Misery
OVERALL:
ASPECT RATIO(S)
Widescreen (1.85:1)
Standard (1.33:1)
SOUND MIX
FEATURES
STUDIO
RECOMMENDATION
Dolby Digital 2.0
- Theatrical Trailer
- Teaser Trailer
MGM
Buy it! Great bargain at under $20.
GRADING SCALE
Film 
Features 
Audio 
Video
Of all of Stephen King's great novels, only a select few have been successfully made into a feature film. "Misery" is one of them. You've probably read the book and know the story. The film packs a ton of tension. You just don't know what Bates' character is going to do next. Her performance is amazing, and netted her a well-deserved Oscar. James Caan is completely believeable as Sheldon. Watch for an appearance by Lauren Bacall as his agent.
Fine direction from Rob Reiner, as he keeps the film from dragging. I mean, 90% of the movie is shot in Bates' house, yet we don't notice for a second. Sonnenfeld shines as the cinematographer, and William Goldman's script holds true to King's novel. Exciting, funny, suspenseful, and most of all, enjoyable.
Features
This dvd is a re-release of the old PolyGram version. 2 trailers, and nothing more. However, since MGM gained the rights to this dvd, at least you get a small booklet with a few snippets of info. Deserved the Special Edition treatment however.
Audio
A 2.0 mix isn't going to knock down any walls. With a film like this, you don't need much sound. It's more than adequate. Seeing what's going on is much more important than hearing them in a film like this.
Video
Since MGM is the only studio to not fully support 16x9 enhancement, this dvd gets a regular transfer. Had it been a film that was released last year, you would've seen a 16x9 transfer. It's not to be. Still, the picture looks pretty darn good. Aside from some dust on the print and occassional grain, this transfer is good. For a 10 year old film, the color holds up well and still has some life in it.
Overall
Okay, okay, so there isn't many features and no 16x9, what you have still is a great movie (which is the most important thing) and a great price at $19.99 retail. Which means you'll find this for $15 or less. Can't beat that.