DVD Review: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Joss Whedon’s Web Series Stars Nathan Fillion, Neil Patrick Harris
Jan 24, 2009
Like a well-worn pair of Louboutins, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog becomes luxuriously addictive with repeated viewings. Indeed, Joss Whedon’s three-part web series about Dr. Horrible’s quest to join the ELE (Evil League of Evil), thwart his nemesis, (the fromage-saturated) Captain Hammer, and secure true love, just gets more and more awesome the more it’s watched.
Horrible on Amazon
Since December when the DVD became available on Amazon, the Easter eggs have been found. Last June, the cast, including Canadian actor, Nathan Fillion (Firefly) as Hammer and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) as Dr. Horrible, did the Comic-Con circuit to passionate cheers and sighs. Before Bad Horse could snort, Dr. Horrible had become a cult fave.
The Horrible Facts
- Dr. Horrible was written and directed during the 2007 Hollywood writers’ strike as a pet project for Joss Whedon (creator of Dollhouse and Buffy the Vampire Slayer), his brothers Zack and Jed, and Jed’s fiancée Maurissa Tancharoen (she has a cameo as a Hammer groupie)
- It was shot in less than a week.
- It was posted on the Internet in July 2008.
- Dr. Horrible garnered some 1,000 hits per second and crashed the server. Success!
Horrible Easter Eggs
Ethan Shaftel, of Suspension fame, produced and directed the wonderful “Making Of” documentaries on the DVD and delivers lively interviews with the cast and creators. Shaftel oversaw the design of the menus and animation as well as the cover art. He designed the Easter Egg Hunt, created the clues, and chose the hiding spots on the DVD. After the DVD’s release Shaftel enjoyed watching fan sites for chatter as his codes were cracked.
“The way people got to the easter eggs using the number keys on their remote was actually a 'backdoor' I didn't even know about when we programmed them," Shaftel tells Suite101, adding, "I'm still hoping someone discovers the arrow codes for the three countdown screens and posts the solutions.
"The clue to those codes is the "Count the Numbers" logo on the back of the box. Right now, I'm not sure if people know there is anything left to discover!” Now they know.
Favourite Horrible Moments
- The video submissions by fans around the world hoping to join the Evil League of Evil are impressive for the depth and breadth of creative storylines and decent stunts and props.
- The extra, Commentary: The Musical is catchy and kitschy: “Moments like these sell DVDs. We need to sell more. We’ve only sold four.”
Horrible - Act 4
Speaking of four, at Comic-Con, Whedon and his crew were quoted as saying they had plans for a fourth episode. Since then, however, Whedon has become wrapped up in his new series Dollhouse starring Buffy alum Eliza Dushku.
It seems Dr. Horrible fans will have to make do with the DVD and its burning extras for now.
 |
 |
