DVD Review: Dominion: The Prequel [Exorcist] [R2]

From the opening scene, I was hooked. Like the original Exorcist, Dominion is about faith and lack of faith. It's also a study of the nature of good and evil. Is there a Satan, or is evil simply born of man? Given the bleak opening in Nazi occupied Europe, it would appear the latter. When Father Merrin looses his faith, it's hard for us not to as well.

Cleverly, the opening sequence is the foundation of the film, and it's events haunt Merrin throughout. Indeed, history begins to repeat itself, something that shatters what little faith Merrin posesses. When asked after a particular traumatic even if this is how God rewards his faithful, Merrin can only bark "Yes" as his reply.

Dominion isn't a horror film, just as, to some extent the original Exorcist wasn't a horror film. Instead, its a film about a single person's faith and the choices he makes. And, it's all the stronger for it.

But there are faults. The main being that the actual exorcism isn't very dramatic. In the original Exorcist, we really did feel that the process was - pardon the expression - hell for the priests to complete. Here the actual exorcism is almost an afterthought, the writers and Schrader are more concerned with the delimmas raised by the demon rather than the actual process of the exorcism. Ultimately, while this may continue the themes of the film, it results in an unsatisfactory ending. There's others too. The possessed boy ends up verging on camp at time, seemingly a version of Star Trek's "Borg Queen". You can't help thinking the film would be more powerful (not to say fitting) if the demon wasn't seen, or at least kept in shadows. Finally, some of the effects shots are dodgy (I assume this is down to the smaller budget for the DVD release).

But the strengths far outweigh the faults. I can't imagine Renny Harlin's The Beginning being close to half as good as Schrader's film.

DVD Mid-Review: New Captain Scarlet Series 1

I've just watched the two part opener Instrument of Destruction and I'm literally speechless. The old Captain Scarlet has been reimagined and redesigned for the twenty-first century, yet remains faithful to the puppet original.

Obviously, the biggest difference is the stunning CGI makeover. Now the characters can walk, run and fight. And the animation is stunning too - it doesn't compare to big-screen CGI blockbusters, but at times it comes close. For a TV series, it blows everything else away with its slickness and style. But it's not just the actual animation that stands out. The hardware design, the editing and the action sequences are outstanding. This really is "widescreen tv" in every sense of the word. No live action show could come close to matching Captain Scarlet for excitement, action or even concepts. It would be too expensive and time consuming.

Sequences in this two parter that had my jaw dropping on the floor include: The accidental destruction of the Mysteron city, Captain Black's spooky ressurection in a storm lashed graveyard, Captain Scarlet freefalling from Skybase and the subsequent chase between Scarlet and Captain Blue and finally the huge Russian tank falling through the Siberian ice. Phew, and that's just in 50 minutes!

And make no mistake about it, the revamping isn't just the puppet to CGI visuals. The whole concept and backstory has been given a modern twist. Now, more than anything, the Mysterons are like terrorists. Notice how the opener has a sequence where Captain Black is going to assasinate Colonel White at the United Nations. Unlike real-world terrorists, the Mysterons recruit followers simply by killing them, then duplicating and ressurecting them. But the metaphor stands - Security service Spectrum are fighting an enemy that could be anyone, determined to destroy mankind, for motives we don't quite understand.

It has some faults. The opening sequence is nothing more than a cheap clips montage, which immediately puts people off. The humans, like all CGI humans don't look real most of the time (but still look pretty good) and lip-syncing is poor. But these are minor issues when you look at the series and its imagination and ambition in its entirity.

"SIG." Spectrum is green. The New Captain Scarlet is a triumph. A shame ITV don't realise this themselves.

Two New Arrivals

New Captain Scarlet Series 1 [R2]
The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology [R2]

The box boldly proclaims 'NEW', and with good reason. Gerry Anderson's CGI Captain Scarlet is a triumph from start to finish. In fact, it's a more successful revamp than the BBC's 2005 revival of Doctor Who. Sadly, for some unexplained reason that nobody can explain, Captain Scarlet was dumped in the middle of ITV's MoM an unspectacular Saturday Morning show. To add insult to injury, each episode was also split into two parts, meaning that anybody who wanted to see Captain Scarlet had to sit through hyperactive kids, gunge tanks and vapid "pop-stars" (in the loosest sense of the word).

