High School Flashback Collection: The Breakfast
Club/Weird Science/Sixteen Candles
(Flashback Editions/Universal DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B- Films: B
I love
this collection of three great 80’s films!
In fact I loved it the first time when the same three films were
packaged together under the title The Brat Pack Movie & Music
Collection. The only difference is that
the films are packaged in a collectible “1984” inscribed locker, instead of a
sturdy binder.
For a
look back at what the films are all about refer to the previous review:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2988/The+Brat+Pack+Movie+&+Music+Col
The
technical features have not improved much since their 2003 and 2005 releases;
both the picture and sound qualities being the same lackluster presentation and
the extras being the only noticeable upgrade.
The picture on all three films is presented as an Anamorphically
Enhanced 1.85 X 1 image that has adequate colors, clarity, and depth at
best. Some of the scenes have various
light/dark issues; though there is little noticeable grain or other distortion
problems. The sound is once again
available in either a Dolby Digital 5.1 or a DTS 5.1 track that in either case
does not use the full soundstage. The
music does seem to project better than the dialogue or ambient noises, but
really the sound is a wash as it comes heavily from the center speakers in both
the Dolby Digital and DTS tracks.
As
previously mentioned (beside the locker style tin case) the only upgrades on
these sets are the extras. Whereas the
previous releases of these three films were bare bones, no extras sets; the High School Flashback Collection gives
the fans some of what they were looking for.
Each film features its own brand new documentary that lets the fans take
a look back at the films with the people who were there. Where as the documentaries aren’t the most
informative they do a good job in keeping the viewer entertained by filling
each of the short, look backs with cast, crew, and everyone in between. The documentaries have people from all walks
of stardom discussing what the films meant to them and how they have inspired
other films over the years.
Sixteen Candles contains an 11 part, 38 minute documentary that acts as a very good
retrospective telling of the film, its inspirations, and internal
workings. Most of the cast, besides
Ringwald and Michael Schoeffling, make an appearance; even without them the documentary
is nice.
The Breakfast Club houses a feature length
commentary track (though there are a few gaps) with the likes of Judd Nelson
and Anthony Michael Hall showing up to reminisce and dish some dirt that
happened on the set back in the day. Also
there is a 51 minute featurette that discusses all the in and outs of the film.
Weird Science features the shortest
documentary, though it is still entertaining.
It also contains a theatrical trailer and an unusual choice to include
the pilot for the Weird Science TV
series.
All we
can do now is hope that we get better picture and sound quality as well as some
more extras in the future. Hey
studio! Don’t you forget about me…
- Michael P. Dougherty II
