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Now Available |
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"Log
On. Hack In. Go Anywhere. Steal Anything" |

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Release
date |
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12th
December 2001 |
| Reviewer |
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Matt Goldsmith |
| Audio |
 |

English |

Commentary |
| Subtitle/s |
 |
English |
| Region
Code |
 |
4 |
| Chapters |
 |
29 |
| Disc
Format |
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DVD9
(Layer Change at 44:53) |
| Running Time |
 |
96 minutes |
| Classification
|
 |
MA15+
(Medium Level Violence) |
| Website |
 |
Operation Swordfish |
| Distributor |
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Roadshow |
DVD EXTRAS |
- Audio
Commentary
- Featurette x 2
- Exclusive ROVE LIVE Interview
- Profiles |
- Alternate
Endings (w/o comm)
- Theatrical Trailer
- DVD ROM Stuff
- Dolby Digital TRAIN trailer |
CAST & CREW Director Dominic Sena / Cast
John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle / Music Christopher
Young & Paul Oakenfold |
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.... |
First and foremost, Swordfish is a film that belongs
in the "lack of realism" camp. You may be able to pull it to shreds with
it's lack of logic, but damn is it a fun film. And that is all it's suppose to be...
90 odd minutes of good 'ol fashioned over the top violence, car chases, gratuitous nudity
and silly dialogue.
Ever since I can remember, movies have always been pure escapism to me. At the
end of the day I don't have much desire for anything overly realistic on the big screen..
It's meant to be larger than life. I Mean who the hell wants to see
people/places/things that are everyday occurrences for many? (isn't that what Webcams are
for??? )
A few years back Stanley ( Hugh Jackman, an Aussie we CAN actually call our own :) was
jailed for computer hacking. in fact he was then touted as being THE best hacker in
the USA. He now lives a simple life, doing a simply job, and has been denied access
to his daughter Holly (Camryn Grimes) by his ex wife, now part time porn star.
One day, Stanley is approached by Ginger (Hale Berry.... Hugh's superhero partner from
X--Men) to come and see her boss for a possible job offer. She offers him $100,000
just to see Gabrielle (John Travolta), but doesn't actually tell him what it's all for, so
of course he goes along for the ride..
Before you know it, Stanley is offered $10,000,000 to hack into a secret government
bank account to steal $9,500,000,000 for Gabrielle.
With one of THE coolest opening sequences to any action flick I've seen, Swordfish is a
blast from start to finish (and I mean that quite literally :) |
So how does this transfer hold up?
.... |
VIDEO
Sporting an Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer, what's on offer here is very
nice indeed.
Director Dominic Sena has gone for the same style of filmic look that he did with the
Nicholas Cage vehicle (and remake) Gone in 60 Seconds. As a result, the colour
palette, overall contrast and brightness, etc,etc, stray from the norms of film look
conventions, but still look absolutely stunning with some great use of filtering, and
little processing tricks to give the film a unique look.
Colours are very well saturated, and are never overdone, even though you have some
slightly off kilter colours. It all works very well within the film itself as it's
so consistently utilised.
Black level is very deep but never to a point where any real detail is lost.
Sharpness is quite amazing and is pushed as far as it can go, (but is a smidgen over at
times so you'll notice a few spots of Aliasing throughout). Quite frankly you won't
be disappointed even though this is the case as so much detail is revealed (peoples skin
is frightening good and reveals everything :)
All in all a fabulous looking picture is on offer here. Helping this along is the
fact the disc is in the RSDL format, and the movie, even though running a rather short
(but actually well timed) 95 minutes. So compression is not an issue what so ever.
The Layer Change takes place on a nature fade to black at around 44:53 at the
start of ch 14. |
... |
AUDIO
The Dolby Digital 5.1 track (384kbps encoded) is of very
good quality, and only a fraction lacking in the WOW department.(and only
a"fraction" )
It's clean, clear, smooth, highly detailed and never fatiguing. Just what you want
from a multi-channel sound mix.. I did fine Dialogue to be a tad low on occasions,
in relation to the high octane mix on offer, though it's a minor quibble really as overall
it's a very nice soundmix (I'm still a bit surprised it didn't get a 448 bitrate Dolby
track though, hell I would DTS'd this puppy if it were up to me! :)
The front soundstage is used to the fullest extent offering a wonderfully wide and deep
presence. The surrounds aren't used 100% off the time, but kick in at just the right
times and compliment the whole mix beautifully.
The Bass attack is also excellent with more than enough bang to make you experience what
you need. |
... |
EXTRAS
- Audio Commentary Director Dominic Sena offers a technically thorough comm
track here. quite worth a listen (so long as you like yammering of this nature :)
- The Making of Swordfish - Your usual sort of 15 minute featurette. It's
really not too bad but only skims the surface due to the overall lack of running time :(
- The Effects in Focus - shows behind the scenes in making the
"bus sequence".. kinda neat
- Rove Live Interview - This is an EXCLUSIVE feature and
so is only available on the Aussie version of Swordfish (oh my gawd!!!)
Rove interviewed both Hugh and John for half his show (which runs here for 23 minutes,
minus ads :) It's a scream and a VERY welcome addition to the DVD. (well done Roadshow for
nabbing this one, just for us Aussies :) OH AND it's Anamorphic Widescreen!
- Deleted Scenes - you can play these deleted scenes with or without
running commentary by Dominic Sena. They actually consist of two alternate endings
to the film. most interesting
- Profiles Cast & crew Bios
- Theatrical Trailer
- DVD ROM . links to the Warner website and you can play around.
Mindless entertainment really doesn't get any better than this. The Cast is
willing, the action full throttle and the Transfer is sweet. What more could you ask
for? Halle Berry flashing her Million Dollar assets? Yes well you get that to!
OH and YES PLEASE on the TVS!!! I gotta get me one a those! :) |
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| DVD Ratings |
PICTURE_QUALITY |
9/10 a great
looking picture..very clean |
_ |
SOUND_Quality |
9/10 very nice level
of detail |
_ |
5.1_WOW_Factor |
8/10 some serious
stuff here |
_ |
| EXTRAS |
8/10 enough to
keep you happy :) |
REVIEW_DATE
17th December 2001 |
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Review Equipment |
| Monitor |
Pioneer SD-T50W1 (16:9 RPTV) |
Speakers |
Mains: Quadral Gold Amun |
| Amplifier |
Denon AVC-A1SE THX Ultra(EX/ES) |
_ |
Centre: B&W CDMC-SE |
| DVD_Player |
Pioneer DV717 (using RGB outputs) |
_ |
Surrounds Side: M&K SS500 |
| Interconnects |
QED SQART & QED Optical |
_ |
Surrounds Back : Polk RT/fx |
| _ |
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Subby: M&K V125 |
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| * jpeg
files for internet promotion use only. Copyright© exists on all aspects of these files by
Roadshow |
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