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Review added January 13, 2005.
The Hunt for Red October
:: DVD Review |
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Studio:
Paramount |
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>> Review
Equipment |
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Video:
2.35:1 (Enhanced for 16:9) |
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Length:
130
Minutes |
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Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 (384kbps) En |
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Subtitles: En |
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Dolby
Digital 2.0 (224kbps) En |
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Disc Format:
RSDL
DVD-9 |
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Video Format:
PAL |
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Disc Capacity Utilised:
5.97GB |
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Layer Change:
68:43 |
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Region Coding:
4 |
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Average Bit-Rate (A+V):
6.22Mbps |
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:: The Film
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>> Skip to
Audio/Video Details
Based on Tom Clancy's best-selling
novel of the same name, The Hunt For Red October tells the
tale of a Soviet submarine captain who plans to defect to
the West in the newly commissioned nuclear submarine he
commands. Sean Connery plays the veteran Soviet Captain
Marko Ramius, while Alec Baldwin plays CIA naval analyst
Jack Ryan, a role taken over by Harrison Ford in the two
subsequent Ryan thrillers 'Patriot Games' and 'Clear and
Present Danger'.
Ryan is convinced that Ramius
plans to defect, but his superiors remain unconvinced,
fearing the sub's captain may be intent on launching a
nuclear strike against the US. These fears are reinforced by
reports from the Soviets that Ramius has suffered a nervous
breakdown and plans to attack the US. The fact that Ramius'
submarine, the Red October, uses a revolutionary silent
propulsion system that the Soviets hope to keep out of
American hands certainly plays a role in this claim,
however.
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In order to prove the captain isn't a threat,
desk-jockey Ryan is forced to go to unusual lengths to make
contact with the Soviet submarine. Meanwhile, the bulk of
the US and Soviet navies are intent on finding and sinking
the renegade submarine.
The Hunt For Red October is probably the
last of the great Cold War thrillers, just managing to sneak
in before the thaw truly set in. The film isn't exactly
short, and features a complex plot that could easily have
become a convoluted and confusing mess. Thankfully, veteran
director John McTiernan, who knows a thing or two about
keeping the action rolling, and screenwriters Larry Feguson
and Donald Stewart manage to keep the film on an even keel.
Last but not least, the film sports a
stellar cast, including Sean Connery, Scott Glenn, James
Earl Jones and Sam Neill. The Hunt For Red October offers
the rare combination of an intelligent plot and genuine
thrills, and includes something to appeal to everyone.
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Video
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The quality of Paramount's initial DVDs have been variable
to say the least, ranging from the good to the mediocre.
Unfortunately, this 2.35:1 anamorphically-enhanced
transfer sits closer to the mediocre end of the scale. For
a film of this age, the transfer is a disappointment. To
begin with, the print used isn't in the best condition,
suffering from frequent noise and dirt, while grain is
constantly present, distractingly so during darker scenes.
Colour saturation is good, especially in the film's
numerous interior sub scenes, although some sequences
looked distinctly washed-out.
The picture is generally quite sharp,
although this sharpness comes at the expense of some
noticeable aliasing and highlights the low-level grain
present throughout the film. Black levels range from
average to poor, with several problematic sequences that
reveal film deterioration in the far right quarter of the
screen, while shadow detail is average at best.
There is also some mild use of edge
enhancement evident and numerous compression artefacts in
the form of motion blur; I'm sure the quantity of grain is
partly to blame for this. Although it's nice to have an
anamorphic transfer of this film, this transfer is a real
missed opportunity.
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| :: Audio
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The Hunt For Red October won an Academy Award for its
sound-editing, so it's no surprise this disc features a very
respectable Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The front soundstage
is broad with numerous directional cues and enveloping ambient
effects utilising all five speakers. Dialogue is always clear,
although ADR work isn't always as seamless as that found in
more recent soundtracks. Bass is used frequently and
effectively throughout much of the film, while the LFE channel
is engaged for prolonged periods during the many underwater
sequences, and contains some attention-grabbing low frequency
content.
The combination of low-level bass
and enveloping ambient effects from both the front and rear
channels nicely recreate the claustrophobic atmosphere of a
confined space, greatly enhancing the already intense action
on-screen. In addition to ambient effects, the surround
channels are used frequently for discrete directional
rear-hemisphere effects such as creaking metal, whale calls,
ricocheting bullets and rotating helicopter blades.
The surround channels are also used
for a handful of rear to front channel pans. These surround
channel effects aren't always particularly well integrated,
however, seeming somewhat artificial and giving away the
soundtrack's age. Dynamic range is also slightly restricted
when compared to soundtracks of more recent vintage.
Interestingly, while the film's soundtrack is presented in
only 384kbps Dolby Digital 5.1, the included theatrical
trailer sports a full 448kbps soundtrack; most peculiar.
Despite signs of age beginning to creep in, this is still a
fine soundtrack.
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