Rating: 
Summary: This format is a waste of time
Review: This DVD format makes this film a bit of a waste of time for me. In the full-screen this movie loses much of the visual flair and style that director John Frankenhiemer provides for what is nothing more than late 80's action junk. Other than Frankenheimer's in-your-face direction and lensing in some of the action scenes, this film will leave the average viewer very, very flat. If you can sit through the almost unbearable dinner party scenes with Penelope Ann Miller, you at least get the pleasure of witnessing Don Johnson vomit on a suspect! Without the widescreen presentation the only benefits this DVD offers is the ability to jump through some awfully slow and meaningless dialogue(and pause the barf scene if your into such things).
Rating:
Summary: This format is a waste of time
Review: This DVD format makes this film a bit of a waste of time for me. In the full-screen this movie loses much of the visual flair and style that director John Frankenhiemer provides for what is nothing more than late 80's action junk. Other than Frankenheimer's in-your-face direction and lensing in some of the action scenes, this film will leave the average viewer very, very flat. If you can sit through the almost unbearable dinner party scenes with Penelope Ann Miller, you at least get the pleasure of witnessing Don Johnson vomit on a suspect! Without the widescreen presentation the only benefits this DVD offers is the ability to jump through some awfully slow and meaningless dialogue(and pause the barf scene if your into such things).
Rating:
Summary: Mistake not to letterbox it.
Review: This is a good movie, but just what was "Warner Home Video" thinking when they released it in full-screen ?. Obviously they weren't thinking at all, since this film is already letterboxed when shown on TV sometimes. So why didn't they bother ?. -Who knows, maybe they hope someone will buy it now and possibly again one day. One thing's for sure, it looks a million times cooler in widescreen so you're a lot better off waiting for that to happen. (-You'll also get to see a tiny bit more of biker extra Ron Jeremy !.) Gary Chang's music is great as always, though.
Rating: 
Summary: DECENT ACTION FLICK
Review: YOU REALLY HAVE TO SEE A MOVIE LIKE THIS TO GET A GLIMPSE OF WHAT SOME 'REAL COPS' GO THROUGH. ALTHOUGH DRAMATIZED, THE BASIS FOR THIS FLICK IS THE REAL LIFE EXPLIOTS OF L.A. COUNTY SHERIFFS HOMICE INVESTIGATOR JEROME BECK.IT IS A RIVETING CHARACTER STUDY OF WHAT THIS JOB CAN DO TO A MAN, HIS MARRIAGE, HIS KIDS AND HIS PSYCHE. DON JOHNSON DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PLAYING THE MORBID, BURNT OUT COP ON THE EDGE. HE'S DRINKING EXCESSIVELY, GOING THROUGH A BITTER CUSTODY BATTLE WITH HIS EX, LIVING IN A DUMP AND BREAKING EVERY RULE IN THE BOOK TO GET A NEO-NAZI MANIAC WHO KILLED A DISTANT POLICE CAMPADRE. THE ONE OBVIOUS FLAW IN THE FILM IS THE TOTALLY PROCEDURALLY INCORRECT WAY THE VICTIM OFFICER APPROACHES AN ARMED ROBBERY/MURDER SUSPECT. ANY REAL COP WATCHING THE SHOW WILL BE TEMPTED TO HIT THE 'STOP' BUTTON ON THE V.C.R. THERE. BUT IF YOU CAN WADE PAST THIS NONSESICAL SCENE ITS A PRETTY DECENT FLICK. JOHNSON SHINES IN A MEMORABLE SCENE WHERE HE IS ORDERED TO UNDERGO PSYCHOLOGICAL COUSELING DUE TO HIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOUR.
AS THE PENCIL NECKED ANALYST'S EGO IS STEPPED ON HE PREPARES TO END THE SESSION 'RUSHING TO JUDGEMENT' ON THE VETERAN OFFICER'S
MENTAL STATE. JOHNSON'S 'BECK' USES SOME PURSUASIVE PSYCO BABBLE OF HIS OWN TO DETER THE COUSELOR FROM ENDING HIS 'BECKS' CAREER.
IT IS A GREAT SCENE AND THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FILM. THE THING THAT MAKES THIS CHARACTER DIFFERENT FROM 'SONNY CROCKETT' OR 'NASH BRIDGES' IS THE REALNESS OF THE GUY. HE DOESNT SPOUT POLITICALLY CORRECT ONE LINERS. HE DOESNT WEAR FASHIONS THAT NO REAL COP COULD EVER AFFORD, AND HIS LIFE IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF GLAMOROUS. CRITICS AND AUDIENCES ALIKE WERE QUICK TO LAMBAST THIS MOVIE WHEN IT PREMEIRED IN EARLY 1989 BECAUSE IT DOESNT HAVE A SUPER HERO MAIN CHARACTER WHO JUMPS OFF OF BUILDINGS OR DRIVES A FLASHY CAR. AND THAT IS JUST THE REASON IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRAISED. IT HAD THE GUTS TO BE DIFFERENT! THE ACTION SCENES ARE WELL ORCHESTRATED WITH JOHNSON ACTUALLY LOOKING 'PUMPED' AS HE ATTEMPTS TO SURVIVE THE SHOOTOUTS. NO, 'DEAD BANG' IS NOT A TIMELESS CLASSIC, BUT IT WORKS WELL AS A DRAMATIC ACTION PLAY WITH A FLAWED BUT VERY INTERESTING PROTAGONIST.
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