Even more incredible than before
Brad Bird, director of the Oscar-winning Disney/Pixar animated hit “The Incredibles,” began thinking about what extras he wanted on the DVD of his action-adventure about a superhero family while the film was in production.
And just like the movie, “The Incredibles” DVD ($30), which arrives today, is pretty special.
The two-disc set includes commentary from Bird and producer John Walker and another track with several of the animators. There are also bloopers, fascinating and funny making-of documentaries and an alternate opening.
But the pieces de resistance are two new animated shorts: “Jack-Jack Attack,” which features the youngest member of the Incredibles having some fun with his baby-sitter, Kari; and the “Mr. Incredible and Pals,” a spoof of 1960s Saturday-morning cartoons. This supposedly “lost” cartoon features Mr. Incredible, his pal Frozone and their rabbit sidekick, Mr. Skipperdoo, battling the evil Lady Lightbug.
“Obviously now, DVDs are something you are concerned with as almost part of the whole production,” Bird said. “It gives us an opportunity to make the kind of DVD we would like to watch.”
“Mr. Incredible and Pals,” which also features audio commentary between Mr. Incredible and Frozone, is a throwback to the vintage cartoons “Clutch Cargo” and “Space Angel.”
“They were basically comic book drawings, but they would leave the mouths off and then superimpose [the mouths of] the actors,” Bird said. “It gave it this very disturbing look. Even kids thought it was bizarre.”
Also new this week:
Warner Bros. Musical Collection ($27 each; $60 for the set): This toe-tapping set of musicals features the long-awaited DVD release of two of the most beloved musicals MGM produced: 1953’s “The Band Wagon” and 1948’s “Easter Parade.” Also included in the collection are 1954’s “Brigadoon” (the only one of the group previously released on DVD), 1960’s “Bells are Ringing” and 1968’s “Finian’s Rainbow.”
“The Band Wagon,” directed by Vincente Minnelli and scripted by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, is a sophisticated comedy about the trials and tribulations of mounting a Broadway musical. The cast includes Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Jack Buchanan, Oscar Levant and Nanette Fabray. The film features the innovative choreography of Michael Kidd and the songs of Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz. Among the highlights of the two-disc set are a beautiful new digital transfer from restored picture and audio elements; a fact-filled documentary; bubbly commentary from Liza Minnelli and Michael Feinstein; a musical outtake; and a vintage short starring Buchanan.
Astaire and Judy Garland made their only on-screen appearance together in the fun-filled “Easter Parade,” which features a plethora of new and vintage songs by Irving Berlin. Ann Miller and Peter Lawford also star. Extras on the two-disc include a new making-of-documentary, the deleted musical number “Mr. Monotony” and affectionate commentary from Astaire’s daughter Ava and Garland biographer John Fricke.
“Finian’s Rainbow” marked Astaire’s last movie musical. He was nearly 70 at the time but still could outdance his much younger costars. The DVD includes a TV special of the New York premiere and a thoughtful introduction and commentary from Francis Ford Coppola, who was only 29 when he directed the musical.
“Alfie” (Paramount, $30): Disappointing remake of the 1966 classic about a British lothario and the various “birds” in his life. Jude Law and Oscar-winners Susan Sarandon and Marisa Tomei star. The DVD includes featurettes, deleted scenes and two commentary tracks.
“Star Trek -- First Contact” (Paramount, $20): The two-disc special collector’s edition of the 1996 feature based on the series “Star Trek: Next Generation” won’t disappoint Trekkies. Besides acerbic commentary from director-actor Jonathan Frakes and minutia-filled text commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda, the set includes several above-average production documentaries, storyboards, a photo gallery and a tribute to the late composer Jerry Goldsmith.
“Laurel & Hardy II Collection” (Lions Gate, $20): Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy star in two of their funniest feature comedies: 1937s’ “Way Out West” -- this is the vehicle in which they dance the soft-shoe -- and 1938’s underrated “Blockheads.” The disc also includes their rib-tickling 1931 short, “Chickens Come Home.”
L’Eclisse” (Criterion, $40): Michelangelo Antonioni’s complex 1962 drama about a young woman adrift in Rome who falls in love with a young ambitious stockbroker (Alain Delon). The two-disc set includes an Italian-made documentary on the director and commentary from film scholar Richard Pena.
