Disc Details
Special Features:	Widescreen anamorphic format Chapter selection Commentary by director Phillip Noyce, actors Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Tzi Ma, producers Sydney Pollack, Staffan Ahrenberg, William Hoberg, co-writer Christopher Hampton, and interpretor/advisor to the director, Tran An Hua The Sundance Channel's "Anatomy of a Scene" Original featurette Vietnam timeline DVD-ROM study guide Original book reviews Sneak peeks
Video Format:	Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) [SS-DL]
Languages:	English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles:	English for the hearing impared.
Captions:	Yes
Casing:	1-Disc Keep Case

Thomas Fowler is a married, middle-aged journalist who believes in nothing. He doesn't take sides as he reports. His only passion is the love of Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen), his young Vietnamese mistress. Enter Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), a young philanthropist in Vietnam to provide eye-care. Fowler's complacency is challenged when Pyle openly makes a play for his mistress. Fowler also begins to suspect that Pyle may be something other than what he seems.

Director Phillip Noyce had a good year in 2002. He released "Rabbit-Proof Fence" and "The Ugly American." Both films were somewhat of a change of pace for the action director (Patriot Games). "The Ugly American" may hold more fascination for people who grew up during the Vietnam War. Greene's prophetic novel was not heeded and the US was torn apart by the war. Michael Caine is wonderful as the jaded journalist. Brendan Fraser brings the right amount of naiveté to his role. Audie Murphy had the same quality in the original film. The difference between the two films is the original version had a decidedly pro-American stance. The remake is much closer to Greene's original novel.

In addition to the love triangle, "The Quiet American" works as a thriller. Caine's Fowler begins to realize that you can't refuse to take a stance as he witnesses the aftermath of several atrocities. "The Quite American" works as a thriller, drama and history lesson.

Picture Quality: 8/10
Much of the film takes place in the dark. The photography tries to capture a 'natural light' look during many of the nighttime scenes. There are a few delineation problems as some detail goes by the wayside. Not enough to cause major problems though.

Sound Quality: 10/10
Excellent use of the surround sound feature. This especially true during the scene in which Pyle and Fowler are caught in a mortar barrage. No loss of dialogue. Nice balance between the ranges.

Easter Eggs:
No Easter Eggs found during review.

Extra Features: 10/10
This DVD has one of the busiest commentary track I've ever heard. There were a lot of major players involved in the production of this film. They all put their two cents into the track.

The original featuette includes interviews with Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Sidney Pollack and others.

I especially enjoyed the Sundance Channel show "Anatomy of a Scene." The show takes us step by step through the climatic terrorist attack on a Vietnamese city square. Don't watch the scene before the movie as it includes a spoiler.

The DVD includes a Vietnam Timeline, which takes you through the troubled history of Vietnam since 1941. The DVD-ROM includes a similar feature that includes more information and pictures you can enlarge. The DVD_ROM also includes weblinks.

The Final Word:
I say buy it. If this doesn't sound like something you would be interested in, rent it first.

Rusty White