6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 3.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.2 |
Terrorists steal nuclear warheads from the U.S. military but don't count on a pilot and park ranger spoiling their plans.
Starring: John Travolta, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Bob GuntonAction | 100% |
Thriller | 84% |
Video codec: MPEG-2
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional)
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
D-Box
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
I don't know what's scarier...losing nuclear weapons, or that it happens so often there's
actually
a term for it.
Hong Kong Action filmmaker extraordinaire John Woo (Face/Off) takes his
second spin around the American movie landscape with Broken Arrow, a solid but not
exceptional Action/Thriller starring John Travolta (The Taking of Pelham 1 2
3) and Christian Slater (Hard Rain) that
tackles the question -- and with an abundance of unrealistic but thrilling action pieces -- as to
what
might happen should a rogue Air Force officer attempt to profit on the theft of a nuclear device
under his command. Known for his panache and way around an Action movie, Woo injects
Broken Arrow with plenty of his trademark visuals that gives the
picture a bigger, grander feel, even if the material itself doesn't really pass muster as anything
more than capable of delivering a quality if not somewhat tonally generic Action film. Still, in
classic Woo
style, the director manages to make the ordinary somewhat extraordinary, Broken Arrow
some 14 years after its theatrical release still a guilty pleasure sort of movie with a high replay
value and an even higher fun factor, both of which make it a successful, but not quite classic,
Action movie.
'I think we got off on the wrong foot here.'
20th Century Fox sends Broken Arrow onto Blu-ray with a 1080p, MPEG-2 encoded, 2.35:1-framed transfer. A fairly stable image but not at all visually stunning, the picture reflects its drab earth-toned surroundings, delivering little in the way of excess color but providing just enough contrast to allow for a fine film-like image in the context of the picture's bland appearance. Detail is a bit flat throughout; even roughly-textured rock and canyon faces and the harsh terrain of the Utah desert floor don't offer much in the way of rich, lifelike detailing, nor do any other objects such as clothing, vehicles, or weapons. Faces lack much beyond basic definition, but the transfer does retain a layer of film grain that gives it an honest cinematic texture and helps make an ordinary transfer just a bit more respectable in presentation. Additionally, the image isn't too terribly littered with excess dirt and debris, though slight banding makes an entrance in a few select shots. Blacks fluctuate between a deep and dark shade and appearing excessively bright, but flesh tones maintain a neutral shade and with only a hint of excess coloration throughout. Broken Arrow looks just fine on the surface, but videophiles won't be wowed by this presentation.
Broken Arrow zooms onto Blu-ray with a structurally sound but not-quite-perfect DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. No doubt this one rocks the soundstage on more than one occasion and tosses sonic goodness hither, thither, and yon, but it lacks the pinpoint clarity of superior lossless tracks. That's not to say that this soundtrack isn't a particularly fun and wild ride; indeed, Broken Arrow delivers almost everything a listener could hope for in an Action movie soundtrack extraordinaire, the mix often wreaking havoc with powerful sound effects and hefty bass that defines the film's sonic signature. Whether low-flying jet aircraft, buzzing helicopters, or speeding trains, sound effects swoop through the listening area and traverse the entire speaker configuration throughout the picture with a noticeable ease and an exacting sense of direction. Ambient effects in the desert atmosphere add some realism to the picture but never quite manage to create a wholly-convincing 360-degree environment. Nevertheless, Broken Arrow ensures that the subwoofer gets quite the workout with a fairly constant barrage of low-end goodness, and small arms fire -- whether the rattling of an automatic rifle or the repeated thuds of Terry's service revolver -- packs quite the punch and should satisfy listeners craving a quality Action movie listen. Rounded out dialogue that, save for a couple of scenes where it plays as slightly unconvincing and detached, comes across clearly enough, Broken Arrow's Blu-ray lossless soundtrack delivers a hearty and healthy but not quite exemplary listen.
All that's included is the Broken Arrow theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:28); D-Box functionality; and additional 1080p trailers for Alien vs. Predator, Chain Reaction, Commando, Phone Booth, and Planet of the Apes.
Broken Arrow makes for a good primer into the world of John Woo, and more importantly, it holds up years after its release as a trusty standby Action movie that never seems to lose much of its luster and makes for one of those good "anytime" movies when mindless entertainment done right fits the mood and satisfies the need to get the adrenaline pumping and give the sound system a decent workout. Packed with gunfire and explosions and a completely linear plot with no subtexts or thematic undertones to worry about, Action fans can rest assured that Broken Arrow delivers the goods and nothing but the goods, and considering the film also throws in a few decent performances for good measure, it's no wonder that it's held up as a consistently dependable Action movie since 1996. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray release of Broken Arrow delivers good but slightly underwhelming visual and aural presentations, but the disc is unfortunately absent any substantive extras. Considering the disc's low price, fans would be wise to add this one to their Blu-ray collections, but fence-sitters would be better served to give it a rent and hope for a re-issue somewhere down the line.
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