6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Jerry is a junkyard worker who attempts to sabotage a power plant that he believes is melting his brain. But, when his plan goes awry, the magnetic field that he creates accidentally erases all of the videotapes in a local video store where his best friend Mike works. Fearing that the mishap will cost Mike his job, the two friends team up to keep the store's only loyal customer—a little old lady with a tenuous grasp on reality—from realizing what has happened by recreating and re-filming every movie that she decides to rent. From "Back to the Future," to "Robocop," to "Rush Hour," to "The Lion King," Jerry and Mike become the biggest stars in their neighborhood by starring in the biggest movies ever made.
Starring: Jack Black, Yasiin Bey, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie DiazComedy | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
We come up with some special effects, we do it ourselves!
Most astute audiences know that it's not the special effects and the production values and the spit and polish that make a movie, but rather the heart
that goes into it, the soul that grows within it, and the joy that comes out of it. Certainly there's something to be said for big budgets, cutting-edge
technical knowhow, great acting, a refined script, and so on and so forth, but there's also the base necessary ingredients, including a love for the
medium of film, an understanding of and appreciation for it, and a willingness to get down and dirty and do whatever it takes to make a finished
product
people will love, not just pay to see, look at, or even admire. All of the great films are made not just for the
bottom line but rather for the movie lover in everyone, to tell a story and tell it with sincerity and appreciation for the power the medium holds. In
Be Kind Rewind, what begins as an emergency moviemaking session, a last-resort sort of gamble, becomes something deeper, greater, more
important. Beyond the mere novelty of the premise and the sharing of the fun of film, Be Kind Rewind promotes the potential of the
medium and the goodness that can come from it, the sense of
togetherness, of community, of a shared passion for something that's not about look and professionalism and perfection but rather honesty, integrity,
and sincerity, ideas that transcend cinema and seem appropriate for the greater thing called life.
RoboJerry.
Be Kind Rewind features an acceptable but somewhat unremarkable 1080p transfer. Generally, the image appears sharp and well-defined, with
strong colors and balance. Indeed, viewers will enjoy quality high-definition details evident on the worn paint and textures outside the video shop, on
the rusted gate upon its door, and on other general street-level details. Facial and clothing and movie recreation costume details are sufficient, and the
1080p transfer's resolution and clarity allows viewers to make out with ease the titles and box art of the VHS boxes that line the store's shelves. Colors
are generally vibrant, balanced, and pleasing. The image sports bright colors in clothes and costumes, but handles some of the darker, more worn-down
shades around the store with equal ease. The image sometimes looks a bit flat, soft, and slightly smeary. Blacks are deep, but crush is evident in the
darkest nighttime corners. Still, this is a solid, well-rounded image that serves the movie well.
Be Kind Rewind features an immersive and highly satisfying DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Surrounds are used extensively throughout,
particularly in support of music. From the opening titles forward, music plays from all corners with great clarity and energy. The surround use is
constant, but naturally effective. The fronts dominate, but the surrounds do as they should, encircling the audience within the film. The
Ghostbusters theme plays with the energy, clarity, and volume necessary to really enjoy that classic tune. A few scattered directional effects
are effective, and light city ambience helps set the stage for the exteriors. Those scene featuring a magnetized Jack Black enjoy solid clarity and heft.
Bass isn't overpowering in this film, but there's an evident low end signature that gives the movie a positive, strong body. Generally, however, this one
is all about dialogue. The spoken word plays clearly through the center with no discernible hiccups or clutter from surrounding music or sound effects.
This track won't dazzle, but it's a good, positive presentation that does the movie proud.
Be Kind Rewind contains a handful of interesting -- and some interestingly-titled -- extras.
Be Kind Rewind goes to show that movies aren't about how good they look, how big they feel, how much money they make. They're about
making people happy, about changing lives, about spirit and heart rather than money and the bottom line. Be Kind Rewind isn't
simply about
remaking movies on the cheap, but instead how the medium can bring people together, how a genuine sense of care and community and pride in
something can elevate even the "cheapest" picture into a masterpiece of heart. The short remakes are excellent, too, but one can only wonder what
the movies might have been like if Robert Rodriguez had been in on the gig. New Line's Blu-ray release of Be Kind
Rewind features good video, solid audio, and a fair assortment of extras. Recommended.
2009
1976
Unrated
2015
Extended Cut
2014
2017
1985
2013
1998-2007
2005
2008
Bruno
2009
2006
10th Anniversary Edition
2008
2012
Special Edition
2006
1994
2-Disc Unrated Collector's Edition
2010
2012
2001
2020