Search - 12 Monkeys [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Adult Language Movie Release: 1995 DVD Release: 03/31/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Science Fiction, Psychological Sci-Fi See Also: 12 Monkeys, 12 Monkeys [Special Edition], 12 Monkeys [HD DVD], 12 Monkeys [Special Edition], 12 Monkeys [Blu-ray]

An intense film about time travel, this sci-fi entry was directed by Terry Gilliam, a member of the comedy troupe Monty Python. The film stars Bruce Willis as James Cole, a prisoner of the state in the year 2035 who can earn parole if he agrees to travel back in time and thwart a devastating plague. The virus has wiped out most of the Earth's population and the remainder live underground because the air is poisonous. Returning to the year 1990, six years before the start of the plague, Cole is soon imprisoned in a psychiatric facility because his warnings sound like mad ravings. There he meets a scientist named Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe) and Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt), the mad son of an eminent virologist (Christopher Plummer). Cole is returned by the authorities to the year 2035, and finally ends up at his intended destination in 1996. He kidnaps Dr. Railly in order to enlist her help in his quest. Cole discovers graffiti by an apparent animal rights group called the Army of the Twelve Monkeys, but as he delves into the mystery, he hears voices, loses his bearings, and doubts his own sanity. He must figure out if Goines, who seems to be a raving lunatic, holds the key to the puzzle. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Bruce Willis - James Cole
Madeleine Stowe - Dr. Kathryn Railly
Brad Pitt - Jeffrey Goines
Christopher Plummer - Dr. Goines
David Morse - Dr. Peters

Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt star in director Terry Gilliam's weird tale about the apocalypse and time travel in 12 Monkeys. Universal has done excellent work on this collector's edition DVD, starting with a very nice 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The colors in =12 Monkeys are all very natural and clear, as are the black levels and flesh tones. Only the slightest amount of edge enhancement is present during the film, though this never presents much of a problem. Overall, this is a very nice-looking print from Universal. Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and is also excellently produced. While the bulk of the track is not overly aggressive, most of the movie utilizes subtle sounds in all speakers with dialogue, effects, and music sounding crystal clear. Also included on this disc is French Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. True to its "collector's edition" name, =12 Monkeys includes some very nice extra materials. A commentary track by director Terry Gilliam and producer Chuck Roven is somewhat boring but always informative, and a "Making Of" featurette on the film includes some interesting insights into the production of the film. Finally, there are some theatrical trailers, as well as some typical talent biographies and a few relatively thin production notes. This collector's edition of =12 Monkeys should please all primates looking for a well-executed disc. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide