|
|
| Special Features: |
Color; region 1 encoding; interactive menus; scene access;
audio commentary;
TV spots;
Colin Farrell casting reel;
featurette; theatrical trailer; closed captioned.
|
| Video Format: |
Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
|
| Languages: |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
|
| Captions: |
English, Spanish.
|
| Casing: |
1-Disc Keep Case
|
1971. The American public is no longer in support of the war, leaving many young men stuck in a war they neither
want to fight, or believe in. Just released from the base stockade, recruit Roland Bozz (Colin Farrell) joins a
platoon of young soldiers at Fort Polk, Louisiana, preparing to ship out to Vietnam.
Knowing the loopholes in the system, Bozz uses his
law background to help certain soldiers he knows shouldn’t be there, get out of the military. His mischief and
outright defiance to authority draws fire from some of his own men as well as the commanding officers. But when
the platoon is sent to Tigerland, a hellish training ground that is the last stop before Vietnam, Bozz's leadership
and loyalty bring his men together – triggering extraordinary consequences.
Similar in context to Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, Tigerland is much more a story about young men dealing with
difficult and unforeseen social issues than a war film. Though the Schumacher-directed pic never leaves the
training grounds, it’s as tense and gripping as any war film I’ve seen.
A solid DVD. The features are not plentiful, but they are worth watching. The picture transfer and sound are great, and the movie is spectacular.
Picture Quality: 9/10
Shot mostly in 16mm, the transfer is actually quite good, sharp and intrusive.
"Pi: Faith in Chaos" cinematographer Matthew Libatique is daring with his work on Tigerland, and the gamble pays off. The camera work is so personal that in many cases, you completely forget that you are even watching the movie.
Sound Quality: 9/10
Though dialogue heavy, the sound is crisp and clear. Nathan Larson's musical score, though not prevalent throughout, fits in perfectly with the film.
Menu: 9/10
Very solid menu. Easy to navigate, and keeps with the movie's poster motif: Dark and rough.
Extra Features: 8/10
Though I'm not a terribly big fan of Joel Schumacher, the film and commentary have definitely shed a much
better light on the filmmaker in my eyes. The commentary is very insightful, especially if you're interested
learning more about the lead actors and their dynamic together. Also interesting is the inclusion of
the casting reel for lead actor Colin Farrell (an Irishman who convincingly portrays Bozz, a Texan
lawyer stuck in the war). Schumacher has an interesting story about his casting as well.
The Final Word:
I never got a chance to catch Tigerland in the theaters, which is a shame. This was one of the most overlooked films of 2000, and in retrospect, definitely one of my top 10 films of the year. The acting is superb, and I'm sure many of the actors are ones you'll be seeing frequently in the coming years. The film is both gripping and touching and the DVD is an excellent complement. If you love movies with rich characters, Tigerland is a must watch.
Stephen Wong
|
American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying hundreds of
thousands victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red
Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.
