We Like DVDs: R

The Royal Tenenbaums

Rusty W. Spell -- They went straight to Criterion for this one instead of releasing a plain version first, and -- as always -- Criterion did a good job. DTS, pretty good Wes Anderson commentary, an Albert Maysles (yes, the same one) documentary on the making of the movie, interviews with the cast members, outtakes, trailers, and the great artwork by Anderson's brother (aka Richie Tenenbaum, since he's the character who's meant to have painted them). There's little paintings of Margo reading various plays, which for some reason is one of my favorite things on the disc. The funniest thing on the disc is the Peter Bradley Show featuring interviews with some of the non-celebrity cast members. Oh, and more...

Rushmore

Rusty W. Spell -- The regular edition of this DVD just has the movie and the trailer. It looks okay, but it's not director-approved or anamorphic, and the Criterion version has so many nice extras that you just need to go ahead and get the Criterion (when in doubt, always get the Criterion). The packaging is great, with the little cartoons we've come to love (featured prominently in The Royal Tenenbaums), including a map. There's a making of documentary (which is very funny), a Charlie Rose interview with both Wes Anderson and Bill Murray, a trailer, a commentary by Anderson, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman, audition tapes, and more. The best feature of all is the Max Fischer Players doing little playlets for the MTV Movie Awards show, an absolutely necessary inclusion on this DVD. Criterion has taken this great little movie and given it the great big treatment.