The Mel Brooks Collection (Blazing Saddles / Young Frankenstein / Silent Movie / Robin Hood: Men in Tights / To Be or Not to Be / History of the World, Part 1 / The Twelve Chairs / High Anxiety)

This set is nice, but I can't believe the studios haven't released this same collection in HD format yet. What is currently holding me from buying a Blu-Ray player is exactly the lack of any decent comedy movies in Blu-Ray format. Instead, the studios seem to think that releasing Vin Diesel and Stallone movies is somehow a priority for HD format releases. As if seeing explosions in HD would make any difference!.

I hate the studios, I really do.

A good collection but the inclusion of Space Balls would have made it better. If you like Mel, get this.

Mel Brooks has probably been responsible for more of the laughter in my cinema attendance than any other individual. If this collection had been released 5 years ago, it would have warranted 5 stars. Instead, I'm a little miffed that in order to get "Silent Movie", and "High Anxiety", two of the titles from Mel that I've been waiting for on DVD for years now, I have to repurchase 3 others that I had already bought on DVD. I really hate this aspect of DVD special packaging and collectors editions. I wouldn't mind it all that much if I thought Mel got a decent cut of the dough I spent, but I know the soul-sucking studio probably gets 99%, and Mel doesn't get enough to buy a plate of beans.

For those who like Mel Brooks and are upgrading from tape to DVD, this is a bargain. Not every film is equally strong, but Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and Robin Hood: Men in Tights are worth the price of this collection alone. Not all are the films are comedies, but most are. The bonus material is OK, particularly a long interview with Mel Brooks that is really just an audio track. This interview gives some real insight into how the creative process works for Brooks. Happy endings are a part of the Mel Brooks tradition, and these are found here, along with his unique style of humor that pokes fun at everyone and everything... even Mel Brooks himself.

Several websites told me the Blazing Saddles that came in the box set was the 30th anniversary edition. It is not so just be ready.