Product Overview
Region Free Blu Ray Disc
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen
Picture: 1080p HD
Audio: English 2.0 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: N/A
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary - With Lewis Teague and Tina Hirsch. This track is massively annoying, due to feedback/echo and extreme tin in Hirsch's comments, making her sound like an android. I'm not joking, and I really, really wish I were, even if the dialogue gets a bit more human as the commentary progresses. Hirsch's remarks on Carradine's acting are funny, but this track lacks intrigue as a whole, as there are many spots where the participants stop to watch the film for a length of time, and react to it. They talk about their experiences on the film, with some random comments about experiences, but there's no real intrigue, no pull or sell to be found. It's just talkin' over the film.
- Audio Commentary - With Roger Corman and Mary Woronov. The legendary producer, plus the actress who plays Calamity Jane, discuss the film, and cover more than just on-the-surface analysis. They actually break down scenes and themes as a whole, as well as reception and politics/cultural climate around the film, but they fall victim to watching and laughing along with the film, as was the case with the other commentary. Corman is a great participant in a commentary, as his experience yields a great perspective, and his words have my respect. That said, this track is also a tad lacking, as interaction between the two is somewhat boring.
- laying the Game: Looking Back at 'Death Race 2000' (SD, 11 min) - A simplistic miniature retrospective, just a brief look back that doesn't focus on any element of the film long enough to provide any real depth.
- Leonard Maltin Interviews Roger Corman (SD, 6 min) - Legend meets legend, as they discuss 'Death Race 2000.' Sly's casting is hit, as are the themes and inspirations for the film, and a few other little tidbits.
- Designing Dystopia! Detailed Look at the Film's Art Direction and Car Designs (HD, 12 min) - What would 'Death Race 2000' be without the insane vehicles? On top of finding out about the creation of the cars, we get a look at the sets, and find out about how some roads were capable of being filmed on. We learn how the cars were created, in a cannibalistic fashion, and hear about the various problems they had, along with a few vehicular anecdotes. It's a fun watch, but it amazingly is surpassed by the interview to follow.
- Ready to Wear: Interview with Jane Ruhm (Costume Designer) (HD, 15 min) - Ruhm discusses how she got involved with the Cormans, her animation history, her inexperience at the time of the film, an intriguing confrontation with Carradine, and just some random thoughts on the various supporting cast outfits. Ruhm is a fantastic listen, as she's full of enthusiasm and fondness towards her past.
- David on 'Death Race': Interview with David Carradine (HD, 4 min) - This feature wasn't really meant to be. It is culled from an interview Carradine made concerning 'Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat,' where he had a series of reminiscences about other films he had worked on. Recorded in 2008, the late great Bill (who you want to Kill) talks about using the film to transition his image after 'Kung-Fu,' and talks about a few on-set experiences. It ends with a screen reminding us that David is no longer with us.
- Start Your Engines: Interview with Author Ib Melchior (HD, 12 min) - Melchior talks about how a pseudo-comedy was a better fit for his serious work, his writing history (including 'The Angry Red Planet') before 'The Racer,' where he explains his inspiration in a truly macabre matter involving a real life auto racing death. The kind old man has nothing but good words for the Corman film, and is a nice, intelligent listen.
- Killer Score: Interview with Composer Paul Chihara (HD, 11 min) - Everything else has been discussed, so why not discuss the music in the film? The first time composer discusses what led up to his taking the job on 'Death Race 2000,' with a few anecdotes sprinkled along the way. Lots of praise is heaped around, and this interview may be the least interesting and engaging of the bunch.
- Poster and Still Gallery (HD, 6 min) - This slideshow doesn't require any user prompts, as a series of posters and lobby cards, and other still material passes at a rapid pace. It's neat to see the re-colorizations on the cards, for artistic purposes, and the sketches and concept art for the vehicles are pretty damn cool. The highlight, for me, had to be the Turkish poster, as I'm a huge fan of the odd European posters (particularly the Polish, but no such luck here).
- Trailers & Spots - We get a theatrical trailer, with optional commentary by John Landis, some radio spots, a commercial, and some Shout! Factory trailers ('Deathsport,' 'Up From the Depths,' 'Galaxy of Terror,' and 'Forbidden World').
