Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

A Few Good Men Blu-ray Movie Review

Great performances and a remarkable script round out this superlative Blu-ray release

Reviewed by Ben Williams September 18, 2007

I remember the time so vividly: Rob Reiner could do no wrong as a director, Demi Moore was one of the biggest stars on the planet, Tom Cruise’s penchant for jumping on sofas was a twinkle in his eyes and Jack Nicholson’s mere presence in a film brought it almost instant credibility. With the exception of Mr. Nicholson’s continued golden touch, things certainly have changed. A Few Good Men is just one of those rare films that marks its time so effectively and with a good amount of earned nostalgia. Loaded with powerhouse performances, a riveting script and taut yet economical direction, the film has aged incredibly well and is a testament of how effective the courtroom drama can be when these essential elements combine.

Tom Cruise stars in A Few Good Men as Lt. Daniel Caffee, an arrogant Navy attorney with a reputation for settling cases and never setting foot in the courtroom. When Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore) brings a shocking murder case to the attention of Navy brass, Caffee is selected to, hopefully, dispense with the case as quickly as possible. With two Marines’ lives on the line, it is up to Caffee to change his ways and to give these two Marines a fighting chance in court.

JAG wishes it had this cast...

While the premise of A Few Good Men is nothing groundbreaking, the film succeeds spectacularly through acting prowess alone. Aaron Sorkin’s script is chocked full of delicious dialogue and each and every actor in the film revels in this outstanding banter. Jack Nicholson, of course, steals each and every scene he is present in as the disgustingly barbaric, yet proud Col. Nathan R. Jessep. I can’t imagine that many viewers haven’t yet seen A Few Good Men, but for the few who might not have had the pleasure are in for a real treat. Of course, the legendary “you can’t handle the truth” scene is still as effective as ever. I challenge each and every viewer, even after all these years and repeated viewings, to not get caught up in the moment of that scene. A Few Good Men is a truly great film that has a place in each and every permanent Blu-ray collection.

A Few Good Men Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in Mpeg-2 video on a 50GB Blu-ray disc, A Few Good Men has never looked better on home video. The most startling aspect of this Blu-ray presentation is the film's incredible amount of fine detail. Every last thread of the immaculate military uniforms in the film vividly springs from the screen. Color reproduction is also wonderfully saturated with naturally eye-popping hues rendered precisely and consistently throughout the film. Black levels are extremely deep and shadow details are expertly reproduced without the slightest bit of crushing. If there is any fault at all in the transfer, it would be in a slight amount of shakiness present in the opening scene where soldiers are performing rifle drills. I'm not really sure what to make of this phenomenon, as it is very slight, but definitely noticeable. I'll subtract half a point from this otherwise flawless transfer for this puzzling artifact.

A Few Good Men Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

From a sound standpoint, there really isn't much to A Few Good Men. The film features PCM audio and it does and outstanding job of clearly and accurately presenting the film's remarkable dialogue. For a film that is really all about dialogue, what more could one possibly ask for? There are a few occasional surround flourishes throughout the film, but the soundstage is predominantly front heavy. Mark Shaiman's musical score is also nicely represented and is impeccably balanced within the overall mix. Ultimately, A Few Good Men's PCM soundtrack does exactly what it needs to do, and it does it very well.

A Few Good Men Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Here's what's included:

-Audio Commentary with Rob Reiner

-"Code of Conduct"

-"From Stage to Screen"

While this supplements collection is anything but groundbreaking, there are a few nice extras on tap. Firstly, don't bother with Rob Reiner's exceedingly boring commentary. This is one of the most slow-paced and sleep-inducing commentary tracks I've had the displeasure of listening to in quite some time. Not only does Mr. Reiner seem bored, but his lack of enthusiasm is very evident. Secondly, both documentaries are pretty nicely done. "From Stage to Screen" is a revealing look at Aaron Sorkin's process in adapting the sage version of A Few Good Men into his first screenplay. "Code of Conduct" features an interesting look into military practices and culture. All in all, this set is really nothing to write home about, but there are a few nice tidbits for fans of the film.

A Few Good Men Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A Few Good Men is a riveting film that takes the ordinary courtroom drama and kicks it up a few notches. Aaron Sorkin's poetic dialogue is matched wonderfully with some of the best filmed performances of the past few decades. This Blu-ray presentation is also near reference grade with stunning picture quality and perfectly balanced audio. A Few Good Men is a must-buy on Blu-ray.