10 Year Anniversary of Galaxy Quest

Geekyfanboy · May 11, 2009, 04:02:09 PM

Can you believe it, it's been 10 years since this fantastic and one of the best sci fi comedies came out.

For this occasion they are releasing a DVD Deluxe Edition of the movie.

Has some cool new extras but doesn't sound like they did much to the Video or audio..

Here a review I found online about it.

The DVD
A one-disc release, this DVD is packed in a standard keepcase, which is inside a slipcover with an impressive 3D lenticular animation of the cover art. The disc features a static, anamorphic widescreen menu with options to play the film, select scenes, adjust languages and check out the extras. Audio options include Dolby Digital 5.1 English and Spanish tracks and a Dolby Digital 2.0 Thermian track (see The Extras), with subtitles in English, Franch and Spanish, along with closed captioning.

The Quality

The packaging indicates the anamorphic widescreen transfer has been digitally remastered, and looking at them side-by-side, it's definitely not the same, with the most obvious change being an image that's slightly wider and which shows more image from top to bottom and side to side, making the framing feel more appropriate (for instance, one scene now shows the screen the characters are looking at, whereas before they were simply looking offscreen.) The color saturation is a touch muted n this new disc, which makes scenes like the rock monster battle feel more natural (reds burned hot on the old disc,) while the level of detail has gotten a bump up, while thankfully not making the CG special effects look bad.

Disappointingly, the DTS track that was available on a separate DVD in 2000 is not included here, but the audio, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, fits the film excellently, keeping things low-key and focused in the center channel when on Earth, before filling the surrounds with bold, dynamic sound effects and a sweeping, epic score by David Newman. There's not a lot of the aural acrobatics you hear in space action flicks, but there are some impressive touches.

The Extras

The first release, from back in 2000, had a decent selection of extras for the time, with several extras that didn't make it to this DVD, including a 10-minute featurette on the making of the film, cast and crew bios (with interview clips), production notes and, sadly, the DVD version of the Omega 13. (also missing are the great animated menus.) Fortunately, what they've been replaced with is much better.

Up first is a "Historical Documents: The Story of Galaxy Quest," an 18-minute retrospective featurette about the making of the film and how those involved feel about the film almost a decade later. There are some interesting bits of info about the origin film shared, including notes about the movie's original concept, but the thing that's most interesting about the piece, and the other featurettes on this disc, is the participation of those involved. It probably says something about how they feel about Galaxy Quest when you see that they got interviews with Allen, Rickman, Weaver, Shaloub, Rockwell, Mitchell, Colantoni, Pyle and Long, as well as director Dean Parisot, producer Mark Johnson and writers David Howard and Bob Gordon. It's just what a fan of the film would hope for in a look back.

Considering how terrific the casting was on this film, it makes sense that there's a tighter focus on the characters and the actors who play them in "Never Give Up, Never Surrender: The Intrepid Crew of the NSEA Protector" (23:21). There's not a touch of fluff here, as you get real insight on the cast and their roles, thanks to them talking mostly about each other rather than their own experiences. The conversations are so genuine and heartfelt that you can't help but smile watching them, especially when Colantoni talks about how Shaloub found his character. I was laughing so hard I almost cried. The new interviews are supplemented with clips from 1999 sit-downs, adding some retro-perspective.

In "By Grabthar's Hammer, What Amazing Effects," seven minutes are devoted to the film's special effects, provided by Stan Winston and Industrial Light and Magic. What's nice about this piece is, not only do they talk about the excellent alien work, but the effort to make the cheesy old show look authentic. The only downside is the lack of new interview material, as many of the clips, including, of course, the late Mr. Winston, are from 1999.

The 5:22 "Alien School: Creating the Thermian Race" talks about, naturally, developing the good aliens in the film, divulging how much influence Colantoni had on the Thermian concept, and how the actors helped sculpt this race on the set. This featurette, along with "Never Give Up, Never Surrender" and the following six-minute "Actors in Space" point out just how much this film is an actor's film. "Actors in Space" which may celebrate acting a bit too much, talks about the idea of the movie being about acting than much as anything else, with interviews with the cast, naturally.

