Tech News
Reviewed by Chris McEneany, 19th June 2010.
Kellys Heroes and Where Eagles Dare are inextricably linked by both star and director, and whilst plot-wise they are distinct and separate entities, it is hard not to view them as a sort of WWII Eastwood double-tap. Of the two and I do wholeheartedly recommend getting the two on Blu-ray Kellys Heroes is the superior movie in almost every way. It has such an ebullient atmosphere, some amazing and unconventional action, whip-cracking dialogue and a roster of truly fantastic characters. Much is made of the anachronistic inclusion of Sutherlands hippy, Oddball, but viewing the film today, he just seems to fit the larger-than-life caper to a tee. Just as Coppola used the peculiar madness of the Vietnam War as a backdrop for his voyage into the heart of darkness in Apocalypse Now, Hutton paints a large-scale heist drama against the broader canvas of the Second World War and, just like Kelly and his Heroes, pulls it of with explosive aplomb.
The transfer for Kellys Heroes is terrific. It looks vibrant and alive, sharp, detailed and film-like, and you just cant ask for more than that, can you? Audio-wise, this lossless mix behaved exactly as I thought it would do. It is neither superb, nor bogus. The sporadic surround use is welcome, if not entirely necessary, and the cramped dynamics of the sources vintage doesnt hamper the fun of the frothy dialogue or Schifrins cavalier score. The lack of extras is, however, despicable considering the talent that went into this riotous production, but then no release of the film, to my knowledge, has had anything of worth added to it.
Kellys Heroes is a defiantly fun movie, and yet it has moments of death and carnage that seems surprisingly raw, and the humour does not impede the pathos of certain situations. As is customary, Clint does not steal the show and the film is resolutely an ensemble affair. The two Dons, Rickles and Sutherland, absolutely shine, and Savalos delivers a performance of intensely charismatic gruffness. Of all the war-time platoons, patrols and small unit teams, this is the goon-squad that I would most want to sign up for. <i>No negative waves here, baby!
Kelly's Heroes go for gold, and my advice is go along with them.
Read the full review...
Kellys Heroes and Where Eagles Dare are inextricably linked by both star and director, and whilst plot-wise they are distinct and separate entities, it is hard not to view them as a sort of WWII Eastwood double-tap. Of the two and I do wholeheartedly recommend getting the two on Blu-ray Kellys Heroes is the superior movie in almost every way. It has such an ebullient atmosphere, some amazing and unconventional action, whip-cracking dialogue and a roster of truly fantastic characters. Much is made of the anachronistic inclusion of Sutherlands hippy, Oddball, but viewing the film today, he just seems to fit the larger-than-life caper to a tee. Just as Coppola used the peculiar madness of the Vietnam War as a backdrop for his voyage into the heart of darkness in Apocalypse Now, Hutton paints a large-scale heist drama against the broader canvas of the Second World War and, just like Kelly and his Heroes, pulls it of with explosive aplomb.
The transfer for Kellys Heroes is terrific. It looks vibrant and alive, sharp, detailed and film-like, and you just cant ask for more than that, can you? Audio-wise, this lossless mix behaved exactly as I thought it would do. It is neither superb, nor bogus. The sporadic surround use is welcome, if not entirely necessary, and the cramped dynamics of the sources vintage doesnt hamper the fun of the frothy dialogue or Schifrins cavalier score. The lack of extras is, however, despicable considering the talent that went into this riotous production, but then no release of the film, to my knowledge, has had anything of worth added to it.
Kellys Heroes is a defiantly fun movie, and yet it has moments of death and carnage that seems surprisingly raw, and the humour does not impede the pathos of certain situations. As is customary, Clint does not steal the show and the film is resolutely an ensemble affair. The two Dons, Rickles and Sutherland, absolutely shine, and Savalos delivers a performance of intensely charismatic gruffness. Of all the war-time platoons, patrols and small unit teams, this is the goon-squad that I would most want to sign up for. <i>No negative waves here, baby!
Kelly's Heroes go for gold, and my advice is go along with them.
Read the full review...