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DVD Action-Adventure
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Written by Bill Warren
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Tuesday, 18 May 1999 |
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title:
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Action Jackson |
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studio:
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Warner Home Video |
| MPAA rating: |
R |
| starring: |
Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone
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| release year: |
1988 |
| film rating: |
Two-and-a-Half Stars |
| sound/picture: |
Three Stars |
| reviewed by: |
Bill Warren |
‘Action Jackson’ is better than its title and formulaic plot might
suggest, without quite transcending its cartoonishness enough to
qualify as an entirely good movie. Still, it’s enjoyable on a guilty
pleasure level.
Carl Weathers carries ‘Action Jackson’ on his broad shoulders as the
title character, a Detroit police detective. Jackson was busted from
lieutenant to sergeant two years ago for roughing up a violent child
molester. The molester’s father, auto manufacturer Peter Dellaplane
(Craig T. Nelson), now has a nefarious plot to get into politics by
taking over a union, using murder as a tool. Naturally, Jackson gets
wind of the scheme and tries to intervene, while Dellaplane uses every
dirty trick in the book to stop him.
Director Craig R. Baxley and writer Robert Reneau get the film off to a
high-octane start in Chapter 1, with an unusual high-rise office
invasion. Thereafter, the action doesn’t really surprise us at any
point, but there are a number of respectable explosions, especially in
Chapter 17 and 27. Those who like demolition derby-style car chases
should also check out Chapter 13. The musical score by jazz great
Herbie Hancock and film composer Michael Kamen is lively, though
sometimes the mix with the ambient sound isn’t as appealing as it could
be. For example, in Chapter 6, the sounds of violence are reproduced
handsomely, with an especially good climactic explosion, but the
dialogue is blended in too softly, while an operatic aria accompanying
the sequence is almost harsh. The modified full-frame aspect ratio does
no favors to the staging .
Weathers has a lot of charisma as Jackson, as well as looking credibly
strong. Nelson twinkles with cheery malevolence as a perfectly evil
baddie. For those who appreciate gratuitous nudity (i.e., without any
bearing on the plot), it should also be noted that Sharon Stone has a
sizable supporting role as what must be one of the dumbest characters
in the genre, which is saying a lot. Vanity likewise bares herself and
sings (though not simultaneously) as Jackson’s reluctant ally against
the heinous Dellaplane.
‘Action Jackson’ harks back to the black action films of the ‘70s. It
has less guts and style than the best of its predecessors, but it’s an
acceptable time-killer nonetheless.
| more details |
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sound format:
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English and French Dolby Digital Surround Stereo |
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aspect ratio(s):
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1:3:3 (full-frame, modified from original widescreen aspect ratio) |
| special features: |
English Closed-Captioning, Chapter Search |
| comments: |
email us here... |
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| reference system |
| DVD player: |
Kenwood DV-403 |
| receiver: |
Kenwood VR-407 |
| main speakers: |
Paradigm Atom |
| center speaker: |
Paradigm CC-170 |
| rear speakers: |
Paradigm ADP-70 |
| subwoofer: |
Paradigm PDR-10 |
| monitor: |
36-inch Sony XBR |
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