Plot: What’s it about?
Number Five was just another robotic creation, designed to follow orders and act as a weapon in times of war. If he was destroyed, then so be it as long as he was doing what he was programmed to do. Number Five, like the other four robots of his kind, was state of the art and was loaded down with technology and the best artificial intelligence science could create. But when he is struck by lightning after a training exercise, Number Five goes above and beyond his programming. He has gone from a subservient creation to a fully self aware entity and while he might not have blood in his veins, Number Five is alive. Thanks to some rather unusual circumstances and a hunger for input, Number Five escapes the military compound he was held in and makes his way into the city, where he meets Stephanie (Ally Sheedy). She teaches him about lots of things, including life & death and that has Number Five petrified of returning to the lab, as he thinks they will erase his memory. So the chase is on to locate Number Five and return him to his previous state, but can even the government outwit this robotic prankster?
I admit it in an open and free manner, I love Number Five. I always have and unless there’s a bizarre future sequel that betrays the character, I always will. This is the film where we first meet Number Five and sadly, we only have one more film after this one to spend with the lovable scamp. From his cool exterior, shocking discoveries, desperate need for input, and constant movie references, I can’t help but like this robotic charmer. This film is like a modern fairy tale where love and hope abound, only there’s a smart alec robot in the middle of it all. This might seem like a children’s movie and kids will like it to be sure, but this has elements for all ages to like, which is rare these days. This is mostly a comedy, but some dramatic sequences do appear and they never slow down the film much, or compromise the entertainment value. Image has given this title the royal treatment, with a bevy of special features and a nice 5.1 remix, but the visual transfer leaves much to be desired. But since the movie is so good and the rest of the disc more than measures up, I give this release a high recommendation to all those reading this review.
I would have to say the real draw of this film is the amazing (even today) animatronics work, which really gives Number Five his humanistic and lovable traits. Number Five has a unique appearance and though robotic of course, his movements do reflect some human based efforts. At the time, I know I was blown away by this robot, so I wanted to take the time to mention it here. Of course he looks and moves well, but what about his voice? Number Five’s pipes were supplied by Tim Blaney, who also reprised his role in the sequel as well as playing Frank, the small pug in Men In Black. His vocal work gives Number Five his brisk, upbeat personality and I feel he deserves a quick mention as such. Some talented folks also share the screen with Number Five, with Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy) and Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club) taking the foremost roles. Both turn in solid efforts and manage to keep pace, though Number Five does steal the scenes. The cast also includes Fisher Stevens (Hackers), who would return in a more prominent role (though as the same character) in the sequel. Behind the camera of this ’80s classic is John Badham, who has also directed such films as Saturday Night Fever, WarGames, Nick Of Time, and American Flyers.
Video: How does it look?
Short Circuit is presented in a 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. I am very pleased to finally this film in widescreen, but the lack of anamorphic enhancement has cost this transfer a lot in terms of quality. The transfer has frequent compression problems such as edge enhancement and pixel breakup, which I think an anamorphic transfer would have cleaned up for the most part. Also, the grain evident sometimes causes flaws in darker scenes to be seen and that’s not too cool either. The colors look bright though and flesh tones appear sharp, so there’s some good here also. This is an overall decent transfer, but it should have been so much better in the end.
Audio: How does it sound?
A very active Dolby Digital 5.1 track has been included, and it fares much better than the video. I was impressed by frequency and placement of surround use, as I was concerned this would come off as forced or hollow. Not the case though, as the elements emerge in natural form and still make good use of the speakers. The sound effects are loud and distinct, but never detract from the other audio portions, which is nice. The music has a rich, immersive quality and though not as expansive as some other recent mixes, it still sounds very good overall. The dialogue is present in fine form as well, with no volume problems or layering issues. This disc also includes a 2.0 mix, if you choose to use a more basic audio environment.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This is a full blown special edition, so let’s jump in head first and examine two alternate audio tracks that’ve been included. The first is an audio commentary with director John Badham and two writers, who have a lot of information to share about this film and how it was made. From the smallest details to grand overall ideas, these guys give much insight into Short Circuit and never become dull or silent. The second track is an isolated musical score and sound effects track, which also offers a fun listen. Not everyone likes these kind of tracks, but this film deserves one with all the cool effects and music. A selection of still photos, which include behind the scenes and production stills, also makes the cut, which is nice. Even more photos and the theatrical poster can be found in the press kit, which should please fans. You can also view some concept sketches for Number Five, which I found to be very interesting indeed. Also included are a series of cast & crew interviews with Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, John Badham, Syd Mead, and Eric Allard. What, no Number Five piece? Of course there is, in the form of “The Creation Of Number Five,” a seven minute featurette which covers just that, how the robot was created. Next is a very cool and informative behind the scenes featurette, which provides an even deeper glimpse into the production. Rounding out this disc are cast & crew biographies & filmographies, production notes, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
