I've been going a little bit DVD crazy lately. I've been walking into various retail establishments searching out those precious hidden movie gems that don't seem to fall onto the stereotypical movie fans purchase list. I was not one of the record-breaking participants who purchased Shrek, Goldmember or the critically acclaimed Fellowship of The Ring. Don't get me wrong, these are all great movies, but they will always exist in copious amounts at any retail store. My concern is picking up copies of movies that have been released in limited amounts and may never be released again once their initial run has been sold out. As I scanned the various titles at a popular music store chain, I had been filling my basket with some favourite titles, Barry Levinson's "Diner", Dirty Harry classic, "The Enforcer" (Tyne Daly is a wonderful foil for Eastwood in this movie), Ivan Reitman's Ghostbusters, (A DVD release with special features ahead of its time, the special commentary option specifically) and there it was. Irrefutably one of the funniest movies ever made. Hands down probably the best movie Mel Brooks has ever directed. The special edition of "Young Frankenstein." My hands could not pick this movie up quick enough.

The premise of this movie is simple. The long lost grandson of the famous Dr.Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) has returned to his grandfather's laboratory to reprise his questionable experiments with reanimating dead tissue. With the help of his trusted assistants 'I'-gor (Marty Feldman) and Inga (Teri Garr), Dr.Fraunk-en-steen endeavors to succeed where his grandfather failed by resurrecting the Frankenstein monster (Peter Boyle) with hilarious results. Throw in Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn and Kenneth Mars as the entertaining police inspector you have one of the funniest comic ensembles ever to grace the silver screen.

I have seen this movie many, many times in various states of consciousness. Needless to say, no matter what state of mind I've been in this movie has never failed to inspire straight from the gut inspired laughs. From start to finish this movie is nothing but non-stop hilarity. It is a masterpiece. Many movie critics classify this movie as a parody. I can honestly say that by classifying this movie as parody demeans this movie for the comedy classic that it is. Granted it does mock elements from the original 1931 classic "Frankenstein" starring Boris Karloff, but the similarities are so very few and far between. Comparing this film to the recent glut of movie parodies that follow original storylines to the very letter combined with the most immature elements of comedy ever seen is a veritable crime against nature. When watching the Young Frankenstein the moments of parody are almost unrecognizable due to the comedic brilliance that the specific scenes inspire. The bookcase scene (Put the candle back!), the meeting with the blind hermit (inspired hilarity with Gene Hackman) and the storming of the castle by the disgruntled villagers. Whether you've seen the original or not it does not matter in the least because the movie takes these scenes to such a higher comedic level the original subject matter becomes inconsequential and that what makes a this such a successful parody.

I love this movie and the DVD does not disappoint. It has many deleted scenes, bloopers and commentary by the director Mel Brooks. The Spanish interview segment is particularly unusual, but I'll let you judge that for yourself. If you've never seen this movie, I personally command you to go out and buy it. In fact why don't you email me and I'll invite you over so we can watch it together at my palatial estate. Please see this movie. Please. I guarantee you will not be disappointed and if you don't find anything even remotely comedic about this film, I'm sorry but you're an idiot.

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