Post by Mark (Webmaster) on Feb 6, 2005 10:37:03 GMT
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13: SPECIAL EDITION (Carpenter)
(Contender Entertainment)
Picture:[/color] 2.35:1 Anamorphic widescreen
Sound:[/color] Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Discs:[/color] 1 (DVD 9)
Region:[/color] 2
Features:
Theatrical Trailer (Fullscreen)
Collectors booklet
Stills Gallery[/color]
Story:[/color] When a member of a vicious gang known as Street Thunder brutally and senselessly murders a young girl (Kim Richards), her father quickly tracks the gang down and kills their leader. Barely escaping from the gang himself, the man finds refuge in a soon to be abandoned police station manned only by a couple of duty officers and a secretary. Meanwhile, a prison bus transporting a group of convicts is forced to stop at the station to use its holding cells as temporary accommodation for the criminals. Having followed the young girl's father, the members of Street Thunder are determined to avenge their leader's death and they begin to lay siege upon the police station with an arsenal of automatic weapons. Totally isolated inside the building, the criminals and cops must reluctantly join forces to fend off the deadly assault.
Review:[/color] John Carpenter describes his movie as “modern-day, urban version of the Western” and that pretty much describes the set-up. It’s essentially a remake of Howard Hawks’ RIO BRAVO with the more successful siege elements of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD thrown in to maximum effect. Here the bad-guys are the bad-guys without any unnecessary characterization Carpenter sets up the siege and then skilfully plays out the tension over the course of one night, the last night, in precinct 9 district 13 (go figure for the title!). In between the shoot-outs and cat and mouse games Carpenter weaves in some snappy dialogue that benefits from the chemistry between leads Austin Stoker (as the cop) and Darwin Joston (as the doomed convict).
Wonderfully photographed and competently edited, the set pieces are dramatic without being stylised and the action gritty without being unnecessarily gory. Occasionally the dialogue slips too far into homage to old westerns but this forgivable. This is a great movie by a great director that has since lost his way.
Check it out before you see the remake. You won’t be disappointed.
The DVD[/color][/size]
Picture:[/color] The press release boasts of the most definitive widescreen version of the movie to date and whilst I have no basis for comparison the image is certainly excellent. Nice contrast, no over saturation or noticeable edging the images are crisp and clean with no visible print damage. This of course marks the first UK release of the movie in its original aspect ratio eclipsing the previous cropped 1.85:1 version.
Sound:[/color] The mix is effectively done. Carpenter’s memorable synthesiser score resonates through the front speakers and transfers nicely to the rear channels during dialogue sequences. The gunfights are where this works best with bullets whizzing from left to right and vice versa. Dialogue is always audible and the subwoofer isn’t overused.
Menu:[/color] Nice animated menu featuring Carpenter’s theme. Nice touch although slightly on the comedic side.
Packaging:[/color] Special mention must be given to the packaging. The DVD and booklet come in a lovely collectors box that should take pride of place.
Special Features.[/size][/color]
Trailer:[/color] Fullscreen non-anamorphic trailer is a nice addition although a panavision widescreen one would’ve been better. I love old trailers so I did have a nostalgic chuckle at how understated 70s trailers can be
Stills gallery:[/color] Nice collection of stills from the movie without being spectacular.
Booklet:[/color] in the absence of an audio commentary this really is a nice addition. Adds production notes with interview snippets from the major players. Just a shame that the audio commentary from the R1 special edition didn’t make it onto this disc.
Summary:
Film: 4/5
Picture: 4/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Extras: 2/5
Overall package:[/color]
3/5 Possessed Cheryls[/color] – for lack of audio commentary. Solid cash-in on the remake that shows genuine effort. Region1 just edges it for the extra features.
Amazon.co.uk - Purchase Information:[/color]
To buy this version click : HERE
To buy the region 1 version with John Carpenter commentary click: HERE
(Contender Entertainment)
Picture:[/color] 2.35:1 Anamorphic widescreen
Sound:[/color] Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Discs:[/color] 1 (DVD 9)
Region:[/color] 2
Features:
Theatrical Trailer (Fullscreen)
Collectors booklet
Stills Gallery[/color]
Story:[/color] When a member of a vicious gang known as Street Thunder brutally and senselessly murders a young girl (Kim Richards), her father quickly tracks the gang down and kills their leader. Barely escaping from the gang himself, the man finds refuge in a soon to be abandoned police station manned only by a couple of duty officers and a secretary. Meanwhile, a prison bus transporting a group of convicts is forced to stop at the station to use its holding cells as temporary accommodation for the criminals. Having followed the young girl's father, the members of Street Thunder are determined to avenge their leader's death and they begin to lay siege upon the police station with an arsenal of automatic weapons. Totally isolated inside the building, the criminals and cops must reluctantly join forces to fend off the deadly assault.
Review:[/color] John Carpenter describes his movie as “modern-day, urban version of the Western” and that pretty much describes the set-up. It’s essentially a remake of Howard Hawks’ RIO BRAVO with the more successful siege elements of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD thrown in to maximum effect. Here the bad-guys are the bad-guys without any unnecessary characterization Carpenter sets up the siege and then skilfully plays out the tension over the course of one night, the last night, in precinct 9 district 13 (go figure for the title!). In between the shoot-outs and cat and mouse games Carpenter weaves in some snappy dialogue that benefits from the chemistry between leads Austin Stoker (as the cop) and Darwin Joston (as the doomed convict).
Wonderfully photographed and competently edited, the set pieces are dramatic without being stylised and the action gritty without being unnecessarily gory. Occasionally the dialogue slips too far into homage to old westerns but this forgivable. This is a great movie by a great director that has since lost his way.
Check it out before you see the remake. You won’t be disappointed.
The DVD[/color][/size]
Picture:[/color] The press release boasts of the most definitive widescreen version of the movie to date and whilst I have no basis for comparison the image is certainly excellent. Nice contrast, no over saturation or noticeable edging the images are crisp and clean with no visible print damage. This of course marks the first UK release of the movie in its original aspect ratio eclipsing the previous cropped 1.85:1 version.
Sound:[/color] The mix is effectively done. Carpenter’s memorable synthesiser score resonates through the front speakers and transfers nicely to the rear channels during dialogue sequences. The gunfights are where this works best with bullets whizzing from left to right and vice versa. Dialogue is always audible and the subwoofer isn’t overused.
Menu:[/color] Nice animated menu featuring Carpenter’s theme. Nice touch although slightly on the comedic side.
Packaging:[/color] Special mention must be given to the packaging. The DVD and booklet come in a lovely collectors box that should take pride of place.
Special Features.[/size][/color]
Trailer:[/color] Fullscreen non-anamorphic trailer is a nice addition although a panavision widescreen one would’ve been better. I love old trailers so I did have a nostalgic chuckle at how understated 70s trailers can be
Stills gallery:[/color] Nice collection of stills from the movie without being spectacular.
Booklet:[/color] in the absence of an audio commentary this really is a nice addition. Adds production notes with interview snippets from the major players. Just a shame that the audio commentary from the R1 special edition didn’t make it onto this disc.
Summary:
Film: 4/5
Picture: 4/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Extras: 2/5
Overall package:[/color]
3/5 Possessed Cheryls[/color] – for lack of audio commentary. Solid cash-in on the remake that shows genuine effort. Region1 just edges it for the extra features.
Amazon.co.uk - Purchase Information:[/color]
To buy this version click : HERE
To buy the region 1 version with John Carpenter commentary click: HERE