Considering it's budget, the CGI work on Captain Scarlet is outstanding, easily beating any other TV based series. I find it hard to believe that Father of the Pride cost over $1.5m per 22 minute episode (especially when all the animation was done in the Far East) when Captain Scarlet looks so good - and was fully animated in Ealing! But it's not just the technical animation that is breath-taking, its the design work and the heart-stopping action sequence compositions and edits that make this show stand out.

The set claims to be 'series 1' but it's actually half of the intended 1st series. At only 13 episodes of the 26 made, it's title reflects the move (again at ITV's request for reasons nobody can understand) to split the series into two halves.

The discs contain commentary, a behind the scenes documentary, a featurette on motion capture, idents and trailers and a series of galleries.

I already own the first three Exorcist films (quick reviews: Exorcist "overrated", Exorcist II "terrible" and Exorcist III "fantastic, by far the best"). The Anthology contains these, plus the two prequels. Thanks to an online misprice, I was able to snag the boxset for £15. Getting both versions of the prequel for £15 seemed like an offer too good to miss.

Both versions you say? Yes. This set is unique as it allows the viewer to actually see the studio rejected Dominion: The Prequel - from director Paul Schader - as well as the reshot and released Exorcist: The Beginning - from director Renny 'Not-At-All-Subtle' Harlin. Both films even share most of the main cast and the same writers (credited writers anyway)

Schader took his brief and reportedly did was was initially asked and produced a thinking man's horror film, much in the style of the original film. However, for some reason - ranging from "it wasn't very good" to "unresponsive test screenings from teenagers", take your pick - the production was shut down in the post production stage and an all-new, gorier version was filmed by Renny Harlin - famous for such works of art as Deep Blue Sea, The Long Kiss Goodnight and Cutthroat Island - I think that lets you know how Warner Bros/Morgan Creek felt the "franchise" should progress. Schader after all directed Hardcore and helped to write such films as The Last Temptation of Christ, The Mosquito Coast and Raging Bull!

That said, his Dominion: The Prequel to the Exorcist isn't supposed to be very good after all.

There are doubts that the UK Dominion disc includes the director's commentary, but it is listed on the packaging. Still, don't expect much critisism of the studio - Warner Bros famously canned the South Park S1 commentary tracks after Matt and Trey laid into Jodie Foster's Contact.

The boxset includes the original Exorcist (not the 'Version You've Never Seen' edit) with all the original extras on a DVD10 flip-disc (still with the edited version of the BBC's 'Fear of God' documentary), and the previously released Exorcist II: The Heretic and Exorcist III.

Dominion comes with a director's commentary (although some print reviews say this is missing), deleted scenes and a stills gallery. Exorcist: The Beginning has a director's commentary, a short behind the scenes feature and the trailer.

New Arrival: The Complete Talking Heads

Alan Bennett. Like him or hate him, you can't deny the man is a genius. He has one of the most accurate ears for language around, and it's these verbal ticks and idioms that make his work so true, funny and touching. The man is a national treasure. (Of course, being as most of his chracters are Northern and his work tends to be set in Northern towns, he is criminally overlooked by Southern art snobs).

I must admit I picked this us simply because it was cheap - £10 from the local WH Smiths. However, although I'll admit I'm not gagging to see the series, I do have an interest, plus the third disc is the complate Telling Tales a series I first heard on radio and is a wonderful mix of Alan Bennett's childhood memories and conversational diversions. I never knew these were filmed, but look forward to hearing them again.

Of the Talking Heads episodes I'm keen to see Thora Hird's 'A Cream Cracker Under The Settee' (which I belive was award winning) about a pensioner who has fallen and is unable to get up and slowly realises help isn't going to come, and Penelope Wilson in 'Nights in the Gardens of Spain', just because I like Penelope Wilson. They're both in good company. Other actors giving monologues include Dame Maggie Smith, Julie Walters and Alan Bennett himself.

New Book Arrival: Doctor Who - The Shooting Scripts 2005

Well, this is in the same coffee table book format as the BBC's 'League of Gentlemen' scripts. A new innovation to the Who book is that each script has an introduction from the author. And in a surprising move, Russell T. Davies basically says The Long Game is crap. You don't normally get such honestly in offical 'franchise' merchandise. Once again the BBC show how to cash-in on a hot property, but still keep integrity.

