Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Attack Force Z Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 13, 2023

It's kind of interesting to note that the trailer for Attack Force Z (included on this disc as a supplement) touts John Phillip Law as the marquee attraction, while relegating Mel Gibson and Sam Neill to "and the rest" territory (a first season Gilligan's Island theme reference, for the uninitiated). For any non-Barbarella, The Love Machine and/or The Golden Voyage of Sinbad fans, Law racked up an actually rather impressive roster of credits over the years, even if it's arguable that his fame has since been subsumed by that of his at the point of this production's release yet to be internationally acclaimed co-stars. Attack Force Z is kind of hilariously described in the principal supplement on this disc as having found its audience courtesy of "late night dope smoking, Mars bar eating youth" when the film started being broadcast during the nascent days of cable. It's nonetheless had a couple of previous releases on Blu-ray, including a 30th Anniversary Edition put out over a decade ago by a company I've frankly never heard of called Cinevision, and then six years later by MVD.

I never got the MVD release to review, but Marty Liebman contributed a review of the Cinevision release which provides a thorough plot recap. As I am notorious for saying, different reviewers means different opinions, and I'm evidently a bit more of a fan of the film than Marty is. Considering the lackluster technical merits the Cinevision Blu-ray evidently offered, I doubt there is little question that this release is at least a significant technical upgrade over that one. Having not seen the MVD release, I can't comment authoritatively on how it stacks up against that one.

Attack Force Z Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Attack Force Z is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Severin typically tends to impart only generic technical information on their covers, and that's once again the case here, with the statement that this was "scanned in 2K from the original negative at The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia". This is in some ways a tale of two presentations, one in more brightly lit outdoor moments, and another in either dimly lit sequences or opticals, as in the rather long opening vignette documenting the special ops forces getting to their mission site via quasi-kayaks. That whole opening sequence is pretty rough looking, with a thick, pixellated grain field (see screenshot 9). Things improve markedly once the force gets to the island, and a lot of the ensuing material pops very well, though there are still moments where grain is either chunky or splotchy, as can probably be pretty easily made out in some of the other screenshots I've uploaded to accompany this review. There is some very minor age related wear and tear that has made it through the restoration gauntlet, but nothing of any major import.

Attack Force Z Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Attack Force Z features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track which capably handles the film's action sequences, with its bursts of violence and more layered sound effects, as well as relatively quieter dialogue moments, many of which still have some decently complex ambient environmental sounds courtesy of the outdoor setting on a tropical island. Eric Jupp's score also sounds full bodied throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Attack Force Z Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Z Men Debriefed (HD; 28:05) is an appealing piece that features some good interviews with producer John McCallum and actors John Waters and Chris Haywood.


• Slide Show (HD; 2:33)


• Trailer (HD; 2:45) suffers from some fluttery audio.

Attack Force Z Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Attack Force Z offers a slice of Australian military history that may not be that widely known outside of Down Under (so to speak). That said, this film suffers from some clunky writing and occasionally unsure performances. Technical merits are generally solid and the main longer supplement very appealing, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.