DVD Review:
Real Genius
Written by: Kage
Alan
Film Rating:
A-
DVD Special Features: N/A
Is there anybody who doesn't remember this movie? Aside
from the John Hughes films, this is definitely a quintessential 80's
film. I have to thank the
writers and Val Kilmer for inspiring me to be the smart ass I am
today.
While not critically well received, "Real Genius" did
incredibly well on
video and has been a favorite of renters and cable TV watchers for
years.
The studio has FINALLY released it on DVD, only in the most barebones
fashion.
Fifteen-year-old Mitch Taylor (Gabriel Jarret, "Apollo 13")
has just recently
been accepted into a very prestigious university with the help of an
uptight
snobby yet intelligent Professor Hathaway (William Atherton,
"Ghostbusters").
Once there, he will be working with the brilliant Chris Knight (Val
Kilmer,
"The Saint") and trying to advance a high-tech project with
an impossible
deadline. Okay, that's the set-up, but does everything ever
go according to
plan? Of course not.
Knight is a major smart ass who rejects authority, doesn't study and
refuses
to take anything seriously, including the project. One of
the other members
of the team, Kent (Robert Prescott, "Bachelor Party"), only
wants to sabotage
Mitch and Knight's efforts while Dr. Hathaway has his own hidden
agenda and
secrets regarding the project. On the plus side, they have
the most
intelligent student who cracked many years before, Lazlo Hollyfeld
(Jon
Gries, "The Pretender"), helping them out along with all the
other misfits,
mainly Jordan Cochran (Michelle Meyrink, "Nice Girls Don't
Explode") and
Fenton (Yuji Okumoto, "True Believer").
There is humor abound here with plenty of witty comebacks, insults,
props,
lasers and popcorn, not to mention a killer soundtrack. There's
also high
drama, revenge, some science fiction thrown in and a love interest for
young
Mitch. It's all here and Val Kilmer has never been more
charming or funny.
Needless to say, "Real Genius" has been ripe for a DVD
release for some time, even a special edition, only the disc is a bit
on the disappointing side.
Sony has released both a Widescreen version and Full Screen version of
the
film available all in one. Unfortunately, the transfer,
while remastered in
high definition, has a number of specs and some grain throughout. It's
mostly noticeable in the beginning, but isn't specific to just that
area of
the film. The Dolby audio is quite good, though I don't
suspect there's a
great deal to offer in the surround sound. In the way of
extras, we are
given two film trailers, neither of which is for "Real
Genius". I'm
disappointed here, especially with a $24.95 MSRP.
I love this movie and much of it still holds up today, especially the
humor.
Computer technology has come a long way, but the motivation for
revenge is
still the same. If it sells well, perhaps there is a chance
that Sony will
revisit the film in the future with a retrospective documentary and
commentary track. That would be outstanding. In
the meantime, we have the
opportunity to revisit with an old friend and laugh all over again. Man
I
missed this one!
Kage holds degrees in Creative Writing, as well as Film & Video. He has been
featured in a Life Journey Tele-Course, published poems in several national anthologies,
been a contributor to The Third Coast Magazine and written several novels. kage@modamag.com
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