Disc Details
Special Features:	Widescreen anamorphic format. Commentary track by director Jon Avnet. Chapter selections. Production notes. Theatrical trailer. Feature length documentary:"Moments of Discovery." Music highlights. Director's notes. Photo gallery of advertizing materials. Production photo gallery. DVD-Rom features.
Video Format:	Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) [SS-DL]
Languages:	English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles:	English, Spanish, French.
Captions:	Yes
Casing:	1-Disc Keep Case

Director John Avnet told the story of two sets of women separated by a couple of generations. Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) is an over-weight, unfulfilled house-wife married to a boorish slob who thinks everything is just fine with the world. While visiting one of her husband’s relatives in a nursing home, Evelyn slips away. Her husband’s relative can’t stand Evelyn and vice versa. Evelyn meets an elderly woman named Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy). She and Ninny strike up a fast friendship. Ninny begins to tell her stories about life in Whistle Stop Alabama during the depression. Ninny tells the epic yarn of Idgie Threadgoode (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth Jameson (Mary-Louise Parker.

Ruth and Idgie are opposites that attract. Ruth is a typical Southern woman who endures her husband’s abuse as if it was part of her marriage vows. Idgie on the other hand is anything but typical. A Tom-boyish hellion who takes not one inch of gruff from man nor beast. Idgie rescues Ruth from her life in purgatory and the two start a diner together. They take in all sorts of strays and offer protection from the storm to those who are put upon by all the prejudice and hate in the depression-era South. I always thought they were lesbians, and I thought the filmmakers cowardly for not exploring the issue. Of course, had they been lesbians, then "Fried Green Tomatoes" wouldn’t have been the huge hit that it was. Ruth and Idgie go through just about every trial and tribulation imaginable.

Meanwhile in the present, Evelyn has become enthralled with the story of Idgie and Ruth. She begins to re-examine her life. She wants to be able to look at her own vagina with out cringing! Her husband is in for a challenge. What are all the old clichés? No pain, no gain. Or, That which does not kill you, makes you stronger! Hello growth spurt!

"Fried Green Tomatoes" is a lot of fun. Even though most Southern men might see it as a dangerous feminist manifesto. Get over it. I couldn’t help shooting my wife a couple of funny looks as we watched it together. Growth can be fun. She just better not start yelling "Tawanda"!

Picture Quality: 9/10
I was drawn back to my childhood watching this movie. I wanted to find an old railroad bridge and take a hike. Lush colors. Great skin-tones. Some pixilation, but it may have been due to the switch from one layer to the next.

Sound Quality: 8/10
You may choose to watch the film with just the music. Do it! Great score. The sound fills all of the surround speakers. It is nothing spectacular, but this isn't a special effects movie, it's a drama. It sound very good for what it is.

Menu: 10/10
Easy to navigate. There is a lot to navigate through! Nice use of images and music from the film.

Extra Features: 10/10
Outstanding documentary takes you through every step of the film, from pre-production, writing, casting and so on. Great behind the scenes footage. Look fast and you can see Jonathan Hickman in the background of one shot. A large group of people are standing on a sidewalk behind the camera crew watching a shot being filmed. There is a geeky blonde-haired kid on the far left back row wearing suspenders! That's him. Lots of fun interviews and some extended scenes also.

I thought the commentary track would be redundant after the great documentary, but it wasn't. Lots of great insights and stories.

The photo galleries are OK if you like that sort of thing.

I wasn't in the mood to download the 20 recipes promised on the DVD-ROM features, so I didn't check them out. Can't tell you how they are because I just didn't check.

The Final Word:
Well worth the price of admission. One day, I'm going to buy this one for the library. Don't miss it.

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Rusty White