'Benjamin Button' ages well on sterling DVD set
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (two-disc Criterion edition) - David Fincher's Oscar-nominated drama about mortality and the cruelty of passing time gets a nice DVD treatment this week - so nice, in fact, that it makes me wish I liked the movie more.
"Benjamin Button," loosely based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald story, centers around the kind of high-concept pitch line that makes Hollywood executives salivate: Brad Pitt ages in reverse! Pitt plays the title character, who is mysteriously born in 1918 an old man and gets "younger" as time goes on. Rejected by his father, Benjamin finds a substitute parent in Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), the kindly manager of a New Orleans nursing home. We watch as Benjamin grows up, sees the world and comes to terms with his love for Daisy (Cate Blanchett), who stole his heart the day they first met as children.
Technically, this movie's a masterpiece. Fincher weaves digital effects into traditional cinematic storytelling as well as any filmmaker working today. It's nothing short of astonishing to watch Benjamin come into the world with the lined, sallow face of an old man, then get progressively younger, all while unmistakably being played by Pitt. Fincher also delivers some knockout set pieces, including a harrowing battle scene aboard a boat during World War II. "Benjamin Button" has two fatal problems, though. One is the script, which follows an excellent first act with increasingly syrupy melodrama. The other, surprisingly, is Pitt's performance. He handles the physical demands of the role well but never reveals what's going on inside his character's heart. For all its technical beauty, "Benjamin Button" left me cold.
The two-disc DVD, released jointly by Paramount and the Criterion Collection, is a knockout. In addition to a Fincher commentary, we get a nearly three-hour making-of documentary that's as classy and detailed as any I've seen on a DVD. It's so in-depth that some have said it robs the film of its magic (I don't agree). This two-disc set, like the film itself, is clearly a labor of love. The Blu-ray version has the same specs and price. (PG-13; Paramount/Criterion, $39.99)
"Gigantor: The Collection" (Vol. 1) - Here is a spiffy new collection of "Gigantor," the classic 1960s cartoon show that paved the way for Japanese animation in America. The show revolves around a young boy and the giant robot he controls to save the world from gangsters, aliens and other baddies. Animation buffs and those who grew up on the show should love this four-disc set, which includes 26 uncut episodes along with commentaries and an interview with producer Fred Ladd. I'd guess, however, that the black-and-white animation and simple plots of "Gigantor" might not appeal to today's kids, even despite the popularity of current Japanese imports like "Pokemon." (NR; E1 Entertainment, $39.98)
"Galaxy Quest" (Deluxe Edition) - Released in 1999, "Galaxy Quest" is a funny and touching tribute to "Star Trek" and its legions of passionate (if sometimes insane) fans. The premise is fantastic: The cast of a beloved "Trek"-like show, who subsist now on appearances at fan conventions, are recruited by actual aliens to defeat an intergalactic bad guy named Sarris. The movie pokes fun at "Star Trek" and its fans without being mean-spirited, and along the way it tells a genuinely moving story. Tim Allen, Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver are all great as the "Galaxy Quest" crew, but the secret weapon here is Enrico Colantoni, who delivers a hilarious and heartfelt performance as the aliens' leader. This new DVD release sports a nice set of extras, including retrospective interviews with the cast, making it a great way to reconnect with this underrated gem. Note: This title will be available Tuesday, May 12. (PG; Paramount, $14.99)