6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The Fast, the Furious... and the Deadly! Sleek cars, hot women and life in the fast lane... what rookie cop wouldn t be tempted to go bad? Superstar Charlie Sheen (Terminal Velocity), D.B. Sweeney (Fire in the Sky) and Randy Quaid (The Long Riders) star in this pedal-to-the-metal, full-throttle thriller that's your best bet for curve-hugging, edge-of-your-seat entertainment! Benjy Taylor (Sweeney) is a young cop with an eye for cars and fast women. He goes undercover at a Porsche garage that doubles as a chop shop; the seductive world of his target, Ted Varrick (Sheen), may be his undoing. The midnight joyrides, ultra-slick parties and Varrick's sexy sister (Lana Harris, The Fourth War) help sway Taylor into believing that his new fast friend has the kind of life he wants... even though Varrick may be guilty of much more than car theft... and Taylor may be in much deeper than he thinks. TV veteran Peter Werner (Don t Cry, It s Only Thunder) directed this action-packed stylish thriller written by legendary writer/producer Dick Wolf (Law & Order) and featuring a strong supporting cast that includes Bill Duke (Predator), R.D. Call (State of Grace) and M. Emmet Walsh (Silkwood).
Starring: Charlie Sheen, D.B. Sweeney, Lara Harris, Randy Quaid, Bill DukeThriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | 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)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The Charlie Sheen that existed before “Platoon” was a very different Charlie Sheen than what we have today. Once a hungry actor trying to make something of himself while stuck in the shadow of his thespian father, Martin, Charlie jumped from role to role, trying his hand at comedy (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), action (“Red Dawn”), and…whatever (“The Wraith”). 1987’s “No Man’s Land” was in production when “Platoon” dominated pop culture after its late 1986 release, and it showcases a growing confidence within the actor, who floated along for another year (“Three for the Road”) before ascending to larger industry opportunities, such as “Wall Street,” “Eight Men Out,” and “Major League.” Sheen’s magnetism is undeniable in “No Man’s Land,” and he’s a good reason to remain with the feature, which offers a routine but stylish take on an undercover cop saga, with director Peter Werner doing what he can to jazz up the effort with smash-em-up car chases, shootouts, and assorted criminal activity. It’s not the freshest endeavor, but it does provide a look at the birth of Prime Sheen, smoking and wisecracking his way through a fairly unchallenging part.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation does have the benefit of working with locations and culture of the 1980s, which provides all kinds of texture for HD recognition. It doesn't appear to utilize a fresh scan, but the viewing experience remains consistent and appealing. Detail is generally favorable, doing well with facial particulars and hairstyles, and interiors permit a study of set decoration. L.A. distances are intact, allowing the viewer to search around for period signage and landmarks. Color is healthy, enjoying the hues of the era, bringing out hearty reds and softer pinks, and greenery is in fine shape -- a pleasant balance to cool blue skies. Delineation struggles with solidification here and there, but mostly remains secure. Grain fluctuates in intensity, teasing a few blockier scenes. Source is in good condition, with limited speckling and scratching.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix only really causes concern during moments of high impact, with crashes registering a bit distorted when extreme sound effects take over the track. The rest of "No Man's Land" is comfortable, offering enveloping separation and panning effects with L.A. traffic visits and chases, while atmospherics are lively, managing party sequences and auto shop activity. Dialogue exchanges are clean and strong, handling cop movie shouting contests and quieter confessional moments. Scoring delivers some power, leading with a sharper synth sound and tinny percussion beats, supporting dramatics as intended and carrying chases when required to do so.
Dramatically, "No Man's Land" could be tighter, more intimate. Perhaps more inventive as well, joining a long list of projects that feature a variation on the "good cop goes bad" formula. It's a well-paced effort with bursts of action and intimidation, and Werner gets a lot of mileage out of simplistic conflicts. However, the picture is more about Sheen's growth into a leading man, delivering a fine turn as Varrick, but promising larger achievements in screen acting to come during the golden years of his career.
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