HD DVD
As High Definition television finds itself in the homes of consumers, the home
video market has been forced to adapt. In hopes of attract a new generation
of viewers looking to get the best quality from their home entertainment systems,
two new competing formats have been introduced into the home video realm.
Sony and three other studios exclusively supports the Blu-ray format, Universal
is the only studio that is providing exclusive content to the HD DVD format
(Warner Brothers and Paramount also provide content). While some studios straddle
the fences, for now, there seems to be a sharp divide in the home video market.
As the first generation of Blu-ray players comes to an end with the upcoming
release of Playstation 3, HD DVD players have begun their second generation.
After early strong buzz, it seems that the field is leveling, but for now the
format war continues.
(Just for technical reference, the upcoming HD DVD is reviewed using an Xbox
360 external HD DVD player, in 1080i with a Sony Bravia LCD HDTV and with a
Nexxtech surround sound system.)
THE MOVIE
There is no better word to describe this DVD and this film more than commemorative.
For once, the tagline to a two-disc DVD set could never be more fitting. Nor
could it be more applicable to the film itself.
Oliver Stone is a man who has built his career on controversy. Despite his
concern with the individual, Stone’s films always become remembered for
their radical political viewpoints and conspiracy theories. Incredibly critical,
Stone is not simply a director but a man with a message. Although many disagree
with his words, none can take umbrage with his work in World Trade Center.
Simultaneously moving and thought provoking, World Trade Center
asks you to wonder about your life, about love and about how everything changed
on 9/11. By following the story of two port authority cops, Will Jimeno (Michael
Pena, Crash) and John McLoughlin (Nicholas Cage), Oliver Stone
plunges the audience into an emotional story of courage and survival.
Jimeno and McLoughlin were first responders, arriving at the World Trade Centers
before collapse. Joined with a crew of four, the two were just about to help
evacuate the building when the unthinkable happened. As Tower 2 came down, Jimeno,
McLoughlin and Dominick Pezzulo (Jay Hernandez) raced toward the elevator shaft.
After the thousands of tons of steel and concrete settled, Jimeno, Pezzulo
and McLoughlin were miraculously alive. Despite being pinned, the three men
keep each other strong, braving darkness, the frightening unknown and horrifying
sounds that were unclassifiable. Despite the numbing pain, the three kept each
other together, until Pezzulo freed himself and struggled to free his partners.
After tragedy struck, Jimeno and McLoughlin were left to fend for their lives.
Unable to move, the two bonded by keeping each other alive. They spoke of life,
family, friends and everything they could to keep themselves focused on living.
Able to see an opening above, Jimeno used all of his might to call for help
and attract attention, but hope was bleak.
It was also bleak for their family. After hours of confusion, Donna McLoughlin
(Maria Bello) was resigned to the worst. Her husband was gone, lost in the horrific
tragedy, just another of the thousands of lives lost. But soon there was a glimmer
of hope. Donna struggled to keep her family together, hoping and believing that
the love she shared with her husband would keep them together, would keep him
alive.
The same can be said for Allison Jimeno. (Maggie Gyllenhal) A young mother
with another baby on the way, Allison struggles throughout the day for any word
about Will. Going through various stages of guilt, Allison finally relies on
her family for the last ounce of strength and hope that she can muster.
Eventually, all of these people’s lives become intertwined. Love takes
a hold and emotion is hard to contain. As EMT Scott Strauss (Stephen Dorff)
and account by profession, military reservist at heart David Karnes (Michael
Shannon) do all they can to find, rescue and save the lives of two of New York’s
finest.
