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DVD Review
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Thunderheart

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Reviewed by Cass Nunn

thunderheart.jpg (9489 bytes)
Director

Michael Apted

Cast
Val Kilmer,
Graham Green,
Sam Sheperd,
Fred Ward

Music
James Horner

 This DVD is Anamorphic Widescreen(1.85:1)

Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitle/s English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Arabic, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish
Region Code 2/4
Chapters 28
Disc Format DVD9
Running Time 115 minutes
Extras - Cast and Crew Bios
- Theatrical Trailer
Classification M15+ (Medium Level Violence & Course Language)
Distributor CTHE
Release Date 18th July 2001
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Thunderheart is based on a true story from the documentary "Incident at Oglala" written by Michael Apted the Director of the film.

Ray Levoi (Val Kilmer) a part Sioux FBI Agent who is sent to an Indian Reserve in South Dakota to assist in a homicide investigation. It becomes apparent very early on that Ray has no real understanding of the plight of the local Indian population and is as much a straight down the line FBI agent as you could find. In fact he has been sent to this particular case because of his background and the implication that the local people will communicate better with him because of this.

Ray finds himself in a conflicting situation where he does not see eye to eye with his partner Frank (Sam Shepherd) who believes the killer is a local anti government activist – Jimmy Looks Twice. On the other hand the local law enforcement – Walter Crow Horse (Graham Greene) has a very different perspective on the situation and is quite illusive in forthcoming with the information the FBI need. Walter seems to dislike the fact that Ray has no sympathy for his indigenous background and does his best to show him other aspects of the situation.

Ray is helped a little by a local schoolteacher and of course the medicine man who can see that he does have some strong Indian Blood.

This heritage is brought out in mystical visions that help Ray determine the real killer and bring them eventually to justice in an ending which reminds me very much of Thelma and Louise with a desert car chase and some fabulous landscape cinematography.

So how does this transfer hold up?
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VIDEO
Given that this is almost a ten-year-old film I had no great expectations for a fabulous transfer but was surprised that the quality was actually quite good. The film is presented in a 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format.

The transfer is generally quite sharp and clear and the colour palette is rendered quite beautifully with some nice rich and yet still very natural desert colours, that have been matched with good skin tones and vibrant colours where required.

The main problem with this transfer is the presence on several occasions of MPEG artefacting. Including some pixelisation in scenes with little depth of field. There is also some noticeable blurring noise in the opening credits.

Film artefacts were better than I expected and only a few small dust flecks and marks could be seen.

The only other small fault is that shadow detail could have been a little better; while it was generally good there were times in which it did fall behind.

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AUDIO
The Dolby 2.0 surround audio track is best described as adequate. There was nothing here that really impressed me but given this is only a surround track there is not a lot to complain about either.

Surround effects were a little on the scarce side and were limited to some directional effects and enhancement to the score with a little ambience.

There is of course no subwoofer input and the centre is very much dialogue driven throughout.

The Score from jams Horner can also be described as adequate as it really didn’t have much of an impact on the film and after a while became very generic sounding.

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EXTRAS

  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Cast and Crew bios

Overall This is a nice film but not a must have. If you’re a Val Kilmer fan than by all means make the investment.

PICTURE QUALITY

  7.5/10 some mpeg problems.

SOUND Quality   6.5/10 lifeless but ok
EXTRAS    2/10 1 point each
EXTRAS    7/10 not a bad flick!


Review Equipment
TV: GE 68cm (16:9 selectable)
DVD: Pioneer 737
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V595a
Speakers:-
Fronts: B&W 602  (on a pair of custom made stands you'd KILL for)
Centre: Venturi
Rears: Wharfedale Diamond R6
Sub: M&K v75

- Reviewed 18th October 2001

*  jpeg files for internet promotion use only. Copyright© exists on all aspects of these files by CTHE

 

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