Plot: What’s it about?
As a much anticipated release from acclaimed director Terrance Mallick, this movie had high expectations from the critics. His previous works of Badlands and Days of Heaven were both highly praised by the critics. (IsnÆt interesting how the critics love things that the general viewers usually havenÆt heard of?)
Set just prior to and during a pivotal battle for the Guadalcanal Island, it follows a handful of soldiers throughout the campaign. Nick Nolte provides a powerful performance as a career officer tasked with leading the attack and capturing the island for the General (played in a short cameo by John Travolta). While there are several well-filmed battle scenes that gives some idea of what it must have been like to fight the fanatical Japanese soldiers of the time, they take a secondary priority to the meandering philosophical journeys of the various characters. There are also some visually stunning of the jungle and island scenery. Unfortunately, this movie tends to get weighed down under its own pretensions. Personally, at the end I felt as if the movie were too vague and incomplete.
The picture and the sound on the DVD are both very sharp. The setting of a jungle island gives the opportunity for beautiful scenery picture which Mallick capitalizes on wonderfully. The colors are vivid and bright. If you happen to have invested in a good TV, you will get your moneyÆs worth with this DVD (if you can sit through the story!). Your sound system will get a solid workout with the battle scenes and the musical score. The surrounds are utilized several times and the room definitely comes alive throughout the rest of the movie.
Video: How does it look?
Very good. The colors are incredibly bright and sharp. Awesome settings in the middle of the jungle provide for beautiful scenes.
Audio: How does it sound?
Also very good. Lots of depth and the all speakers are well utilized. Not quite as good as ‘Saving Private Ryan’, but the battles were still pretty intense.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Only a few extras here. You get a booklet with cast bios of the major players in the movie as well as the director. The DVD itself has subtitles and foreign languages, as well as a selection of Melanesian songs. Curiously enough, the original theatrical trailer is not included. I suppose a commentary or behind the scenes featurette would have been good to explain things better too, but perhaps there is a special edition in the future. [Editor’s Note: Doubtful…]
