Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!
Stars:
Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Kelly LeBrock, Bill Paxton, Robert
Downey, Jr., Robert Russler, and Vernon Wells
Writer:
John Hughes
Director:
John Hughes
Feature
length: 94 minutes
Extras:
Trailer
Languages:
English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Sound, and Spanish Language Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 18
Sound:
DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and
Dolby Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1985/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Universal Studios Home Video
MPAA
Rating: PG-13
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
The
third film in Universal Studios Home Video’s “High School Reunion
Collection” DVD box set is my favorite of the three movies Writer and Director
John Hughes produced for Universal Studios. Yes it is also the silliest and
bares no resemblance to the E.C Comic other than the film’s title, but as far
as adolescent boy fantasies go, what teenage guy would not want their own
supermodel with magic powers they can control unless they have too many
supermodel girlfriends on their hands to deal with already or they prefer a
supermodel guy, in which case this would be a totally different movie to say the
least…
Anthony
Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith are two high school nerds who through some
miracle and “Weird Science” create their perfect woman (Kelly LeBrock) and
over the course of one weekend have their lives turned around only to learn that
self confidence and faith in being one’s self is all the magic they’ll ever
need to navigate through life. The film features some great cameos and memorable
early character role with Bill Paxton as the older oppressive asshole of a
brother “Chet” and he has some of the funniest lines in the film. Robert
Downey, Jr. and Robert Russler are the high school bullies who get their
comeuppance from the boys through LeBrock’s help and Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2
AKA The Road Warrior) and Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes Parts 1 and 2)
have memorable appearances too. Joel
Silver produced “Weird Science,” which might be why this is the most kinetic
of the three Universal films John Hughes directed. This is the first time the
film’s original theatrical soundtrack has been released with all the songs as
they appeared in the film on the big screen on home video. Hughes would go on to
write and produce “Pretty In Pink” and “Some Kind Of Wonderful” for
Paramount, but the only other high school film he would direct after “Weird
Science” would be the classic “Ferris Bueler’s Day Off” in 1986.
Of
the three John Hughes films released by Universal Studios Home Video as a part
of the “High School Reunion Collection” I think “Weird Science” looks
the best and benefits the most from the new 5.1 Surround mixes. Presented in an
anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio, “Weird Science” has never
looked or sounded better on home video. There are some scenes that have a bit of
grain here and there, but the picture quality is the most detailed with a slick
look and solid colors. The film also benefits tremendously from the English DTS
Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Soundtrack and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack because the sound effects play as important a role servicing the
visual effects and early CGI animation as the 1980s music and whatnot.
Unfortunately one cannot switch between the DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtracks while the film is in progress, so for direct comparison one has to
return to the menus, which is kind of a drag. This is the case with all three
films in the collection too. However I found both to be of about equal quality.
A Spanish Language Dolby Surround Soundtrack and English Captions for the
hearing impaired as well as French and Spanish Language Subtitles are encoded
onto the DVD as options too.
The
theatrical trailer (1:33) and a promo reel (3:07) for Universal Studios Home
Video’s DVD releases of the “High School Reunion Collection” box set,
“National Lampoon’s Animal House: Double Secret Probation Edition,” and
“Monty Python And The Meaning Of Life” wrap up the DVD features. The
interactive menus are well rendered and easy to navigate. “Weird Science” is
available on DVD-Video now as a part of the “High School Reunion Collection”
DVD box set and is also available individually at retailers on and offline from
Universal Studios Home Video.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!