Told with painstaking attention to detail, World Trade Center
is Stone at his most earnest. Everything rings true, and emotion becomes the
core to a film so centered on geopolitical nightmares. This story is not about
the politics, its not about the entire event, but it is about people. It is
about John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno’s struggle to survive. It is about
their family, who wouldn’t stop believing that their loved ones were still
alive. It is about the men and women who risked their lives to go into the wreckage
of the World Trade Center and pull out these two critically wounded men. The
towers may have collapsed on 9/11, but Oliver Stone has revealed the good that
came out of it. With a deft touch, Stone highlights the goodness of humanity
and hope that shined bright until the morning of September 12th. This is unbelievable
filmmaking at its finest.
HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO & AUDIO
The 16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen presentation of World Trade Center
is stellar. The video is some of the best yet on HD DVD, as is the audio. After
some initial flecks and grains, the video transfer of World Trade Center
truly shines. The dark colors of Ground Zero stand out, the imagery incredibly
crisp. The stunning subtleties of the performances are beautifully captured,
despite the fairly dark cinematography. Although the morning shots at the beginning
of the film feature a bit of a coarser image, the rest of the film is almost
too stunning to be real. The way the smoke billows, or the rubble settles looks
almost too good. The quality of the footage sometimes outshines the original
film itself, resulting in a phenomenal video with deep colors and even finer
detail.
The audio for World Trade Center is the best of any HD DVD
I’ve encountered. The Dolby Digital Plus surround sound is loud and clear,
the dialogue crisp and the soundtrack incredible stirring. Everything blends
nicely, the audio from within “the hole” nicely transferred so as
to simulate the claustrophobic effect so stunningly accomplished in theaters.
Simply a fantastic audio transfer, one of the best available on HD DVD.
PACKAGING & LAYOUT
Paramount continues to use the second of three different HD DVD cases. Although
all look very similar, they each have their own unique touches. The first style
features a softer plastic, is a bit wider and bulkier and has obtrusive “feet”
on the bottom to aid with standing. The most recent style is used by Universal
and features harder plastic, a slightly darker maroon color and a squarer, slimmer
case with a latch. Paramount uses my personal favorite, a slimmer, modified
version of the original case. There are no feet, the plastic is just a tiny
bit harder and the case is just a bit sleeker. The same case as MI:III’s
2-disc set, World Trade Center has an area to house one disc
on each side of the case. This is nice, simple and keeps the overall package
design of HD DVDs very similar so that they look great lined up on a shelf.
World Trade Center’s package features a modified version
of the Two-Disc Standard release’s artwork. Standing in the shadows of
the two towers, Jimeno and McLoughlin look out on the open sky. A subtle sense
of hope comes out of this touching and understated theatrical artwork. This
artwork is replicated on the two discs of the set. Both discs feature the same
image, with just a small bit of text to denote which contains the movie and
which the special features.
Paramount has also included really stunning menus for this release. Both discs
feature the same basic design and the same video playing in the background.
A montage of moments from the film set to Craig Armstrong’s moving score,
these menus are perfect to get one in the mood to view the film. As with all
HD DVD releases, there is an in-film menu that enables access to the scenes,
commentary and other settings while the film is playing. Yet, unlike other releases,
this menu does not allow for the special features to be accessed while the film
is in progress. A minor anomaly to the relatively phenomenal DVD presentation.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Available in the 2-disc standard definition release, these special features
are not HD DVD exclusives. Nonetheless, they are composed in HD quality and
are incredibly sharp and nice to look at. The overall quality is superb, but
what is more impressive is just how perfect these special features are. Every
featurette captures the completeness of the film, the scope of the project and
the respect that it deserves. It quickly becomes clear that this project was
less about money and more about passion and memorial.
The special features are incredibly emotional and very moving, but only to
great effects. The movie is nicely supplemented by each and every special feature,
and more than deserving of a Best DVD release of the year award. These are certainly
some of the best special features on HD DVD thus far.
Disc One
• Deleted/Extended Scenes with commentary by Oliver Stone – There
are nine scenes in total, all with the option to be viewed separately or under
a “play all” banner. They each are bracketed so that one would understand
where they exist in the film. Oliver Stone’s commentary nicely explains
the purpose of each scene, also indicating why they were cut. A nice inclusion
that’s only real problem is its quality. Although it is presented in anamorphic
widescreen, the deleted scenes are incredibly grainy, and clearly standard definition.
