Reviewer's Bias*
Loves: '80s movies
Likes: Short Circuit, robots
Dislikes: Double-dips
Hates: Fisher Steven's acting

The Story So Far...
A well-regarded example of '80s sci-fi fantasy, Short Circuit Hit DVD back in 2000, the somewhat early days of the medium, with a pretty impressive package for the time. DVDTalk has a review here.

The Movie
I wonder if the kids of today will look back as fondly upon the films of their youth the way kids of the 80s do. Surely I'm simply experiencing the generational myopia that comes with time, but I can't imagine a 30-year-old in the year 2026 looking back at, say, The Golden Compass, the way the kids of the '80s look at The Goonies. Sure, it's not the greatest comparison, but it further points out the fact that these days you rarely get the out-there fun movies we did back then, like Short Circuit. It's very hard to imagine a studio greenlighting a concept like Short Circuit today (at least not without a tween star involved.).

Ally Sheedy is a hippie-dippie lunch wagon owner who's going about her off-the-grid life when a human-sized robot literally drops into her life. Having recently gained sentience due to a lightning strike, the newly-named Johnny 5 is on the run from Nova, the defense company that created him, eager to learn about the world around him and escape a life of violence. Unfortunately, Nova wants its weapon back, as do his inventors, Steve Guttenberg and Fisher Stevens.

As one would expect, the defense industry (led by another Police Academy alum, G.W. Bailey) is less successful at tracking down a big robot than a couple of scientists, which lets the boys spend some time getting to know Johnny 5, and also allows a budding romance to develop between a pair of second-tier '80s stars. Of course, how could you focus on any of these subplots when you've got Fisher Steven's portraying Ben, a real-life version of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, in a subcontinental version of blackface. The odd thing is, when I was a kid, I never even noticed he was a white guy. Times change though.

As fascinating as the Faux Indian and the Breakfast Club/Police Academy crossover are, the humans had little chance of matching up with the walking special effect that is Johnny 5. After all, El Debarge never sang "Who's Stevie?" Or "Who's Ally?" Unencumbered by CGI like Transformers, the robot shows way more personality than his castmates, taking inspiration from the pop culture and "input" he quickly absorbed. It's amazing that we really haven't seen anything better in terms of practical movie robots in the 20-plus years since Short Circuit, and probably never will thanks to an overreliance on computer graphics.

No one's going to claim that this movie is a classic, but the story of a naïve robot trying to cope in a world that wants him to kill and wants to kill him, is an enjoyable fable, thanks in large part to the humanized nature of Johnny 5. Some aspects of the film have become dated, mainly Johnny's TV and movie references and the cosumer electronics seen, but until man is overtaken by our new mechanical overlords, the story is timeless and fun.

The DVD
Packed in a standard keepcase, this one-disc release features an animated, anamorphic widescreen menu, with options to watch the film, select scenes adjust the set-up and check out the special features. Audio i available in a English Dolby Digital 5.1, with subtitles available in English SDH and Spanish. There is no closed captioning.

The Quality
The anamorphic widescreen transfer, which has been newly remastered in high-definition, looks great, with a clean, crisp image that's more detailed and far less grainy than the previous release. Unfortunately, it seems to have been cropped a bit on the sides (the framing during the opening titles seems way too tight) and the film's brighter and has less of a blue hue to it, making the special effects seem a touch less vibrant. The cropping is certainly annoying, but the overall transfer is much better, with only a small amount of dirt still visible.

Top: 2000 release. Bottom: 2008 release.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 track sounds the same as what was on the previous release, which means you"re getting a solid, though not overwhelming delivery. The dialogue is clear throughout, but the sound effects, especially the numerous explosions, could have more oomph to them, a result of an unimpressive mix that doesn't take full advantage of the surround speakers. It's certainly a soundtrack that shows its age.

The Extras
The extras are just about the same as the 2000 release, minus the text extras, including the production notes, the bios and the acknowledgements. The biggest bonus is a feature-length audio commentary by director John Badham and writers Brent Maddox and S.S. Wilson. There's a great deal of info and trivia shared about how the film was made during this commentary, including the evolution of Steven's Indian character (which involved Bronson Pinchot!) The track is one of the more laid-back and smooth commentaries out there, as the trio works well together, leaving few dead spots.

An additional alternate track is also available, a music and effects track, which gives new appreciation for the sound design on this film, especially all the little details that go into representing the movement of Johnny 5. Not everyone will want to sit through a dialogue-free film, but even if you just jump around, it's worth a look (or more precisely, listen.)

A selection of five cast and crew interviews follow, either separately or in a group, starting with three old EPK clips with Guttenberg, Sheedy and Badham. Running about two minutes each, they are pure fluff, pumping up the participants obnoxiously. They are fun for nostalgia purposes though. More interesting though are the two interviews with robot designer Syd Mead and special effects creator Eric Allard. At nearly 18 and 35 minutes each, they are substantial and engaging, with lots of notes about how Johnny 5 was created.

Two other featurettes cover more "on the ground" material, starting with "The Creation of Number Five." Covering some of the same info found in the commentary and interviews with Mead and Allard, this seven minute piece adds in video showing the development of the famous robot. "Behind the Scenes" is less focused, consisting of raw footage from the set of the film, and is a curiosity more than anything.

The remainder of the extras are memorabilia from the film, starting with three photo galleries, "On the Set and Behind the Scenes," "Conceptual Art" and "Theatrical Posters and Press Kit Material." Each plays automatically, with "Conceptual Art" being the most interesting, as you get to see original ideas for the design of Johnny 5. You also get the film's theatrical trailer, which is full-screen and in rough shape. Seriously rough shape.

The Bottom Line
More a technical achievement than a great movie, Short Circuit is a good time nonetheless, thanks to the great robotics work that went into Johnny 5, and a simple, yet touching little story that can entertain just about anyone. It's appeal is undeniable, which explains why Hollywood is mistakenly planning a remake. This new DVD improves on the visual presentation, but leaves the audio as-is, and even takes away some of the less-appealing extras. If you can somehow sell your old copy, this is a fine replacement (not a major improvement), while those new to the party can pick up this bargain offering without hesitation.

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*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.