High School Flashback Collection [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

For me, there couldn't be a more fitting name for this set of DVDs. Watching these films was an instant flashback to those years I've so longed to forget. Although I graduated just after The Breakfast ClubSixteen Candles, and Weird Science were released, they were certainly still popular when I was in school, and watching them brought back memories- and reminded me how great these movies are.

While these teen angst cult classics will be available individually this fall as well, The High School Flashback Collection brings the three of them together for the first time, which is absolutely brilliant. Whether you host a marathon 80's movie party at your house on a Friday night (and require everyone to wear leg warmers, jelly bracelets, and parachute pants) or simply sit down with a bowl of popcorn one Sunday afternoon, you're going to enjoy three films that helped define a generation.

Writer/director John Hughes is brilliant, and these three films are the jewels in his crown. And with stars like Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Kelly LeBrock, and Emilio Estevez, how can you go wrong?

(I'm not even going to get into the synopsis ofThe Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, or Weird Science; if you haven't seen them at least half a dozen times since their release, you shouldn't be reading this, you should be watching the films!)

SPECIAL FEATURES

For the most part, the extras on these discs aren't anything to write home about. Having said that, what they lack in quantity, they almost make up for in meatiness.

The Breakfast Club includes Sincerely Yours, a 12-part documentary featuring cast and crew (although not surprisingly, Ms. Ringwald is missing...) reflecting on the making of the film, sharing stories, and talking about their lives at the time. It also includes a look at the characters and music from the film, and interviews with filmmakers (Amy Heckerling from Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Diablo Cody from Juno) who talk about the cultural resonance of the film, and how it affecting them and their careers.

A second bonus feature- and one I found sociologically interesting- is called The Most Convenient Definitions: The Origins of the Brat Pack. In this featurette, cast members, journalists and film historians explore the "Brat Pack" label, and the impact that it had both on pop culture, and on the careers of the group's members. Audio Commentary with Anthon Michael Hall and Judd Nelson, and the original Theatrical Trailer round out the extras.

The special features on the Sixteen Candles disc are much weaker. In fact, there's only one, and it's an 11-part documentary featuring cast members who discuss their experience making the film, and what was going on in their lives at the time... is this starting to sound familiar? And yes, there's also an interview with filmmakers- the same from The Breakfast Club- who discuss the cultural resonance of this film, blah, blah, blah.

At least the special features on the Weird Science disc original. It's Alive! leads off, with a look at the making of the film, including fashion, music, character development and special effects. Next is She's Alive, the slightly scary (and not in a horror film sort of way) TV pilot episode that was based on the film. Finally, they've thrown in the Theatrical Trailer, most likely just to beef it up.

I agree with the "double dip" fear when I first saw "Flashback Edition" on these movies. I thought it might be along the lines of the "I Love the 80's" rip-offs that just were released.

But then I did some research and found there will be some cool "special features" on these, including a full-length commentary on "The Breakfast Club" from Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson! I wish there were commentaries on the other two, but at least there will be a featurette or two.

Would I have preferred these were on the "High School Reunion" releases, of course! But hey, this is the world of DVD's.

Deal with it, or go home.

There will always be new releases coming out, and we can just hope there's cool new stuff each time. If not, skip it. But this re-release looks pretty good.

Three total classics that have brought me back to my childhood. Totally worth owning.

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