With all this great film-focused content, it's time for a bit of a tangent, which comes in the form of the two-minute "Sigourney Weaver Raps." A rap music video Weaver did for her agent while on the set, with help from Mitchell, Rockwell, Pyle and Breen, is so incredibly embarrassing that we are lucky to have it to enjoy on DVD. Really, the title is all you have to say to get the idea, but hearing Rockwell spit rhymes and seeing Pyle dance like a loon doesn't hurt either.

Back from the previous disc are the seven deleted scenes (with an added introductory clips from Allen and Rickman) and an eighth alternate edit of a scene in the film, with an intro from Parisot and Gordon. There's some fun stuff in here, especially a scene showing Rickman's character's room on the ship and Weaver using her sex appeal against the bad guys. Also carried over is the biggest extra, and unfortunately, the least entertaining, as there's a feature-length audio track in Thermian, the language spoken by the aliens in the film. As a concept, it's great, but in practice it's a massive case of overkill, as listening to a movie in a made-up alien language just doesn't offer anything beyond the initial novelty. Now, if, after 10 or so minutes, it segued into a commentary, it would have been a great gag and welcome extra.

Things wrap up with the theatrical trailer for Galaxy Quest (which couldn't have helped perceptions of the film) and a trio of Star Trek previews.

Ktrek · May 11, 2009, 04:23:31 PM

I love this movie but I won't waste my money on a special edition. I want a Blu-Ray!

Kevin

Feathers · May 12, 2009, 03:46:42 AM

It took me a long time to see this when it came out - not a big Tim Alen fan. When I saw it in the end, though, I loved it.

It was obviously longer ago than I thought.

Rico · May 12, 2009, 05:43:16 AM

It's also the 10th Anniversary of another SF film this year. A little movie called "The Phantom Menace." :)

billybob476 · May 12, 2009, 05:53:38 AM

Not only this year...next week! TPM was released May 19, 1999.

batmite · May 12, 2009, 07:45:03 AM

Wow, I didn't even realize it's been 10 years. I'm gonna have to watch it again real soon.

Shikahr · May 13, 2009, 06:48:38 PM

Since I already have the original DVD, I probably will not buy the special edition, but I might rent it if available. I'm with Ktrek, I'll wait for Blue-Ray.

Jen · May 13, 2009, 07:08:39 PM

Angela and I LOVED this movie. We did a special Anomaly episode on the several months ago. This is not intended to shamelessly plug Anomaly, but this episode seems to be our most popular show. I guess EVERYONE loves Galaxy Quest. :D

http://www.anomalypodcast.com/podcasts/AnomalyGalQuest_Episode.mp3

Jaames · May 13, 2009, 07:44:11 PM

Quote from: Jen on May 13, 2009, 07:08:39 PM
Angela and I LOVED this movie. We did a special Anomaly episode on the several months ago. This is not intended to shamelessly plug Anomaly, but this episode seems to be our most popular show. I guess EVERYONE loves Galaxy Quest. :D

http://www.anomalypodcast.com/podcasts/AnomalyGalQuest_Episode.mp3

Definitely my favorite Anomaly Episode. I do love this movie. Every now and again if I need something from my wife I'll say "we need your help" in that kind of whining drawn out voice the aliens used to appeal to Tim Allen. She knows exactly what I'm referring to even though she does not like the movie. She usually just looks at me cross-eyed in that "I am not amused" kind of way.

KingIsaacLinksr · May 13, 2009, 11:42:49 PM

No Blue-Ray? Booo, I'll buy the Blue-ray over a special. Cmon people!!

:)

King

X · May 18, 2009, 12:49:44 PM

That's what upconvert is for

Ktrek · May 18, 2009, 06:11:02 PM

I read somehwere that theer is a Blu-Ray coming of this probably by years end. I don't know that it will have all the special features or more but we can hope!

Kevin

ElfManDan · May 20, 2009, 11:56:35 AM

I remember when Galaxy Quest was release. My parents took me to see it in the theater. I was ten and besides being an obvious Trekky at that young age me and my family watched Home Improvement together whenever it was on. So I was also a Tim Allen fan. I was so excited to see this film. I really love it too.

Meds · May 20, 2009, 12:12:29 PM

Oh i so loved this film and Jen you both did a great job doing your podcast on the subject. The funny thing is i saw this film on the cinema, loved it, saw it on tv, loved it and when i was on my honeymoon last year it was on Aruba TV and we watched that with a bottle of champers. Nice.