The Movie
When it comes to terrorism--and movies about terrorism--clearly the watershed has to be September 11, 2001. Director Edward Zwick's The Siege is a pre-9/11 tale of sudden violence in New York City, motivated by international politics. As a film, it deserves credit not only for accurately depicting the internal workings of America's defenses but also for predicting the subsequent loss of freedom we would all suffer here at home. The cast is first-rate but unavoidably the movie is now painfully out-of-date, as when the Oklahoma City bombing is referenced as the worst attack of its kind, or we see an incidental shot of the World Trade Center still standing. And surely the multiple blast sequences will also profoundly disturb many potential viewers. Of course none of these drawbacks reflects upon the quality of this drama/thriller hybrid, which is certainly above-average entertainment.
The Picture
Clearly, the 2.35:1 frame is a terrific fit for the city buses which figure prominently in Act I. Blacks could surely be stronger, more defined and delicate, and that final bit of sparkle is missing from the image and I soon figured out why: The Siege is yet another Fox Blu-ray encoded as DVD-era MPEG-2, albeit at a respectably high bitrate. I noted noise in the backgrounds, unwelcome levels of grain, and some severe compression, with an unnatural look to certain elements of the picture. The subtle quality shifts to TV news video are well-captured, and at least some of the nuances of color are accentuated.
The Sound
The DTS DVD of this title received much hoopla in its day for its superior soundtrack, and its updated DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 incarnation has many plusses, large and small. Most blatant are the big, juicy explosions, each with its own distinct character. An especially prolonged one exhibits not just the expected bass but also detailed, active surrounds. Directionality in busier sequences is well-rendered, while sirens, helicopters and P.A. systems truly envelop us. The low-end is solid throughout, while the brass hitting the floor in a firefight is remarkably clean and precise.
The Extras
None to speak of, just trailers for this and a few other Fox catalog titles on Blu-ray.
Final Thoughts
Under the keen guidance of Zwick, The Siege is well-paced and engaging, albeit a little preachy, but ultimately its relevance is yet another casualty of 9/11.
Product Details
- Actors: Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, Bruce Willis, Tony Shalhoub, Sami Bouajila, Lianna Pai, Mark Valley, Jack Gwaltney, David Proval
- Director: Edward Zwick
- Audio Format/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish, French)
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Rating: R
- Studio: Universal Studios
- Release Date: June 9, 2009
- Run Time: 116 minutes
- List Price: $29.99
