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The Movie: I never got a chance to see "Showgirls" in theaters, and had always been curious to see if it was as bad as everyone has said it is. I watched this film in sort of a stunned silence, errupting in laughter every so often at the idiotic acting on display. Never before has bad acting and lame dialogue been put forth with so much intensity. Most NC-17 films are not given much of a release or much of a budget due to the fact that they can not be put into some rental outlets unless they are edited, and some newspapers will not run ads. In 1995, MGM decided, apparently, to test the rating by releasing this film, which quickly turned into a source of embarassment for not only the studio, but for the actors involved. The film cost 45 million, and didn't even manage half that in US box office figures. Elizabeth Berkley, whose previous experience was the TV show "Saved By The Bell" doesn't carry the film in the lead role, but really makes a rather laughable try at doing her thing with the thinly written character. She plays Nomi Malone, a drifter with a rather loony temper who finds herself setting off to Las Vegas to become a dancer. Once there, she finds herself in competition with the local star(Gina Gershon), and helped by a couple of friends to learn the secrets of the trade as she tries to get to the top. The script is painful, throwing out every variation on "it's my dream!" or "I'm going to win!" or "you've got to be tough"...blah, blah, blah. All the stereotypical lines are lined up neatly. The acting by Berkley, again, takes terrible to a whole new level. When something bad happens to the character, I suppose we're supposed to feel sorry for her. The only problem is that Berkley plays anger and sorrow so weakly, the only thing I could do was laugh at her. Is any of it all sexy? No, not really. The film has such a cold air about it that scenes really don't go anywhere. The end result is a long, dull mess. The DVD VIDEO: MGM has recently started to do non-anamorphic transfers with some of their older titles, and the result for "Showgirls" is a moderately pleasing image. The neon lights in almost every scene are captured wonderfully, making for a world of bright, splashy colors that look great on DVD. Images look a little soft at times, but sharpness generally remains acceptable. The print remains crystal clear throughout, with no marks or scratches at all. The only problem I really noticed was the occasional bit of shimmering and the previously mentioned softness on occasion. SOUND: "Showgirls" suprisingly has really strong sound quality. Even during some of the more dialogue-driven scenes, even small sounds are placed creatively around the viewer. The bigger Vegas numbers really explode from all sides, filling the room with music and other effects. The hilarious dialogue sounds clear and easily understandable. MENUS:: Again, MGM does a really cool job with the menus, putting together a whole "neon lights" theme and animation with the main menu. EXTRAS: Trailer and short featurette. Final Thoughts: An unremarkable DVD from MGM.I didn't care for the movie, but those who have turned this into sort of a "cult" movie (and apparently, appreciate it somehow) will probably enjoy this DVD.  Film Grade The Film F DVD Grades Video 87/B = (348/400 possible points) Audio: 92/A = (368/400 possible points) Extras: 70/C- = (210/300 possible points) Menus: 90/A- = (180/200 possible points) Value: 81/B = (243/300 possible points) TOTAL: 1349/1600 DVD GRADE:B/84% FILM GRADE: F DVD GRADE: B |