Search - Wyatt Earp [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Western Violence Movie Release: 1994 DVD Release: 05/18/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered,Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 3 hrs 10 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Western, Biopic [feature], Epic Western, Revisionist Western See Also: Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp [Blu-ray], Wyatt Earp [HD DVD]

Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, this epic version of the legendary western sheriff-gunslinger's life story stars Kevin Costner as Earp, who lived from 1848 to 1929. Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Earp tries to run away to join the Union Army in the Civil War, but he is turned away because of his youth. Instead, he studies law and marries Urilla Sutherland (Annabeth Gish). But Urilla dies of typhoid fever before they can have children. Earp grows despondent and descends into drinking and petty thievery, but his father Nicholas (Gene Hackman) finds him, sobers him up, and sets him straight. Earp becomes a buffalo hunter and a close companion of Bat Masterson (Tom Sizemore) and his brother Ed (Bill Pullman). With his brothers, Virgil (Michael Madsen) and Morgan (Linden Ashby), Earp sets out to clean up the violence-plagued towns of the old West -- by using his own guns to settle scores. Earp takes up with Mattie Blaylock (Mare Winningham), a drug addict and prostitute, then discards her for actress Josie Marcus (Joanna Going). In Tombstone, Arizona, the Earp brothers and their comrade Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid), who is plagued by tuberculosis and a compulsion for gambling, meet their match in a ruthless gang led by Ike Clanton (Jeff Fahey). ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Kevin Costner - Wyatt Earp
Dennis Quaid - Doc Holliday
Gene Hackman - Nicholas Earp
Jeff Fahey - Ike Clanton
Mark Harmon - Johnny Behan

Don't be confused thinking this two-DVD set is a special edition, even though it's labeled as such. Far from it. Considering that the supplements consist of a brief new featurette on the making of the film, a slightly longer television special hosted by Tom Skerritt (which is also on the making of this film and its relationship to other film "epics"), plus ten deleted scenes and the theatrical trailer, you can clearly see that little was done by Warner to make this set beyond ordinary. Interviews from the main cast and crew members on the featurettes show a love of the genre and working together, so a commentary would be expected at the very least, but sadly isn't included. On a positive note, though, the picture and sound make up for any other deficient elements. This 190-minute film is broken over the two discs, with the above extra features on the second DVD. The 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer is impeccable in every way. Wide panoramic vistas are perfectly captured and translated to the digital format. Colors are rich, while blacks are solid and very dense. It's a beauty to watch. The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is equally as good. Surrounds are used sparingly, but to superb effect. Environmental sound effects create a complete auditory field, while the dialogue is clear and free of distortion. While the sound and picture are well above average, if you are looking for more, don't expect to find much depth with this release, which is really too bad. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide