This list of extras contained on this Blu-ray disc is downright frightening.
Extras:
This list of extras contained on this Blu-ray disc is downright frightening. There are twenty eight bullet points on the packaging. Some of these are technical specs, but one of the bullet points states And More…. You´ve got to be kidding, right? Much of the materials on this disc have been ported and rehashed from the umpteen previous DVD releases. While the last DVD was called the "Ultimate Edition," this new Blu-ray title takes it one step further. One thing we can say for certain is that this is not the "Penultimate Edition," as there is more than one more release left in the "Dirty Dancing" cash cow.
Under the "Audio Setup" menu, there are two commentary tracks and a trivia track. The Commentary with Eleanor Bergstein spends time with the film´s writer and co-producer and Bergstein is full of good information. Her own life influenced the film and her experiences are shared throughout the commentary. This is the better of the two commentaries, as the Multivoice Commentary with Kenny Ortega, Miranda Garrison, Jeff Jur, Hilary Rosenfeld and David Chapman is a edited together track with more people than I could keep track of. Miranda was a teacher at Arthur Murray with Eleanor Bergstein. This track featured a lot of people, but it isn´t as good as the first track. The Dirty Dancing 20th Anniversary Pop-Up Trivia Track is selectable from the Subtitle menu and features little animated pop-ups that provide some nice details about the film. This was a nicely done feature.
The Special Features menu is where things get scary. The Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze (12:29) features an interview with Patrick Swayze as he shares his recollections about the film and discusses the opening sequence, the history of dance, music and other elements of the film. This was a nice little chat. The Tribute to Jerry Orbach (6:34) is narrated by Kelly Bishop and looks back at the late actor. There are eleven Deleted Scenes contained on the disc. Along with the three Alternate Scenes, six Extended Scenes and forty one seconds of Outtakes, there is nearly forty five minutes of extra footage to quench the thirst of anybody looking for more "Dirty Dancing." These scenes are all featured in very nice cleaned up high definition. My only complaint is that the viewer is dumped back to the film after selecting each individual scene.
The supplements continue with the Original Screen Tests. A "Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey Screen Test Montage" (1:12) and two "Jennifer Grey Screen Test Comparisons" are short, but probably enjoyable for fans. The Multi-Angle Dance Sequences feature the scenes "The Lift" and "Everybody Dance" and uses the remote and the multi-angle capabilities first used with DVD to allow for interactive viewing from different camera angles. The Classic Story on Stage (13:20) looks at the stage presentations of "Dirty Dancing." Yup, the story of Kellerman´s became a stage show. Featuring Eleanor Bergstein and others, this was a quick wrap-up of the film´s stage life. A lot of British folk were present in the making of this featurette. A Photo Gallery (5:01) slowly runs through a few photos and the time I have listed for the feature is the length of the song that will repeat if you don´t get through the pictures in time.
The number of supplements continue on with the Interviews that are listed as separate bullet points on the packaging. Interviews are contained for Jennifer Grey (11:23), Eleanor Bergstein (18:39) and choreographer Kenny Ortega (15:24). I wish Lionsgate had not turned off the menu buttons for their special features. Music Videos for "Hungry Eyes," "She´s Like the Wind" and "(I´ve Had) The Time of My Life" are included to feed those nostalgic urges. The Emile Ardolino Tribute (13:31) looks at the film´s director and pays tribute to his life and work. Finally, the Disc Production Credits ends the lengthy list of value added content. I have to admit, Lionsgate put together one hell of a nice disc.
Closing Comments:
I´ve seen "Dirty Dancing" many times over the past twenty years. The first time was with my sister. The next couple times were a mix of screenings for reviews or viewing the film with girlfriends that were overly excited that I had copies of the film in my DVD collection. Now, on Blu-ray, I watched "Dirty Dancing" yet again. Somehow, someway and for some reason, I have never gotten tired of this film. I don´t consider it one of my favorites and I certainly do not love the film, but the music is something I enjoy a great deal. The story and performances aren´t bad either. This is truly a classic of the Eighties and a film that has made Lionsgate a lot of money; which explains why this feature packed Blu-ray has been released in the first year of the format´s life. The transfer looks decent, but "Dirty Dancing" is a film that is technically incapable of looking spectacular. The soundtrack is powerful and although it does not fully utilize the multi-channel surround mix provided, it sounds pretty good. The features are lengthy, plentiful and entertaining. This is easily the best release of the film yet.
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[release]21480[/release]