Spaceballs: 25th Anniversary Edition Arriving Today on Blu-Ray -- Over 5 Hours of Bonus Material (Review)

AFTER 25 YEARS, THE SCHWARTZ IS STILL WITH YOU

 

25^th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray

(Buy Now at Amazon for Only $14.95.)

  

The farce is strong in the “uproarious salute to science fiction” (The Hollywood Reporter) when SPACEBALLS: 25^TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION blasts off on Blu-ray today from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Comedy legend Mel Brooks leads an all-star cast of cutups including John Candy (Splash), Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters) and Bill Pullman (Ruthless People).

When the evil Dark Helmet (Moranis) attempts to steal all the air from planet Druidia, a determined Druish Princess (Daphne Zuniga), a clueless rogue (Pullman) and a half-man/half-dog creature who's his own best friend (Candy) set out to stop him.  But with the forces of darkness closing in on them at ludicrous speed, they'll need the help of a wise imp named Yogurt (Brooks) and the mystical power of "The Schwartz" to bring peace and merchandising rights to the entire galaxy!

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment combed the desert to bring fans an all-new featurette for the SPACEBALLS: 25^TH ANNIVESARY EDITION Blu-ray entitled “Farce Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi.”  Mel Brooks takes fans on a guided tour into the making of the SPACEBALLS saga, exploring the film’s inspiration, its production, visual effects (including the sizzling creation of “Pizza the Hut”), how the film directly tears down the adventurous (Star Wars), the scary serious (Alien) and even the apocalyptic (Planet of the Apes) in his own uninhibited way and its epic status as Mel Brooks’ most successful and beloved fan favorite film.  Additional bonus features include commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, still galleries, trailers, film bloopers and more.

Five Hours of Blu-ray Special Features

• NEW!! Farce Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi featurette
• Commentary by Mel Brooks
• Additional Commentary Tracks:
  • Mawgese
  • Dinkese
• Spaceballs: The Documentary featurette
• In Conversation: Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan featurette
• John Candy: Comic Spirit featurette
• Watch the Movie in Ludicrous Speed featurette
• Still Galleries:
  • Spaceballs: The Behind-the-Movie Photos
  • Spaceballs: The Costume Gallery
  • Spaceballs: The Art Gallery
• Trailers
  • Exhibitor Trailer with Mel Brooks Introduction
  • Theatrical Trailer
• Film Flubs:
  • Edge of the Mirror
  • Grabs Himself Early
  • The Magic Reappearing Ring
  • More Than His Head
  • No End in Sight
  • Track Behind Dot
• Storyboards-to-Film Comparison

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My Thoughts:

Boy, do I feel old knowing that this movie is celebrating 25 yrs.  I remember seeing it with my brothers at the drive in, and thinking this was the funniest movie I had ever seen.  I still watch this movie every time I find it when flipping through channels on the television, and make a point to see at least once a year, thanks to the DVD from parents bought for me a few years ago.  If you grew up in the 80's and 90's, then you must have seen this movie at least once.  It was the first film that really spoofed classic films, and worked.  I have seen dozen (as we have been bombarded with the Scary Movies one), but nothing compares to this film and the A-list cast.  Either you loved it or you hated it.  For me and my family and friends, it was one of the best movies, and it introduced me to comedic legends, Mel Brooks, John Candy (Splash), Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters) and Bill Pullman.  They worked so well together, and the laughs just kept coming.  

And, now, twenty-five years later (yikes), I can now enjoy not only this movie again on Blu-Ray, but also 5 hours of bonus material.  If you love the movies Spaceballs just as much as I do, then you have to pick up this new release. I spent a portion of Friday night watching the bonus material, and loved every minute of it. My favorites were the flubs and the John Candy featurette.  I wonder if John Candy was still here today, how many more great films like Spaceballs we would be available to us to watch and enjoy.  He truly was unique and a great actor/comedian, and this film shows why.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in domestic and international TV channels reaching over 130 countries. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

 

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

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Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this film in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.