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(Editor's
Note: This disc has been discontinued and replaced with
a new special
edition with extra features and a new transfer.
This review is left here for your reference, though
we recommend you buy the new version only.)
It
has happened before that multiple films with similar
story lines all get released in very close proximity
to each other. Generally, the last film of the bunch
ends up being the best. In the spring/summer of 1989
Leviathan, Deepstar Six (not to be confused with Deep
Star 9), and The Abyss all competed for our underwater
dollars. Although none of the three really set the box-office
on fire time, The Abyss has since gone on to set it
self apart from the other two to emerge the champ. This
pattern was just the opposite with the competing volcano
flicks, Dante's Peak and Volcano. Well, nothing's perfect.
This year
saw the releases of just such competition. Both Entrapment
and The Thomas Crown Affair centered on, get this, well to
do thieves being investigated by female insurance agents.
Within the competitions, I believe the previously stated rule
applies here, with Thomas taking the Crown. What Entrapment
does have going for it though is a certain Miss Catherine
Zeta-Jones. And beyond that I think that her ass should at
least be nominated for a supporting actor Oscar. I couldn't
take my eyes off it at times and that's not something I could
say about a lot of respectable actors.
 Oh
yeah, Entrapment also has some guy named Connery, Sean Connery.
While I've always been a huge fan of Connery's, he is getting
a bit long in the tooth for this type of role. I still think
he's got all the charm he's ever had, I just get slightly
uncomfortable by the idea of my grandfather picking up on
my girlfriend. I'm sure glad Miss Zeta-Jones is dating someone
closer to her own age, even if he is still twenty-five years
older than her. Hey, it's a start, Connery's forty-years older.
Video: How Does The Disc Look?
Unfortunately,
Entrapment is presented non-anamorphic widescreen. While the
picture quality is excellent, I can't help but to think, "What
if?" in regards to an anamorphic transfer. That said, the
disc is pretty much flawless for a non-anamorphic picture.
Detail is strong with no noticeable artifacting, whether compression
or NTSC. Colors are bold and accurate with natural fleshtones
and no bleeding. Black level is solid with shadow detail coming
through very naturally. This is a great disc that really only
could have been improved by the use of an anamorphic transfer.
Audio: How Does the Disc Sound?
The English
Dolby Digital 5.1 track is equally adept at drawing you into
the picture (something the story probably won't). Dialog is
natural with no distortion while sticking primarily to the
center channel. Surround use is frequent and smooth with nice
imaging around to the front soundstage, which is wide and
directional. The
.1 LFE track has a couple of good moments but I never really
found myself noticing them at the time.
 The
music score definitely takes hold of the soundtrack for the
most part and is pleasingly mixed enough into the surrounds
to provide a nice feeling of envelopment with the track. A
2.0 surround track is also provided in English. Subtitling
is in English and Spanish only, no French support is provided,
kind of stingy for a disc that retails for $35.
Supplements: What Goodies Are There? The original
theatrical trailers for both Entrapment (non-anamorphic widescreen/mono)
and Rising Sun (full-frame/mono) are included. Also included
are cast listings that are nothing more in-depth than the
end credit roll. Did I read that right? $35?
Parting Thoughts
Well, the
film's just alright, the picture's excellent, the sound good,
and the supplements poor. For $35, I don't think this is for
anyone who isn't an absolute fan of this movie. For anyone
else, I couldn't, in good conscience, recommend more than
a rental of Entrapment.
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