Taxi Driver (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (1976) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As we all know, a film's critical review is a subjective journey.
Many have universally praised Taxi Driver an American masterpiece.
In my humble opinion, it is Scorsese's crowning achievement.
I won't bother you a with a critical review of the narrative itself, the power of the performances, the lush cinematography not to mention the haunting soundtrack.
Lets get down to brass tacks with the Blu-ray experience:
The new 4K transfer and remastering ( under cinematographer Michael Chapmen and Scorsese's supervision ) looks fantastic. I can only hope for more studios to take their time when transferring vintage masterpieces. The clarity, color and detail even surpasses my last film-screening of this film at the Hollywood Cinerama Dome in the mid-90s. The soundtrack is presented in 5.1 DTS HD with wonderful results.
The special features are chock full of goodies, too numerous for me to list here fully:
I really enjoyed the "screen to script interactive", and also the "storyboard to film comparisons". Multiple documentaries are included in this single BR disc, including "Travis' New York " The changes of New York 1975 to Today" Multiple interviews and commentaries with both Scoreses and writer Paul Schrader + much more supplementary material.
The Picture Quality at 1080P was like peanut butter to jelly on my 52" LCD XBR, and switching the images to a 150" screen ( via Sony VPL-VW50 1080P projector ) was like adding a couple strips of crispy bacon to that peanut butter sandwich. If you are into HT and projection systems, this BR disc is made for you. Seeing New York City in the mid 70s presented in such detail and color was a visually arresting experience. The vibrant night shots really stays with you, vivid colors pop during those long tracking POV shots from Travis's cab. A museum quality documentation on NYC street-life during that period.
The packaging is robust, with a 3 section pullout-type case that holds the bonus lobbycards.
This is the definitive copy. ( at least until The Criterion Collection decides to give it a BR go ).
Yes folks, for a small price, its time to get into Travis's Taxi for a cinematic ride like no other.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Taxi Driver (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (1976)


At 26, Vietnam veteran Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) is slipping slowly into isolation and violence on the streets of New York City. Trying to solve his insomnia by driving a yellow cab on the night shift, he grows increasingly disgusted by the people who hang out at night: "Someday a real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets." His touching attempts to woo Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a Senator's campaign worker, turn sour when he takes her to a porn movie on their first date. He even fails in his attempt to persuade child prostitute Iris (Jodie Foster) to desert her pimp Sport (Harvey Keitel) and return to her parents and school. Driven to the edge by powerlessness, he buys four handguns and sets out to assassinate the Senator, heading for the infamy of a `lone crazed gunman'.

DVD BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

"Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver" Featurette

"Producing Taxi Driver" Featurette

"Influence and Appreciation" Documentary

Robert De Niro, Oliver Stone, Roger Corman and others pay tribute to Scorsese and the film

"God's Lonely Man" Documentary

"Travis' New York Locations" Featurette

Storyboard to Film Comparisons with Martin Scorsese Introduction

New Feature-length Commentary by Writer Paul Schrader

New Feature-length Commentary by Professor Robert Kolker

"Taxi Driver Stories" Featurette

"Making Taxi Driver" Documentary

Animated Photo Galleries

"Including Scorsese at Work" Photo Montage

Original Screenplay Read Along

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Taxi Driver (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (1976)

Read More...

SCTV, Second City Television Network Volume 3 (5 Disc Set) (1981) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Another great box from Shout! Entertainment. Some excellent skits are contained within. Specifically:
* The Pre-Teen World telethon (with Rick, Eugene, and John as the pre-teen band The Recess Monkeys doing a cover of Chiliwack's "My Girl")
* The first Schmenge Bros. sketch (including commercials for Schmenge Travel and Schmenge Records)
* "Chariots of Eggs" with Hall & Oates.
* The first Al "No Song and Dance Here" Peck Used Cars ad
* The People's Global Golden Choice Awards
* "The Days of the Week" soap, in six parts. ("Didn't you have amnesia?" "Um...maybe. I don't remember.")
* The Battle of the PBS stars
If you've read Dave Thomas' book, watching the last 3 or 4 of these shows will remind you of how burned out he said he was, and it shows in a few pieces. (e.g. "Charlie's Kitchen.")..but the addition of Martin Short to the cast gave the show a great shot in the arm, and this box set contains the only three shows where Short, Moranis, Thomas, and O'Hara are all together.
Martin Short isn't utilized as much as he became later in the run of the show, but he does shine in "Jerry Lewis Live On the Champs-Elysees"
Overall, the production values are at their best here. The makeup, costumes, sets and camera work are much improved in this cycle.
The DVDs have the same great navigation as Vol. 2, with titles to the shows, and chapter stops on the sketches. I even found an easter egg on disc 3, which is the first I've found on any of the volumes (silent home movies from backstage at Edmonton.)
Two new commentaries: one from Joe Flaherty with Paul Flaherty and Dick Blasucci (not very entertaining, although they allege that Eugene Levy is a billionaire after making "New York Minute" with the Olsen Twins). Another from writers Dick Blasucci and Mike Short (more informative and less rambling than the other one.)
The bonus features
* SCTV -The Producers. Not as entertaining nor as informative as I would have imagined.
* That's Life w/ John Candy - a "PM Magazine"-type segment, showing John Candy at home. Short and sweet.
* SCTV Remembers, Pt 3 - Catherine O'Hara and Martin Short are very entertaining in this 20 minute segment.
* John Candy photo gallery - nice photos from the sets taken by his wife.
* SCTV at the Museum of TV & Radio - very nice segment. I wish it was longer than an hour. Rick Moranis was among the cast members at this event, and it is the first "extra" on any of the volumes to include is recollections.
* The booklet includes a nice little intro by Jennifer Candy (John's daughter) and the script to the Jerry Lewis sketch.
If you have the first two volumes, you won't be disappointed with Vol. 3. Good stuff.
(note: I have one beef with Vol. 3. The packaging is different: Vol. 3's DVDs overlap to save space....This makes the width of the box set about 1/16th of an inch narrower than the other two, which is nice - but the overlapping DVDs are a pain. - You need to remove Disc 2 to get to Disc 1.)

Click Here to see more reviews about: SCTV, Second City Television Network Volume 3 (5 Disc Set) (1981)

This volume offers nine 90 minute shows from the fourth season to feed the demand for more SCTV. Broadcast on NBC in 1982, these episodes introduce new cast member Martin Short and Chronicle the height of success for characters Bob & Doug. It is here where the Shmenge Brothers (John Candy and Eugene Levy) make their first appearance and the Great White North gets the special Treatment in the "Great White North Palace" featuring Tony Bennett. Celebrities Bill Murray and Carl Perkins join the fray and musical guest Bennett, Jimmy Buffett and Hall And Oates offer classic performances.

Get 13% OFF

Click here for more information about SCTV, Second City Television Network Volume 3 (5 Disc Set) (1981)

Read More...