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(About Our Ads) DVD REVIEW FOR "MEN IN BLACK (DELUXE EDITION)" (1997) (Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones) (PG-13) Length Screen Format(s) Languages Subtitles Sound Sides 98 minutes Letterbox (1.85:1) 16x9 - Widescreen Full Screen (Pan & Scan) English French English, French Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1 2 Discs PLOT & PARENTAL REVIEW AUDIO/VIDEO ELEMENTS: Presented in both widescreen and pan & scan versions, the film occasionally suffers from some bouts of graininess and/or pixelation, but is otherwise quite sharp and features decent, if not exactly vibrant color reproduction. Like any good sci-fi flick, the audio is active, effective and entertaining in its own right. Composer Danny Elfman's score is fun and lively and the many spatial and surround effects are quite loud and active (often featuring a great deal of wall-shaking bass kick). EXTRAS: Disc One: Scene selection/Jump to any scene (with moving images). Visual/Audio Commentary by Barry Sonnenfeld & Tommy Lee Jones (with silhouettes of the 2 discussing the film). Disc Two: Visual Effects Scene Deconstructions - Use the angle feature to watch special effects sequences in various states of completion (with/without commentary). Metamorphosis of MIB - 22+ minute look at the film's production, with clips from the film, behind the scenes and early footage and various interviews. 5 Extended and Alternate Scenes. Art & Animation (Character Animation Studies, Creatures: Concept to Completion, Conceptual Art Gallery, Storyboard Comparisons and Storyboard Gallery). Scene Editing Workshop - Edit your own version of several sequences (with an introduction by the director). Production Photo Gallery for Visual Effects Team (ILM), On the Set With Talent and Make-Up and Puppet Team: Cinovation. Brief bios and filmographies for select Cast and Crew members. Music Video: Will Smith & Mikey "Men in Black." Trailer and teaser for this film as well as a teaser for "Men in Black II," "Stuart Little 2" and a trailer for "Spider-Man." Featurette - 6+ minute look at the film and its production, including clips from it, behind the scenes footage and various interviews. Secret Files - 3+ minute look at "Men in Black II" with clips from the film, behind the scenes footage and various interviews. COMMENTS: K (TOMMY LEE JONES) is a secret government agent whose job is keeping track of extraterrestrial activity on Earth. When his older partner decides to retire and have the memory of his work erased, K must find a new partner. The most likely candidate is NYPD cop James Edwards (WILL SMITH) who recently had a close encounter with an alien with some valuable information. After K and the head of the "Men in Black" operation, Zed (RIP TORN), pick James as their newest member, his identity on Earth is erased and he becomes known simply as J. Both K and J become concerned when the city's resident aliens, who are supposed to stay within the city perimeter, begin fleeing due to the presence of a "bug," or alien assassin. This terrorist takes over the body of Edgar (VICENT D'ONOFRIO), a backwoods farmer, and sets out on his mission that just might cause an intergalactic war. Also getting involved is Dr. Laurel Weaver (LINDA FIORENTINO), a medical examiner who often has her memory erased after seeing many alien bodies. From that point on, K and J must find the bug and prevent the Earth from being destroyed. "Men in Black" is big, outrageous, and a heck of a lot of fun to watch. Feeling much shorter than its runtime (of 98 minutes), the film never gets boring or too predictable. Director Barry Sonnenfeld ("Get Shorty" and the "Adams Family" movies), along with writers Lowell Cunningham and Ed Solomon, create such an imaginative, pre-existing world that you can't help but like and be swept away by the film. Exuding an aura much like the original "Ghostbusters" from the 1980's, this production is filled with enough humor, special effects, and gross-out material (people being "slimed" by the leftovers of vaporized aliens) to satisfy nearly every sort of viewer. Many things that we take for granted are explained in a new sci-fi way, and the agency's wall of aliens -- featuring Newt Gingrich, Sly Stallone, NBC weatherman Al Roker, and motivational guru Anthony Robbins among others -- is slyly hilarious, as is the use of tabloid newspapers as true sources of alien activity. Other fun bits include the bad alien - Vincent D'Onofrio ("The Salton Sea," "The Newton Boys") in a terrifically outlandish performance -- progressively acting more like the Frankenstein monster, and having a weak spot for Earth-based bugs being swatted or stepped on (all while driving himself around in an exterminator truck). Will Smith ("Ali," "Wild Wild West") is as engaging as ever and completes his one-two punch of alien invasion movies (the first being 1996's "Independence Day") that will forever set him in the hearts of sci-fi fans. His disbelieving eyes and wisecracking comments play beautifully off his more stoic and deadpan partner. Embodying a no-nonsense, deadpan character somewhat similar to what he played in "The Fugitive," Tommy Lee Jones ("Space Cowboys," "Double Jeopardy") provides the basis for a great deal of the film's humor and action. His "been there, seen it all before" attitude is refreshing and completely believable in a film that needs a great big dose of suspension of disbelief. "Men In Black" succeeds on all levels. It's witty, clever script, matched with the great odd couple pairing of Jones and Smith and some wild special effects make for a highly entertaining viewing experience. We highly recommend this film. Men in Black (Deluxe Edition) is now available for purchase by clicking here.