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HTF REVIEW: "Jerry Maguire" Special Edition (with screenshots) (1 Viewer)

Ronald Epstein

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Jerry Maguire




Year: 1996
Rated: R
Film Length: 139 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1



It's really funny to look back upon the Jerry
Maguire phenomenon that took the world by
storm with its seemingly endless coin phrases
like Show Me The Money and You had me
at hello
that still get thrown around 6 years
later. And who could forget Cuba Gooding taking
the stage in one of Oscar's finest Best Supporting
Actor acceptance moments? Like it or not, this
was the film that established Cuba Gooding, Jr.
and Renee Zellweger, each deserving of such an
honor. It was also a perfect vehicle for Director
Cameron Crowe.
jerry5.jpg

Cruise plays the title character, a sports agent
who is ambitious but short on morals. One morning
he writes a "mission statement" spelling out his
desire to turn the ruthless art of being a sports
agent into a moralistic one. He wants agents to
become more personal with their clients. He thinks
clients deserve more from their agents than just
being there for contract decisions. When his
fellow co-workers don't buy into the religion, he
loses his job.
jerry6.jpg

Rennee Zelweger gives a sweetly intense performance
as a single mother who enters his life and his
heart. She is so moved by Jerry's Mission Statement
that she's willing to throw away a safe job to be
part of his new venture.
jerry4.jpg

That new venture involves trying to make an
attractive contract for second rate footballer
(Cuba Gooding Jr.) with an overabundant amount
of energy off the field but precious little on it.
jerry7.jpg

Nominated for five Acdemy Awards including Best
Picture and Best Actor, Jerry Maguire is
a movie that reminds you why you like movies in
the first place.
How is the transfer?
Columbia has substantially improved upon its
original 1997 DVD release. Though they are
using the same transfer, you can immediately see
the improvements when putting both side-by-side.
This is perhaps one of the finest transfers
I have seen from the studio. Whereas the
original release showed an evident amount of
video noise, this new digital transfer is
totally pristine. Flesh colors are more accurate,
and there is much sharper detail and focus in
every scene. The football sequences look
astonishingly crisp -- almost looking hi-def.
There is no doubt that when you compare this
transfer to the old, there is a whole new life
being brought to this film.
The 5.1 Dolby Digital mix is also more robust.
The surround channels are constantly active.
When the rears are not supporting the film's
musical score, you find yourself placed in the
middle of a busy airport or crowded restaurant.
Special Features
Since Jerry Maguire was one of the
studio's initial DVD offerings in 1997, there
was much to improve upon. Columbia has made
repurchasing this title very tempting by
releasing a 2-disc Special Edition that does
not skimp on extras.
jerry1.jpg
jerry2.jpg

Let's first talk a little about the packaging.
Columbia has actually done something very special
with this release with slipcover packaging that
pulls out and unfolds into 3-pane sections. The
discs sit in plastic hub housing with a side
pocket that holds a collector's pamphlet that
gives insight into the film and its cast.
jerry3.jpg

Pop in Disc One and an animated menu
containing vertical strips of scenes slides
across the screen. You stop ay Jerry's desktop
where the menu selections reside.
A full-length audio commentary featuring
Cameron Crowe, Tom Cruise, Rene Zellweger and
Cuba Gooding Jr. is included.
jerry10.jpg

Disc Two begins with an animated menu
sequence similar to Disc One, set against Bruce
Springsteen's "Secret Garden" song.
jerry9.jpg

For anyone who is not in audio commentaries,
the included Video Commentary may be just
the thing for you. Using some of the cast's
favorite scenes, we watch Cruise, Zellweger,
Gooding and Crowe sitting in chairs, kicking
back, and commenting on the film's scene shown
in a separate smaller window. The cast seems
to be having a great time -- and you will too,
as you watch a close-up of Cuba looking at his
infamous "Show Me The Money" speech. Now if only
Tom Cruise would take that awful hat off his head...
There are five Deleted Scenes that can
be played with or without the Director & Editor's
commentary. They include:
* Two intense fans approaching Cuba Gooding
after a game.
* Cruise talking to his wife after signing
a great deal. His wife, screaming aloud in
the office, promises him the best oral sex
upon his return home.
* Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr) negotiating dozens
of phone calls all at once. It comes off
being way too lengthy.
* Cuba has an altercation with 2 actors
dressed in pickle costumes.
* Tidwell(Cuba Gooding) and Cush(Jerry O'Connell)
nearly have a fist fight on an airplane as
Jerry quickly breaks the activity up.
The deleted scenes, played complete, last under
7 minutes. They really don't add anything to the
film, and the picture quality is mostly grainy.
jerry8.jpg

