Plot: What’s it about?
Eddie Cusack (Chuck Norris) is an honest, hard working police officer who tries to make justice is always served. He might be a nice guy to those who know him, but he is as tough as they come in terms of his professional life. He can handle his firearm well enough, but his main weapons are his hands and feet, which he uses to make sure the criminals don’t escape to commit more crimes. And when someone innocent is in trouble, Eddie will do whatever it takes to rescue them, even if it means risking his own life. Soon Eddie finds himself in a world of danger, as he is caught in the middle of a mob war and this is one nasty battle to be sure. As with any mob war, people will die and in this case, it might be Eddie or an innocent person who has been kidnapped. But Eddie can’t focus on this case alone, as he is also in the midst of a battle within the police force, where someone might have been shot without proper reason. Can Eddie overcome the red tape and end the bloodshed once and for all?
I like Chuck Norris a lot, as you might know if you’ve read my reviews for his other films. So when Code of Silence was announced, I was ready to add it to my collection, right alongside such Norris classics as Missing In Action and Top Dog. This film takes Norris out of the secret agent or soldier business and puts him inside a city as a police officer, which works out pretty well. As always, Norris packs the running time with all sorts of action, from explosions to gunshots, to hand to hand fights, so there’s no lack of energy within this picture. Add in the always awesome Henry Silva as a foil and Code of Silence is just a bad ass movie all around. At the helm here is Andrew Davis, who is no slouch when it comes to action either, so together these two conjure up a fun, escapist feature that proves to be more than worth a look. Of course, you have to like Norris and his brand of action to like Code of Silence, but I think most action fans will find a lot to like with this movie in the end. A very nice pace, some cool stunts, and wall to wall action, what more can you want?
Chuck Norris is back in action and this time, he’s in HD! That’s right folks, international action superstar Chuck Norris takes center stage in this film and he kicks more ass than you can shake a mule at. I’ve never understood why, but Norris has never been able to break into the upper tier of cinematic action stars. He has the look and moves to be counted among the best, but the masses just never took to him that well. He’s garnered a larger following thanks to his television series Walker, Texas Ranger, but his movies are what I like him for. Sure his flicks have never had the sheer production values of loftier box office guys, but they’re still loads of fun and more than stand as solid action pictures. Norris can handle both fist fights and weapon battles well, which is more than I can say for some action superstars. Sure, Norris isn’t loaded with inhuman muscles, but he still kicks ass with the best with of them. For more sheer Chuck Norris mayhem, I suggest Missing In Action, Enter The Dragon, Good Guys Wear Black, Invasion U.S.A., and of course his comedic efforts, Side Kicks and Top Dog. The rest of the cast also includes cinema legend Henry Silva (Ghost Dog, Above The Law), Bert Remsen (Hugo Pool, Maverick), Dennis Farina (Out of Sight, Reindeer Games), and Molly Hagan (Election, Ringmaster). The director of Code of Silence is Andrew Davis, who also helmed such films as The Fugitive, A Perfect Murder, The Package, Under Siege, and Chain Reaction.
Video: How does it look?
Code of Silence is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. I watched this film for years on a lackluster, full frame laserdisc, so this high definition widescreen treatment was a real pleasure. I have to be honest and say that this isn’t an eye popping transfer, but it offers significant improvements over previous home video releases. The image has a soft texture that is inherent, but detail is better than ever and the visuals look much more refined here. The colors also benefit, with more vivid hues and contrast remains steadfast, so no complaints there. Simply put, this is the best looking version of Code of Silence you’ll find on home video.
Audio: How does it sound?
A DTS HD mono soundtrack is here and while it sounds good, it doesn’t shake the windows. I think a surround remix could have enhanced the movie, but it still awesome even in mono. The dialogue is crystal clear and the track has no age related concerns, which is good news. The music and sound effects are fine as far as mono goes, but I can’t help but wish this was given a surround treatment. This disc also includes a French DTS HD mono soundtrack, as well as subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
