Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Cliffhanger Blu-ray Movie Review

A good Action movie receives a fine all-around Blu-ray package.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 8, 2010

Fetch.

Action movies have gone through many iterations over the years; everything from The Great Train Robbery to G.I. Joe have in some way dazzled audiences, from the thrill of the six-gun shootout to the wonder of the digital special effect. Indeed, there's probably no genre with a wider appeal and a more diverse set of pictures than Action, but whether such a film incorporates elements of the Western, Science Fiction, War, or even Horror, there's still something to be said for the more traditional "hero saves the day in the face of unbeatable odds" picture that was defined by 1988's Die Hard, a film often considered the pinnacle of the pure Action movie and the one against which all of its kind -- before and after -- are measured. Some five years after Die Hard's theatrical release, Director Renny Harlin -- himself intimately familiar with the Die Hard mystique and formula as the Director of 1990's Die Hard 2: Die Harder -- ventured forth from the cozy confines of John McClaine's Christmas heroics and helmed his own version that was to be Die Hard in the great outdoors. Starring Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Cliffhanger is one of but a few Die Hard copycat films that -- for quality of direction, visual style, level of action, and story -- can hold its own with Director John McTiernan's indelible one-man-versus-heavily-armed-bad-guys classic.

Hold on.

After a tragic accident that costs the life of a young woman, Rocky Mountain Rescue climber Gabe Walker (Stallone) leaves the idyllic snow-capped country for the big city and a search for answers. Months later, Gabe returns on the same fateful day as a botched midair hijacking of a U.S. Treasury flight escorting $100,000,000 in three cases equipped with homing beacons. The assailant's plane having crashed, the survivors call in a phony report of hikers stranded in a terrible winter storm to lure a rescue team to come to their aid, lead them through the frigid and dangerous terrain to the cases, and secure their financial futures. Gabe is talked into joining the rescue party by former colleague Jessie Deighan (Janine Turner), and he soon after meets up with bitter fellow rescue climber Hal Tucker (Michael Rooker, The 6th Day) who still blames Gabe for the death of his girlfriend, the same tragedy that pushed Gabe away several months earlier. Nevertheless, the two are forced to put their differences aside when they fall victim to the criminals' scheme; lead hijacker Qualen (John Lithgow, Harry and the Hendersons), a Treasury agent turned traitor named Travers (Rex Linn), and several other heavily-armed criminals force Gabe and Hal at gunpoint to lead them to the money. Through unbearable weather and frozen terrain, only a veteran climber's ingenuity, guile, and a lot of luck will lead Hal and Gabe out of the mountains alive.

Considering Cliffhanger's excellent replay value, sweeping sense of adventure, dangerous villains and heroic good guys, exceptional snow-capped visuals, and plenty of simple-minded fun, there's no mistaking that this is Director Renny Harlin's masterpiece and one of the best of its kind. Cliffhanger is a standout among the 1990's best pure Action films -- along with Speed and Under Siege to name two more -- for its sense of relentless danger and exemplary heroism with every watch. Beginning with a perilous opening sequence that's one of cinema's finest tone-setters and frighteningly intense with every viewing, Cliffhanger sets in motion a barrage of adrenaline that never relents until the party's over. There's no denying that there's little mystery to this one; most major plot developments, the ebb and flow of character relationships, and even the final outcome are never once in any question -- though Cliffhanger does keep a few lesser surprises up its sleeve -- but films like this aren't about keeping the audience guessing. There's no time to slow down and think and no recourse from the nonstop action and death-defying locations; Cliffhanger and others of its kind are all about the perpetual sense of danger and grand-scale action scenes. As with Die Hard, Speed, and Under Siege, it's about the journey and not the destination that make the crop of late 1980s and 1990s Action films so great, and Cliffhanger in particular is one of the absolute best of the bunch, all things considered.

Indeed, it's Cliffhanger's frigid setting and sweeping, grandiose vistas that truly set it apart from the crowd. The nuts-and-bolts of the story are interchangeable with any number of generic Action movies, but Renny Harlin's strong visual sense and the cast's impeccable sale of the film's bill of goods set this one apart as a must-see Action film. Harlin's direction and Alex Thompson's (Labyrinth) cinematography are nothing short of spectacular; the majesty of the Italian Alps substituting for the Rocky Mountains and the wonderfully choreographed action -- that supplements many scenes with a bit of slow-motion photography to heighten the awareness and danger of the location and lethality of the villains, weapons, and forces of nature -- lend to Cliffhanger a potent combination of beauty and beast that are always at odds and both equally destructive and dangerous in their own ways. Cliffhanger's picturesque setting and strong photography aren't the only pluses; the acting is solid across the board, with Sylvester Stallone delivering a fine effort throughout and, along with some of his co-stars, performing many of the picture's most dangerous stunts at risk to life and limb. Also featuring fine efforts from Michael Rooker and John Lithgow and an upper-tier score courtesy of Trevor Jones (The Last of the Mohicans), Cliffhanger is an all-around top-flight Action picture extraordinaire.

