Rogue (DVD)

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Speaking of effects, we don't get to see the villain very often in "Rogue," but when we do the effects team have done a marvelous job with both the digital and mechanical aspect of the crocodile. There wasn't a single moment where I thought it looked phony or cheap, that's how solid it looks on camera. The movie monster is also about seven meters long, as opposed to Sweetheart who was just over five. According to the bonus features, though, the film's croc still doesn't quite top the largest ones out there in the wild. Essentially, McLean pushes the limit as far as he can while keeping it firmly anchored within the realm of reality.

Video:
If I had to guess, I'd say "Rogue" was shot with digital technology because all I can say is the anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 transfer is spectacular. The colors are particularly eye-catching, especially the vibrant greens of the plant life and the warm reddish-browns peppering the riverbanks and gorges. I did notice a very miniscule amount of grain in the darker scenes, but it was never distracting. Most of the night shots were actually pretty bright since the cast made use of emergency lighting equipment found on their boat.

Audio:
The disc only contains a lone Dolby Digital 5.1 track, but it's one that will surely please even the fussiest of audiophiles. The musical score by composer François Tetaz was quite soothing, and even minor surround background noises such as locusts buzzing and birds chirping really enhanced the viewing experience. The DVD also includes optional English and Spanish subtitles.

Extras:
The first bonus feature on the disc is an "Audio Commentary with Writer/Producer/Director Greg McLean." If you've read some of my other reviews, you're probably aware that I'm not all too crazy about one-man commentaries, but McLean does a decent job at sharing insights from a filmmaker's perspective. One example is that the production crew actually used real animal bones (another authentic touch) in the crocodile lair, and in the dampness and heat, the remains started to give off an awful smell.

"The Making of Rogue" (46:03) is one of the most thorough "making ofs" I've seen yet. This documentary contains tons of production info, cast and crew interviews, inside looks at the special effects, and more. Vartan explains how his fear on-screen is often genuine, as he knew he was in areas with deadly critters, and the animatronic crocodile's snapping jaws were almost as deadly as a real one's. The actor had to be extremely careful when placing his hand during one attack sequence just so he didn't end up getting hurt or worse.

"Welcome to the Territory: Gallery of Mini Documentaries" is a collection of three self-explanatory featurettes: "The Effects" (17:25), "The Music" (14:38), and "Northern Territory" (14:41). Some of this info is rehashed from "The Making of Rogue," although there is new material included here as well.

"The Real Rogue" (2:29) is a short podcast revealing how the visual effects crew made a point of studying real life crocodiles so the one in "Rogue" was as realistic as possible.

Things finish with a "Theatrical Trailer" (2:07), and a few forced previews on startup: "thetruth.com," "Halloween," "1408," "Broken," and "Welcome to the Jungle."

The Final Cut:
Like I mentioned earlier, "Rogue" doesn't really evolve into anything new, but it still provides a snappy good time. When I first read the synopsis about a boat being crippled by a crocodile and trapping the humans somewhere out in the Australian boonies, I thought it sounded awfully similar to the plot for Black Water. After seeing the movie, though, I can honestly say that there are enough significant differences to place each film in their own boat--creating two entirely separate and enjoyable entities.

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