Spaceballs (UK)
Click to read:
"Screamingly funny!" - Los Angeles Times
Certificate: PG
Running Time: 92 mins
Retail Price: £12.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
May the farce be with you in this hysterically funny space oddity, created by comic genius Mel Brooks, that will send you into hyperspace with fits of laughter!
Lampooning everything from Star Wars to Star Trek, this outrageous send-up of epic sci-fi movies is full of cosmic crazies who score "eight trillion on the laugh-meter" (Gene Shalit, NBC-TV)!
Fearless - and clueless - space heroes Lone Star (Bill Pullman) and his half man/ half dog sidekick Barf (John Candy) wage interstellar warfare to free Princess Vespa (Daphne Zun****) from the evil clutches of Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis).
On the way to the rescue - in their Winnebago - they confront the huge, gooey Pizza The Hutt (voice of Dom De Luise), sassy robot Dot Matrix (voice of Joan Rivers) and a wise little creature named Yogurt (Brooks), who teaches them the mystical power of "The Schwartz" in order to bring peace - and merchandising rights - to the entire galaxy!
Special Features:
Trailer
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Letterbox 1.85:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 French
Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 German
Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 Italian
Subtitle Tracks:
French
Hebrew
Swedish
Finnish
Turkish
English
Spanish
German
Portuguese
Greek
Hungarian
Dutch
Danish
Norwegian
Directed By:
Mel Brooks
Written By:
Thomas Meehan
Ronny Graham
Mel Brooks
Starring:
John Hurt
Joan Rivers
Dick Van Patten
Daphne Zun****
Bill Pullman
Rick Moranis
Mel Brooks
John Candy
Casting By:
Lynn Stalmaster
Bill Shepard
David Rubin
Soundtrack By:
John Morris
Mel Brooks
Dick Bauerle
Director of Photography:
Nick McLean
Editor:
Conrad Buff IV
Costume Designer:
Donfeld
Production Designer:
Terence Marsh
Producer:
Ezra Swerdlow
Mel Brooks
Distributor:
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Your Opinions and Comments
The picture is excellent and it`s great to see this film in widescreen. There are very few problems and everything is clear and detailed and free of digital artifacts.
The sound is also very good. Although is a comedy, there is still some great effects such as the opening shot of Spaceball 1 and it`s transformation into Mega Maid. Dialogue is always clear and audible.
Sadly, the only extra is the trailer. The R1 version also has a audio commentary from Mel Brooks and a featurette. It`s unusual that MGM have not included these extras as they usually do. The main menu is based around the Mr. Radar featured in the film and is static with a pointing hand that highlights the menu you wish to go to. The R1 menus are animated.
Spaceballs is a pretty good comedy and is well worth checking out. This DVD is disappointing due to the lack of extras especially since R1 has got better treatment. Then again, picture and sound quality are excellent and the disc is quite cheap ( it retails for £12.99 as part of MGM`s movietime range. Shop around and you can find it even cheaper ). If extras aren`t a concern or you don`t have multi-regional ability, then get this version. If you can play US discs, the R1 is preferable.
From the cover it did look good, a parody of star wars and other sci fi movies. But it just didnt all click together. Seeing other mel brooks movies like blazing saddles and young frankenstein, this is a big disappointment. Why this movie was made i will never know. Anyhow I only lost £5.99 buying this movie. Its not a total loss but a loss all the same.
The dvd is of decent quality. Widescreen transfer with a good print. The sound is also a DD5.1 and is clean and distortion free. If your a fan of the movie then you wont be let down by this dvd as it is pretty good although there is only a trailer as an extra. If you havent seen it I would definetly advise you to rent it or see it on tv first