Plot: What’s it about?
After his partner steps down due to age, special agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) is forced to find a new one, though his line of work is most unusual. His main interest lies in a police officer named Darrell Edwards (Will Smith), but a group of elite military and police agents are brought in as competition for the position. Once Edwards has passed all the tests and earned a chance to join K’s side, he is told the truth about the organization. If he so chooses, he will be agent J in the Men in Black, a top secret force that polices alien beings and handles all interplanetary issues, conflicts, and all other matters. Soon enough, J is the newest suit on the team and no sooner than he joins, then he finds himself and K involved in a plot to demolish Earth. Unless the two agents can work together and track down a most important piece of equipment, the world will be destroyed and mankind will be but a distant memory. Can an old school agent like K and the new kid on the block J find a way to combine forces, or will the world end as a result?
A smash success at the box office, Men in Black was supposed to be one of the first Columbia films loosed on DVD, but as we all know, that wasn’t the case. After an extensive wait however, Columbia delivered the goods and has issued a slew of different versions, with separate Dolby Digital & DTS editions, plus a two disc Limited Edition. When the sequel Men in Black II was primed to hit theaters, Columbia went back and slapped on a couple MIB2 extras, then reissued the Limited Edition in a new package, dubbed as the Deluxe Edition. Now we have this Superbit release, which has both Dolby Digital & DTS soundtracks, but no supplements. The movie itself is no masterpiece, but it is a well made popcorn flick and earned its place as an audience favorite. The story is solid enough and offers plenty of chances for action & humor, which keeps things balanced and moving at a brisk pace, even during exposition scenes. Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith turn in terrific efforts as the leads, but a gifted supporting cast lends a hand, as do the various visual effects, creature work, and other special effects tricks.
I am by no means a fan of his music or acting on the whole, but I have to admit, Will Smith was a wise choice for his role here. His outlandish antics and lack of refined skills never hold him back, as the role seems written with his flaws in mind. So instead of working around them, Smith is able to amp them up a few more degrees and the result is a bad performance in most scenarios, but a good one for Men in Black. I still don’t often care for his efforts in other films, as his brash, amateur style is usually out of place, but his name generates mainstream audience interest, so I’m sure we’ll see him for some time to come. Other films with Smith include Independence Day, Enemy of the State, Bad Boys, Ali, Wild Wild West, and The Legend of Bagger Vance. The cast also includes Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive, Natural Born Killers), Linda Fiorentino (The Last Seduction, Jade), and Vincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket, The Cell).
Video: How does it look?
Men in Black is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I had some doubts about how improved this edition could be, but I was pleased to find some nice enhancements here, so this is another Superbit success. In fact, this is one of the best looking releases in the line, so fans are in for a real treat. The previous treatments all looked very, very good, but this one irons out the kinks and delivers close to a flawless presentation. The print is in excellent condition, while detail is stunning and this new version really opens up the visuals. So small objects and subtle details shine through, thanks to this enhanced transfer. I found black levels to be rich and refined too, while colors seemed crisp and vivid at all times. Another excellent Superbit edition and without question, this is the best Men in Black has looked on home video.
Audio: How does it sound?
As with all the Superbit releases, this one sports dual 5.1 options in Dolby Digital & DTS, but this case seems to be a rare one. I often find the DTS tracks to be superior, but this time around, I have to give the nod to the Dolby Digital soundtrack. But each track sounds great and betters the other in some respects, but on an overall scale, I’d rank the Dolby Digital option a little higher. I don’t think you’ll be let down by either soundtrack however, as both offer an active and effective presentation. The surrounds pulse throughout, with powerful blasts, intense bass, and all kinds of impact driven audio elements. So your system will be put through the paces, including some scenes with a lot of low impact, subtle presence. The music has a lot of life also, while dialogue remains audible even in the more crowded sequences. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, Mandarin, Chinese, and Thai, which is a whole lot of subtitle options, to be sure.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
