12 Monkeys (1995) is basically a European art film that is slightly Americanized.  Director Terry Gilliam, who is about as un-Hollywood as you can get, is responsible for much of the greatness of this movie.  Inspired by Chris Marker’s French film La Jetée, 12 Monkeys cannot really be classified in any particular genre.  It is part science fiction, part drama, part comedy, part love story, and part thriller.

12 Monkeys stars Bruce Willis, showing he can indeed act, as a man from the future who is sent to the past to prevent a plague that makes the earth’s surface uninhabitable.  This is not your typical Bruce Willis who blows up the bad guys with a rocket launcher.  Brad Pitt, also in his best performance to date, plays a schizophrenic mental patient.  His performance is a riot!  The always-captivating Madeline Stowe plays Willis’ psychiatrist.  Christopher Plummer, who plays a world-renowned scientist and Pitt’s father, rounds out the talent in 12 Monkeys.  The actors worked for a fraction of their normal salaries just to be a part of this magnificent film, as the budget of 12 Monkeys was small.  Nevertheless, production value remains very high.  The visuals are spectacular with lots of cold, city scenes with the drab old buildings being conveyed perfectly.  These come across excellently on the 1.85:1 anamorphic DVD.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is terrific as well, and although there is not much action in 12 Monkeys, there is one point where the surround channels are used to great effect, showing what filmmakers can do with discreet channels.  Paul Buckmaster’s score is effective, and incorporates an agitated, yet catchy, accordion theme by Astor Piazzolla that represents the army of the 12 monkeys.

The film itself is superb, but pay attention or you’ll get confused.  The only disappointment is that the last two scenes should have been cut.  Gilliam wanted to do this, and it would have made for a much more satisfying, and less confusing, ending, but the writers forbade it.  Also, the love story comes across rather oddly.  A longer shooting period, a bigger budget, and more authority given to Gilliam would have made the film run smoother.  Nevertheless, 12 Monkeys is proof that great movies, at least once in awhile, are still made. 

Universal’s Dolby Digital Collectors Edition is packed with excellent extras, while the DTS version is barren and, in this particular case, does not offer better sound.  Included on the Collector’s Edition is one of the best extras I’ve seen on DVD:  The Hamster Factor:  The Making of 12 Monkeys.  This is an invaluable documentary that gives the viewer insight into how the film was made and marketed, and all the conflicts that arose.  Gilliam’s running commentary is also priceless.  In addition to these excellent extras are the standard cast and crew biographies, film notes, and theatrical trailer.  Considering the film itself, the excellent transfer, and the invaluable extras, 12 Monkeys is one of the best DVDs released.

Content:    *****
Audio:  *****
Video:  *****
Extras:  *****

"Get outta of my chair!!!" Perhaps the one role Brad Pitt played exceptionally well was that of a schizophrenic mental patient in 12 Monkeys.  Terry Gilliam creates a film that is unique and expressive--you know something is different when Bruce Willis isn't playing a gun-toting, asteroid-smashing, foul-mouthed action hero.

Gilliam put a tremendous amount of effort into making this movie, and it shows in everything from the elaborate sets to the top-notch acting.  The plot is interesting, and it keeps you guessing until the last few minutes.  Each character is so well-developed that you can't help but feel exactly what they are feeling as they act out their roles in the film--Bruce Willis as the confused and frightened time-traveller, Madaline Stowe as the composed psychiatrist, and Brad Pitt as the mental patient who is one brick short of a wall.

Video quality is superb, thanks to the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Sound is excellent as well, with some haunting directional effects, highlighting the importance of a true 5.1-channel setup. The supplements found on this DVD are very informative.  There is an invaluable director’s commentary, a making-of featurette, the original theatrical trailer, a photo gallery, and production notes.

As with most Universal Collector's Editions, this disc does not come cheap, with a list price of $34.99. A DTS version is also available, alas, without the supplements. Still, the movie itself justifies the high price, and in terms of content and features, this is one of the best DVD deals available.

Content:  *****
Audio:  *****
Video:  *****
Extras:  *****