Plot: What’s it about?
Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is a scientist who works with transporting matter in new and unusual ways. Brundle is a brilliant worker and person, but he sometimes wanders into some eccentric behavior habits. In between experiments Brundle tries to gain the affections of a reporter named Veronica (Geena Davis). He uses his natural charms to win her over, but soon resorts to offering her some inside information on his latest experiments, which could revolutionize the way travel and other tasks are done. His new work revolves around transporting matter from one place to another via teleporter, which he has had some success with. After he is able to move an animal via his creation, he decides to attempt to transport himself. But a mistake happens and Brundle finds himself in a world of danger and mutation.
The director of The Fly was David Cronenberg, who certainly knows how to make an unusual and unnerving film. This proves to be no exception to that idea and Cronenberg delivers a potent and downright eerie movie, equaling and perhaps surpassing the original version. This film is loaded with disturbing images and visuals, which add volumes of suspense and tension to the atmosphere of the movie. In fact, I think this movie is worth watching just for the visuals alone though there are many more reasons for viewing it also. Cronenberg seems to have a mastery when it comes to making a movie that sticks in your head and this one sticks even more than usual. This new Collector’s Edition is a miracle for fans, as the movie has been given a new DTS soundtrack, plus a wealth of worthwhile supplements. In other words, even if you own the previous double feature disc, this new Collector’s Edition is a must have release.
Video: How does it look?
The Fly is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I wanted this to be a wonderful looking release and Fox has made me a happy man, as this is the best The Fly has ever looked on home video. The source print seems clean and free from debris and while some fading is evident, it is minor and never distracts from the movie. The compression shows no problems either, as artifacts are absent throughout. The colors look natural and bright, but some scenes take on a supernatural glow which is intentional I am sure. I never found any smears or bleeds and flesh tones appear normal and without flaw also. The contrast seems in order as well, with no shadow depth issues and high visible detail at all times. This film deserved a fine visual treatment and Fox delivered just that.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Fly isn’t an audio driven movie by normal terms, but there is quite a bit of surround use to be found in this mix. This release contains a very solid Dolby Digital 5.1 track that delivers on all counts, which should please fans of this excellent movie. But the draw this time is a brand new DTS option, which adds even more depth and refinement to the soundtrack. The musical score is effective and sounds very rich in this mix, which uses all the surrounds to present the score’s texture. The sound effects remain subtle most of the time, but some scenes will have those speakers working double time to keep up with the action. I found no problems with dialogue either, which came across clean and with no separation or volume troubles. This release also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
As great as the DTS soundtrack is, this section is where this new Collector’s Edition earns its stripes, with a host of well crafted bonus elements. The first disc houses an audio commentary track with David Cronenberg and as usual, he provides an insightful session. He is well spoken and recalls a lot of production details, as well as some humorous stories from the shoot. A nice blend of brisk anecdotes, background information on the project, and more technical information. On the second disc, the tidal wave kicks in and you’ll find a mass of extras, such as a trio of featurettes that examine the production from start to finish. All three stages of production are covered here and if you want to know about it, chances are you’ll find out within one of these pieces. I was thrilled to find some deleted scenes and the “never before seen” alternate end sequence, which are sure to have fans in a panic to watch them as fast as possible. You can also check out the original short story, the original screenplay, and the rewrite by Cronenberg, which lets see how the material evolved over the course of the project. This release also includes a few promotional featurettes, rare special effects test footage, interactive articles, tv spots, and the film’s teaser and theatrical trailers.
