Μύ The much praised Criterion edition release of the furious Michael Bay action-fest "The Rock" comes to Region 2 DVD, and it's an impressive package.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
Picture Obviously this isn't a particularly old movie, but this DVD transfer makes it look every bit as good as a brand new film.
Sound The movie comes with both Dolby and DTS 5.1 mixes. Both vie with each other for outrageous bass effects, with the DTS perhaps scraping lower in sonic depth, but in technically pure terms, both kick ass.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Disc One Audio Commentary Nic Cage introduces a commentary that features comments from himself, co-star Ed Harris, director Michael Bay, technical advisor Harry Humphries, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Cage reveals how a comment that he was too quirky to do action movies spurred him into doing this project. He was already a fan of the Simpson/Bruckheimer formula and was keen to do a film with them. So Nic was happy as a clam to be working on this movie. However, Ed Harris struggled with his character, as he freely admits on this commentary.
Harris went through the script with Humphries to change lines to make them more authentic 'military speak'. Michael Bay was also keen on getting things right, and persuaded the studio to let him film on Alcatraz after hearing his reasoning (which was: "I gotta shoot on this island because it's so f* bitchin'").
Disc Two Special Features
On the Range with the Navy Seals In this featurette you can see one of military advisor Harry Humphries' gun handling classes in action. His avid pupils fire away on a range, where they are encouraged to "shut down" other people's bodies by aiming for different hits on the body, rather than multiple hits in the same area.
Dos and Don'ts of Hollywood Gunplay Harry Humphries is joined by the ever-busy action actor Marshall Teague in showing how Hollywood films consistently get gunplay sequences wrong. Once you've got over Harry's distractingly erect left nipple and Marshall trying to demonstrate in slow motion with a grimace to match, this is quite an entertaining featurette. The only problem is it ruins just about every action movie you've seen, as such things as the 'Gangster Pull', the 'Wyatt Earp Pull', and 'Entering a Room' are all blown out of the water as completely ineffective. Interestingly, it does also make you think about the action stars who get it right, with the veterans scoring far better than today's equivalents.
"The Rock" on Movie Magic Like cheese out of an aerosol can, this featurette will clog your brain, but its look at the cable car scene is of passing interest.
Special Effects: The Dive Sequence A combination of real diving footage and model work was utilised by Dreamquest to create the diving sequence in the movie. It's actually quite impressive how they used marionettes on complex computer-controlled rigs to mimic divers' kicks, which were not filmed in water but in smoky darkness instead.
Outtakes There are over eight minutes of outtakes on this DVD, and Ed Harris is responsible for goofing up most of the lines, although Sean Connery does manage to slip in the 'c word' all because some lift doors don't wish to obey his will.
Secrets of Alcatraz It's not often you wish a featurette ran for longer, but this look at the history of Alcatraz is fascinating. As well as looking into the many escape attempts, including an interview with escapee Jim Quillan, there is also an opportunity to glimpse the bits of Alcatraz you don't see on the tour.
Jerry Bruckheimer Interview In this 15-minute interview, producer Jerry Bruckheimer looks back on a career that includes such films as "American Gigolo", "Flashdance", "Top Gun", and, of course, "The Rock".
Additional Extra Features Also included on disc two are production design and production photo galleries, two scenes in storyboard, a trailer, TV spots, and footage of the Alcatraz premiere.
Region: 2
Chapters: 32
Ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1
Technical Features: Scene selection, animated menus, multiple language subtitles, and English captions for the hearing impaired.
This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-S57 DVD player.
