DVD & BLU RAY REVIEWS

This film has some baggage to it. While looked at by many as a missed opportunity, some of the  cheesy CGI divides many viewers who seem to think the film itself is okay but that the 80’s video  game style fire effects in the sequences in Hell are a deal breaker. While the make-up and  practical effects still look pretty good, I think maybe since ILM was attached to some of the film’s visual effects, ticket buyers were expecting top shelf work but the Hell sequences were farmed  out to a smaller effects company to ensure the production would come in on schedule. Perhaps  the producers thought video game type graphics would appeal to the kiddie ticket buyers.  Produced in 1997 with an eye to have the film get a PG-13 rating, the film’s violence had to be  trimmed before the final release. Personally, I enjoy the film as cheeseball fun even though I am  not what you would call a fan of creator Todd McFarlane or his comics. The cast is very good for  this type of film. Michael Jai White (Toxic Avenger II, The Dark Knight) is perfect as the soldier of  fortune who returns from the dead to lead Satan’s army in order to see his wife again. Martin  Sheen (The Outer Limits, Apocalypse Now, The Dead Zone) plays the evil government agent with  just the right amount of pizzazz. He is over the top but convincing in his scumminess at the same  time. Adding even more acting power to the cast, Nicol Williamson (The Seven Percent Solution,  Excalibur, Exorcist III) plays Cagliostro and helps ease Spawn into his powers and encourages  him to break his deal with the devil. This was his last film appearance. And then there is John  Leguizamo (Super Mario Brothers, Carlito’s Way, Land Of The Dead) as Hell’s representative on  Earth, the Violator. His performance may be grating to some but it tends to resonate with the 3rd grader in you and he pretty much steals the show. 

This new release from Arrow is available in a 4K or Blu-ray set and contains the extended  director’s cut which adds more violence to the film, and the theatrical release spread over two  discs. Extras include audio commentaries, interviews with actors Michael Jai White, D.B.  Sweeney and Melinda Clarke, an interview with special effects artists Howard Berger and Greg  Nicotero and much more.