Cliffhanger Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Cliffhanger ascends onto Blu-ray with a good, but not great, 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. This is a film that's grandiose in scale and, combined with the improved resolution of the 1080p imagery, demands the largest display possible. Sony's catalogue transfer isn't quite as pristine as a fresh-from-theaters release -- though many of the blatant visual anomalies are inherent to the level of effects in the early 1990s -- but it nevertheless earns its stripes from top to bottom in most every frame. Colors are exceptionally vibrant yet natural in tone throughout; a bright red helicopter or the multicolored winter jackets contrast nicely with the mostly white, gray, and bright blue backdrops. Additionally, fine detail is generally solid. Roughly-textured rock faces, fine lines in clothing, and facial detail are nicely rendered throughout. There's a noticeable lack of visible grain, and while Cliffhanger features smoothness about the image, the film has always featured something of a slick and clean visual appearance, particularly considering its bright white-dominant visual appearance. Still, many effects shots stand out like a sore thumb, and some backgrounds can look a bit muddled and undefined. There's a fine sense of depth to the image, and flesh tones are accurate if not a bit pale throughout, though that's likely due to the frigid conditions. Artifacts are few and far between, the print appearing in generally pristine condition. Cliffhanger's amazing photography translates well to Blu-ray, and the end result is a transfer that's no doubt the best the film has looked for home consumption.

Cliffhanger Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Cliffhanger explodes onto Blu-ray with a top-notch DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. From the get-go, listeners will find plenty of sonic goodness to enjoy, and much like the film's amazing opening segment sets a visual and thematic tone for the film, the DTS track -- with a helicopter buzzing through the soundstage, its rotors slicing through the listening area in a cacophony of surround-sound goodness, and music swelling in every speaker -- opens up immediately and never relents, engendering a sense of anticipation for how the track could top the exceptional opening minutes. If it doesn't best the open, it never descends to a lesser place, either. Cliffhanger's Oscar-nominated sound creates a seamless sonic environment where both light ambience and aggressive action-oriented effects deliver a one-two-punch of aural delight. Whether distant booming thunder, the aggressive beats of fully-automatic gunfire, or hefty explosions, the track handles everything that comes its way with exceptional ease. The low end, as one might expect, is rather active throughout; an avalanche, for instance, seems primed to plow over the home theater's seating arrangements, leaving listeners everything but in a snow-covered, frozen daze. As expected, dialogue reproduction is never problematic. Cliffhanger's lossless soundtrack is easily befitting the tone of the film and proves an exceptional and exciting listen from start to finish.

Cliffhanger Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Cliffhanger drops onto Blu-ray with a decent selection of extra content. First up is A Personal Introduction from Renny Harlin (480p, 4:53) which features text and voice accounts of the film's origins and the Director's involvement with the project. The piece serves as something of a mini-commentary for those that want a quick rundown of the facts without the bulk of a two-hour track. Next is a pair of commentary tracks, the first featuring Director Renny Harlin and Actor Sylvester Stallone. The director immediately jumps in with a discussion of the importance of establishing the film's tone, the realism of the stunts, and the harrowing opening sequence that follows a "soft and safe" establishing series of shots. The director shares a broad array of information pertaining to a myriad of subjects, including placing actors at perilous heights, shooting the impossibly dangerous stunts with the real actors, the challenge of shooting around a mountainous location, additional shooting locations, special effects, and much more. Sylvester Stallone is recorded separately, his first words coming more than four minutes into the track. He, too, discusses the challenge of the shoot and his gradual acceptance of the dangers while sharing detailed accounts of the nitty-gritty facts behind the making of some of the film's most impressive sequences. Editor Frank Urioste, Co-Visual Effects Supervisors Neil Krepela and John Bruno, and Production Designer John Vallone man track two. Again recorded separately, the participants cover topics that are more technical in nature, including the editing of the film, shooting locations and stage work, special effects, and more. Some of the material repeats from the first track, but more technically-oriented viewers might want to give this one a listen.

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of 'Cliffhanger' (480p, 20:03) is an extended basic piece that recounts the plot and features plenty of interview clips (including Stallone speaking from the set of Demolition Man), scenes from the film, and behind-the-scenes footage. The piece covering the basics of the shoot, including filming some of the more dangerous stunts and action pieces, shooting locations, and more. Again there's plenty of repetitive information in here, but fans will enjoy it as a decent but ultimately superfluous companion piece. Special Effects (480p) looks at the making of two crucial scenes: Sarah's Fall (4:39) and Helicopter Explosion (2:45). Next is Storyboard Comparisons (480p), a collection of three finished scenes shown side-by-side with their hand-drawn storyboard comparisons. Scenes include Sarah's Fall (4:18), Air-to-Air Zip Line (4:53), and Helicopter Explosion (2:49). Also included are two deleted scenes -- King's Leap (480p, 1:27) and Ice Climb (3:48) -- with optional Director introduction (480p, 3:03); BD-Live functionality; Sony's MovieIQ feature; the Cliffhanger theatrical trailer (1080p, 1:57) with an optional introduction featuring Director Renny Harlin (480p, 3:26); and additional 1080p trailers for Snatch, The Da Vinci Code, Ghostbusters, A River Runs Through It, Michael Jackson's This is It, Zombieland, The Stepfather, Armored, Damages: Season One, The Damned United, District 9, Black Dynamite, Moon, and Felon .

Cliffhanger Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

No doubt about it, Cliffhanger and Die Hard are two of the quintessential Action pictures from the exceptional crop of genre standouts that dazzled audiences for nearly a decade. Cliffhanger may not be the better scripted or acted of the two, but its expansive and unforgiving locations, incredible stunts, gorgeous cinematography, and aggressive violence make it a can't-miss Action film that dazzles time and again. Sony's Blu-ray release, too, is of a high caliber, sporting a good 1080p transfer, a striking lossless soundtrack, and plenty of bonus materials. Cliffhanger comes recommended.