The
North Star (2016/RLJ DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: C+ Extras: D Film: B+
Based
on a true story, Big Ben and Moses are runaway slaves. Dreaming of
freedom they runaway North with only The North Star (2016) as
their guide. As they run they meet various people from the people of
the underground railroad to the slave hunters who are after them, but
whom can they really trust and is freedom truly worth dying
for?
Often runaway slaves who are caught are beaten, tortured
and most likely killed to teach a lesson to other slaves to not
runaway, but after hearing their master plans to sell them, Big Ben
and Moses decide to take their chances. However, they soon discover
they are not alone and are aided by abolitionists and those of the
Underground Railroad, who also risk their lives to help smuggle
slaves North to where they are free. Moved by their kindness Big Ben
and Moses decide to also risk returning back South to help others
like them to escape. Jeremiah Trotter, Thomas C. Bartley Jr.,
Clifton Powell, John Diehl and Keith David star.
This
was an amazing story of a slave's journey to freedom and then the
willingness to even dare to return in order to help others. To be
reminded there was a time when Americans would risk their lives for
others and die in the name of freedom. How could America be free
when it still kept people in chains and oppressed them ...and does it
still happen today? It reminds people to still fight for whats right
...even if it is against the law. Solid work by director Thomas K.
Phillips.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is really good for the DVD
format, but the lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix does not always have the
impact I had hoped, but was good enough. There are no extras.
-
Ricky Chiang
