DVD review: The Number 23

Jim Carrey's The Number 23 is now out on DVD, and with it comes his so-so thriller. You can read The Number 23 movie review here, but proceed to explore the depths of the human mind... or at least the DVD special features that come along with this so-so thriller.

I am not one to review the video or audio quality of DVDs, as honestly, I really can't tell the difference nor do I have the time to examine how many lines of pixels are appearing on the screen. But I do have just enough intelligence to review the special features, and the box touts that it "includes both theatrical and unrated versions of the film, loaded with bonus material". This is pretty much bullshit.

Yes, the DVD has both rated and unrated versions, and yes, it has some special features, but "loaded" with special features? I think not. You can watch 16 deleted scenes (including an alternate ending) separately from watching the whole movie again (who in hell would want to do that again?), and if you didn't find the movie itself all that good, you won't find the deleted scenes all that interesting, either. There are a few moments worthwhile, but for the most part the deleted scenes were deleted for a reason.

The behind-the-scenes featurettes are decent and give some insight into the actors' views of their characters, but as with most of these semi-promotional behind-the-scenes featurettes, the actors mainly discuss how they find their characters so deep and challenging. When do they not say this? They'd say this if they were starring in a fluffy romantic comedy...

Basically, the special features are lacking in quality and quantity, though fans of the film will probably enjoy them more than I did.

The Number 23 DVD is already available, as it has been for weeks and weeks (I was so slow in reviewing this item).

Mr. Zemeckis: Stop using motion-capture technology!

Dear Mr. Robert Zemeckis,

Your motion-capture technology binge has got to stop. It's a novel concept, one that may work at some point if done right, or if used in a horror movie, but as is, it just doesn't work. Take one of your latest pictures, The Polar Express. The concept was interesting and the movie was not horrific by any stretch of the imagination, but the special effects were just creepy. It reminded me of House of Wax, where Vincent Price killed real people and put wax over them. The Polar Express was a kid's movie, and it was just plain scary thanks to your motion-capture techniques.

You have Beowulf coming up soon. A classic. A movie that could be great - if it were done with real actors, and not real actors painted over. There will come a time when this will work, but why destroy a classic with such gimmicks?

And now, I've heard, you've cast Jim Carrey (according to Empire Online) to star in A Christmas Carol, another family film that will end up looking more like a horror movie, especially with Carrey's stretchy face now completely unrestrained by the limits of the real world.

Stop now. Please. Before you hurt someone.

Sincerely,
Erik Samdahl