Reliving the Magic: Field of Dreams Anniversary

By Jonathan Berohn

In keeping with the rush to issue new special edition DVDs, Universal has added a 15th anniversary edition of "Field of Dreams" to the lineup. "Field of Dreams" is the rare sports movie that also works on its own merits-it just happens to be about baseball. For true baseball fans, of course, the baseball is a little more critical, but "Field of Dreams" remains a movie that both baseball and movie fans should add to their DVD collection.

The Movie

If you're a baseball fan who hasn't seen "Field of Dreams," I'll give you a minute to crawl out from under your rock. There. The movie's plot, adapted from W.P. Kinsella's novel Shoeless Joe (also worth adding to any collection), revolves around Ray Kinsella's Iowa farm. In a nutshell, if you'll pardon the pun, Ray hears a voice telling him to build a baseball field in his corn so Shoeless Joe Jackson can come back and play again. The magical realism of Kinsella's book shines through in the film to make it a wonderful fable and a great family movie.

The Cast

The cast of "Field of Dreams" deserves special mention of its own. Sometimes Kevin Costner can get a little dreamy and sappy, but he's perfect as Ray Kinsella. Then when you add in James Earl Jones as a world-weary author (standing in for ultra-recluse J.D. Salinger, who refused to let his character be used for the film), you're pretty much home free. The rest of the cast is quite good as well. Amy Madigan adds the perfect amount of spunk as Costner's wife, and both Ray Liotta and Timothy Busfield perform admirably in supporting roles. Bert Lancaster also adds some of his own magic in one of his last roles. The movie is almost worth seeing just for his few scenes.

Special Features

As with any good special edition DVD, "Field of Dreams" comes with a second disc of special features. Unlike most, however, I actually found these worth watching. There are, of course, the obligatory deleted scenes. These don't add much other than an appreciation for the director's decision-making capabilities. The documentaries and featurettes, though, are really enjoyable and add a depth to the movie. These include interviews with the cast and major league baseball players, a roundtable, a visit to the field in Iowa (Which still exists), and a making-of documentary. All in all, "Field of Dreams" is still a hit, and the extras just add to its power.

And I defy any man not to tear up at the end, when Ray is playing catch with his late father. Go on. I dare you.