EDGE on the Net

"Spaceballs" is not only one of the best movie parodies of all time; it’s also one of the best comedies. Mel Brooks manages to collect a group of comedic heavyweights and deliver one of his most well-written films to date.

The 25th Anniversary Blu-ray release of the film doesn’t only include a high-quality release of the film. It’s chock full of five hours of bonus features that give a more enriching experience to the film.

Some of the features are gags that are nods to the film. You can watch the film in ludicrous speed. This allows you to watch the entire film in about a minute. There’s also audio commentary in Mawgese and Dinkese, fictional languages from the film.

Since it’s the 25th anniversary, there is a special featurette, "Farce Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi." In it, writer/producer/director and star Mel Brooks looks back at the making of the film and its effect on pop culture. There are also galleries and storyboard-to-film comparisons for the super film buff.

The Blu-ray also includes the original release bonus features the commentary by Brooks, film flubs, a trailer introduced by Brooks and "Spaceballs: The Documentary," which is pretty standard fair and filled with interviews with the cast and creators. There’s also "In Conversation: Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan" which delves a little deeper but seems redundant with the 25th anniversary look back. One amazing feature is "John Candy: Comic Spirit" which is an amazing tribute to the actor and his work on "Spaceballs."

Despite poking fun at "Star Wars," "Spaceballs" has managed to be one of the most memorable comedies of all time. Not only is it an example of the amazing skills of Mel Brooks but a treasure trove of comedic talent including John Candy, Dick Van Patten, Rick Moranis and Joan Rivers. This DVD is a must-have for comedy enthusiasts.

"Spaceballs: The 25th Anniversary Edition"
Blu-ray
$19.99
www.mgm.com