College Essentials: Anti-Social Studies 101 DVD Review

The College Essentials Collection are a number of DVD sets, each with three films fit into the specific category given to the set, each grouped by college course names. These categories include Anatomy 101, Music Appreciation 101, Anti-Social Studies 101, Astronomy 101, Partying 101, Phys. Ed. 101, History 101, Computer Science 101, and Romance 101. Whether these are to be followed by 200 level college essentials next year or it is just a clever marketing ploy in order to sell more DVDs as gifts for new college students is rather irrelevant. What are relevant are the films in these sets, which are surprisingly well paired.

Often when films are paired up in packages despite having no connection to each other, except for the company that owns them all, there is at least one film in the set that is sandwiched between much better films. It is a way of making people feel like they are getting more even if part of what they are getting they don’t really want. These sets pair some strange films together, but for the most part they are all films worth owning, even if just for guilty pleasure. Although the films are often impressive, one disappointment about the set is the versions of the films included. In order to keep the cost down the versions of the DVDs included are always the cheapest possible version. The only special edition DVDs included is the ones which were never released otherwise. For some people the films are all that really matter, and for those consumers these packages will be a great deal, but collectors and film buffs might find it worthwhile to buy the films individually.

Anti-social studies is a rather broad subject, and this allows for a spectacular selection of films. Perhaps the best set in the bunch if only because each of these films is certainly worth owning, Anti-Social Studies includes a cult classic and two Academy Award winners. With plenty of murder and mayhem along with a film about two people drinking themselves to death this category is appropriately covered.

Leaving Las Vegas (1995) This deeply profound and realistic look at alcoholism was expertly made by Mike Figgis, writer and director, for both of which jobs he received Academy Award nominations. And the seemingly impossible happened when Nicholas Cage, whose last film in Vegas had him parachuting with Elvis impersonators, won a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of a washed up alcoholic who decides to go to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. Along the way he finds Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a Vegas hooker who seems to enjoy drinking as much as he does. Together they form a bond while drinking as much as they can. The DVD includes an unrated version of the film along with a some trivia and production notes.

Escape From New York (1981) Once again the remakes attack, and apparently we are to expect another version of John Carpenter’s action classic. It is a cult hit about the future when all of Manhattan is a maximum security prison for a life long sentence. When the president’s plane goes down on the island and is taken hostage, drastic measures must be taken to save him. Already on his way in to the prison to serve life is Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell with no sleeves or a left eye) who is blackmailed into retrieving the president in order to be pardoned and live. The sets for the destroyed Manhattan were impressive and Escape from New York easily broke new grounds for futuristic action, something Carpenter did very well. The DVD only contains the trailer.

The Usual Suspects (1995) Instant classic and also one of the greatest twist endings on film, The Usual Suspects is an admirable addition to any collection. The Usual Suspects is directed by Bryan Singer with an Academy Award winning screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie, who had such great success with this film that he was allowed to direct his own screenplay next time around. Kevin Spacey received his first Academy Award as Verbal Kint, a criminal in a police interrogation room trying to convince the detectives that a mythical crime lord exists and killed many of his partners in a San Pedro Harbor explosion. The DVD is actually a special edition, due to the immediate success of the film, and includes all sorts of great features including a fantastic commentary track with Singer and McQuarrie. There is also a commentary track with John Ottman, the editor of the film. The featurettes cover everything from the cast to the Cannes Film Festival, there are a number of deleted scenes, and there is even a gag reel with an introduction by Singer.