Filmstalker: Spielberg disappoints with Munich DVD

Once again Steven Spielberg has disappointed me with his announced DVD releases for Munich. Yes, releases because there will be two DVD sets released, sounds good doesn't it? It does until you see the specifications, especially up against another DVD release due soon, Mr & Mrs Smith.

Think on the quality of those two films compared against each other for a moment before we continue. Done that? Good, then let's look at what the two DVD versions of Munich are offering from Movies Online:

Single Disc Edition
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (16x9) and 1.33:1 Fullscreen Formats
English Dolby Digital 5.1
Video Introduction by Director Steven Spielberg

2-Disc Collector's Edition
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (16x9)
English Dolby Digital 5.1
7-Part Behind-the-Scenes Documentary
The Mission
The Team
Memories of the Event
Portrait of an Era
The On-Set Experience
The International Cast and Editing
Sound and Music

That's it? The Collector's Edition carries that? Not even a DTS track, no audio commentary by anyone, and some featurettes that we've probably already seen on all the film specials mid afternoon on TV.

So it's no surprise that when you compare the release of Mr & Mrs Smith on DVD you can see that it beats Spielberg hands down. Of course, we're not talking about the film here, just the DVD. Also from Movies Online:

Disc 1: Unrated Widescreen Feature
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 Surround
French & Spanish Dolby Surround
English & Spanish subtitles
Audio commentary by director Doug Liman

Disc 2: Extra Features
Deleted Scenes including an Alternate Ending
Doug's Film School Sequence Breakdowns with the Director (which includes Animatics, Storyboards and a major action sequence not included in the film)
Confidential Files Featuring Secret Footage
Behind The Scenes Documentary
Shooting School Combat Training Featurette
Photo Gallery
and more!

There's even an and more! on the end! Come on Spielberg, you've got to start thinking about beefing up those DVD releases, particularly when the new formats are coming. So we know you don't like people watching your films on DVD players and TV's at home, so why not include tools and specs for those with decent Home Cinemas and reward them for recreating the cinema at home? THX, DTS, tools to configure your TV levels for the film you're about to watch, extras that talk about the filmmaking process, your love for cinema, etc.

I don't get it, he may have announced his reluctance acceptance of the new digital filming era, but he's not catering for those who take the experience home. Just look at those specs, Mr & Mrs Smith beats Munich!

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Films talk themselves. I wouldn´t buy a Mr and Mrs. Smith DVD even if it was a supercollectors 10 disc boxset at a ridiculous cheap sale prize.

Posted by: Peter | April 1, 2006 2:41 PM

I dont care as well, I know I am going to buy the DVD of Munich just to watch the film again. I only ever watch the documentaries in the DVD or extras if it was a sci-fiction film like we know what. ;-)

Posted by: Simone | April 1, 2006 3:12 PM

Some directors do have issues with commentaries, in that they want people to see the film and think, not have all their questions answered and explained for them. I guess it depends on the type of film though, personally I would have zero interest in listening to someone babble over the top of Mr and Mrs Smith for its run time, I am pretty sure I can find better things to do. Still if commentaries are what people want and they are paying premium prices for special editions I guess they should be included.

Posted by: bullet in the head | April 1, 2006 10:24 PM

Heh. I won't have a bad thing said about Mr and Mrs Smith....but I still wouldn't buy the DVD.

Posted by: Louise | April 1, 2006 11:06 PM

do you think Speilberg is trying to live in the past?
It sounds a bit like that to me...

Posted by: mogulus | April 2, 2006 1:54 AM

sorry. I was interrupted mid post by a wife asking me to take out trash.
let me elaborate:

In the past, directors could allow a good film to speak for itself. The VHS format did this well, with no supporting features.

Now, with the advent of DVD people hunger for more understanding of the film making process. It helps us enjoy the film extrordinarily more so than a film on VHS. Many would even say that it was the special feature aspect of DVD that sold the public on it, not the sterio surround sound or the super resolution...

...in short, to me it seems Mr. Spielberg is seriously trapped in VHS hell in his own mind and can't break out.

GIVE US A COMMENTARY, mr. Spielie.... MOGULUS COMMANDS IT!!! : )

Posted by: mogulus | April 2, 2006 1:59 AM

I really enjoy commentaries on films, much more than any of the other extras "made for TV" which are purely selling vehicles.

What I enjoy most about commentaries varies, but it is never an additional explanation of the story. For me those are the least interesting commentaries.

What stand out in my most enjoyable commentaries are talking about setting up shots, difficulties they had and how they overcame them, bringing the script to the screen and what issues arose, input from the actors and decisions on set, etc.

Posted by: Richard Brunton | April 2, 2006 9:38 AM

Sounds like a typical Spielberg release to me. In my opinion, the featurettes and documentaries are the most important special features. Yes a commentary would be nice, but given the fact that we already know Spielberg doesn't do them, I'm not that disappointed with the extras here and I'll definitely be picking up the 2-disc version.

A really nice bonus would have been if they could somehow package in the documentary One Day In September with this release. But of course, that's just wishful thinking... ;)

Posted by: Sean | April 2, 2006 5:09 PM

I concur with Sean. That docummentary would have been a really good extra.

It´s true commentaries are interesting, but Spielberg is very old fashiones. He still thinks celluloid is better than digital support.

Unlike George Lucas. But come on, in every SW DVD, the only interesting things come from Lucas. I hate Ben Burt, I don´t mind how the sound FX were created. In fact, I don´t wanna know!!!

But a good commentary on what do you want to express... it´s not bad, unless you want people to guess what you want to express, which I think it´s Spielberg´s option.

Posted by: Peter | April 2, 2006 5:50 PM

Since Peter mentioned George Lucas, I thought that the boxset of Indiana Jones was fantastic, there was a lot of extra stuff there. I am guessing it will happen in the 4th Indiana Jones film, Lucas will insist on it. Sorry Mr Spielberg!

As for the SW DVDs, I also look forward to John Williams commentaries, I remember watching The Phantom Menace DVD where the "Duel of Fate" score was discussed, sent shivers down my spine. Whats wrong with Ben Burt??? LOL Rick McCallum is brilliant in all the prequel documentaries though.

Maybe one of these days, Spielberg will give in to more commentaries, but I am not the least bothered if it takes him a while, I am itching to own the Munich DVD and watch it again and again.

Posted by: Simone | April 2, 2006 8:42 PM