More (1998) – Special Edition Set
Picture: B
Sound: B Extras: A- Film: A-
I was first introduced to Mark Osborne’s amazing 1998
short film in the Best Of Resfest – Volume Two collection, reviewed
elsewhere on this site. Then, I thought
it could be a classic. Now, I know it
is. With digital being even more
overdone in the last few years, this looks better than ever. With the ugly things than have happened in
the real world politically, what it has to say and show is more priceless than
ever.
In the film, the first stop-motion film ever made in the
15-perf 65mm IMAX format despite its existence in the 1970s (!!!), a world of
the not too distant future has turned totally gray and conformist. The main worker character labors in a
factory making the same product over and over again simply called happy. He is totally unhappy with his life and
becomes continuously distant from who he really is and used to be. He is trapped by loneliness, ugliness and an
awful life not of his choosing. Secretly,
he is building a rival to the product, but it is missing that special
something. When he figures out the
missing ingredient, will he find himself in a Faustian deal?
Even with the huge following for Ray Harryhausen (see more
about him elsewhere on this site), the idea of declaring stop motion animation
and most other great art forms as dying when they are not is wishful thinking
on the part of people who hate the arts and those within the arts who have
little to offer and think digital is the answer to everything. More proves the art form has a long
way to go to meet its promise of making a permanent impact that will never go
away and always be seen as the unique language it is. More than a few computer animation projects have tried to
recreate it digitally with limited effect, while LucasFilm helped created a
computerized version called stop-and-go animation, where the subjects filmed
have electronic ganglia inside that will reproduce the same movements over and
over again. This has its advantages, but
is not as soulful as its predecessor.
Here, because of the demands of the extremely high
fidelity and definition beyond all other film and video formats, it is one of
the all-time great historic moments for stop motion animation and all of
animation. Like shooting on film versus
video, special visual effects done by hand versus by computer has created a
chasm between those who want to work hard and make something unique, versus
working in something “easier” and ignoring some key limits to what seems limitless
when it is not. It is a matter of
character and what Osborne and his crew pulled off here is just pure genius,
with the visual and thematic impact on a very high level. That alone is the reason More is so
priceless. No wonder this great double
DVD set was possible.
The Resfest set offered it in its original full
frame 1.33 x 1 IMAX aspect ration, but this new version is in an even sharper,
cleaner, clearer, widescreen letterboxed 1.78 X 1 version that is even more
beautiful than the older transfer.
Whether this is from a 65mm/70mm or 35mm print, it looks really good,
though there is nothing like seeing this in IMAX, so catch it near you that way
as well if you get the opportunity. It
should be noted that Image Entertainment has done 1.78 X 1 versions of 1.33 x 1
full-length IMAX features and even anamorphically enhanced them, but this looks
really good for non-anamorphic. The
sound on the Resfest version was simple 2-channel Dolby Digital Stereo,
but this version has a more accurate and deeper Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. I only wish DTS 96/24 was here too. However, this Dolby is more akin to the
higher fidelity Dolby you usually get on DVD-Audio discs, so that works well
enough.
The extras are many and terrific. On DVD 1, we get two audio commentary tracks
by Osbourne, include text “about Happy Product” which has highly recommended
websites, other shorts by Osbourne (Greener, info on Keen Yellow
Planet, his earliest work with Juvenilia, and info about his
upcoming The Better Half), an extensive Behind The Scenes set of
programs that begins on this disc with five sections that makes for exceptional
must-see viewing, including an hour-long Making Of program that covers
the project from basic conceptions to its Donnie Darko-caliber effect
and impact. Osborne also narrates his
sketches for the second section, a multi-angle Storyboards & Animatics
section, crew sections with text, stills of the production and all the IMAX
footage in 1.33 x 1 that was ever shot for the production. This continues on DVD 2 with a piece on how
Graphic Films donated the IMAX camera with how it is operated (excellent and a
must-see for serious filmmakers), sweatshop shows the intense atmosphere
building up the pieces for the film, On The Set The First Day shows just
that well, the stress shows in The First Test Screening when the
complete IMAX film was shown for the first time, Setting Up A Shot and Animating
A Shot are decent, Factory Set gives new perspectives on the hard
work done for this film, Home Stretch is when they are almost done
getting the film made and both The Premiere (with Osborne’s speech and
the IMAX screening in tact) and Sundance show its much-deserved success.
Also on DVD 2 is a trailer for More that shows
behind the scenes for promotional sake, then there are two more stop-motion
animation shorts by other directors as smart as More. Keith Lowry’s Twice Daily (1.33 X 1)
is about the desires of two neighbors and what it is that may really drive
them, though this is bound to go over a few person’s heads. Nick Peterson’s MuM (1.78 X 1) is an
also-terrific short about what a woman facing an abusive situation and
pregnancy has to do to escape an ugly nightmare situation, filled with visual
symbolism some may miss. Perfect
companions to More, these are beautifully rendered works that look great
are about something, with great impact.
The transfers are top rate and the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo are cleaner
and clearer than most shorts we have encountered on DVD to date. Both even come with their own audio commentary
tracks!
All together, that makes this special edition set of More
one of the most significant in animation and large-frame formats on DVD to
date, but you can only order it exclusively at http://www.happyproduct.com/films.html
where you can order this and other titles, plus go to http://www.happyproduct.com for general
information. Mark Osborne and his team
of extraordinarily talented craftspeople are pulling off landmark work that
just makes one look in awe. It may have
just saved the art form. Be sure to
catch it!
- Nicholas Sheffo
