...more a story of private, inner conflicts than of outright action and adventure, a point that may have dissatisfied many theatergoers intent on being blasted out of their seats.
Not that the special effects are insignificant. Indeed, they are spectacular, but they come mainly toward the end of the film and take up only a relatively small part of the screen time. When they do come, they are that much more effective by our not having been bludgeoned senseless by a multitude of previous bangs, booms, explosions, crashes, snaps, crackles, and pops.
In all, "Deep Impact" is more a story of private, inner conflicts than of outright action and adventure, a point that may have dissatisfied many theatergoers intent on being blasted out of their seats.
Video:
There´s nothing unsatisfactory about the picture or sound, though. The audio especially is topflight by most anyone´s standards. The approximately 2.35:1 ratio widescreen image is not always as bright as it might be and there are occasional, minor instances line fluctuation; but, otherwise, it is quite good in its detail and definition.
Audio:
The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is even more impressive, with excellent frequency range and channel separation, plus a dynamic intensity that surely equals, maybe surpasses, the sonics in "Armageddon." The disc also includes Dolby Surround for those only able to employ two-channel stereo or Dolby Pro Logic.
Extras:
Lamentably, this is no special edition DVD, so Paramount Home Video include only the bare essentials in supplementary features: Two language choices--English and French, English captions, scene selections, and a couple of theatrical trailers. For that matter, neither does the DVD of "Armageddon" provide any behind-the-scenes documentary material, audio commentary, storyboards, or filmmaker biographies. It´s too bad; I´m sure buyers would have enjoyed a few insights into the making of both films.
Parting Thoughts:
Box office receipts notwithstanding, "Deep Impact" is a better film than "Armageddon." It may be too chatty or too sentimental for some viewers, and it does not afford the sheer exhilaration of its more cartoonish counterpart; but for one´s money it offers the reward of thought as well as action. Seems like a deal to me.
In all, "Deep Impact" is more a story of private, inner conflicts than of outright action and adventure, a point that may have dissatisfied many theatergoers intent on being blasted out of their seats.
Video:
There´s nothing unsatisfactory about the picture or sound, though. The audio especially is topflight by most anyone´s standards. The approximately 2.35:1 ratio widescreen image is not always as bright as it might be and there are occasional, minor instances line fluctuation; but, otherwise, it is quite good in its detail and definition.
Audio:
The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is even more impressive, with excellent frequency range and channel separation, plus a dynamic intensity that surely equals, maybe surpasses, the sonics in "Armageddon." The disc also includes Dolby Surround for those only able to employ two-channel stereo or Dolby Pro Logic.
Extras:
Lamentably, this is no special edition DVD, so Paramount Home Video include only the bare essentials in supplementary features: Two language choices--English and French, English captions, scene selections, and a couple of theatrical trailers. For that matter, neither does the DVD of "Armageddon" provide any behind-the-scenes documentary material, audio commentary, storyboards, or filmmaker biographies. It´s too bad; I´m sure buyers would have enjoyed a few insights into the making of both films.
Parting Thoughts:
Box office receipts notwithstanding, "Deep Impact" is a better film than "Armageddon." It may be too chatty or too sentimental for some viewers, and it does not afford the sheer exhilaration of its more cartoonish counterpart; but for one´s money it offers the reward of thought as well as action. Seems like a deal to me.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]337[/release]