Distant Thunder Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Distant Thunder Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 31, 2022

Rick Rosenthal's "Distant Thunder" (1988) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by author David J. Moore and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

He's coming to see me

Rick Rosenthal’s film Distant Thunder attempts to deliver an important message about the mistreatment of Vietnam vets. The drama that produces the message will not surprise anyone because it is neither dated nor forgotten. How could this be? The stories of many, many vets that returned from Iraq, Somalia, and Afghanistan are a lot like that of John Lithgow’s character. Indeed, even though since the end of the Vietnam War every single U.S. government had done a lot of work to convince the public that vets deserve to be treated right and are being treated right, they have not been. As recently as a few years ago, there were shocking reports about vets literally dying while waiting for health care at VA. For example, here you can see an IG report from 2015 estimating that 300,000 vets died while waiting for health care, and nearly twice as many were still waiting to be treated. So, even though Distant Thunder comes from the 1980s, Rosenthal just as easily could have made it last year.

In the short prologue, Mark Lambert (Lithgow) and a few other commandos are dropped deep into the jungles of North Vietnam to take out an important target. However, moments after entering the designated area where the target is hiding, the group is engaged by a large enemy unit. Following a very intense shootout, only Mark and another badly injured commando escape. But while hiding and waiting for the enemy unit to exit the area, Mark accidentally kills the commando.

In America, Mark, now deeply traumatized, and a couple of other vets struggling with serious mental issues have retreated to a primitive camp somewhere in the Olympic Peninsula. When one of the vets (Tom Bower) intentionally jumps in front of a freight train, Mark temporarily leaves the camp and meets Char (Kerrie Keane), who helps him get a job cutting wood and shortly after inspires him to reconnect with his eighteen-year-old son, Jack (Ralph Macchio). A letter from Mark then reaches Jack in Haddon Falls, Illinois, and after the boy recovers from the shocking news that his father is still alive the two meet.

But the reunion is a complete disaster and further reconfirms Mark’s conviction that he is unfit to rejoin society and be the father Jack deserves. While facing criticism from Jack and trying to control emotions that are too strong, Mark also finds himself in a middle of a conflict that is forcing him to become a killing machine again.

Apparently, Distant Thunder is loosely based on a true story about “bush vets” living in the rain forests of Washington state, but even if it was not every aspect of its drama still would have looked entirely legit. There are countless equally sad true stories out there about vets with permanent emotional scars that were never able to reintegrate themselves into society. In fact, some are a lot uglier stories that could make unbearably disturbing films.

Even though the story it tells is quite disturbing, Distant Thunder is easier to describe as an edgy war melodrama with a social conscience of the kind that was frequently made during the 1970s and 1980s. The biggest strength of these films, including the ones that did not turn out as well as they could have, was their level-headed attitude toward realism which ensured that their characters and dilemmas remained believable. By the early 1990s, most similar films about vets already had a very different comprehension of realism and specifically how it should be transferred to the big screen.

Lithgow’s performance is the catalyst of everything that is great about Distant Thunder. His range of contrasting emotions is so striking that it seems fair to declare that he becomes at least three different characters before the end credits appear. The best is the one that is both angry and ashamed of his inability to reenter his son’s life and try to make up for the time the two have lost. In the real world, this is exactly the type of "failure" that pushed countless heroes into the abyss of madness.

Unfortunately, Macchio was not the right young actor to play the emotionally overwhelmed son. He mishandles the part in some very obvious ways and, in the process, erodes the credibility of the vet.

Distant Thunder Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Distant Thunder arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures. If I had to guess, I would say that this master was likely prepared sometime during the final days of the DVD era. It is not bad because it does not reveal any traces of compromising digital tinkering, but it has a range of limitations. For example, most small(er) nuances have a difficult time appearing as they should, so depth and clarity, especially during darker sequences, could be quite a bit better. Grain struggles with light noise too, so a brand new 2K or 4K master would easily produce visuals with a much healthier surface. Color balance is good. However, this is another area where saturation and balance can be improved. Fortunately, this master still produces pretty decent, often even fine-looking visuals, so while the film does have a dated appearance, it is not an off-putting digital appearance. On my system, excluding some very dark sequences where light crushing is too obvious, the film looked a tad softer but still pleasing. Image stability is very good. I noticed a few nicks and dark spots, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Distant Thunder Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the entire film with the LPCM 2.0 track. I thought that it was a very strong lossless track. Clarity, sharpness, depth, and stability were very pleasing. Dynamic intensity met my expectations too, though I suspect that a newly remastered track will likely introduce some meaningful improvements because there is plenty of serious action footage. The big shootout in the jungle, for instance, seems like it could be even more impressive. I did not encounter any technical anomalies to report in our review.

Distant Thunder Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for Distant Thunder. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by David J. Moore, author of The Good, the Tough & the Deadly: Action Movies & Stars 1960s–Present and World Gone Wild: A Survivor's Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Movies. The commentary is casual but has some very good comments, such as the ones Mr. Moore offers about composer Maurice Jarre and lesser-seen, perhaps even forgotten smaller but great war films.

Distant Thunder Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Had Rick Rosenthal given Ralph Macchio's part to a different, more experienced young actor, I think that Distant Thunder could have been a pretty special film. John Lithgow is tremendous as the traumatized vet and his performance, I think, deserves to be considered one of his best. I really liked Distant Thunder and would recommend it to anyone that has seen and enjoyed Rolling Thunder. Via Vision Entertainment's Blu-ray release is sourced from an older but still pretty decent master that was supplied by Paramount. It is Region-Free. RECOMMENDED.