5.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A pyromaniac, ex-employee of a city oil refinery creates an explosion at the facility which starts a chain-reaction of fires that engulf the entire city.
Starring: Barry Newman, Susan Clark (I), Shelley Winters, Leslie Nielsen, James FranciscusDrama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
With disaster movies all the rage in the 1970s, producers were scrambling to figure out ways to inspire the cinematic possibilities of mass panic and destruction. Horror hit the airlines, amusement parks, outer space, and boats, but fire was a particular obsession for a few of these titles, with 1974’s “The Towering Inferno” a prime example of the Irwin Allen formula that would go on to bewitch audiences for nearly a decade. Adding to screen chaos is 1979’s “City on Fire,” which amplifies a roaring threat to a community-wide scope, inviting a cast of the famous and the desperate to fill mediocre roles, adding a degree of recognition to a routine of burning buildings and streets. Directed by Alvin Rakoff (“Death Ship”), “City on Fire” is obvious, playing directly into subgenre expectations as it lovingly details loss of life and urban annihilation, but the helmer does manage to make an entertaining feature out of recycled parts. While it’s far from a riveting dramatic achievement, the picture has its charms, blending the work of semi-committed actors with scenes of explosive panic, carrying enough hysteria to deliver a suitable disaster extravaganza.
A brief note is placed at the beginning of the presentation, sharing news that the Blu-ray version of "City of Fire" has been created from multiple sources, leading to a few gaps in quality. It's a warning that's welcome, but concern is unnecessary, as the AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation remains appealing and consistent, rarely showcasing any significant issues. Points of damage remain, including rough reel changes and numerous vertical scratches, but the Frankenstein's Monster-esque source doesn't expose anything that torches the viewing experience. Detail is strong, locating textures on the cast and sets, allowing a survey of production achievements in special effects and ornamentation. Colors are pleasing, with flames retaining their orange heat and costuming maintaining period hues. Skintones are natural. Delineation is comfortable. Grain is managed to satisfaction.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is where wear and tear are more obviously detected, navigating dulled dialogue exchanges, with a few passages difficult to understand. Emotional surges and group activity is identified, but never precise. Scoring is also flat, but dramatic intent is retained. Atmospherics are loud, often competing with performances. Sound effects register as intended, keeping their volume to sell fiery encounters.
The blaze is the centerpiece of "City on Fire," which uses crude special effects and stock footage to expand the inferno's reach, trying to come off as a larger picture than it actually is. It runs a bit too long as well, with the roaring fires and pandemonium growing a little tiring by the third act. The feature needs a tighter edit, but it can't pull away from the extreme heat, continually dreaming up ways to threatened characters and disrupt safety procedures, with little bits of comedy working to periodically lighten the atmosphere. "City on Fire" is simplistically designed, but this eagerness to entertain with unspeakable horrors helps the film achieve its modest creative goals, delivering the type of panic disaster fans demand from their screen offerings. The movie is positioned as serious business, opening with a warning that the madness presented here isn't fictitious, but a possibility. However, it soon becomes clear that Rakoff is more interested in building a blockbuster than ringing an environmental alarm.
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