AFTER 25 YEARS, the schwartz IS STILL WITH YOU
SPACEBALLS25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray
Prepare For Ludicrous Speed as Mel Brooks’ Classic Parody Arrives on Blu-ray August 7 With All New Bonus Material
The farce is strong in the “uproarious salute to science fiction” (The Hollywood Reporter) when SPACEBALLS: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION blasts off on Blu-ray August 7 from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Comedy legend Mel Brooks leads an all-star cast of cutups including John Candy (Splash), Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters) and Bill Pullman (Ruthless People).
When the evil Dark Helmet (Moranis) attempts to steal all the air from planet Druidia, a determined Druish Princess (Daphne Zuniga), a clueless rogue (Pullman) and a half-man/ half-dog creature who's his own best friend (Candy) set out to stop him. But with the forces of darkness closing in on them at ludicrous speed, they'll need the help of a wise imp named Yogurt (Brooks) and the mystical power of "The Schwartz" to bring peace and merchandising rights to the entire galaxy!
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment combed the desert to bring fans an all-new featurette for the SPACEBALLS: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Blu-ray entitled “Force Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi.” Mel Brooks takes fans on a guided tour into the making of the SPACEBALLS saga, exploring the film’s inspiration, its production, visual
effects (including the sizzling creation of “Pizza the Hut”), how the film directly tears down the adventurous (Star Wars), the scary serious (Alien) and even the apocalyptic (Planet of the Apes) in his own uninhibited way and its epic status as Mel Brooks’ most successful and beloved fan favorite film. Additional bonus features include commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, still galleries, trailers, film bloopers and more.
Five Hours of Blu-ray Special Features:
• NEW!! Force Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi featurette
• Commentary by Mel Brooks
• Additional Commentary Tracks:
• Mawgese
• Dinkese
• Spaceballs: The Documentary featurette
• In Conversation: Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan featurette
• John Candy: Comic Spirit featurette
• Watch the Movie in Ludicrous Speed featurette
• Still Galleries:
• Spaceballs: The Behind-the-Movie Photos• Trailers
• Spaceballs: The Costume Gallery
• Spaceballs: The Art Gallery
• Exhibitor Trailer with Mel Brooks Introduction
• Theatrical Trailer
• Film Flubs:
• Edge of the Mirror• Storyboards-to-Film Comparison
• Grabs Himself Early
• The Magic Reappearing Ring
• More Than His Head
• No End in Sight
• Track Behind Dot
Mel Brooks is a master of the spoof. After making his name in Hollywood parodying Hitler in the 1968 film The Producers, Brooks continued to lampoon numerous genres and elements of history and pop culture with films like Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Robin Hood: Men in Tights and, of course, Spaceballs. To celebrate Brooks’ mastery of the spoof, we will countdown some of our all time favorite parody films including Airplane!, This Is Spinal Tap and Shaun of the Dead.
Airplane!
The 1980 comedy Airplane! is a parody of the disaster film genre, specifically of the 1957 film Zero Hour!. The story follows a former fighter pilot who, traumatized by his wartime experiences, has become afraid of flying and lost his longtime stewardess girlfriend. To win her back, he overcomes his fear and boards a flight that she is working on. Once on the flight, many of the passengers and much of the crew contract food poisoning from the in-flight meal, and our hero must safely land the plane. Airplane! has been lauded for its use of absurd and witty slapstick comedy, including plenty of puns and gags.
This Is Spinal Tap
Rock history was forever changed with the 1984 release of This Is Spinal Tap. This mockumentary follows the fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap as they engage in crazy rock star behavior and show off their custom made amps that “go to eleven.” The film managed to lampoon not only the outlandish rock star lifestyle that was highly publicized in the 1980s, but also satirize the documentary genre itself. The film has spawned an album, a made for TV sequel, and a companion book. In 2002 the United State National Film Registry preserved the film as it was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Mars Attacks!
Mars Attacks! is a 1996 film that parodied the science fiction B movie genre, as well as satirized American politics. In the film, aliens come to earth and begin destroying landmarks and the planet’s inhabitants. As a Kansas teenager discovers, the aliens can only be destroyed if they hear Slim Whitman's "Indian Love Call," and the song is broadcast throughout the planet and into space, saving the earth. Mar Attacks! features an all-star ensemble cast, including Jack Nicholson, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Glenn Close, Martin Short, Jack Black, Natalie Portman, Danny DeVito, and Christina Applegate.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is a 1997 film that would spawn many a catchphrase and two successful sequels (as well as a rumoured fourth film in the franchise). The film mainly parodies the James Bond series of films, and centers on Austin Powers, a British spy in the 1960s who is cryogenically frozen in order to defeat his archenemy, Dr. Evil (who was also frozen), 30 years later. Not only did Austin Powers parody the ‘60s spy film genre, but it also satirized the decade itself (as well as the 1990s, to a certain extent).
Shaun of the Dead
The 2004 film Shaun of the Dead spoofs zombie apocalypse films. The film follows Shaun, an unmotivated British man and his best friend, Ed, as they try to father their friends and Shaun’s reluctant ex-girlfriend and family to seek refuge from a zombie attack inside their favourite pub. Despite clearly parodying the zombie genre, Shaun of the Dead has been named amongst the best zombie, horror and comedy films of all time by numerous publications and fan polls.
And to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Spaceballs, we're giving away a copy on Blu-ray!
To enter, please send an email with the subject header "SPACEBALLS" to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following question:
What actor from the film Alien reprises his role in a cameo in Spaceballs?
Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).
Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on August 19th, 2012.
