Dom Robinson reviews

Distributed by
Encore Entertainment

Cat.no: EE 1106

Cert: PG

Running time: 120 minutes

Sides: 2 (CLV)

Year: 1997

Pressing: 1998

Chapters: 25 (14/10+1)

Sound: Dolby Surround

Widescreen: 2.35:1

Price: £24.99

Extras : Original Theatrical Trailer

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Director:

Jan De Bont (Speed, Twister)

Producer:

Jan De Bont

Screenplay:

Randall McCormick and Jeff Nathanson

Music:

Mark Mancina

Cast:

Annie: Sandra Bullock (Demolition Man, Hope Floats, In Love And War, The Net, Practical Magic, Speed, Stolen Hearts, A Time To Kill, The Vanishing, While You Were Sleeping)
Alex: Jason Patric (Frankenstein Unbound, Geronimo, Incognito, The Lost Boys, Rush, Sleepers)
Geiger: Willem Dafoe (Body Of Evidence, Clear And Present Danger, The English Patient, The Last Temptation Of Christ, Platoon, Wild At Heart)
Juliano: Temuera Morrison (Barb Wire, Once Were Warriors)
Merced: Brian McCardie
Debbie: Colleen Camp (Die Hard With A Vengeance, Police Academy's 2 and 4, Sliver, Wayne's World)
Captain Pollard: Bo Svenson (Death Train, The Delta Force, Delta Force Commander, The Great Waldo Pepper, Heartbreak Ridge)
UB40 as themselves

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Originally, the name for the male lead in the first film was Alex, but the differences between Alex and Jack, apart from the actor playing them, are negligible. So what happened to Keanu? He thought he'd be better off starring in turkeys such as Chain Reaction and Johnny Mnemonic, while taking time off inbetween to play with his band, Dogstar. Each to their own it seems.

As one would imagine, the roles played by Sandra and Jason don't require much use of their Equity Card, but the action scenes give them a chance to flex their muscles and there are some great comic touches throughout the film as have also been seen in Jan De Bont's other actioners Speed and Twister. Willem Dafoe has a good time as the maniacal murderer, hamming up his performance nicely, but if some of the violence he dishes out seems a little too much for a PG-certificate, nothing will make you wince more than the scene in which he makes use of blood-sucking leeches!

Like Speed, this sequel is also divided into three parts: Alex's motorbike chase coupled with Annie's driving test; the main action involving the boat; and a speedboat chase.

The picture quality is framed at 2.35:1, is colourful, crisp and sharp, just what is required for the many action scenes and explosive moments which include the cruise liner tearing up an apartment village and the destruction of an entire oil tanker ship. The film is available on video in widescreen, but it can't hope to look as good as this.

The sound, as you'd imagine from the above paragraph, will give your speakers a run for their money. They'll get a workout in the action-packed scenes, while the dialogue comes across clearly as does the music, including the uncredited cameo from the band onboard providing entertainment for the passengers before the ship hits disaster, UB40.

24 chapters for two hours of film is fine, but could use a few more. Interestingly, the original theatrical trailer that follows begins by showing exactly what happens at the end of the film, which I won't spoil, but suffice to say - anyone who left as the end credits began in the cinema may have missed it.

Overall, this film deserves much better press than it received when it opened theatrically and for anyone who was put off at the time, now is the time to make amends. Both sides of the disc are pretty much full up with the film and trailer, so there's not much more that could be added here and with the quality of transfer on view, this disc comes well-recommended.

FILM	 		: ****½
PICTURE QUALITY		: *****
SOUND QUALITY		: *****
EXTRAS			: *
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OVERALL			: ****

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.