Daylight
(HD-DVD)
Picture:
B+ Extras: B+ Extras: C+ Film: C+
After Cliffhanger was a big comeback hit for
Sylvester Stallone, the studios were hoping it would be a comeback that
lasted. This included some huge action
projects that got notice, but did not repeat the box office success of that
snowbound thriller. While Disney did not
luck out with Judge Dredd, which at
least became a cult item of sorts, Universal tried out the “trapped in the
underground” thriller Daylight (1996)
which was actually the better film.
Stallone
is a chief medical official who finds himself trapped with many citizens 100
miles below The Hudson River in the construction tunnels when they collapse,
seal off those inside and water starts to pour in. The rest is a race against timer and certain
death with something we do not see in enough in the work of either Stallone or
Cohen, suspense. No, this is not a
Hitchcockian thriller, but this is a better action film than most of the
digi-fests we have had to suffer through since and Leslie Bohem’s screenplay is
at least half-intelligent. If you
enjoyed Stallone’s comeback of sorts in Rocky
Balboa and look forward to his fourth Rambo
installment, you may want to see Daylight
if you missed it or it has been a long time since seeing it.
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 VC-1 digital High Definition image looks good and this was always a
film with a good reputation with its transfers in all formats, helped by
surprisingly good camerawork by Director of Photography David Eggby, A.S.C., who
keeps the claustrophobic atmosphere going.
As a DTS 12” LaserDisc and DTS DVD, the film has been known for its
impressive sound design and that is also a trait of the bigger films from
Stallone and Cohen to boot.
Unfortunately, there is not a DTS track to be found here and the Dolby
Digital Plus 5.1 mix seems to be limited as compared to the DTS I have heard on
the film in the past. Randy Edelman’s
score is not bad and Donna Summer duets on the featured song, “Where There Is Love” that did not become
a hit though she is long overdue for another one.
The
combination is very nice for an older title and as good as any HD release of
Stallone or Cohen to date. Extras
include a music video for the Summer/Bruce Roberts song and a commentary by
Cohen. All in all, Daylight is better than you might remember and though it is not a
great film, it is more entertaining than you might think.
- Nicholas Sheffo
