staff members on one side
opening and closing the chamber as fast as possible without being seen while
simulating blood platelets using practical elements long before the days of CGI
special effects. Robert Picardo shows up to participate in the commentary
revealing various adlibs while Kevin McCarthy occasionally steps in with a
question or two and comments. This is a true group commentary as well too and
not a mix from different sessions, which makes listening to the commentary all
the more enjoyable.
Little
to no outtakes exist because the filmmakers used almost everything so what
little that was not used including some videotaped behind-the-scenes footage no
longer exists due to the passage of time and the fact that the elements were not
archived so unfortunately there are no deleted scenes and whatnot because they
just do not exist. The film’s (1.85:1) theatrical trailer with English Dolby
Pro Logic Sound and select cast and crew filmographies coupled with mention of
the Denis Muren and ILM’s Oscar win for their work on the feature film wrap up
the extra features included on this DVD release, which I must mention is also
the first home video version to accurately present the film’s color
cinematography since the original theatrical release.
The DVD menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to
navigate.
All
things considered, this is a great DVD that creates anticipation for this
August’s “Gremlins/Gremlins 2: The New Batch: Special Edition” DVD
releases. “Innerspace” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, July 9, 2002 from
Warner Home Video and I highly recommend picking a copy of this flick up on DVD
for the whole family.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.