HIDDEN TREASURE
AWAITS SKILLED HUNTER
Copyright 2001 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ November 30th 2001 ]
Although
sales of DVD players have been booming for the
last two years, many consumers still don't know
that some of the movie discs they watch contain
more features than those listed on the box.
In the
trade they're called "Easter eggs," because you
have to hunt for them. They are hidden gems for
movie lovers, a secret section planted on the
disc that serves as a reward for those savvy enough
to uncover them. They may be blooper reels, deleted
scenes, mini-movies, trailers, video games or
interviews. Most are passed on by word of mouth
or via popular DVD Web sites such as DVD Review.
According
to Billy Pidgeon, an analyst with Jupiter Media
Metrix, "Easter eggs" add value to the DVD. "Since
eggs are primarily spread by word of mouth, it
helps generate buzz about the DVD when people
find out about them, plus it gives them another
reason to go back to the DVD," he says.
"Because
eggs are easy to add to a DVD," Pidgeon says,
"I think they'll become even more pervasive. But
they're not really for the casual DVD consumer;
eggs appeal to the fanboy, the movie fanatic.
It certainly adds to the excitement of owning
the DVD and it's something to show your friends
when they come over." With that in mind, here's
a handful of new eggs to look for on current DVD
releases.
THE GODFATHER
DVD COLLECTION
There
are many eggs buried in this five-disc set from
Paramount Home Video. From the main menu, select
the "Set Up" section and then tap the Right button
on the DVD remote. A globe will appear on the
screen. Now press Enter (or Select on some DVD
players) and watch a humorous collage of famous
"Godfather" scenes-in multiple languages, from
foreign-language versions from throughout the
world. Want to know what "Ba-da-boom" sounds like
in German?
Another
egg can be found in the "Galleries" section of
the disc. Scroll down to "DVD Credits" and press
Enter. Now, click "Next" four times to be treated
to a hidden clip from "The Sopranos" as Tony &
Co. attempt to watch a bootleg version of "The
Godfather" on DVD.
SHREK
As if
the 11 hours of extra footage weren't enough on
this two-disc set from DreamWorks Home Video,
there are two eggs to find, too. Pop in either
one of the two discs and select the "Special Features"
menu section. Now press the Up arrow twice, until
the Gingerbread Man's buttons turn orange. Now
press Enter to read a random "fun fact". Did you
know there were more than 1,000 fairy tale creatures
who invaded Shrek's swamp at the beginning of
the film? Each time you visit this egg, it'll
be a different fact.
A second
egg is on the second disc. Navigate over to the
word "Play" but do not press Enter. Instead, press
the Up arrow on the remote and a musical note
will illuminate orange. Now press Enter to view
the "Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party."
STAR
WARS - EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE
There
are a number of eggs cleverly hidden on this LucasFilm/Fox
Home Video release, including undocumented deleted
scenes and a handy THX audio and video setup screen.
But the finest egg contains amusing outtakes.
Here's how to access it:
On the
first disc, go to the "Options" menu and type
"1138" using your remote control (Lucas' first
feature film was "THX 1138"). On some DVD players
you may have to press "10+," then "1" and then
"3" and "8." Now, sit back and enjoy two minutes
of bloopers. Who knew R2D2 had such problems keeping
upright?
THE TERMINATOR
- SPECIAL EDITION
Fans
will undoubtedly get a kick out of the many hidden
eggs on MGM Home Entertainment's re-release of
this sci-fi film. From the main menu, go to the
"Special Features" area and press Down on the
remote three times. A small square at the top
of the screen will turn green. Press Enter to
watch four randomly generated featurettes on the
making of the movie.
Another
well-hidden collection of five featurettes can
be uncovered in the "Languages" section of the
DVD. Scroll down to highlight "Francais." Instead
of pressing Enter, press the Right button on the
remote and a box will turn green on the right-hand
side of the screen. Press Enter for a randomly
generated featurette.
MOULIN
ROUGE
The
Fox Home Video release contains many hidden eggs;
here are two good ones. On the second disc, click
"More" to enter the second page. Press Right on
the remote until a red fairy appears on the theater
screen. Now press Enter to be taken to a silly
dancing scene.
From
the main menu, select "The Cutting Room" and then
click Enter. Tap the Right button on the remote
four times until a hidden red windmill appears
on the screen. Click Enter to view Ewan McGregor
serenading Nicole Kidman to Elton John's "Your
Song."
BASIC
INSTINCT - SPECIAL EDITION
Artisan's
special edition of the thriller features a few
eggs (and an ice-pick pen, as well). The top one.
Scroll down and select the "Special Features"
section. Press the Right arrow key once to illuminate
the ice pick. Press Enter and it'll turn red.
Now viewers can watch a lengthy rehearsal sequence
with Sharon Stone, including the infamous interrogation
and lie detector scenes.
TOMB
RAIDER Go to the "Special Features" section on
this popular Paramount Home Video disc and scroll
down twice using the remote. The two waves at
the bottom of the screen will stop flashing (below
the words "Main Menu"). Press Enter for an emotional
two-minute interview clip with Angelina Jolie
and her real-life dad, Jon Voight, talking about
working together on this film.
|