5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
An ex-soldier who reunites his old army buddies in order to get revenge on a Colombian dictator who killed his old friend, a freedom fighter.
Starring: Christopher Walken, Maria Conchita Alonso, Michael Ironside, Steve James (I), Joel TorreDrama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The 1980s were a big time for action cinema, with the heroes of the screen getting physically larger and productions were going overboard trying to give viewers an explosive good time with broad entertainment. There was brawn, and in some cases, an appreciation of the veteran experience connected to the Vietnam War, adding some sense of respect and compassion to the usual package of R-rated violence and big screen spectacle. There was Chuck Norris in the “Missing in Action” series, and Sylvester Stallone dominated the box office with his numerous “Rambo” films. For 1991, writer/director James Glickenhaus has…Christopher Walken. “McBain” tries to find a different kind of screen savior with the lauded actor, who makes a rare appearance in an action event, taking on the part of a psychologically stained man processing his Vietnam horrors through an act of honor and revenge, bringing American freedoms to Columbia. “McBain” looks to Stallone-ify Walken, giving him a simple tale of mercenary might to manage, and he offers a range of blank, sometimes confused expressions while Glickenhaus tries to summon a thunderous war epic, investing in fireballs and firearms to create enough screen chaos to please genre fans.
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a clear look at frame information, with detail excellent throughout the viewing experience. Skin particulars are textured and costuming is fibrous. Interiors are open for inspection, and depth with city and village tours is superb, capturing some sense of scale and location. Colors are respectfully refreshed, with powerful primaries. Greenery is vivid and urban hues are distinct. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.
New for the "McBain" Blu-ray experience is a 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix, joining a 2.0 DTS-HD MA track (listed as the "original theatrical stereo mix"). Options are present for fans of the feature, with the 5.1 emerging with excellent power, handling the explosive nature of the movie with steady low-end response, bringing oomph to violent attacks. Surrounds are active, offering a full sense of atmospherics and action engagement. Musical moods are circular as well, handling scoring cues with crisp instrumentation, and soundtrack selections are deep, with defined vocals. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and emotive.
"McBain" gets a little muddled in its second half, with Glickenhaus trying to compete with other action epics by staging his own war as the rebels and McBain's "dirty half dozen" take on President Boroquez's army. There's some time devoted to the leader's position as a puppet for foreign interests, but Glickenhaus is mostly giddy to blow things up, keeping explosions coming as different parts of the invasion are highlighted, including an extended chase in the air with fighter jets. The production doesn't have the cash to make perfect sense of everything, with careful editing doing a lot of heavy lifting as the movie unfolds, and storytelling eventually gives up altogether. "McBain" is somewhat refreshing in its singular drive to generate mayhem, and the film is entertaining, presenting thickly sliced heroism and violent encounters. Perhaps something happened to the effort behind the scenes, as Walken wears the face of a man who couldn't contractually exit the production, putting in the bare minimum of dramatic energy while Glickenhaus looks to raise hell everywhere else, keeping up with the '80s with this rah-rah American spirit picture from the '90s.
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