If you would like to read my review of "Strange Days"(out next week), click below:
Review:Strange Days

DVDRules1,

Nice review. Just two comments.

I think that not having an anamorphic transfer is a big deal and should have counted as more of a negative against Fox than you made of it. I realize, however, that this is personal opinion.

Also, is there some reason why you have all that white space under the picture of the DVD? I thought it might make your presentation look nicer if the review text extended out once it had the room.

Thanks for the review though, I'm teetering back and forth on this title. You're pushing me back into the buy column.

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-David

has anyone seen this on DVD yet, I'm curious to see whether or not it's worth it?

I have "Strange Days" and highly recommend it. Audio and video transfers are good, the deleted scenes are interesting, it has 2 cool trailers, and a partial director`s commentary. And of course the film itself is excellent.

I second that. Although the transfer is not anamorphic, it's a very sharp nonanamorphic transfer and looks phenomenal on a 4X3 TV. The 5.1 surround sound during the "wiretrips" is some of the best I have heard. One of the extra scenes is pretty cool, the other is kind of pointless. I haven't listened to the 1-hr lecture yet. Maybe tomorrow. The movie is one of the best of the year (1995) in my opinion, but that is obviously sort of subjective.

--Apparition

The commentary is definitely weird. You have no visual reference at all to what she's talking about.

But the surround sound is definitely nifty. During the POV shots, the person who's wearing the rig has their voice centered on the rear channels, which gives a nice effect.

Probably worth owning...

I loved this movie originally..hows the transfer and sound?
I was holding off thinking maybe theyd release a special edition??



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I know you are but what am I?

Transfer and sound are fine; there are some interesting 5.1 uses during memory playback scenes. if you like the movie its worth owning.

One of the better non-anamorphic transfers.

Quality on the Deleted Scenes could be better, but they are what they are.

I highly doubt FOX would revisit this title very soon, especially with so much more back-catalog to go. If you're a fan, find a bargain and pick it up.

I love all of James Cameron's films that he has directed and or written.

The Abyss, Aliens, Terminator 1&2
Titanic, and True Lies. I own all of these on dvd with the exception of terminator 1 because of the crap mono sound and below par picture quality.

Anyway,
I know Cameron wrote Strange Days, so do you guys think I would like it?

Please post opinions of Strange Days.

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by cortan (edited July 15, 2000).]

A lot of people really like this film, and like you I am generally a fan of James Cameron. However, I thought Strange Days was simply awful. I imagine I'm in the minority here, so you're probably best off judging for yourself.

Given the list of movies you listed, there's a good chance you'll like this one as well. Except for the last 10 minutes or so, the move is very good: the premise is interesting, the acting good.

The DVD image is clear and makes good use of the surround channels.

Also by Kathryn Bigalo (sp?), Near Dark is work a look.

Any other opinions?

I agree that the ending's weak, but other than that it's a pretty solid film. Great idea. And if you like Juliette Lewis, you'll really like the film Disc isn't anamorphic which sucks.

I honestly thought it was an excellent film. Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett worked very well together. A very well written story, along the lines of Brainstorm, showing that not all science fiction thrillers need expensive special effects.
I highly recommend it.

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"I'm good for some things, bad for a lot of things." -Jackie Chan

I happen to think the film is great, and it has more intelligence and less plot holes than the average James Cameron story. The Brainstorm comparison is good. Agreed that the ending was a cop-out. I bet the test-audiences loved it though. The opening has the most amazing seamless no cutaway action scene ever shot (I know it's really sly editing) But anyone who doesn't know should be warned about a particularly upsetting rape/murder scene. It's the kind of thing that made some people I know walk out of the theater, turn off the player, etc. It seems to be what most people remember most about the film when it comes up in conversation.

This is one of my favorite films: cool story, strong acting. Kunert...I agree with you about the rape scene....it's too disturbing. I'll have to admit that I fast forward during that part.

Hey all... I looked over the site with the searches and couldn't find anything...

I've seen the movie a few times but it's been a while since I saw it last. I was just wondering if anyone has it, how the DVD is a/v-wise.

No reviews or anything, just transfer quality, extras, sound mix opinions.

TIA!

-E

http://www.dvdangle.com/reviews/review.php?Id=133

. . . . . .

I enjoyed this, and I thought the transfer was excellent with some of the best sound I've heard from a dvd. No extras, though.

Watched this movie 2X over the past month and enjoyed it both times equally. This movie's deals with a guy that peddles various types of virtual reality experiences that run the gammit from violent, sensual-sexual (use your imagination). These stored experience that get recorded onto a hard disk directly from the cerebral cortex of the brain from the person that actually lived the original experience, so that the person reliving the experience feels the same sensations as if they were actually living the experience for the first time themselves. This is a topic that is fascinating to me, which explains my immediate interest in this movie.

As a warning, there are some rather intense forced sex (rape) scenes in the movie that really have an air of realism and horror to them. So this movie shouldn't be viewed with little ones in proximity, or by the squeamish. That being said, Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett put in solid performances. Honorable mention also goes to Juliet Lewis who plays yet another character who's loose and sleazy. Keep it up Juliette.

The actress in the cited scene is the *extremely* cute Bridgette Bako. It really is a pretty graphic scene and unpleasant to watch. There's some nice intercutting back and forth between the car and the hotel room that only heightened the dread and nastiness of the sequence.

As for the rest of the movie, it's really quite good, as is the tranfer on the disc. Ralph Fiennes is his usual capable self and they don't get a lot better than Angela Bassett IMHO. Lewis is good also but I think her character could have been fleshed out a tad more. Tom Sizemore is also a hoot and seemed to have a high old time in his role as an old police buddy of Fiennes.

I know this is a great film, but does anyone have the DVD. Is it a worthy purchase? Are the extras good enough to warrant my $20?

I hear there is a new version of this dvd in the works...

FYI, I merged a bunch of old threads into this single thread.

Also, when I made that first post, almost 3 years ago, I wasn't a moderator or administrator yet. Not really relavent, just kind of interesting to see my past.

I have since bought and watched the movie (it was a while ago) and also traded it.

It was a decent movie, but it just never grabbed me. I liked the concept, I just thought they could have done more with it. Also, I never really liked the characters.

I'd say more of a rental than a buy.

But if there is a new version coming out, you should definitely wait as the current release, as already mentioned, is not anamorphic.