Cat.no: VSLD 10256

Cert: E

Running time: 65 minutes

Year: 1997

Pressing: 1999

Region(s): 2 (UK PAL)

Chapters: 30 plus extras

Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 (Stereo)

Languages: English

Subtitles: None

Fullscreen: 4:3

16:9-enhanced: No

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: DVD 5

Price: £14.99

Extras : Scene index, "How Did They Do That?" Special Effects, Monster Quiz, What's on the Web?, 15 Unique 'Hot Spots'

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Director:

Karen Walsh

Writer:

Anne MacLeod

Music:

Guy Dagul

Monster is one of six BBC Worldwide titles released in the Eyewitness series from Dorling Kindersley, following on from their revolutionary book series which has sold in excess of 30 million copies and dominates the children's factual publishing market.

What makes a monster a monster? Fawlty Towers' Manuel (Andrew Sachs) narrates the 29-minute film allowing you to call up ferocious crocodiles rearing skywards, pythons crushing their prey or hyenas at their gory meal, leaving them little to laugh at.

You can also see vampire bats licking their victims' blood and find out who turns you to stone, but for my money the worst thing is still those dustmites who hide in the carpet fibres or the quilt on your bed, then enter your body while you're asleep and go for a wander (!)

Yes, I said above 29 minutes, but the extra running time on the disc can be found with 'hot spots' that pop up on occasion in the top-right of the screen which lead to more information on your chosen subject, lasting anything from 25 seconds to two minutes.

Presented in fullscreen, there are no artifacts to be found onscreen and the quality is mostly excellent, only occasionally let down by the source material and it's particularly at its best with the CGI effects that make it look as if the film starts within a futuristic museum. The average bitrate is a very good and steady 7.94Mb/s.

The sound is presented in Dolby Stereo and is very effective. It's right up there with most BBC documentaries you'd care to mention.

Extras :

Chapters :

Languages & Subtitles :

And there's more... :

Monster Quiz asks you ten multiple-choice questions to see if you've been paying attention - but can't tally your scores - and What's on the Web? supplies you with a list of a few Internet websites to visit for further information.

Menu :

Overall, this disc makes fascinating viewing but only if you've not just had dinner. As I mentioned earlier, my pet hate is those dustmites, but I don't go a bundle on spiders either. And hold the front page if the scorpion doesn't freak me out too: after mother scorpion has given birth she carries her young on her back for two weeks while they get used to their new life. What does she do if she's hungry in the meantime? Oh, just eats a couple of them (!) Bleah! :)

The educational value within this package cannot be questioned and for this price it's well worth a look for any member of the family who wants to read up on the subject, especially when it's so well presented.

Now, can anyone explain why the B.B.F.C. and H.M. Excise and Customs want to ban films like Cannibal Ferox when anyone of any age can see a scorpion eating its own children?!

Note that the DVD states "PC Friendly. DVD ROM drive" at the bottom of the back cover, but it doesn't contain the requisite software.

Also, I was hoping to do a review of Eyewitness: Natural Disasters, but oh, what a disaster. The disc doesn't work!

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS
OVERALL

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2000.