Only six weeks until the 2005 mega-boxset with 14 hours of supplements!

2 New Arrivals

Little Britain S2 [R2]
Flash Gordon Silver Anniversary Edition [R2]

Well, its finally here. "Yeah, I know." Series 2 of Little Britain, timed to be released on the cusp of the third and final series airing on BBC1.

Series two is Matt and David's "difficult second album" phase in the Little Britain project, and at times it shows. Knowing I would be getting the DVD, I've purposely not watched any of the BBC3 re-runs, so my memories of the second series are based entirely on a single viewing of each episode last year. But I do remember the first episode of the series being very poor, but the pair managed to pull things together for the second episode and beyond.

Series 2 actualy has less episodes than the first series (6 as opposed to 8) and there's no additional pilot on the DVD. However, once again the DVD release is packed with supplements. I wouldn't be surprised if there are over 5 hours of extras (including the commentary).

Flash Gordon comes in a limited edition steel book package (which is identical to the Xbox Halo 2 limited edition packaging). Very nice. I hope the disc is as nice - it seems to be a port of the French disc, with the addition of a second commentary track from the booming voiced Brian Blessed ("Gordon's alive?"), and the first episode from the first(?) old-time 1940's Flash Gordon serial. Sadly, unlike the French set, the Queen soundtrack CD is not included.

New Arrival: He-Man vols 4-6 Boxset [R2]

Sadly, vol 6 was the last of the UK He-Man and the Masters of the Universe release - finishing the run after 36 episodes on 6 volumes. I'm happy with 6 volumes, I never could see myself purchasing all the episodes on DVD (were there about 120ish?). Besides, the boxsets are available for £11.99, a steal.

Okay, the UK releases may not have the documentries or other supplements of the upcoming R1 sets, but they had something so much better. Something fantastic. Something magical.

They have fan commentaries!

Now, sadly, the He-Man fan commentaries aren't as funny as the Dungeons and Dragons ones, but they are still some of the most entertaining commentaries ever to listen to. Each disc has two commentaries, this boxset having commentaries on; Quest for He-Man, Dawn of the Dragon, Evilseed, Prince Adam No More, Search for the VFO and finally, The Dragon's Gift.

3 New Arrivals

Nighty Night S1 [R2]
Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures [R1]
Mallrats 10th Anniversay Extended Edition [R1]

As some readers will know, I've been waiting for Nighty Night on DVD for months. This really is A1 comedy at its darkest, with none of the comfort or formula or sit-coms like The Brady Bunch. The programme is full of events and jokes which are in "bad taste", but really, the programme and especially the main character Jill (written and played by Julia Davis) are so over-the-top that I don't really see how anyone can take offense. And despite the petty complaints, the bulk of Britain obviously agrees - Nighty Night was voted 'Best New TV Comedy' at the British Comedy Awards.

Well, the new Dreamworks' Wallace and Gromit DVD is a disappointment. Still, what else would be expect from Dreamworks who seem to have a trend for making disappointing DVDs these days (and then have the audacity to blame Pirates when their single disc Shrek 2 didn't meet sales expectations, and likewise when their overpriced international "1 ½" disc Shrek 2's undersold). The inclusion of the Cracking Contraption shorts is nice (but I already have the Aardman released DVD of these), but none of the previous special features are ported across. No real effort by Dreamworks was made to make a definitive Wallace and Gromit DVD, it's nothing more than a promo for the movie. And - sadly - that just about sums up too many DVD releases these days.

Incidently, the BBC have a new Wallace and Gromit DVD, which ports over the commentaries from the Warner/BBC R1 release (I'm pleased I have the Warner/BBC disc, because it stands head and shoulders over the Dreamworks release).

Finally Mallrats X (as I prefer to call it). As with Clerks X this is an essential purcase for any Kevin Smith fan. There's not actually that much new on the disc compared to the old Universal disc, but we do get a whole new cut of the movie (Yay!), A Mallrats Reunion Q&A (50 mins which plays like another session from An Evening With Kevin Smith and is just as funny) and other smaller odds and sods thrown in (including a second 'Making Of' to go with the original disc's 'Making Of').

The only downside is it comes on a DVD-18, and there's no new commentary on the extended cut. Still, its a lot more than a cynical re-release and is better than 99% of DVD releases these days.