No interviews with any of the cast. No retrospectives of Ledger’s powerhouse performance. No audio commentaries. No meaty documentaries studying what went into to production of one of the year’s finest films. So here’s my question: when did Special Edition DVDs become, well, not special anymore? I know there are many examples of fine special edition discs doing the rounds, discs that include interesting audio commentaries, insightful features, interviews with all concerned and quirky extras that raise a smile. These ‘Special Editions’ often promise so much on the packaging, but scratch under the surface and you quickly realise that the extras are largely press kit interviews or features that cross over into each other, repeating much of the same information. Then there are the Special Editions that just fail to offer up anything interesting whatsoever. The two-disc edition of Die Hard 4.0 includes a terrible ‘comedy’ music video, all about the Die Hard franchise, by a band called Guyz Nite, then dares to include a behind the scenes look at the video. Are you kidding me? Add to that a crap gag reel (for decent gag reels, check out the Spaced DVD) and a second disc of so-so documentaries, press kit-esque featurettes and a decent, but very short interview between Bruce Willis and Kevin Smith, and what you have is not a Special Edition, but a bloody rip-off. I’m not against the notion of special editions – far from it. The remastered Bond editions show how it can be done, matching excellent audio commentaries with retrospective interviews and superb documentaries, voiced by Patrick Macnee. You then have the obvious examples of the Lord of the Rings DVDs, and the superb discs for both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. All feature interesting features, interviews and commentaries and all serve to give the public discs that can be truly labelled ‘Special’. So, I’d like to ask other studios, directors and actors why they can’t all team up to do the same. The term ‘Special Edition’ should be a mark of excellence. An indication that the buyer is holding a definitive interpretation of a film, one that will offer up nuggets of information, captivating interviews and enthralling features. That so many discs have been released using that badge to sell discs without any thought for the buyer has sullied the whole ethos behind the Special Edition DVD, and if moviemakers can’t deliver the goods, then they shouldn’t release the discs full stop. There was a time when Special Edition meant just that. I, for one, want to ask the industry to work harder to save its damaged reputation. 10 ways DVD content creators pwn you10 lies told on DVD extras
