 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
The Base - DVD
Director: Mark L. Lester Writers: Jeff Albert and Hesh Rephun Producers: Dana Dubovsky and Mark Lester Studio: Lions Gate Films (dist by Sterling Home Entertainment) Characters: Mark Dacascos - Maj. John Murphy Tim Abell - Sgt. Gammon Paula Trickey - Lt. Kelly Andrews Features: Interactive Menus, Chapter Search, Biographies, Previews, Standard 1.33:1, ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Stereo Review: When The Base showed up at my door, I was moderately interested to see it despite the fact that I'd never heard of it. You see, this Mark Lester character directed Commando, among other films. Well, I've seen Commando, and The Base is no Commando. I hate to stifle the creativity of budding filmmakers, but there should be a law against trying to make an action movie without either a) Jackie Chan or b) $30 million. The production values here are pretty pathetic, despite the fact that it isn't really all -that- small a budget (considering the film's relatively indie status). It might not hurt to drop some money on a decent script. This is basically the simplistic, disjointed, and unrealistic story of an army Major assigned to go undercover to investigate a Seargent who is suspected of smuggling drugs across the Mexican border. You shouldn't really have to hear much more. The movie isn't too stellar, and the quality of the fighting and stuntwork doesn't help it much. Just about the only thing that could salvage this film is a line about huntin' slash -- quite frankly, what movie couldn't be salvaged in this fashion? Anyway, it's not my custom to include "spoilers" in my reviews, but I have one more complaint to make. Skip the next paragraph... --- SPOILERS --- Keeping in mind that this guy directed Commando, you should be pretty repulsed by the ending of this movie: the bad guy gets a pipe through the chest! Sure, this time it hits some high voltage wires instead of a steam vent, but seriously -- talk about a one-trick-pony. --- end of SPOILERS --- The DVD is of pretty high quality, as Sterling's tend to be. The picture is fine, but given the low production values, it looks almost like video rather than film. The sound is also fine, but it's encoded in some weird 4 channel format -- I'm not sure what's going on there. Oh yeah, the movie is presented full frame only, though I'm pretty sure that is how it was filmed. The DVD also includes a commentary track that isn't very interesting, a trailer, and Bios. -- John
|
copyright ®1999