7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.9 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
Set during the Gulf War, the episodic tale follows Anthony Swofford (a.k.a. "Swoff"), a third-generation enlistee, from his sobering stint in boot camp to active duty, where he's sporting a sniper's rifle and a hundred-pound ruck sack on his back, while moving through Middle East deserts with no cover from the intolerable heat. As well, he advances with no protection from the Iraqi soldiers--and there's always a potential enemy sighting, just over the next horizon. Swoff and his fellow Marines sustain themselves on humor and camaraderie as they tread the blazing desert fields in a country they don't understand, against an enemy they can't see, for a cause they don't fully fathom.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Lucas Black, Jamie Foxx, Brian GeraghtyWar | 100% |
Drama | 83% |
Biography | 57% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Jarhead: noun. Slang for 'Marine.' Origin: from the resemblance to a jar of the regulation
high
and tight haircut. The Marine's head by implication, therefore, also a jar, an empty vessel.
The Gulf War, much like the Korean Conflict, is a war that Hollywood just might forget. Neither
as grandiose and ripe for dramatic cinema as the Second World War, nor as violent and
controversial
as the Vietnam Conflict, Desert Storm was a war that was planned, waged,
and won in lightning-quick fashion, with few Allied casualties and nearly unwavering support
Stateside.
Approaching twenty years since the Allied Coalition forcibly removed Saddam Hussein and the
Iraqi
army from tiny, oil-rich Kuwait to the south, only a handful of quality films depicting the war in
some fashion have been released, among them the George Clooney/Mark Wahlberg/Ice Cube
winner Three Kings, the lesser known yet terrific
Bravo Two-Zero with Sean Bean, and the 2005 film Jarhead. Based on the
book of the same name
by Marine Corps Scout Sniper Anthony Swofford, Jarhead recounts the
rather
atypical yet nevertheless horrific wartime experiences of Desert Storm.
Shoot straight.
Universal deploys Jarhead onto Blu-ray with a 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The film features that slightly washed out, harsh, and grainy look that so many of the newer wartime films employ. Detail is incredibly high throughout in spite of the out-of-the-ordinary presentation. Facial detail in particular stands out. So to do the finer details throughout the image, from the stitching on the uniforms to the the individual blades of grass, sand, and debris seen throughout the film. Even through blowing sand and the haze and dense skies filled with smoke and oil as depicted later in the picture, the transfer never misses a beat. Blacks are perfectly dark and deep, with no appreciable appearance of crushing. Likewise, flesh tones hold up very well underneath the somewhat disturbed appearance of much of the imagery. Jarhead looks fantastic on Blu-ray, and the high resolution the format allows the intended look of the film to shine.
Jarhead goes to war with another high quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack from Universal. The sound quality is excellent across the board, offering listeners a loud but also precise experience. Popular music, such as Bobby McFerrin's Dont Worry, Be Happy and Naughty By Nature's O.P.P., plays well across the entire listening area, loud and clear across the front and with a powerful rear channel and LFE support. The same may be said of Thomas Newman's astounding score. Even the Apocalypse Now segments sound fantastic. Combining the cheering Marines in attendance with the rattling bass of the helicopter rotors and Richard Wagner's most famous piece that makes the popular scene an operatic masterpiece play in wonderful harmony in Jarhead, a scene that sounds fantastic and is sure to bring a smile to any War film fan's face. The repeated thuds of the accidental launch of flares in chapter 10 produces a nice subtle yet effective pounding effect throughout the soundstage. Various other sound effects tear through the listening area as well. Tanks roll past through the sand, helicopters pass overhead, and jets zoom across the sky, all with excellent imaging. The track creates a solid sense of space and atmosphere, though many dialogue-heavy scenes offer little-to-no rear channel support. Dialogue reproduction is another high point on the disc with no discernible flaws. Jarhead offers listeners a captivating sound experience that perfectly accompanies the fantastic visuals and excellent story.
Unfortunately, Jarhead lacks in the supplemental department. The disc features only two commentary tracks; no U-control or additional materials are to be found. The first commentary track features director Sam Mendes. Mendes delivers an above average track that provides plenty of insight into the story, the production, the accuracy of the film, differences between the book and film, the film's political slant, and more. Mendes is easy to listen to, providing insightful and entertaining anecdotes throughout, making for a track fans of the film will want to turn on. The second track features screenwriter William Broyles Jr. and author Anthony Swofford. Broyles is himself a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, and the pair offer thoughtful insights into the film and Marine Corps life, this track also well worth a listen for those who enjoyed the movie and wish to learn more about it.
Jarhead is both riveting, exciting cinema and poignant storytelling, showcasing the devastation of war, even when the combatants return home in one piece and to a heroes welcome. The film takes the Vietnam Conflict, perhaps the anti-Desert Storm, and shows that war is indeed hell on the individual, no matter its portrayal on the evening news or in the history books. The film features excellent direction, acting, and music, all tying the story together and making for what is one of the better War films in recent memory. Universal's Blu-ray release of Jarhead is astounding technically, featuring first-rate audio and video, but the disc lacks in bonus materials. Nevertheless, fans in search of the highest quality presentation of the film currently available need look no further. Jarhead comes with a solid recommendation.
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