6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
When an American policeman named Lyedecker comes to Mexico to arrest Yaqui Joe for robbery, he finds himself detained by both an Indian revolution against the Mexican government... and the luscious figure of Joe's sidekick, Sarita! As the government steps up its plan for the Indians — total extermination — Joe's stolen money buys weapons for the battle, and Lyedecker joins the fray. But will it be enough to defeat the sadistic General Verdugo and his army?
Starring: Jim Brown, Raquel Welch, Burt Reynolds, Fernando Lamas, Dan O'HerlihyWestern | 100% |
War | 11% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Bringing the lively Spaghetti Western mood to Hollywood, 1969’s “100 Rifles” doesn’t follow through with its initial Sergio Leone admiration, soon settling into a story about passion and political defiance that tends to drain away the pure escapism the feature initially seems intent on delivering. Co-writer/director Tom Gries doesn’t have an easy job, managing three intense personalities in lead actors Burt Reynolds, Jim Brown, and Raquel Welch, but he periodically commits to large-scale action and cultural interests, keeping “100 Rifles” a stylish, spur-jangling cartoon.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't refreshed for this Blu-ray release, but it's a serviceable effort, offering a reasonable amount of detail with period cinematographic technology. Slight softness is apparent, but textures on costuming are open for study, along with facial particulars and the feature's mischievous sense of sexuality. Colors keep to western standards with slight fade, exploring desert landscapes and brown fabrics, while skintones are stable. Delineation is acceptable. There's plenty of wear and tear on the source, which encounters scratches and speckling throughout.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't big on true definition, but carries more bluntly, with Jerry Goldsmith's boisterous score leading the charge, coming through with supportive volume and adequate instrumentation. Dialogue exchanges are thick, with plenty of ADR work provided, but clarity is acceptable, including various accents. Sound effects retain power, with snappy gunfire and booming explosions. Atmospherics handle crowd scenes and outdoor environments to satisfaction. Mild hiss is detected.
Gries knows his audience with "100 Rifles," keeping Brown shirtless, Welch wet, and Reynolds smiling. It's an amusing picture initially released during a time when more respect was being paid to Native American interests, but it still retains broader antics and doses of silliness, and sexuality has potency, delivering an interracial coupling between Brown and Welch that helped to smash taboos of the era. "100 Rifles" has issues with dramatic urgency, but it's engaging, best served with a full gallop and sense of playfulness.
1969
1961
A Bullet from God
1976
Warner Archive Collection
1950
Limited Edition to 3000
1958
Colorado
1955
Limited Edition to 3000
1954
Dragon Master
1970
1971
1990
1950
1966
1958
1966
Giù la testa / Duck, You Sucker
1971
1971
1967
1969
Per un Pugno di Dollari
1964
1968