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Stars:
Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones, Sam Neill, Tim Curry,
Gates McFadden, Richard Jordan, and Jeffrey Jones
Writers:
Larry Ferguson and Donald Stewart
Based
On The Novel By: Tom Clancy
Director:
John McTiernan
Feature
length: 135 minutes
Extras:
Director’s Commentary, New Cast And Crew Interviews, Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Sound, and French Language Stereo Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Amaray Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 13
Sound:
DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and
Stereo Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1990/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Paramount Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Arguably
the most popular adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels is the first film
“The Hunt For Red October.” It is the also the only film adaptation in the
four films produced by Paramount Pictures so far that does not even feature Jack
Ryan on the one-sheet. However at the time Alec Baldwin was considered a busy
actor, but not yet a movie star so it is understandable that Sean Connery would
be featured prominently on the posters and subsequent home video release cover
artwork. The film is a cat and mouse type story of intrigue in the high seas
that features Alec Baldwin as CIA Analyst Jack Ryan, who flies across the
Atlantic to deliver to his boss Admiral Greer (James Earl Jones) information
regarding a unique new Soviet submarine that poses a threat to the security of
the United States only to find out the submarine under the command of Captain
Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) has gone rogue. Without knowing the intentions of
the Captain of the Red October, everyone fears Ramius could be leading a
first strike mission, but Ryan suspects that he is planning to defect, but he
only has a few hours to find him and prove his theory is true. Meanwhile NATO
and the entire Russian naval and air command are trying to find him too.
The
cast is terrific and the film holds up pretty well even after more than ten
years since it’s original theatrical release. Originally released by Paramount
Home Entertainment as a letterboxed and relatively featureless DVD, Paramount is
re-releasing the first three Jack Ryan feature film adventures as “Special
Collector’s Edition” with anamorphic widescreen transfers for the first time
and DTS soundtrack options too. I have not seen the original letterboxed DVD
releases so I cannot comment on whether or not these are from brand new source
materials and if there is a significant improvement over any of the releases,
but I can give my opinion of what I have seen on these three releases beginning
with “The Hunt For Red October.” The picture quality has a very fine grain
and certain scenes look soft, but overall this is a very nice anamorphic
widescreen (2.35:1) aspect ratio presentation. In particular the bridge scenes
aboard the various submarine sets in the film look gorgeous and while it has
been a long time since I saw this feature on the big screen, I found the
submarine model sequences easier to make out on this DVD then when I caught it
at a late night showing after work years back. I am very happy to see that
Paramount Home Entertainment is finally embracing DTS Sound as an option on the
domestic region one DVD releases and I hope however select this feature films
chosen might prove to be, Paramount Home Entertainment will continue to provide
DTS Sound on more of their future DVD releases. The English DTS Digital 5.1
Theatrical Surround Soundtrack really kicks some serious butt with an great
aggressive quality and generally a much higher range of volume than the English
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack provided and there is also a French
Language Dolby Stereo Surround Soundtrack as well as English Captions and Closed
Captions for the hearing impaired and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded as
options. The documentary included on this DVD also features optional French
Language Subtitles.
Director
John McTiernan begins his feature length audio commentary sounding somewhat
lethargic, but once he gets going he does reveal a few interesting anecdotes
about the making of the film although he seems to endlessly apologize about
things he wishes he could have done better. Odds are the shortcomings he laments
about never bothered the majority of the viewers who watch this movie and prize
it among their favorites so all I can say is “John, don’t sweat it.” A new
documentary entitled “Beneath The Surface” (28:57) feature brand new
videotaped interview clips with Director John McTiernan, Producer Mace Neufeld,
Cinematographer Jan De Bont, Actors Alec Baldwin, James Earl Jones, and Scott
Glenn cut between filmed behind-the-scenes production footage. The (2.35:1)
theatrical trailer (1:43) with English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound wraps up
the additional features included on this DVD.
Despite
the label “Special Collector’s Edition,” there are not a lot of extra
features included on this DVD, but for the anamorphic widescreen presentation
and DTS Soundtrack, I think “The Hunt For Red October: Special Collector’s
Edition” DVD is definitely worth picking up and probably worth the upgrade for
those who are fans of this film, but chose not to wait and see if an anamorphic
release was on the radar. “The Hunt For Red October: Special Collector’s
Edition” will debut on DVD-Video individually or as a part of “The Jack
Ryan: Special Edition DVD Collection” box set, which includes Special
Collector’s Editions of “Patriot Games,” “Clear And Present
Danger,”
and “The Sum Of All Fears” on Tuesday May 6, 2003 from Paramount Home
Entertainment. Please note that all four “Special Collector’s Editions” on
DVD will be available for sale separately day and date with the box set so seek
them out wherever DVD-Videos are sold.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now Buy Clicking On The Text Link
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The Hunt for Red October (Special...
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Ryan Special Edition DVD Collection" Now By Clicking On The Text Link
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