6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Danny O'Brien is back in action fighting the notorious Simon Moon, also known as The Terror. Three years earlier O'Brien had single-handedly captured The Terror and was called Hero by the people of L.A. Now Simon has escaped and has started killing women again, and O'Brien is the only man who can stop him.
Starring: Chuck Norris, Brynn Thayer, Steve James (I), Jack O'Halloran, Jeffrey KramerThriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master 2.0 1709Kbps (48kHz/16-bit)
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
After blasting through the 1980s with actioners such as “Missing in Action,” Invasion USA,” and “The Delta Force,” star Chuck Norris elected to try a few different career directions while he held B-movie attention. There was comedy in “Firewalker” and domesticity in 1988’s “Hero and the Terror,” which avoided high kicks and hard fists to give Norris a chance to play a haunted cop faced with an old foe and new challenge even more frightening than facing an unstoppable serial killer: parenthood. “Hero and the Terror” suffers from a lack of excitement, missing Norris’s violent punctuation, but for those on a mission to grasp the actor’s abilities during an era where he was largely hired to be a stoic killing machine, the picture is actually engaging. With Norris out of his comfort zone, the feature shows more interest in character then aggression, and while it doesn’t have enough suspense to put it over the top, the effort finds different ways to hold attention, getting by on a surprising amount of personality.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation looks to be a passable step up from the feature's DVD release, with sharper, slightly brighter look that's still restrained by the production low-budget origin. Colors are adequate, with agreeable outdoor life that brings out blue skies and greenery. Period costuming also supplies highlights, delivering pleasing primaries. Skintones are natural. Fine detail is satisfactory and soft, offering the best on close-ups and fabrics, while background decoration remains in view. Wiltern interiors hold their expanse and construction nuance. Grain is heavy but managed, providing a filmic appearance. Delineation is comfortable, showing no major problems with solidification. Moderate speckling is detected.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides the essentials and little more. Dialogue exchanges are clean and crisp, keeping up with heated encounters and softer, private moments between Kay and Danny. Scoring is healthy, taking the lead when necessary to build up the moment, finding passable instrumentation and balance with dramatics. Atmospherics are generally useful for street encounters and public places (including a movie premiere with snapping cameras and chatty onlookers), and theater echo is preserved. Hiss isn't a problem.
Moon isn't a subtle villain, gifted "Friday the 13th" scoring stings to establish doom, while the production relies on O'Halloran's hulking physical presence to carry horror. It takes a substantial amount of screen time to bring Danny and Moon together, which could be frustrating for viewers looking for a steady stream of violence. "Hero and the Terror" doesn't indulge, it waits instead, possibly to pad but mostly to preserve character, even making Danny slightly fearful of his enemy, adding dash of vulnerability to keep the cop on edge. Patience is required for "Hero and the Terror," which avoids the traditional Norris experience of martial arts and chases. It's mostly contained to one location, trusts in human interaction, and plays more procedurally. With adjustments in expectations made, the feature is a mild success, offering an intriguing change of pace for its star.
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