Opposing Force Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Opposing Force Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 10, 2020

While 1997’s “G.I. Jane” nabbed all the headlines for its then-provocative story about a female struggling to make her mark in the male-dominated military, it’s interesting to see 1986’s “Opposing Force,” which basically explores the same story. Granted, it’s a less evolved saga of empowerment and pain, but screenwriter Linda J. Cowgill makes a valiant attempt to address the gender experience in the armed forces, creating a tale of a woman who wants to serve her country singled out by dismissive and predatory men. Because it was created in the 1980s, there’s a defined vibe of exploitation to “Opposing Force,” which isn’t exactly taking a jeweler’s loop to the equality issue, with director Eric Karson more interested in suffering and action as he tries to make B-movie with slightly elevated world awareness.

Select soldiers volunteer for a seemingly simple escape and evasion course run, hoping to test their limits and seek advancement in the military. What they actually receive is entrance to Hell, overseen by Becker (Anthony Zerbe), the powermad man in charge of the camp. Competing in the endurance test are Logan (Tom Skerritt), an older warrior looking to prove himself, and Casey (Lisa Eichhorn), the first female participant, with the pair joining forces to survive the experience. However, Becker has no intention of playing by the rules of the camp, escalating his violent ways to snap spirits, taking particular interest in destroying Casey.

Karson isn’t making a refined study of military training, using gamesmanship to hook viewers into the secretive battle between members of the same side, as soldiers are tasked with evading capture for as long as possible. Once the men are rounded up, focus turns to Casey and Logan and their encounters with Becker, who’s become a Colonel Kurtz-like figure, creating a kingdom in the jungle. He’s supposed to be a leader, but he’s become a madman, and the most frustrating aspect of Cowgill’s screenplay is her unwillingness to explain when such behavior began and why it’s been allowed to continue. It doesn’t take long for “Opposing Force” to get to the torturous experience inside for all, with Becker frequently stripping and stress- testing his “captives,” giving them the full P.O.W. experience. And yet, for Casey, such concentration on pain eventually turns ugly, with sexual violence providing the divide between leadership and criminality, especially for Logan.

Opposing Force Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) is billed as a "Brand new 2019 HD Master," which tries to breath some life into an older MGM catalog title. The effort works for the most past, securing a decent level of detail for "Opposing Force," which has jungle surroundings and lots of exposed characters left out for study. Skin surfaces are protected, identifying differences in age and gender, while the general fatigue of the prisoners is easily tracked. Camp interiors retain their woodsy and mud-caked feel. Colors are acceptable, surveying vivid orange prisoner outfits and greenery. Military hues are also correct. Skintones are natural. Delineation isn't troublesome, preserving frame information during evening activities. Source has some mild scratches and speckling.

Opposing Force Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix tends to downplay dialogue exchanges, which come through with acceptable intelligibility but always seem a bit too quiet. It's not distracting, but once sound effects come into play, including explosions and helicopter flybys, the track becomes very hot, requiring a little volume riding to find a balance between the extremes. Scoring acts as expected, with defined synth supporting suspense needs. Atmospherics explore group activity and jungle movement. Hiss is present during the listening experience.

Opposing Force Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Eric Karson.

• Extended Ending (6:29, HD) is, according to Karson, the conclusion of the American version of "Opposing Force," removing any ambiguity concerning Casey's experience after her training.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:55, SD) is included.

Opposing Force Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The "Stanford Prison Experiment" aspects of "Opposing Force" are intriguing, successfully riling up viewers with depictions of abuse and humiliation. Performances support Karson's mission to provide an unsettling experience, but it all falls a little flat once it turns into a revenge story, lacking serious action craftsmanship. "Opposing Force" has interesting takes on gender and service, and dramatic clarity, while rare, is there, helping to deepen a viewing experience that often wants to be little more than just cheap thrills.