'T2 DVD' an extreme complement
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Terminator 2: Judgment Day Extreme DVD, by Artisan Home
Entertainment, Rated R, for DVD-enabled computers and home entertainment
centers, $29.98. James Cameron's science-fiction epic of man's battle against
machines lives on this summer through an excellent new movie in theaters as
well as another DVD release of the 1991 film that melds on-screen entertainment
with cinematic deconstruction, computer software and online action as easily as
a T-1000 cybernetic organism changes shape.
Technophiles in love with "Terminator" are in
for a treat as soon as they pop in the first of this two-disc digital video
extravaganza. Now privy to the 152-minute scene-added masterpiece, the viewer
gets the absolutely best-looking version of the work, thanks to technicians who
finely tuned color and clarity during the transfer process with the latest
technology available. Dolby 5.1 Surround EX Digital audio and the THX Optimizer
option combine for the very best sound.
The first disc also becomes a fantastic film history
lesson for viewers as director-writer James Cameron adds a commentary track
with co-writer William Wisher. The option for extreme interactive mode runs a
trivia text track on the bottom of the screen, production facts on the top, and
viewers can access even more multimedia information on the film creation
process when the Cyberdyne logo appears on-screen.
Viewers hear Mr. Wisher pipe in his thoughts on why the
opening prologue of "T2" cost more than the entire first film, learn
how to get popular music license rights and deal with popular actors on outside
production settings, see a wide range of concept illustrations on futuristic
machines narrated by designer Steve Burg, and find out that the computer used
by John Connor to hack into an ATM was an Atari Portfolio, the precursor to the
modern-day PDA (personal digital assistant).
That one disc alone could make for a long evening of
viewing — but then Artisan throws in the entire theatrical release of the film,
if the viewer can find it. To access it, click the right arrow on the DVD
controller five times while in the Sensory Control area, wait for a tab labeled
"the future is not set" to appear, click on it and enjoy.
After watching the two versions of the film, viewers
can pop in the second disc to watch a 24-minute documentary on the making of
the movie and eight minutes worth of shenanigans on the set.
Now place the second disc into a PC's DVD carriage —
Macintosh owners need not apply — fire up the Interactual Player and enter the
halls of Cyberdyne Systems, where human rebels have procured three software
simulations from the deadly robots.
First, the Skynet Combat Chassis Designer has the
viewer acquire a unique log-in to a Shockwave-fueled Web site where two types
of T-400 HK robots can be built and tested.
Through two basic configurations with four programmable
hardware and software parameters, viewers become players who must finely tune a
T model or the S model while destroying a couple dozen targets and monitoring
damage, heat and neural net load. Once happy with a creation, the builder can
challenge others online.
Second, falling under the stupidly cool category, users
can import a photo of themselves or loved one and see their skull transformed
into a T-800 machine just like the Arnold Schwarzenegger model. The slick
software uses any 640-by-460-pixel portrait. Digital creators position a skull
over the image using sizing and 360-degree rotation tools. Once in place, the
machine's organic camouflage capabilities — flesh over metal — take over and
the true Terminator can be seen only by blasting away at his overlay. It's a
slightly gruesome exercise, but once completed, the final product can be
e-mailed out for a big laugh.
The last visual illusion takes a little more work.
Designers must find two images of humans in roughly the same pose. Now to
simulate what the liquid metal T-1000 machine can do, the designer has the tools
to morph from one photo to the silvery machine to another photo and export it.
The metallic image can even have one of six backgrounds added and has nine
possible poses from which to choose.
What truly astounded me during the entire computer
process was that the software of the simulations worked flawlessly.
The final part of the technology showcase on the second
disc involves being able to view the entire movie on a computer within Windows
Media Player 9, which boasts resolution double that of current players.
Unfortunately, my 700 MHz machine, even with a cable modem connection, is
nowhere near up to the challenge. Anyone with a 3 GHz — that's right, 3 GHz —
machine want to give it a go?
Overall, the "Terminator Extreme" package,
protected with a steel case, helps propel the digital video revolution even
further into a future with an awesome amount of interactive firepower.
Write to Joseph Szadkowski, The Washington Times, 3600
New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002; or send e-mail (jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com).