Plot: What’s it about?
After Mel Gibson did some movie called “Mad Max”, he worked with director Peter Weir. Gallipoli is the story that follows two friends (and rival sprinters) who enlist in the Australian army in WWI (the Lighthorse).
Gibson plays Frank Dunne, and is the older and more mature of the two. Mark Lee is Archy, the younger (too young to even enlist in the lighthorse) partner and friend of Frank. The two do make it into the Lighthorse and want to make a difference in the somewhat impossible battle against the Turks.
The two, Frank and Archie, are at first seperated on different assignments, but are later reunited at the final battle. Gallipoli is not a “happy” movie by any means. This review is shorter, because the movie itself is pretty straight forward. It is an anti-war movie, to say the least.
But to say the very least, it is a movie that is a must see with superb acting and superb direction. Keep your Kleenex handy, too…
Video: How does it look?
Paramount is in their “on again” stage. Good. The old LD was released in an off-matted ratio of 2.10:1. This new 16:9 transfer has cleared up that problem and also the problem of graininess that the old LD suffered from. There are a few artifacts that show through, but for the most part this transfer looks great. Not bad for a film nearly 20 years old.
Audio: How does it sound?
A Dolby Digital 5.1 remix sound just great. When I first heard of this movie coming to DVD, I figured that it would be in mono or Surround at the best. Glad I was wrong, the 5.1 soundtrack even manages to suprise me at a few scenes (mainly the last one). Great job here, too…
Supplements: What are the extras?
Just like “Witness”, we are treated to an interview with Peter Weir and a trailer. The disc could certainly use the royal treatment, but then again…so could everything. A great movie!
