Annapolis—Buena Vista

Video: 2
Audio: 2
Extras: 2

It’s funny; I was just saying to myself the other day how much I wanted to see a remake of An Officer and a Gentleman, only more boring. Lo and behold, Annapolis answered my call. It tells the tale of a tough young Naval Academy recruit (James Franco) who doesn’t obey the rules at first but learns teamwork, respect, and honor through…boxing. Or something. I won’t lie: The film put me to sleep several times. And, while it’s not a terrible film, it certainly is a dull one.

The 1.85:1 anamorphic presentation, when accompanied by the Dolby Digital 5.1 track, is quite useful for one scene—and one scene alone. It’s during a boxing match, of which there are many in this film. The camera is attached to the actor being knocked out, and the soundtrack fills with a ringing noise, simulating an actual knockout. The scene is about 20 seconds long and is the only worthwhile aspect of the entire film.

Two bland featurettes recount the exciting journey to bring this tale to the screen and the boxing brigade within the Naval Academy that inspired it. A commentary from director Justin Lin, along with the screenwriter and editor, is yet another back-slapping session recounting dull stories that are of interest only to others who made the film. There are also countless trailers for other movies.

Annapolis is a good film to watch if you’re having difficulty falling asleep.

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