FILM: This film works most efficiently if you have seen both seasons of the TWIN PEAKS series, as it's power resides in the inevitability of Laura's demise (this is not to say it is by the numbers and there are no surprises in store) and images from the later episodes of the series (which, yes, occur a long time later chronologically). It is considerably darker, however, than the series with the humour more or less restricted to the opening half hour, which sets up the entire TWIN PEAKS story, but once Laura Palmer is introduced, the story is (appropriately, to say the least) extremely dark and void of the light tone which characterised the television series. It is, like much of David Lynch's canon, a film that will surprise you and find beauty and truth in the strangest images and places. As long as you are aware of Lynch's earlier work (Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and Lost Highway seem to be the better films to serve as a prelude of what to expect over Eraserhead, Dune or The Elephant Man), the darker scenes/moments should not come as too much of a surprise. If you expect more of the TV series, you will, I'm afraid, be disappointed. But with an open mind, you will enjoy this film on it's own, strong merits.
DVD: Anyone aware of David Lynch's adamant refusal to discuss his own films or any previous DVDs by the director will not be suprised by the lack of a director's commentary. However this DVD features the film in a beautiful new anamorphic widescreen transfer and 5.1 or DTS sound, a huge booklet with some interesting thoughts and analysis on the film and a making of featurette from 1992. This is as close to a SPECIAL EDITION of Lynch's film as one could get and I would say it is the best DVD presentation available of any of David Lynch's films anywhere, on any region (Though Sanctuary Entertainment's Special Editions of DUNE and BLUE VELVET are fantastic, too.)