The sound also shares a problem with the other titles in that while being filmed
with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, it's merely represented in DD2.0 which
translates to Dolby Surround or ProLogic given the particular amplifier in use.
However, I have to ask why, since Surround/Prologic-only is nothing but a backward
step.
Extras :
Chapters :
There are 12 chapters spread over 96 minutes, but it's a ridiculously small
amount and the Region 1 DVD has 28. No trailer is to be found here.
Languages & Subtitles :
Just one language: English - in Dolby Surround - and with no subtitles in any
language. Could it be any more sparse?
Menu :
A bland picture of the hooded murderer with an option to start the film or
choose a scene. No animation. No sound. That's it.
On inserting the disc, you see the copyright info and the Entertainment In Video
logo and then the film begins without accessing the main menu first. Unlike
Boogie Nights and Wag the Dog, you can't fast-forward past them.
If you go to the menu, clicking on "Play Movie" brings up the EiV logo and then
the film starts. For some reason, whenever I see the EiV logo on this particular
DVD or Evita,
it shimmers like crazy and gives you a headache if you look at it for its full duration.
As well as a third edition in the series being planned for both this film and
the Scream franchise, someone has seen the non-sense to create a lame
parody with the working title of Scream If You Know What I Did Last Summer,
but this first 'Summer' installment is enough since it takes Scream
and just repeats it but with a different murder implement and zero tension. What
this film does have going for it is an abundance of La Gellar who lasts until late
on in the film and looks gorgeous, so it's no surprise that she came top in the 1999
FHM poll.
I haven't seen the sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, yet but when
it does appear on DVD I'll be curious to compare since it was filmed by British
director Danny Cannon, best known for Judge Dredd and The Young
Americans.
So, after what I've written, how much should I recommend this DVD? Even if you
like the film, it's missing so much that benefits the Region 1 release our
American counterparts are enjoying, namely an anamorphic widescreen transfer (with
a pan-and-scan option too if that floats your boat but it's no mean loss here),
a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, a theatrical trailer and an audio commentary by
director Jim Gillespie.
Trivia fans: The first R1 DVD release was recalled due to an unauthorised trailer
claiming it was created by the "makers of Scream", when the only connection was
screenwriter Kevin Williamson.
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
