Showgirls
(1995/Umbrella Region Four/4/PAL DVD)
Picture: C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: C-
PLEASE NOTE: This DVD can only be operated on
machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region 4 PAL format
software and can be ordered from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment at the
website address provided at the end of the review.
Just when you thought you would not hear about Paul
Verhoeven’s 1995 howler Showgirls, here comes an R-rated import version
of the film proving you can’t keep a bad film down. I like Verhoeven, but think this film went
terribly wrong. You can read about that
and more in our previous coverage of the film in a special box set edition (don’t laugh) at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1271/Showgirls+V.I.P.+Edition
The anamorphically enhanced 2.35
X 1 image is flayer and duller in detail throughout than the MGM version and
color is one of its only saving graces, yet that is not as good as the MGM
DVD. Wonder how this will look on
Blu-ray? Despite being a 5.1 sound film,
we only get a Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix that does not do justice to the
wacky soundmix. The only extra is a
foreign trailer with many shots of female toplessness. Even a provocative campaign could not make
this a hit.
As noted above, you can order this PAL DVD import
exclusively from Umbrella at:
http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/
- Nicholas Sheffo
