Featured Blu-ray Review: Spaceballs: 25th Anniversary Edition

August 16, 2012

Spaceballs: 25th Anniversary Edition - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon

This is not the first time Spaceballs has been released on high definition, as it has come out on a Blu-ray Combo Pack and as part of a Box Set. If you missed out before, is this one worth picking up? Is it worth the double-dip for those that already own it?

The Movie

President Skroob is the leader of Planet Spaceball, which is in crisis because it has run out of air. He sends Lord Dark Helmet aboard Spaceball One to Planet Druidia to kidnap Princess Vespa to force her father, King Roland to hand over their air. King Roland enlists the help of Lone Starr and his copilot Barf the Mog. Normally these two are too cautious to go after the Spaceballs, but they owe a lot of money to Pizza the Hutt and are desperate. So they are off to save Princess Vespa and her robot servant, Dot Matrix, but in the process they crash upon the Moon of Vega where they meet the all-powerful Yogurt, the master of the Schwartz. After discovering their location, Lord Dark Helmet arrives to kidnap Princess Vespa and now Lone Starr has to confront Lord Dark Helmet to rescue her.

Spaceballs has always been one of my favorite movies. I think Mel Brooks is one of the funniest people to every appear on film and I'm a huge fan of science fiction in general and Star Wars, so mixing the two creates what I consider to be one of the funniest movies of all time. Granted, as I mentioned in the spotlight review I previous did, my opinion of the film is higher than the average critics.

The Extras

The only new extra on this Blu-ray is Force Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi. It is a 17-minute interview featurette with Mel Brooks. Rudy DeLuca, a.k.a., Vinnie, talks about filming Pizza the Hut scene. The previous extras are all here, including the audio commentary track with Mel Brooks, a couple of really short joke tracks, a making of featurette, an interview featurette with the writers, a memorial to John Candy, and a few other smaller bits.

The film uses the same transfers and audio track as before. It looks great, for the most part. The film is 25 years old and the special effects were done at a lower budget than one would have today. There are some shots that are a little heavy on the grain and a couple places where there's minor print damage, but for the most part the level of detail is strong and the colors are vibrant. The audio has clear dialogue, which is the most important aspect of a film like this. There's a not a lot activity in the surround sound speakers, but enough to not feel bare, while the subwoofer is active when called upon.

As for the price, $15 isn't bad for a double-dip.

The Verdict

Spaceballs is absolutely worth owning, while the 25th Anniversary Edition - Blu-ray is a good deal. However, before rushing out to get it, take a look at the Box Set. It costs $80, but you get nine films. If there are six that you are interested in, then the price per disc is lower. You won't get the one new featurette, but it might still be the better deal.


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Filed under: Video Review, Spaceballs