Audio Video News

DVD: Walking Tall—MGM/UA
Video: 3
Audio: 3
Extras: 3
It's hard to fathom why a DVD for a movie that runs a scant 73 minutes, not counting credits, would even have deleted scenes. After all, it's not like there wasn't room in the film. Still, we find three of them on the disc for Walking Tall, a silly but rather guilty pleasure for anyone wanting to see a good (fact-based) revenge story or the Rock whup some ass with a four-by-four cedar stick. You don't get to know any of the characters, and others are forgotten about altogether, but the fight scenes are well executed, and there are a few explosive moments.

The DVD is about what one would expect from such a box-office dud. The 2.35:1 anamorphic picture is marred by some graininess but is mostly adequate. A lively Dolby Digital 5.1 track makes up for the lackluster video; it earns its badge whenever trucks blow up, guns fire, and said lumber strikes its hapless targets. You'll almost feel like the Rock is in the room.

He is, too, as he delivers one of two commentary tracks. The Rock is a great movie companion, happy to "have a beer" as he candidly dissects each scene. His comments on a male costar's butt and continuing riff on the actor playing his character's father, who bears a strong resemblance to George Foreman, provide a good taste of the star's sense of humor. The film may suck, but you'll want a piece of the Rock.—Gary Frisch

DVD: Man on Fire–20th Century Fox
Video: 5
Audio: 4
Extras: 3
With its hyper-saturated color and constant showcasing of filmic chiaroscuro, Man on Fire provides a good approximation of what a Rembrandt-directed film might have looked like (although I doubt the subject matter would have been up the Old Master's alley). Haunted into alcoholism by unspecified sins, a Black-Ops soldier (Denzel Washington) finds redemption in Mexico City as bodyguard to a young girl (Dakota Fanning). It's a solid and well-told story, but Fanning is so irritatingly wise beyond her years that she nearly sinks the whole megillah. Luckily, her precocious lil' butt gets kidnapped, and it's Washington's hissy-fit of murderous revenge that drives the hard-boiled second half.

The soundtrack is an unusually front-heavy but otherwise well-crafted Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS mix with two separate (and typically middle-of-the-road) feature-length commentaries. Kudos to director Tony Scott for his decision to use copious subtitles, which not only lend Man on Fire a sense of documentary-style realism but contribute greatly to the film's look, fading in and out of the onscreen action in truly innovative ways. The resulting effect is far more satisfying than the usual cop-out of portraying characters with lame Mexican accents.

This one is worth seeing if only for the magnificent 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer. Film grain is appropriately evident throughout. Despite the intense colors, there's very little bleed or artifacting to speak of. This helps convey a color scheme seemingly custom-designed to make Washington's every brooding pore and jet-black hair look clear and tactile.—Dan Vebber