7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A former mountain rescuer is pitted against a group of criminals who have lost suitcases full of cash during a plane crash in the Rocky Mountains.
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, Rex LinnAction | 100% |
Thriller | 89% |
Heist | 19% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.41:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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.
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 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 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 .
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.
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