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A DVD Review of...
  
Images (C) Miramax |
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Cast: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent
Synopsis: Based on columns by Helen Fielding. This hilarious romantic comedy is the story of Bridget Jones, a 32 year old "singleton" who decides to take control of her life by keeping a diary. With a taste for adventure and an opinion on every subject-from her circle of friends, to men, food, sex and everything in between, she's decided to turn the page on a whole new life. Despite her efforts to get her act together, she finds herself caught between two men-a man who's too good to be true, Daniel Cleaver and a man who's so wrong for her, he could be right, Marc Darcy
Film Review: While it lacks the clever humour of "Four Weddings..." and the sheer romance of "Notting Hill", "Bridget Jones's Diary" proves to be another winner from the quirky English comedy genre. Make no mistake this is mostly for women and they'll really get a kick out of this, but as a man I still found it darn good fun too - not great but still a date movie I'd very happily get pulled along to. There may have been complaints about American Zellweger taking on the very British role of Bridget but she makes the part her own and plays it perfectly, but this ain't a one woman show. Grant at last gets a role that goes completely against his bumbling womaniser typecast - here he's a cheating mysoginistic bastard and he does it to a tea, whilst Firth is equally as good as the standoff-ish but increasingly warm man Bridget falls for. In fact the two's fistfight in a London street proves one of the highlights and certainly one of the funniest fight sequences on film in a long time. More could've been made of Bridget's friends who are fine but a little underwritten whilst the script, although inspired at moments with ideas such as a wedding party where everyone dresses up as either hookers or priests, comes off as unoriginal overall with a revelation toward the end that could be seen a mile off. Still, there's lots of laughs and neuroses to go around and it works - a solid, funny comedy. - Garth Franklin
"Bridget Jones Diary: Special Edition"
DVD Details In Brief (Region 4)
Rating: R
Runtime: 98mins
Versions: 16:9 Enhanced Widescreen, 4:3 Letterboxed
Aspect Ratio: 2.35: 1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Language & Sub-Titles: English, French
Audio: Commentary by Director Sharon Maguire
Documentaries: Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
Clips: Two Music Videos, Deleted Scenes
Other: Original BJD columns
Region 1 vs. Region 4: Standard NTSC/PAL Differences |
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DVD Review: An unspectacular
'Collector's Edition', one was hoping for more but what's there is good fun.
The main menu feels like the home shopping network with elevator music and
pastel water color pictures - very arty and creative though the music gets
annoying quickly. The film transfer is OK, not the best I've seen or heard
really which is a shame as this is one film a lot would like to watch over and
over, but its fine and aside from the occasional artifact or bit of grain its
still way better than VHS.
Maguire has a fun commentary, she struggles at times but is also very normal
and self-deprecating so its easy to listen to and sympathise with. The
behind-the-scenes featurette is great - clocking in at nine minutes so its a
good length, it handles the big questions like why chose an American actress for
a very British role and interviews all the stars and crew (though the footage is
very grainy at times). There's two music videos, both in widescreen and high
quality transfers. Shelby Lynne's "Killin' Kind" is a dud song though the film
clip is nice, helped mainly by some very exotic mansion location and beautiful
lighting. Gabrielle's "Out of Reach" on the other hand is a very good song
though just an ok clip which makes better use of the footage from the film.
Its great to see some of Helen Fielding's good fun original columns from Brit paper The Independent here too - translated on screen quite clearly (though I wish there'd been more). Finally comes seven
deleted scenes - an alternate opening with comments about her thighs, Bridget doing a marketing campaign (for the wrong client), Bridget and Dad discussing a message from Mom, Bridget calling Daniel, a great bit where she plays hard to get with Daniel, Daniel and Bridget sitting around watching sport all the time (and Daniel getting slightly angry with Bridget over her romanticising), and finally an alternate ending where the various characters are asked about her getting together with Darcy (Darcy's dad has a brilliant line). Fans of the film will definitely be pleased and indeed there's a good amount of stuff here but one was hoping for a little
more. - Garth Franklin
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