6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
When the rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plot against the U.S., a team of SEALs is dispatched on a worldwide manhunt. As the valiant men of Bandito Platoon race to stop a coordinated attack that could kill and wound thousands of American civilians, they must balance their commitment to country, team and their families back home.
Starring: Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano, Antoni Corone, Ernie Reyes, Jr.Action | 100% |
Thriller | 47% |
Adventure | 41% |
War | 27% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
I checked it myself. It's true it contains 24-bit audio.
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Certain movies inevitably reveal the divide not just between critics and audiences, whose tastes aren't always aligned, but also between liberal and
conservative viewers. Act of Valor is one of them. Despite being almost uniformly trashed in professional reviews, the film was a big box office
draw—it looks to be a huge seller on home video too—and a quick scan of audience opinions on the usual aggregate sites reveals a near-equal split
between those who appreciate Act of Valor for its non-stop action and pro-military stance, and those who write it off as a jingoistic recruitment
ad stretched to feature length. Though it's a gross generalization to say that all heartland-of-America Republicans will love the movie while all coastal-
elite Democrats collectively roll their eyes, there does seem to be some kind of indirect correlation at play.
But let's set dichotomous worldviews aside. My problem with Act of Valor isn't political. While I have my personal convictions, I appreciate
stories that show all sides of war, from patriotic, noble sacrifice-type films to fiercely anti-war polemics and—better yet—those that lie
somewhere in between. The fact is, war is complicated—psychologically, ideologically, ethically—and the best movies about the subject portray it that
way. Act of Valor doesn't, unfortunately, preferring to oversimplify on every level. And although it strings together one kickass action sequence
after another, the film has trouble making us care about its characters, undeveloped ciphers who might as well be starring in a video game.
If you needed additional proof that small digital SLRs can be potent filmmaking tools, look no further. Act of Valor was shot exclusively with Canon 5D Mark II cameras—which can be bought off the shelf for a little over two grand—and in general, the film's 1080p/AVC-encoded Blu-ray presentation looks fantastic. There are a few scenes where the combination of shallow depth of field and imprecise focusing create a noticeably soft image, but otherwise the picture is quite sharp. The details of the SEALS' weaponry and uniforms, the textures of their camouflaged faces, the surfaces of bullet-riddled walls and vehicles—all are finely rendered. The color grading is great too; jungle foliage is a dense green, earthy neutrals are rich, skin tones are balanced, and most scenes feature a warm yellowish cast that adds some heat to the image. And while you'll spot some blown-out highlights and occasionally crushed blacks, the contrast curve is usually spot-on. Source noise and compression noise are minimal—even in darker sequences—but you will see some slight aliasing on fine parallel lines, along with a few fleeting instances of color banding and some mild rolling shutter issues. Nothing distracting, though. What impresses most here is how a prosumer-grade digital camera can produce a picture that's nearly indistinguishable from one made by more expensive rigs like the Red One or Arri Alexa. Talk about democratization.
Even better is Act of Valor's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, a hard-hitting mix that effectively puts you right in the middle of the action. And since the film is basically all action, you're getting an almost non-stop sonic onslaught. Of course, you can expect loud gunshots galore—spraying in every direction, practically punching holes through the soundfield—and massive explosions that ripple outward, sending debris flying through the space around your head. But you'll also hear near-constant ambience, from wind during a skydiving infiltration and crickets humming at dusk, to the clamor and chaos of the many firefights. Nathan Furst's score generally complements the action—rather than overpowering it—and like the effects, the music has all of the range and oomph and clarity that it needs. Throughout the insanity, dialogue—with few exceptions—remains clear and easily understood. Conversations in languages other than English feature forced subtitles in a goofy military-esque typeface, and the disc also includes optional English SDH and Spanish subs for that might need or want them. No complaints here whatsoever—a first-rate rock 'em, sock 'em audio track.
It'd be interesting to graph Act of Valor's Blu-ray sales across red and blue states just to see if there is indeed any correlation. The film is certainly divisive—critically bashed, but a box-office success—but I wouldn't jump the gun and claim this as evidence of the quote-unquote liberal media bias. However you feel about Act of Valor's pro-war, pro-badass-headshots-from-afar stance, the film's flaws are glaring—stilted line readings, an utter lack of character development, and an overly simplified take on global terrorism. If you want to turn off your brain and watch some 'splosions you'll probably be reasonably entertained—the action is more than competently pulled off—but don't expect a multi-faceted, emotionally gripping war story, a la Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan. What you can expect, if you're already sure you'll like the film, is a fantastic Blu-ray presentation, with great picture quality, a blow-your-face-off audio track, and lots of extras.
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