4:36 PM
David Weaver
YOUR HIGHNESS
Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: August 9, 2011
Your Highness doesn't shoot very high with its particular brand of comedy but its grasp far outweighs its reach in this case. Even on a second viewing (completely sober and non-intoxicated mind you) I still find myself laughing my ass off at the crude but spot on humor. I still do not understand the hatred many feel towards the movie, I understand that perhaps they expected something a little more highbrow than what is given to us but that doesn't mean the film misses its target. With some great action sequences, some dazzling effects and a Minotaur penis how could anyone go wrong with this harmless piece of fluff.
Review Vital Stats:
Format: Blu-ray
Player: Playstation 3 Slim
Monitor: Samsung 40' LCD Series 5
Picture Quality: 1080p
Sound Quality: DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 - English
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| What a happy family. |
A quick word on the Unrated version of the film offered here. While most would assume that the additions would comprise of only more dick and fart jokes I am here to tell you that isn't true despite the box declaring this version being "Too Outragesous For Theaters!". There are a couple scenes added back in that don't really aspire to be anything more than blatant innuendos "Prepare to be fist f**ked by two brothers at the same time!", but there are some pretty decent scenes here that shouldn't have been cut out at all. You get to see Fabious and Belladonna have an innuendo-free (they say what they mean rather candidly) discussion about their forthcoming wedding night, what happens when the face of Marteetee enters his cauldron (something I noted was missing upon my initial viewing) and a more satisfying end for the dickless traitor Julie. This is one extended edition of a movie that I can fully recommend simply because the bits and pieces added back in don't make it feel like a different film, just a more complete one in some strange way.
Excerpt from my original theatrical review:
Once again I am here feeling as though I need to defend a film that is just being ravaged by the critics out there. What were people expecting? Did all these critics see the same trailer I did? How could anyone after seeing those trailers (especially the red band one) or the art work for the posters where you see Danny McBride throwing up a deuce while letting smoke out his mouth and nostrils like a chimney expect anything other than what we got? The question never was whether or not its humor would be high brow or clever though. The question has always been how low exactly were director David Gordon Green and star/writer Danny McBride willing to go to elicit some laughs. To which the answer is pretty dam low and often times unnecessarily so, but that doesn't mean I didn't laugh my ass off in that crowded theater full of stoners. If you find constant vulgar terms to be offensive then you have no right to see Your Highness. However if you can laugh at some rather cleverly stupid moments and don't take issue with the F-word to end all F-words then this will be right up your alley.
Read the full review here.
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| Leezar comes to claim his prize. |
And I highly suggest that if you are looking for an in depth discussion on the "complex" meanings of the film then check out our highly informative (and somewhat comical) conversation we had on The LRA Show upon the film's release.
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What's on the disc?
I have to admit that I was not expecting such a lush assortment of features for this movie. There are other far better films out there that deserve this attention to detail more than this did but I am not complaining. The disc avoids one of my primary concerns with any movie that has this many features which is overlapping. Plus the information contained within each feature is worthwhile for anyone that is a fan of the film. I honestly don't know how someone could feel slighted with what is offered here. A great collection of extra features that is much more than a movie of this type deserved.
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Audio Commentary - Director David Gordon Green and stars Danny McBride, James Franco and Justin Theroux are on board for this lively and kicked back discussion. Franco acts as the unofficial host by bringing up different topics throughout which leads to some insights on the many different versions of the script that existed (such as a point where Fabious lost both his arms in battle and the movie became all about Thadious), the treacherous hula hoop of doom, the complexities involving the placement of the Minotaur penis around Thadious's neck, Franco falling asleep during one of Theroux's monologues and that Zooey Deschanel got married while filming (a personal tragedy for me by the way). All in all this is a great listen that any fan of the film will find both entertaining and informative just like every commentary should be, good stuff.
Dam You Gods: The Making of Your Highness (30:14 min) HD - This is made up of mostly cast interviews with some quick looks at the design of the Minotaur and his special attributes. Oh and we learn that Justin Theroux coined the term "The F**kening" which led to him landing the part as Leezar, nice!
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| The movie often times feels like a real fantasy adventure. |
Alternate Scenes - HD (Note: All scenes can be played together or separately)- These are simply alternate takes of scenes that already exist in the finished film.
"Fab/Court Talk at Camp" (1:24) This alternate take has Fabious crying while confessing to Courtney his admiration for Thadious.
"Fab/Bella Married" (:52) During the celebration Thadious offers to smoke some weed with his father who promptly accepts.
Deleted Scenes - HD (Note: All scenes can be played together or separately) - Now these are the scenes that were cut out all together. Just about all of these could have been added back in and they wouldn't have hurt a thing. Well...except for that bizarre dragon scene that is.
"The Quest Begins" (:53) Fabious & Beaumont talk while en route to the wise wizard.
"Heroes Escape Marteetee" (:43) After leaving the arena our heroes must battle some more foes in the forest before they are free.
"Shitty Moons" (1:34) This "ballad" between Fabious and Belladonna longing for each other should have never been cut. "F**k Those Shitty Moons"...hilarious.
"Muldiss Darton" (1:20) Courtney is busy explaining the purpose for the village while Fabious is being spied upon by Julie.
"Labyrinth Hallway" (:56) Thadious has second thoughts about entering the labyrinth.
"Birth of a Dragon" (2:50) I won't spoil it but you really need to see this alternate "ending" where Leezar gets what he wished for but not in the manner he wanted it.
Extended Scenes - HD (Note: All scenes can be played together or separately) - Scenes that are in the film but with some extended dialog that feels mostly ab libbed. There is some pretty funny stuff here that had no place in the movie but is pretty brilliant none the less.
"Leezar Chamber" (2:35) More of Leezar trying to convince Belladonna that Fabious is an irrepressible jerk who only cares about sex.
"Campfire" (6:14) Thadious tries every way imaginable to get Isabel to sleep with him.
"Minotaur Love" (1:35) Much more of the Minotaur having its way with Courtney...disturbing.
"Fairies" (4:47) Belladonna continuously challenges Leezar's prophecy which gets him all flustered.
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| He isn't reaching over for a handshake. |
Line-O-Rama (4:03 min) HD - A series of improvisational scenes most of which are pretty amusing. Who knew that Zooey had such a potty mouth?
Perverted Visions (2:32 min) HD - I won't lie, the idea of a pedaphile puppet is so twisted that I crack up at the mere thought of it. But these outtakes from that scene are hysterical if for nothing more than McBride and Franco's reactions to what they are being asked to do.
A Vision of Leezar (2:57 min) HD - I have no idea what this is for, the actor Justin Theroux in full costume and make up is shot close up with a red and green light as he makes all sorts of weird sounds and faces into the camera. Loved his line directed at the David Gordon Green though about how this is proof that all actors are monkeys.
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Final Verdict:
If you are a fan of bottom of the barrel comedy and can often times find humor in the silliest of things then I can't imagine you would dislike Your Highness. However if you are one of those people who often finds themselves dreaming of what it could have or should have been and just can't seem to deal with the fact that this movie was not made to win awards then yeah, you will probably not care for it too much. That being said I consider myself to have impeccable taste when it comes to movies and I can also spot a film that nailed what it was trying to achieve which this one did. The audio and video are what we have come to expect from the Blu-ray format, a crystal clear image and fantastic audio (which complements the thunderous score by Steven Jablonsky). I suggest you embark on a quest of your own to seek this film out as soon as possible.
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| If my words have not won you over by now perhaps this simple image will. |
Movie - B+
Video - A
Audio - A
Extras - A
BUY IT
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