Galaxy Quest

Once, they were the hottest stars on TV. Now, 20 years later, the cast of Galaxy Quest are washed-up, anxiety-ridden has-beens who are hired to appear at electronics store openings and thrill their creepy die-hard fans at Sci Fi conventions. That is, until they are approached by some even more unusual than usual fans—alien rebels from another solar system who have been watching the reruns of the show, and don't know any better than to believe that the adventures—and the crew—are real. After engaging the services of Captain Peter Quincy Taggart (Allen), who thinks he's at a really elaborate fan convention when he's taken to their ship, they also secure Lieutenant Tawny Madison (Weaver), Dr. Lazarus (Rickman), and the rest of the bogus crew to help them in a real space mission. The alien planet scenes were appropriately filmed at Goblin Valley, Utah.

Special features include Galactopedia, which gives information about characters, ships, and aliens on-screen as the movies plays; the following featurettes: Historical Documents: The Story Of Galaxy Quest (SD 18:13), Never Give Up, Never Surrender: The Intrepid Crew Of The NSEA Protector (SD 23:27), By Grabthar's Hammer, What Amazing Effects (SD 07:02), Alien School: Creating The Thermian Race (SD 05:22), Actors In Space (SD 06:09), and Sigourney Weaver Raps (SD 01:59); eight deleted scenes; a Thermian audio track; and the theatrical trailer in high-definition.

The 2.35:1 1080p AVC picture is superior to the previously reviewed anamorphically enhanced DVDs in Issue 39. The new transfer exhibits an even sharper and more detailed picture that is beautifully rendered in all aspects. Resolution is stunning. Chapter 12 is a good example of the fine details and excellent resolution, as the lint on Tim Allen's costume is revealed. Colors are rich and vibrant, with naturally balanced fleshtones and deep, pure blacks. Contrast and shadow delineation are perfectly rendered, with excellent visual information in the darkest scenes. The picture is pristine and will surely impress with its stunning visual quality. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack delivers a more satisfying sonic experience than the previous DVDs' Dolby® Digital and DTS® Digital Surround™ soundtracks. Deep bass is resolved with better low-harmonic definition, and there is a noticeable refinement in spatial delineation. The music score is nicely recorded and has a sweeping, engulfing presence that penetrates the listening space. The soundstage tends to be balanced toward the screen, with stereophonic sound effects subtly distributed to the surrounds. The latter is engaged prominently for the music, contributing substantially to its effectiveness, though, at times the surrounds come alive during key moments. The dialogue is well recorded, with natural-sounding voices and better-than-typical spatial integration. Deep bass is powerful, occasionally intense and even system threatening, with extension below 25 Hz in both the main channels and the .1 LFE. This is a terrific soundtrack that is sure to please fans. (Gary Reber)