12 Monkeys [Special Edition]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

12 Monkeys finally gets stellar treatment on DVD from Universal Home Entertainment with this special edition of the 1995 hit. Two previous movie-only DVD versions have been released through the years, but neither was able to touch the laserdisc release, which included the incredible Hamster Factor documentary and the commentary from Terry Gilliam and producer Charles Roven. For those that have been waiting to throw those valuable discs in storage, this is your chance. Both features have been added to this DVD, and rightly so! For those who don't know, The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of 12 Monkeys is a 90-minute making-of from the same people that brought you the fabulous Lost in La Mancha documentary, which Gilliam granted permission to film because of Hamster's success. The commentary is just as entertaining and informative, with both bonus features acting as a complimentary story of the long and arduous shoot, which in itself provides just as much drama and comedy as the actual film. Other extras include the original theatrical trailer, along with the 12 Monkey Archives, which is packed with plenty of production sketches and storyboards. Production notes have been included if anyone is interested, though the real good stuff lies in the rest of the extras and the all-new digitally remastered picture, which showcases the truly incredible anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen image that paired with the Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks make for a well done and highly in-demand disc that should do quite well on the rental and retail shelves. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: Spanish, French
• Features:
  • cc Feature commentary with director Terry Gilliam & producer Charles Roven
  • The Hamster Factor & Other Tales of 12 Monkeys
  • Theatrical trailer
  • 12 Monkeys archives
  • Production notes

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Nominated Best Costume Design - 1995 (Julie Weiss)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actor - 1995 (Brad Pitt)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Won Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pictu - 1995 (Brad Pitt)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Bruce Willis - James Cole
       Madeleine Stowe - Dr. Kathryn Railly
       Brad Pitt - Jeffrey Goines
       Christopher Plummer - Dr. Goines
       David Morse - Dr. Peters

• Director:

  Terry Gilliam

• Producer:

  Charles Roven

• Screenwriter:

  David Peoples, Janet Peoples

• Cinematographer:

  Roger Pratt

• Composer (Music Score):

  Paul Buckmaster

• Songwriter:

  Tom Waits

• Editor:

  Mick Audsley

• Production Designer:

  Jeffrey Beecroft

• Art Director:

  William Ladd Skinner

• Co-producer:

  Lloyd Phillips

• Associate Producer:

  Mark Egerton, Kelley Smith-Wait

REVIEWS:

• Inspired by {$Chris Marker}'s benchmark 1962 short film {#La Jetee}, director {$Terry Gilliam} continues his examination of the real versus the surreal in this mind-bending piece of science fiction. In a vein typical of {$Gilliam}'s oeuvre, the film leaps through time almost at will, which produces uneven results. Obviously a play on genre conventions, {#12 Monkeys} succeeds at creating its various worlds (all with various degrees of grunge and gloom). However, the film spirals off in so many directions it's sometimes a trial to keep track -- but it's also this very quality that keeps it interesting and engaging. Very much a visceral film above all else, {$Gilliam} extracts solid turns from his actors, including a nicely understated {$Bruce Willis} and a cheerfully (and entertainingly) manic {$Brad Pitt}, a surprise Oscar nominee for his supporting role. Almost ten years after the highly publicized director vs. studio debacle with the director's acclaimed 1985 film {#Brazil}, {$Gilliam} and {@Universal} had obviously patched things up, as they distributed this film to great financial success and a place as one of the leading cult favorites of the 1990s. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
• Inspired by Chris Marker's benchmark 1962 short film La Jetee, director Terry Gilliam continues his examination of the real versus the surreal in this mind-bending piece of science fiction. In a vein typical of Gilliam's oeuvre, the film leaps through time almost at will, which produces uneven results. Obviously a play on genre conventions, 12 Monkeys succeeds at creating its various worlds (all with various degrees of grunge and gloom). However, the film spirals off in so many directions it's sometimes a trial to keep track -- but it's also this very quality that keeps it interesting and engaging. Very much a visceral film above all else, Gilliam extracts solid turns from his actors, including a nicely understated Bruce Willis and a cheerfully (and entertainingly) manic Brad Pitt, a surprise Oscar nominee for his supporting role. Almost ten years after the highly publicized director vs. studio debacle with the director's acclaimed 1985 film Brazil, Gilliam and Universal had obviously patched things up, as they distributed this film to great financial success and a place as one of the leading cult favorites of the 1990s. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide

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