'Twin Peaks' gets gold treatment on DVD
"Twin Peaks: The Definitive Gold Box Edition" -- Brew up some coffee and get yourself a slice of cherry pie: The complete "Twin Peaks" series is finally available on DVD! This 10-disc set brings together both seasons of the groundbreaking show in their entirety, along with the feature-length pilot episode, which has never before been available on DVD in the U.S. The set also includes tons of solid extras, which should please even the most die-hard fans of the series (especially those who previously bought the individual season sets).
Created by veteran TV writer Mark Frost and filmmaker David Lynch, "Twin Peaks" became a pop culture sensation when it debuted in 1990, and its influence continues to be felt in shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "The Sopranos." The pilot episode -- a masterpiece of plotting, mood and atmosphere -- opens with the discovery of homecoming queen Laura Palmer's body.
The investigation of her murder by local Sheriff Harry S. Truman and FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is the centerpiece of the first season, which comprises seven episodes (not including the pilot). These flawlessly executed episodes were like nothing that had appeared on TV before, a stunning mix of dark humor, soap-opera-style storytelling and cinematic visuals. They took viewers deep into the heart of the town of Twin Peaks without ever losing sight of a central question: Who killed Laura Palmer? (That became a catchphrase as popular as "Who shot J.R.?" was in '80s.)
The second season, spread out over 22 episodes, is looser, darker and weirder than its tightly plotted predecessor. After Laura's killer is revealed about a third of the way through, viewers abandoned the series and critics turned against it. Certainly, some of the episodes are clunkers -- what show doesn't have a few? -- but I find the second season to be nearly as compelling as the first, with some of the scariest and funniest moments of the entire series. So, does this DVD set do "Twin Peaks" justice? Absolutely.
The pilot looks fantastic on DVD (as do all the episodes), and the extras are about as comprehensive as a fan could expect. Included is a fantastic two-hour documentary that explores every aspect of the program. Also on board is a conversation between Lynch and actors Kyle MacLachlan, who played Cooper, and Mädchen Amick, who played Shelly Johnson. There are some never-before-available deleted scenes included, as well as some vintage material, like MacLachlan's appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in 1990. If I had to quibble, I would say that it's a shame that there are no commentaries included. (The individual season one set, released in 2001 by Artisan, had commentaries on each episode.) But all in all, this is a great collection of a legendary TV show. (Paramount, $108.99)
"Talk to Me" -- "Talk to Me" works better than it should because of its outstanding cast, most notably Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The film is a tried-and-true Hollywood biopic, telling the story of Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene (Cheadle), an ex-con who lands a gig on a Washington, D.C., radio station in the 1960s and becomes a local celebrity because of his funny, "tell it like it is" style. Greene is mentored at the station by program director Dewey Hughes (Ejiofor), who dreams of turning Greene into a star as big as Bill Cosby or Richard Pryor. After a dynamic first act, the highlight of which is a devastating scene in which Greene hits the airwaves shortly after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., "Talk to Me" settles into the well-worn "Behind the Music" formula: We see Greene's humble beginnings, his rise to stardom and his inevitable fall. It all feels very familiar. But Cheadle and Ejiofor are fantastic together; their scenes crackle with energy and tension. And Taraji P. Henson delivers a standout supporting performance as Greene's feisty girlfriend. They help "Talk to Me" rise above its formulaic plot. The DVD includes deleted scenes and two featurettes that explore the period look of the film and the real-life Greene's influence on radio in the civil rights era. (R; Universal, $29.98)
"Spider-Man 3" -- I'm a longtime fan of both Spider-Man and filmmaker Sam Raimi, so you'd think the Spidey movie franchise would send me to geek heaven. Not so. I found the first two movies to be decent, but not great, and I think "Spider-Man 3" ranks slightly below them. Yes, there are some great moments here -- the "birth" of the Sandman is one of the most powerful and poetic scenes in the entire series -- but the movie feels bloated with too many villains (Venom and the new Goblin in addition to Sandman). The single-disc DVD includes an engaging commentary with Raimi and the prinicpal cast members, and the two-disc special edition offers a slew of featurettes about the production. (PG-13; Sony, $36.95 or $28.97)