Contact

"Robert Zemeckis followed up his smash hit Forrest Gump with this sci-fi-tone poem, raking in even more box-office dollars. This DVD from Warner Bros. does the film justice and then some. The picture is presented in a glorious 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that must be seen to be believed. The film's now-famous opening shot (a slow pull-back through the entire universe) is even more stunning here than it was on the big screen. The sound is a crisp, thundering Dolby 5.1 that brings the music of the spheres to life. Extra features are just as impressive. There are three separate commentary tracks: one from star Jodie Foster, one from Zemeckis and producer Steve Starkey, and one from special effects supervisors Ken Ralston and Stephen Rosenbaum. Viewers also get a first-hand look at how some of the film's more complicated effects (like that opening shot) were done, through short featurettes with commentary by Ralston and Rosenbaum. Also included are the obligatory production notes and trailers. As always with a Zemeckis film, it's best not to watch the trailer before the movie, as every single plot detail is revealed. Overall, this is a film worth owning in any format, but its excellent treatment on DVD makes Contact a must-buy."