There are three sequences of Rehearsal
Footage presented for your enjoyment. Shot
on what appears to be a video camcorder, we see
the actors rehearsing inside a Producer's office.
These sequences last mostly only a few seconds
in length. They are:
* Cuba practicing his Kwan speech
* Cruise improvising a phone with his fingers
as Cuba prances around an office spewing out
his infamous "Show Me The Money" dialogue.
* Cruise walking through the empty soundstage
office set waving goodbye to his SMI empoloyees.
In Rod We Trust! You'll get a nice laugh from
My First Commercial which features new
sports superstar Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding)
selling the only thing the public will buy --
himself!
You might mistake him for a used-car salesman,
but Drew Rosenhaus is a real-life Sports
Agent, and he will tell you how one equips
himself for the vigorous life-style of the
profession.
You ready? Let's go! What starts as a slickly
produced Making-of Featurette soon
disintegrates into the standard promotional fluff
that introduces us to the film's cast as well as
Director Cameron Crowe. Though it contains 1996
interviews with the cast and a few short clips
of behind-the-scenes footage, it is mostly
dominated with film footage you have already seen.
The documentary lasts just under 8 minutes.
This is one of those interesting extras that
you never expect. The entire Mission Statement
that Jerry Maguire groggily wrote early one
morning can be read page-by-page.
An extensive Jerry's Photo Album contains
well over a hundred publicity photos and stills,
including Cameron Crowe on the set directing his
actors.
Rounding out the extras is the music video for
Bruce Springsteen's Secret Garden as well
theatrical trailers for Jerry Maguire and
As Good As It Gets. There is also a
Filmography that contains photos of the
actors and their individual film credits.
The DVD ROM consists of the film's
entire shooting script.
Final Thoughts
I don't normally enjoy the fact that studios
are constantly offering newer and improved
versions of titles previously released to DVD.
However, in this case, I'll make an exception.
This new Special Edition of Jerry Maguire
has an improved transfer and comes with an array
of supplements. I was a bit disappointed with
the very brief amount of deleted material and
rehearse footage, but the fact that this
sensational cast has reunited to provide audio
and video commentary puts the clinch in this
disc's purchase value.
Release Date: April 30, 2002
 

Matt Stone

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Thanks for the review Ron. My copy shipped today from DDD, and hope to have it by the end of the week.
 

Ricardo C

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Ron... Your review had me at hello. Nevermind the fact that it didn't actually start with "hello." Already ordered this one.
 

Dome Vongvises

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Now here's one release I won't be getting.....that's because my brother's getting it. :D Ah to be a leech in society.
 

MichaelPe

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You had me at "video commentary". :D
With "Amelie" and "Jerry Maguire", April 30 is looking good... :)
 

Scott Weinberg

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No Lipnicki in the commentary??? Aw, man! :frowning:
Can't wait to get my mitts on this SE. Solid review, Ron - and great choice of screenshots!
 

Patrick Sun

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Lipnicki's probably going to do some commentary on the Jeff Foxworthy TV show box set that coming down the pike on this side of ...never. :)
 

Seth Paxton

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boy I really like the idea of that video commentary

Honestly, over regular commentaries I'd rather have specific scenes properly broken down or analyzed than 95% of the rambling commentaries that we do get.
 

Carlo_M

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Double dipping on a title again. Man, I feel like Columbia's making me "Show them the money!" "I'm their motherf'er!"

Another great SE of a Crowe film in my vault. Last one left: Singles!

Come on, Warner, especially in memory of Layne Staley.
 

David Tolsky

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OK Ron, I know what's really going on here.
You mention "Jerry's Wife" and "oral sex" in the same sentence. And you got the disc for free!!:D I know how you feel about Rene, so if the money wasn't flying out of your pocket, then maybe something else...no, I won't go there ;)
 

Matthew_S

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Picked this one up yesterday. Man, i skipped right over to the video commentary and was suprised. From the half i watched, it's a lot of "Gee, you are awesome!" and "look at that, you are on fire!" and whole lot more back-patting. Man, i've never seen a group of folks that were so impressed with their work! I like the video commentary idea, though.
 
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Has anyone else compared the picture quality of this special addition versus the original release?.

The reason I ask is because Widescreen Review magazine, on line, claims that they can see no difference between the old and the new. I know that they use a high end front projector for their reviews. You would think that if Ron saw improvement in the new release on his set, the difference should be even more pronounced on a larger front projector.

I own the original release and I am not really an extras kind of guy. So I will only buy the special edition if I know it's picture is improved. By the way, my display is a 56" Toshiba 56X81.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Thomas
 

Andy Kim

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Did anyone else's copy have the anti-theft metal sticker UNDERNEATH the see through plastic?!

How the hell do I open it up and get rid of that thing.

Will that plastic plate pop right off and then snap back on with some force?
 

Ronald Epstein

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Thomas,
Check out the review at DVDFILE.
Peter Bracke saw an improvement as well.
 

PhilipG

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Did anyone else's copy have the anti-theft metal sticker UNDERNEATH the see through plastic?!
Sigh. Yes. And unlike Citizen Kane or CEOT3K, the dratted sticker tore away some of the cardboard when I removed it with my trusty penknife. :frowning:
As for the transfer, I didn't see the original, but the edge enhancement is plain nasty on this one. :thumbsdown:
 

Carlo_M

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I'll check it out when I get home, since I haven't sold off my old version yet. Not sure how much of an improvement I'll see since I only have a PT-47, but it is ISF'd so there's a chance.
I know for a fact I did not see an improvement in The Replacement Killers, but that's another story... :)
 

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