Packaging and Extras
The DVD comes in an Amaray case with a cardboard slipcase reproducing the cover, which is a spoof of recent Star Wars posters and cover art. There is no insert.
Mel Brooks' original commentary track is reproduced here. He really could use some company on his commentaries, because he's not particularly energetic, tends to just laugh at his own jokes or fall silent. He doesn't have a whole hell of a lot to offer, but then again, we didn't need a lot.
Also on disc one is the option to watch the movie at Ludicrous speed. And yes, the whole movie does fly by in the space of 24 seconds.
On to disc two, there are three featurettes. The first, Spaceballs: A Documentary, features current day interviews with all of the cast, save John Candy of course. Daphne Zuniga still looks great. They all reminisce about the shoot, with their own stories to tell.
Also interviewed is Peter Donen, visual effects supervisor, make-up designer Ben Nye Jr. and Nick McLean, director of photography. This may have been a goofy comedy but it had a lot of effects shots for its time. They also discuss the costumes for the film, which were pretty nice.
In Conversation: Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan features two of the three co-authors of the film talking back and forth about the genesis of the script. The third writer, Ronny Graham, died in 1999. Finally, there's a very nice tribute to John Candy in John Candy: Comedy Spirit, featuring old interviews and Second City TV footage.
Under the Galleries menu are three sets of photo galleries - one behind-the-scenes, one of the costumes and one featuring artwork based on the film, such as the actors in costume.
Fun & Games is a great segment. Film Flubs actually points out where they goofed in the film, such as visible camera tracks and a mirror under a "floating" space ship.
Space Quotes is a clunky segment featuring memorable quotes from all the actors. It would be a lot more fun if the interface wasn't so clumsy. It's difficult to navigate and has no Play All option. Finally, there's a trivia game. I quit after 12 answers because I was tired of the same Correct clip over and over.
Last, there are storyboard comparisons, with storyboard art side-by-side with the final footage, trailers for the film and a trailer for The Pink Panther (the Steve Martin remake).
