The Challenge (Kampfansage - Der letzte
Schüle/2004)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B- Extras: C- Film: C+
Image
Entertainment and Dark Horse Films has issued Johannes Jaeger’s The Challenge (Kampfansage - Der letzte
Schüle/2004) on DVD starring Mathis Landwehr as Jonas, a martial arts hero
on a journey. You are likely familiar
with the kind of journey, but you may not have heard of Landwehr, who did
stunts in and even played a brief role in the terrific V For Vendetta (see the HD-DVD review elsewhere on this site). So how is he as a star?
He is
actually not bad and the film starts out with great promise, then halfway
through it 98 minutes, it collapses and disintegrates amazingly before your
eyes and is a shocking dud. There is
enough before that turn for the worse to check it out, but it was very
disappointing when all was said and done.
See it for Landwehr if nothing else.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is not bad, but is still too soft and
limited throughout, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has its moments though. Unfortunately, in English or German, it does
not take full advantage of the multi-channel possibilities. The only extra is an amusing theatrical
trailer.
- Nicholas Sheffo
