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Traveta reviews

Distributed by
New Line Home Video

Cert: R

Cat.no: N5871

Running time: 98 minutes

Year: 2002

Pressing: 2002

Region(s): 1, NTSC

Chapters: 28

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1

Languages: English

Subtitles: English

Widescreen: 2.35:1

16:9-Enhanced: Yes

Macrovision: No

Disc Format: DVD 9

Price: $26.98

Extras: 4 original documentaries, gag reel, deleted scene, music video, theatrical trailers, theatrical press kit.

---

Director:

Kevin Bray

Screenplay:

Ronald Lang and Ice Cube

Cast:

Bucum: Ice Cube
Reggie: Mike Epps
Wiliamson: Tommy Flanagan
Ursula: Carmen Chaplin
Gina: Eve Mendes
Pam: Valarie Rae Miller

Ice Cube appears again, getting back to his roots after the terrible, terrible, let me say it again, terrible Ghosts of Mars. Granted Cube had nothing do with the writing of that dismal feature, he has written a new movie and is back at it again. Unfortunately, his latest effort lacks the energy and laughs of his previous offerings.

More known for his work on Friday, Ice Cube returns as writer and star of All About the Benjamins. Bounty hunter, Bucum (Cube) begins to hunt down Reggie (Mike Epps). When Reggie wins the lottery (places it and loses it with his wallet) and winds up in the middle of a cliched diamond heist (sorry, I just watched Reservoir Dogs last night) , Bucum sees oppurtinity and agrees to work with him to find his lost wallet and the diamonds. The movie morphs from action to comedy but lacks the fluidity of Rush Hour or Showtime for that matter. The plot is contrived and some scenes are just ridiculous.

The action scenes are filmmed well but the laughs are begging for you to go along. Mike Epps says a few funny lines in the beginning but it goes dry after he makes a bad comment about Christopher Reeves ("I don't want to jump down and wind up like Christoper Reeves!"). Ice Cube is reportedly putting the finishing touches on the third Friday film (Friday After Next) but after this one and Next Friday, I'm not holding high hopes.

Into the disc. Hands down, New Line Cinema is the best when it comes to transfers and this is a testament to that statement. This is an amazing transfer right from the minute you pop it in. The movie takes place in Miami and it shows. The ocean is pure blue and the locale is very bright and colorful. This is one of the best transfers I've ever seen and just goes to show that New Line knows what they're doing. The only problem that hampers it is a little bit of edge enhancement here and there. But overall, a very good transfer.

The sound is presented in three options, all English Dolby 5.1 or 2.0 tracks along with a DTS track thrown in. The sound suits the movie well and I never had any problems with dialogue blending or anything.

New Line always puts some extras on their new releases, even if they didn't perform well at theaters (take a look at the Dungeons and Dragons disc). a Deleted scene, documentaries (each running 8 to 15 minutes in length), and more round out the supplements and are well done. Another indication to New Line's great work.

Overall, the movie itself sours the disc. The transfer is among the best, the sound is great, and the extras are good. I would give this one a rent just to see how good the transfer is, but if you're looking for some comedy to go with your action, watch Rush Hour 1 or 2, the Lethal Weapon series, or Showtime.

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS
OVERALL

Review copyright © Traveta, 2002.

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DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.

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