...the jokes come so fast the film is bound to make you laugh at one point or another.
Video:
MGM continue their practice of giving us what they call a "standard" version of the film on one side of the DVD and a widescreen edition on the other. In this case, however, as with so many other movies that were not originally filmed in a widescreen process like Panavision, the 1.77:1 ratio widescreen is a matted rendering of the full-frame edition. Therefore, the widescreen version does not provide additional left or right information but simply offers less top and bottom material. Since the widescreen version is apparently the one shown theatrically, however, the purist will want only to watch that one; the viewer who wants to get his so-called "money's worth" by filling up the entire television screen, whether or not the material is worth it, will want to watch the more-spacious standard version. Colors in both editions are good, bright and clear, with little grain and minimal signs of age.
Audio:
The mono sound is also very clean and clear, with a surprisingly wide range. There are some deep musical notes on occasion, a nice sheen on upper frequencies and high transients, and only a small amount of background hiss.
Extras:
Besides the film one finds little else. There's the expected menu of scene selections, twenty-four of them, a full-frame theatrical trailer, English and Spanish spoken languages, and French and Spanish subtitles. MGM also include one their usual informational booklet inserts, but this time it's only four pages. It seems that unless it's a Bond epic, MGM are unwilling to spend a lot of money enhancing their discs.
Parting Thoughts:
"Pithy," says Nancy about one of Fielding's remarks early on. "It has great pith." Certainly, the compact nature of "Bananas" could be said to be pithy, too, but it would be another couple of films before Woody would begin to add serious insights to his comedy. Some people liked him better in the simpler, early days. What with many of Allen's films now showing up on DVD, like "Take the Money and Run," "Bananas," "Sleeper," "Manhattan," and "Annie Hall," one can take one's pick of the bunch. "Bananas," that is.
MGM continue their practice of giving us what they call a "standard" version of the film on one side of the DVD and a widescreen edition on the other. In this case, however, as with so many other movies that were not originally filmed in a widescreen process like Panavision, the 1.77:1 ratio widescreen is a matted rendering of the full-frame edition. Therefore, the widescreen version does not provide additional left or right information but simply offers less top and bottom material. Since the widescreen version is apparently the one shown theatrically, however, the purist will want only to watch that one; the viewer who wants to get his so-called "money's worth" by filling up the entire television screen, whether or not the material is worth it, will want to watch the more-spacious standard version. Colors in both editions are good, bright and clear, with little grain and minimal signs of age.
Audio:
The mono sound is also very clean and clear, with a surprisingly wide range. There are some deep musical notes on occasion, a nice sheen on upper frequencies and high transients, and only a small amount of background hiss.
Extras:
Besides the film one finds little else. There's the expected menu of scene selections, twenty-four of them, a full-frame theatrical trailer, English and Spanish spoken languages, and French and Spanish subtitles. MGM also include one their usual informational booklet inserts, but this time it's only four pages. It seems that unless it's a Bond epic, MGM are unwilling to spend a lot of money enhancing their discs.
Parting Thoughts:
"Pithy," says Nancy about one of Fielding's remarks early on. "It has great pith." Certainly, the compact nature of "Bananas" could be said to be pithy, too, but it would be another couple of films before Woody would begin to add serious insights to his comedy. Some people liked him better in the simpler, early days. What with many of Allen's films now showing up on DVD, like "Take the Money and Run," "Bananas," "Sleeper," "Manhattan," and "Annie Hall," one can take one's pick of the bunch. "Bananas," that is.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]4672[/release]