Distributed by
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Cert: Unrated
Cat.no: Unlisted
Running time: 20 minutes
Year: 2002
Pressing: 2002
Region(s): 1, NTSC
Chapters: 1 per episode (3 total)
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 (Dolby Surround)
Languages: English
Subtitles: None
Widescreen: 1.78:1
16:9-Enhanced: Yes
Macrovision: No
Disc Format: DVD 9
Price: $7.99 (Available exclusively at Musicland and Best Buy locations)
Extras: Photo gallery (Easter Egg)
Narrator:
Bob Heese
Written by:
Don Bies, Paul Ens, Mary Beth Bresolin, Nelson Hal, Kim Bromley
I'm not usally one for gimmicks
but when they include at least something
Star Wars-related on DVD consider me hooked. This DVD debuted one day
after Christmas here in the states and is only available at Best Buy and
Musicland locations. The program featured here is the whole segment of
the feature from the
Attack of the Clones
disc. At a really low price, is it worth it?
In the history of mockumentaries only a few have succeeded. This is
Spinal Tap immediately pops into mind but could something as great and
legendary as Star Wars make the journey? While R2-D2 seems like the most
unlikely of candidates this mockumentary works well. Broken into 3
episodes, this was originally a web documentary but then was broadcast
in three parts when Episode 1 aired on Fox Television.
Episode 1 explores R2's ficitional family and onto his involement in
Star Wars. Episode 2 features R2 during the happy time in his life with
all 3 Star Wars films out. Episode 3 focuses on R2 during his binge
drinking years and his desperate cries for help. All three are really
well produced and move quick (not hard since each is only a little over
6 minutes). Each provides several interviews like: George Lucas, Steven
Spielberg, Carrie Fisher, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L.
Jackson, Ben Burt, Anthony Daniels, Francais Ford Coppola, and Ewan
McGregor.
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome is definitely worth the low price and will give
you a few good laughs (no more laughing at the garbage that was
Phantom Menace).
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome is presented in anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen.
The transfer looks great, exhibiting clear colors and deep blacks. Given
that there are no extras on here I would have thought pixelization would
be nilch but it can be seen from time to time.
Audio is presented in a standard 2.0 track. The only problem with this
track is the lack of ambience. I'm not expecting a full blown DTS track
or anything but it just wasn't loud enough.
Since Lucasfilm made the disc they have hidden one extra in here. Right
when the menu pops up hit right and hit enter on the icon that is
displayed. You will be taken to series of still photos.
Definitely pick this disc up since this will be the only new flavor of
Star Wars to hit your DVD player until 2005.
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B
37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
