|
Directed by |
|
Starring |
|
Specs |
- Widescreen 2.40:1
- 16:9 Enhanced
- Dual Layer ( )
|
Languages |
- English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
- Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
- Commentary - English: Dolby Digital Stereo
- Commentary - English: Dolby Digital Stereo
|
Subtitles |
English, Italian, Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, English - Hearing Impaired, Icelandic, Croatian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Hindi, Romanian, Bulgarian, Slovenian, Serbian, Commentary - English, Commentary - Italian |
Extras |
- 8 Deleted scenes
- Theatrical trailer
- 2 Audio commentary
- 4 Featurette
- Animated menus
- 5 Filmographies
- Music-only track
- Dolby Digital trailer
- Gag reel
- Sound effects only track
|
|
|
S.W.A.T.: CE |
Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment .
R4 . COLOR . 112 mins .
M15+ . PAL |
Feature |
|
Contract |
|
I reviewed the original TV series upon which this film is based recently, and found that the similarities between the two are quite remarkable. The show was cutting edge for the day and had a weird cheesy charm, as does the film. This is a pure action flick, although it gets a little helter skelter in its overall delivery; sometimes one way, sometimes another. The opening sequence kicks off the action, setting up the premise and the bad guy a little too predictably before retiring to an education sequence before ramping up the action again for the final third. For those not already in the know, the story goes like this: Jim Street (Colin Farrell) and his partner Gamble work for S.W.A.T. (this stands for Special Weapons And Tactics by the way) a high-tech division of the police department for jobs the regular cops can’t take on. Breaking into a bank holdup in progress, the boys commit an offence against a direct order and it isn’t long before Gamble’s out and Street is working in the menial cleaning department of the gun cage. Street meets the returning lieutenant ‘Hondo’ Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson) and, before long, Street and he are putting together a special operatives team of S.W.A.T. Meanwhile, an internationally recognised villain has just landed and by chance is arrested. He makes an offer to the general public of a one hundred million dollar reward for anyone who springs him from lock down and, soon after, Hondo’s team have the escorting job. Before you know it, every low life in town is after the reward and the newly formed team must endure their baptism of fire. "I can’t believe how much grief that Frog’s hundred million-dollar offer’s bringing us!" |
Running for 112 minutes, the film starts strongly before meandering into the training aspect of the film, with relationships being forged, training improving and set-ups for later in the film. After all this has been taken care of the movie really starts up with the action and doesn’t really relent until the end. However, some of the stunts/computer animation work may have you suspending your disbelief for a while. There’s also a shorter epilogue that kinda drains emphasis away from the climactic finalé and this is a little disappointing in its simplicity. Still, the film has some wild moments of action and a couple of good laughs. The original show has been treated with a certain regard and even makes a mild cameo on a TV set for the quick of eye. Make no mistake; this is just pure action cinema. Plenty of loud noises, big explosions, blood packs and quips that combine overall to create an enjoyable if not overtaxing film. Action junkies will love it, but don’t expect rocket science behind that action. There’s not a great deal of substance here, but that’s okay. We should have known that going in – the film’s called S.W.A.T. after all and we all know who they are.
Video |
|
Contract |
|
Without much in the way of the flaws department, this print is crystal clear. I couldn’t spot a single film artefact and I was looking closely. Still, a film of this one’s recent releasiveness shouldn’t have garbage all over it. Colours are clean and well saturated, all sorts of flesh tones look fine and blacks are true to life, but the shadow detail fluctuates between just fine and murky as hell. One fight scene in particular, set in a trainyard, is a ghastly silhouetted affair in which it’s hard to judge even who the combatants are at any point, even though we know the characters. In fact, this is so devoid of recognition, I’m wondering if it wasn’t deliberate. I can’t see why, but it may well have been. Otherwise everything looks superb in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio (with 16:9 enforcement). Of particular note is the use of computer animation. For the most part this is spot on and well handled, with multiple layers uniting perfectly for a pretty impressive result. Lighting, especially of the bridge scenes in the final act is great on the CG elements and is quite convincingly done.
Audio |
|
Contract |
|
Get your game on here, because this gets LOUD. From the outset the surrounds get cranking and the subwoofer starts to smoke. There are countless gunshots, crowd noises, city backgrounds, television signals and everything coming through them in crystal clear resolution throughout. Helicopters too, I should add. The rumbling of the subwoofer really swells too, filling the sound with that perfect depth that makes it sound so cinema-like. Awesome stuff indeed, delivered in pristine Dolby Digital 5.1. Dialogue gets a little hammy at times with lines like the bigger quote above uttered at regular intervals. I also felt the dialogue stated the obvious a little too often. Please give us, the audience, a little credit. We ain’t stoopid. The soundtrack truly kicks arse, as they’ve obviously tried to modernise the feel of the show by bringing in all sorts of modern hip-hop gangsta and techno beats and this works to the film’s advantage. Elliott Goldenthal’s score also elevates the film, lending it a definite ‘recorded yesterday’ feeling. All round the sound impresses greatly here, as it does in the extras which I shall get to now.
Extras |
|
Contract |
|
Overall |
|
Contract |
|
For fans of the show, this remains fairly true to the original ideal while modernising and politically correctionalising it for the 21st century. There’re some excellent action sequences and a truly dynamic sound experience for those fans of the show or those who loved it in cinemas. The story is alright, if not more than a little predictable, but the action and chemistry between the ensemble cast holds the film’s head above water. Don’t expect a gritty cop drama, but rather a well intentioned, mildly humourous and well shot film providing its fair share of explosive action sequences and gunplay. It definitely holds true to the original series and so fans of this should also enjoy the film here on DVD.
LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=3762
Send to a friend.
|
|
|
And I quote... |
"This has been cleverly modernised into 21st century cinema with all due respect to its original '70s cop show inspiration. " - Jules Faber |
|
Review Equipment |
- DVD Player:
Teac DVD-990
- TV:
Sony 68cm
- Speakers:
Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
- Centre Speaker:
Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
- Surrounds:
Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
- Subwoofer:
Akai
- Audio Cables:
Standard RCA
- Video Cables:
Standard Component RCA
|
Recent Reviews: |
|
|
Related Links |
|
|