One lengthy, but great deleted scene is the “Original Hole 2 through Allie
making Lunch.” Be on the lookout for it.
• Audio Commentary with Oliver Stone – Stone is always incredibly
comprehensive and interesting in his commentary. Despite a sedate manner, Stone
speaks intelligently and eloquently about the film, the process and the remarkable
story of these two men. A great commentary.
• Audio Commentary with WTC survivors Will Jimeno, Scott Strauss, John
Busching and Paddy McGee – An incredibly revealing commentary, this is
a great track that offers a different perspective on the film. Strauss has some
nice insights regarding Stone and development, but it is Jimeno who shines with
his infectious personality and charisma. A bit difficult for some to sit through,
this is the true emotion of the film.
Disc Two
• The Making of World Trade Center (53:38) HD –
This is a phenomenal and comprehensive featurette that goes in depth into the
stages of development the film went through. Stone does not dominate, but yields
the floor to different individuals involved in the collaborative process, from
the screenwriter to John McLoughlin and his wife Donna. This is intimate, revealing
and just all around stellar. Broken up in three parts, these all flow seamlessly
together to craft a gripping DVD featurette.
• Common Sacrifice (54:31) HD – Although World Trade Center
tells the story of John and Will, “Common Sacrifice” lets the men
speak in their own words. The filmmaking quickly gives way to the remarkable
story in this two-part featurette. Broken into “Rescue” and “Recovery,”
these two flow seamlessly to create a comprehensive look at the lives, the struggles
and the hope that John and Will brought back with them to the world. This is
about these two men and those around them, and it could have not been done any
better.
• Building Ground Zero (25:10) HD – Production design is the key
focus here in this revealing technical featurette. The different technology
used to render a painstakingly accurate glimpse of Ground Zero is highlighted.
The work of the entire crew is nicely given its due to great effect. It is remarkable
what these creative minds could do to tell this story so accurately and with
such heart.
• Visual & Special Effects (12:50) HD – Pretty self-explanatory,
this details all the different graphical choices that were made throughout the
film. Although this type of discussion and reveal has been done with many different
recent DVD releases, there is something unique about seeing Ground Zero discussed
in such a way.
• Oliver Stone’s New York (24:30) HD – Charles Kisyalek, director
of “Oliver Stone’s America,” adds more to his work about the
director in this intimate discussion about Stone’s life in the Big Apple.
Stone talks about growing up on the Upper East Side, the family problems centered
around the city and what New York means to him. Nice and effective, this could
have been even longer.
• Q&A from BAFTA’s David Lean Lecture Series (13:07) –
On September 6th, 2006, Oliver Stone had this informal Q & A with host Mark
Kermode. Stone is nice and frank about the film, about New York and about 9/11,
but ultimately reveals nothing incredibly power. The featurette is a bit slow,
and the weakest of an incredibly strong series of special features.
• Theatrical Trailer HD – A great trailer that is even nicer in
high definition.
• TV Spots HD – A collection of six or so TV spots from around the
time of the film’s release. Always nice to see included.
• Photo Gallery – A series of production photos.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With 2006 coming to a close, World Trade Center arrives as
one of the best HD DVDs available on the market. Although there is no exclusive
content, the special features are so strong and so emotionally effective that
one can’t help but watch. Filled with information and respect, this HD
DVD perfectly honors those who survived the tragedy of 9/11, as well as those
who did not. A great film that has been given a phenomenal HD DVD release, this
is my top DVD/HD DVD of the year.
Overall
Film: A
HD Visual: A
HD Audio: A+
Packaging and Layout: A-
Special Features (non-exclusive): A+
HD Exclusive Content: N/A Overall HD DVD Rating: A+
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