6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Lt. Col. Iceal "Ham" Hambleton is a weapons countermeasures expert and when his aircraft is shot over enemy territory the Air Force very much wants to get him back
Starring: Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Jerry Reed, David Marshall Grant, Clayton RohnerWar | 100% |
Drama | 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 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In 1986, the release of Oliver Stone’s “Platoon” changed everything for pictures about the Vietnam War. Suddenly, these stories about hellacious, confusing combat and the psychological scars inflicted could bring in sizable numbers at the box office, and even be rewarded with Oscar gold. Vietnam became big business for Hollywood, with 1988’s “Bat 21” (stylized as “Bat*21”) part of a producer push to get tales of war up on screens as fast as possible. Screenwriters George Gordon and William C. Anderson (adapting his own book) have the gray area of “Based on a True Story” to play with, detailing the U.S. military’s considerable efforts to collect one man shot down over enemy terrain. They split the story into two distinct extremes of combat, trying to soften the rah-rah concept of search and rescue with intermittent reflections on the cold, bloody brutality of war. Director Peter Markle (“Hot Dog…The Movie”) is caught between the extremes, and while he fashions a competent survival adventure, he has more trouble pinpointing the message of “Bat 21,” which is lost somewhere between explosive action sequences and moments where star Gene Hackman is asked to portray guilt as his character encounters dead bodies for the first time.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) isn't a fresh scan of "Bat 21," but the MGM catalog title does fine with bright cinematography, which creates an appealing, but unremarkable viewing experience. Detail is satisfactory, with most frame textures coming from facial particulars, identifying signs of aging and weariness, while the heat is a powerful influence, surveying sweaty bodies and soaked clothing. Distances are secured, with dimensional aerial footage and countryside traveling. Colors are alert, best observed through greenery, with the jungle setting coming through with adequate hues. Outfits keep their militaristic greens and browns. Skies are bright blue. Skintones are natural. Delineation is passable, with some slight crush during evening events. Source is in fine shape, without major areas of damage.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers dialogue without disruption, maintaining nice, clear voices as they communicate in person and through radio, never losing lines as intensity increases and violence erupts. Scoring is also well defined, with sharp instrumentation and respectful emphasis, supporting suspense and more somber reflection on the horrors of war. Sound effects are distinct, offering crisp gunfire, swooping planes, and rumbling helicopters. Atmospherics are strong, with rainfall loud and military base activity defined.
Despite some thematic muddiness, Markle keeps "Bat 21" on the move, filling it with impressive aerial footage as planes and helicopters take to the skies in an effort to bring Hambleton home. Action is heavy, trying to land somewhere between Rambo and Oliver Stone, but there's a general muting of the particulars surrounding the real Hambleton rescue mission, which apparently went so bad, costing many lives, that the Air Force changed their search and rescue procedure to prevent another debacle. The screenplay isn't that honest, more concentrated on the personalities involved in the hunt, giving the endeavor over to Hackman and Glover, who do their professional best to create distinct characters, filling the movie with personality and intensity of thought, as much of the story remains in silent reflection mode. There's a lot here that connects as intended, with Markel conjuring the sweatbox of Vietnam (everyone is soaked, trudging around in mud) and the despair of mistakes. However, "Bat 21" isn't a fully formed picture, more content to sample ideas than take on a greater understanding of the important questions it raises.
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