Memento (Special Edition)
When does a DVD become too “”special”” for its own good? Just take a look at the special edition of “”Memento”” and you’ll be just as confused with the DVD as you were when you watched the film in the theater.
“”Memento”” is a memorable and gripping film that has captured the intellect of many movie watchers. Leonard (Guy Pierce) is a man who has lost short-term memory after a violent encounter with his wife’s murderer.
Without the ability to remember what has just ocurred, Leonard writes down everything on post-it notes, polaroids and even himself as a way to avenge his wife’s murder.
Complicating things for Leonard is the supporting cast of Natalie (Carrie Anne-Moss) and Teddy (Joe Pantolino), who play characters that befriend Leonard. Or do they? Without short-term memory, Leonard forgets them in a matter of hours.
The film feels like a bad weed trip, making the viewer go around in circles to reach a conclusion that leaves him in a big haze. What sets the film apart from conventional revenge thrillers is its chronological plotline. You have to see it to truly understand it.
Although the film is superb, the DVD is overbearing. Instead of using straightforward menus to see the film and watch the supplemental features, the menus are a series of questions that one must answer in order to see the extras.
Upon first viewing, it’s unique. But after extended viewings, it’s not only tedious, but downright annoying.
The DVD also contains various featurettes and an audio commentary by the soft-spoken director, Christopher Nolan. Overall, the quality is sufficient and helps to explain the underlying concept of the intriguing film. Other extras included are production stills and sketches, a short story written by the director’s brother and “”Anatomy of a Scene,”” a Sundance Channel series.
There’s probably many more extras hidden in the confusing menus. However, hours are needed to discover all of them.
With a perfect combination of an intense film and elaborate DVD production, “”Memento”” redefines the movie experience: You don’t watch it, you feel and absorb it.
— Charlie Tran
Hiatus Editor
The Real Word You Never Saw: Chicago
Before “”Survivor,”” before “”Big Brother,”” and yes, before “”Temptation Island II,”” there was MTV’s “”The Real World.”” Now, 11 seasons later, the only currently running reality series to pre-date the DVD has embraced the new-age video format and released an extra-footage disc: “”The Real World You Never Saw: Chicago.”” However, at only 45 minutes each, are the DVDs really worth the “”Real World”” addict’s hard-earned (or parent-earned) cash?
“”The Real World You Never Saw: Chicago”” DVD, which features never-before-seen footage of the most recent season’s cast, is for the most part a slam dunk. Any fan of the season will surely enjoy a “”Real World””-gasm watching all the extra footage available on the disc, which includes featurettes on cast member Cara’s obsession with one of the show’s directors, fellow cast member Aneesa’s penchant for nakedness and the forbidden relations between cast and crew.
Although each individual featurette is entertaining, the DVD’s most valuable treasure lies in its shockingly friendly tone. Without a doubt, the featurettes show that, despite all the efforts of the MTV broadcast crew to create interpersonal world wars, Chicago’s “”Real World”” cast actually liked one another … a lot. This must-be-seen-to-be-believed revelation is alone worth the DVD’s price to any conscience-bearing “”Real World”” fan.
The “”Exclusive DVD Features”” so vividly advertised on the DVD’s cover are not nearly as inspiring. In fact, except for the cast video profiles, they are down right garbage. However, given the bonus-like nature of the main content of the disc, quality “”exclusive”” features are by no means crucial.
All in all, “”The Real World You Never Saw: Chicago”” is more or less equivalent to an extra episode of “”The Real World Chicago,”” albeit an extra-cuddly one, and is perfect for any member of the growing “”Real World”” cult.
— Brent Hecht
Staff Writer
