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Direct Action Blu-ray Review |
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Direct Action Blu-ray
First Look Studios | 2004 | 97 mins | Rated R | Nov 03, 2009
Direct Action Blu-ray ReviewIf I went to see this in the theater, I'd ask for my money back.Reviewed by Dustin Somner, November 14, 2009 After wowing audiences with his physical presence in such films as Rocky IV, Masters of the Universe, and the original Punisher, Dolph Lundgren slowly disappeared from the list of Hollywood's action elite. Until recently, I assumed Lundgren had given up on his acting career, since I hadn't seen him in a single production since the 1995 film Johnny Mnemonic. However, after taking a quick glimpse through his filmography, I was surprised to discover a steady supply of straight-to-video action flicks he's been involved with. I guess it's safe to conclude a recognizable face is all it takes to keep an aging action star employed.
Frank Gannon (Dolph Lundgren) is a member of a special unit within the Metropolitan Police Department, known as the D.A.U. (Direct Action Unit). The elite squad consists of highly trained officers with at least 10 years on the police force, who focus their efforts on curbing gang violence, drug activity, and prostitution. After becoming aware of widespread corruption among the other members of his unit (including the Captain), Gannon makes the decision to assist Federal officers in bringing down the corrupt members of his team. That decision doesn't sit well with the rest of his unit, who fear the upcoming trial could come between them and a twelve million dollar score they've been pursuing. Intent on silencing Gannon before he's able to testify in front of the grand jury, a day-long game of cat and mouse erupts on the streets of Los Angeles. Released in 2005, Direct Action should have been renamed "Direct to Video Garbage". As a film-lover, I rarely find myself in a position where I'm impatiently checking the runtime every 10 minutes, hoping the film is finally drawing to a conclusion. In the case of this sloppy mess, I began that routine around the 35-minute mark. Discovering I still had an hour left of a film that already felt too long at that early juncture was a depressing revelation to say the least. For a full 97 minutes, we're subjected to a plot that felt like a third-grader's rendition of The Departed, action scenes that generate more laughs than thrills, and a cast of actors who officially threw away their short-lived careers by taking part in this mess. I have no doubt the writers of Direct Action set out with intentions of delivering an entertaining plot. However, just because you've seen every Steven Seagal film in the past two decades, doesn't mean you know how to construct a good storyline. Watching this screenplay in action gives the impression its creators sat down to brainstorm an idea for an action film, came up with a list of elements that seem logical in any generic detective story, and spent the rest of their time playing connect-the-dots with the ideas they'd generated. Here's how I picture it went down: 1. Moralistic cop stands up to corruption perpetrated by his fellow officers. 2. Add a rookie partner just in time for the hero's day-long battle with the dirty cops. 3. Throw in an ex-partner who we can kill off at some point in the film to piss off the hero. 4. Give everyone and their grandmother guns. 5. Cast Dolph Lundgren, but make him look and dress like a 15-year-old. 6. Throw in a veiled attempt at a love interest to leave the door open for nudity. 7. Hire an amateur martial arts fighter to attack the hero with a knife. 8. Wound the hero early in the film, but give him a Jack Bauer style recovery in the next hour. 9. Find a way to involve a bulldozer in at least one gun battle. 10. Give the female sidekick a huge gun she can't possibly handle. 11. Let the hero throw chewing gum on every evil-doer he dispatches 12. Did I mention we need a lot of guns? At this point, I'm sure you can hardly contain your excitement, so let me give you one last piece of advice before you rush out to get your hands on a copy of this masterpiece. If you truly aspire to fight like Dolph Lundgren, and you want to learn his moves, forget about watching all "filler" throughout Direct Action, and just watch the opening credits over and over again. Every action sequence through the entire film is divulged before the opening scene, effectively eliminating eighty percent of the reason you'd sit through a 97-minute Dolph Lundgren feature. As if that wasn't "cool" enough, the opening credit sequence contains a hip-hop track performed by CHORDS, with impressive lyrical genius such as "put a match to my @ss, farted, started a barbeque." Word to the wise, if you ever hear someone speak that line while walking down the street with their Ipod on, assume he's proficient in the battle tactics of Dolph Lundgren, and promptly cross to the opposite sidewalk. Video  Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 26Mbps), Direct Action sports a mediocre high-definition presentation that readily demonstrates the production's low-budget roots. Fine object detail varies from scene to scene, but I'd say the overall quality tends to land on the below average side. Facial textures lack clarity, character outlines appear a bit hazy, and distant shots seem a touch out of focus. The increased resolution still affords the transfer an appearance that's clearly high-definition, but compared with a Hollywood production, the level of clarity is somewhat pathetic. I wish I could say matters improve with the color spectrum, but the drab, lifeless hues rarely seem natural. Skin tones appear a touch on the yellow side, with most outdoor scenes generating a washed-out image. Some of the problems with the coloring could be related to amateur lighting work on the part of the crew (interior shots), but regardless of where the blame falls, this is still a weak presentation. As if the coloring and clarity weren't bad enough, contrast looks dismal during interior scenes, completely eliminating the presence of shadow detail. Even if you cut the transfer some slack for budgetary constraints, this is still an unsatisfying presentation that will only please the most dedicated action fans. Audio Despite the inclusion of a lossless track on this Blu-ray release, I was entirely underwhelmed by the sound design on the front-heavy mix. As the film first opened, I assumed the entire soundtrack would follow in the footsteps of most modern low-budget action films, by infusing one hip-hop track after another. However, once we move past the initial credit sequence, the score descends into the same generic collection of drum beats and synthesizer tunes we've heard time after time. I'm beginning to wonder if there's a "generic action movie" music collection that automatically comes free with the casting of any washed up action star. Similar to the routine nature of the musical selections, the sound effects feel flat and lifeless. Gunshots remind me of a weak firecracker, kicks or punches exhibit a generic thud, and vehicle chase scenes rarely generate a feeling of tension. Add in a disappointing lack of surround use, and you end up with an experience that seems like a complete waste of time. Despite my overall disappointment with the audio presentation, I feel compelled to at least mention one positive attribute to the technical presentation. Listening to the various elements in the mix, you'll notice the volume is well-balanced, allowing every aspect equal weight in the overall sound field. It's definitely not a reason to jump up and down, but we have to take the positives when we can get them. Supplements  Thankfully, the only extra on the disc is a collection of standard definition trailers (Direct Action, Command Performance, Monster, Direct Contact, and The Code). Final words  If you have the ability to avoid this film, consider yourself lucky. I probably waste countless hours every day with no acknowledgement that I can't have that time back, yet sitting through Direct Action felt like watching the arm of a clock as my life ticked slowly away. 97 minutes can be an eternity when watching a production with zero redeeming value, so do yourself a favor and find something far more entertaining (such as watching paint dry). 
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