Miami Vice: Unrated Director’s Edition HD DVD
By Cyril Pearl -- Video Business, 12/18/2006
To promote its 101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition DVD, Disney turned Route 101 in Los Angeles into the ‘101 Dalmations Freeway,’ as 101 spotted cars drove on the highway to spcaLA’s Animal Village in Long Beach, Calif., on March 2.
The Business of Being Born producer Ricki Lake recently visited New Line’s office in Los Angeles. The documentary will be released on DVD May 6.
Actor Matthew Lawrence spent some time in Los Angeles on March 3 for interviews to promote Fox’s Mrs. Doubtfire: Special Edition DVD.
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Though we usually discuss the downside of video noise on high-definition discs—the fluttering, grainy appearance frequently found in still-moving shots of backgrounds, skies and solid-colored clothing—in Michael Mann’s Miami Vice, the noise often works—whether intended or not (we’re thinking it wasn’t). The stormy, colored skies of Miami are positively electric in Mann’s theatrical variation of his trend-setting ’80s TV show, and the noise that’s heard in the frequently-shot skies makes them crackle with energy. This is best seen in a sequence with stars Colin Farrell and Gong Li on a speedboat to Cuba. Even some of the darker sequences (and there are many) contain some effective buzzing, giving their desaturated colors a sense of—how should we put it?—underworld sleaziness and danger. The disc is outfitted with a handful of high-def exclusives, which can be accessed via Universal’s branded “U Control” function. Though most of them are promotional pieces—we especially got a kick out of the “Tech Specs” piece that details the film’s cars and boats and assesses the costs of their production dame—it’s worth noting that Universal regularly goes the extra mile to create pieces exclusive to the format. Additionally, all the extras can be played in the “Picture in Picture” mode.
Universal, HD DVD, available now, $39.98; reviewed on LG 42-inch widescreen DLP HDTV with HDMI connection