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Traveta reviews
Columbia Tristar
- Cert: PG-13
- Cat.no: 06151
- Running time: 89 minutes
- Year: 2002
- Pressing: 2002
- Region(s): 1, NTSC
- Chapters: 28
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 (Eng only)
- Languages: English, French
- Subtitles: English, French
- Widescreen: 1.85:1, Standard: 4:3
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: No
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: $27.96
- Extras:Music video, theatrical trailers
Director:
- Ed Decter
Screenplay:
- David Kendall
Cast:
- Dizzy: DJ Qualls
Danielle: Eliza Dushku
Nora: Zooey Deschanel
Luther: Eddie Griffin
Kirk: Jerod Mixon
Glen: Parry Shen
Courtney: Sunny Mabery
Bear: Lyle Lovett
For the studio that said:Not Another Teen Movie, they’re pretty guilty.But then I’d have to blame Dimension for releasingScary Moviebut stillmaking the suprisingly good Halloween: Resurrection. And like Dimension,Columbia might have realized what makes a good teen movie that so manyhave forgotten about. Sure it has a few scenes of gross out humor butthey’re far between. What this movie has is a likeable cast and a goodatmosphere. There I said it, I actually liked a teen movie for once.
The New Guy tells the story of a geek named Dizzie (DJ Qualls) and hisband of friends. They’re referred to as blips on the radar screen athigh school and are constantly mocked and ridiculed. One day after aparticularily bad humiliation, Dizzie is thrown into prison after somebad behavior at the mall (why he went to prison I don’t know). There hemeets Luther (Eddie Griffin) who teaches him the crazy eye and a bunchof other tactics to be popular, including going to a different school.After being expelled on purpose, Dizzie is transfered to a new schooland goes through a complete change to become Gil Harris. What follows isthe general odd man out finally coming in and a bunch of laughs alongthe way.
A teen movie that is rated PG-13? That’s suprising. I was prepared tohate this movie just as I hated Columbia’s last teen movie effort,Slackers(the worst movie of all time…. seriously). But I actuallyliked this one. It’s filled with some good cameos, namely one havingTony Hawk having his skateboard broken over his head and Gene Simmons asa preacher. Not only that, but it has a good cast. I also liked how itwas told from the geek’s perspective. It’s been done before but thisworks well. It’s a shame this movie only lasted two weeks when it wasreleased theatrically in May because this is one of the better teenmovie’s I’ve seen in awhile. It’s not for everyone but anybody lookingfor a few good laughs will be hard pressed not to like this movie.
The New Guy features a 1.85:1 transfer along with a full frame transfer.Into the disc, Columbia has suprised me with this one. This is one ofthe better transfers I’ve seen in awhile. Colors are sharp and wellbalanced and blacks are solid as can be. I think the picture is so goodbecause of the lack of supplements. The only thing I noiced was a littlebit of pixelization in some scenes but overall this is a great transfer.
The sound is a top notch effort as well. After watching Showtime Ithought maybe something was wrong with my set up but The New Guy camethrough with great clarity. Dialouge is well balanced in every scene.
Now here’s where the disc takes a nosedive. Columbia has only included amusic video and some trailers that are on almost every other releasefrom them. It’s funny because there’s an option for the trailers on themain menu as well as the extra menu. This movie deserves a few deletedscenes or something.
Overall, I was suprised by this movie. Not a bad effort from Columbia onthe picture department. But if you’re looking for supplements to clarifythe hefty price tag you won’t find them here. A solid rental though.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALLEmailTraveta
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.