JumpingBean

A lot of people are ecstatic over The Matrix, claiming it breaks new grounds in cinematic history. While it has some great camera work, Gilliam has long taken us into "question reality" worlds... and I feel with 12 Monkeys he has accomplished a feat worthy of acclaim.

Orchestrating a film such as this must have been hectic! I think 12 Monkeys does a great job of transporting the viewer to an alternate reality of gadgetry and armageddon, desire and big brotherness, fear and delusion. Though you see the future of the film from its first scene, you're constantly whipped about across time in a frenzy only Gilliam could sculpt into a "believable" tale of what could be described as a tormented quest for love and freedom.

Kudos for Gilliam! Imagine what he could do with a nearly limitless budget! The DVD includes a great "behind the scenes" documentary which convincingly relates the world that is Gilliam in action. A most telling scene depicts the director in a frustrated moment, crushed that he cannot always display on a screen the depths of his imagination.

... K2: The Ultimate High. Well, while I'm sure climbing the actual mountain really is a great high, this movie does a mediocre job of portraying the thrill. It's not that the acting is bad, but the plot is pretty generic and predictable. Leaves you just a bit wanting in places. Too much "made for TV" juice in its veins.

The real strength of this DVD comes with its crisp video and pretty impressive camera work on the slopes. You almost feel cold and light-headed as you travel up the spine of K2 with the protagonists. No clues in the special features or jacket info about the actual filmed locations for the movie, but especially the shots from the climax at the apex connote well the feeling of reaching nearly to the top of the world (I don't think I've revealed any plot twists here). I doubt the scenes here are all from K2 itself, but some good aerial camerawork make it just as well.

Not much on the special features perks for this one. A chapter selection list and two bios, but that's about it.

Overall, not a bad buy if you like moutains and climbing and can find it for a decent price. Recommended viewing with hot brandy and licorice.

I wish I owned a Dolby 5.1 receiver, but even w/ just Dolby Pro Logic Amadeus is a pleasure to see and hear. So much talented collaboration collaboration from every field: Peter Shaffer, Milos Forman, Tom Hulce... all provide beautiful key elements that lift Amadeus to the highest shelf on my meager DVD rack.

The DVD features an interesting set of bonus materials, such as a music-only rendition, but the video quality to me seems not quite up to par with more recent DVD releases. The disc also uses only one layer, and must be flipped halfway through.

Despite these very minor setbacks, there are few better ways to put your home theater system to the task of delivering a thoroughly enjoyable yet somewhat disturbing suggestion of Mozart's life and death. Was it rheumatic fever, or was it the music itself? The answers are not here, but you will find a a screen full of fabulous costumes against a glorious soundtrack. The music-only mode provides well enough spirit to convey the film just as effectively as when the dialogue is included.