Daylight (HD-DVD)

 

Picture: B+     Extras: B+     Extras: C+     Film: C+

 

 

After Cliffhanger was a big comeback hit for Sylvester Stallone, the studios were hoping it would be a comeback that lasted.  This included some huge action projects that got notice, but did not repeat the box office success of that snowbound thriller.  While Disney did not luck out with Judge Dredd, which at least became a cult item of sorts, Universal tried out the “trapped in the underground” thriller Daylight (1996) which was actually the better film.

 

Stallone is a chief medical official who finds himself trapped with many citizens 100 miles below The Hudson River in the construction tunnels when they collapse, seal off those inside and water starts to pour in.  The rest is a race against timer and certain death with something we do not see in enough in the work of either Stallone or Cohen, suspense.  No, this is not a Hitchcockian thriller, but this is a better action film than most of the digi-fests we have had to suffer through since and Leslie Bohem’s screenplay is at least half-intelligent.  If you enjoyed Stallone’s comeback of sorts in Rocky Balboa and look forward to his fourth Rambo installment, you may want to see Daylight if you missed it or it has been a long time since seeing it.

 

The 1080p 1.85 X 1 VC-1 digital High Definition image looks good and this was always a film with a good reputation with its transfers in all formats, helped by surprisingly good camerawork by Director of Photography David Eggby, A.S.C., who keeps the claustrophobic atmosphere going.  As a DTS 12” LaserDisc and DTS DVD, the film has been known for its impressive sound design and that is also a trait of the bigger films from Stallone and Cohen to boot.  Unfortunately, there is not a DTS track to be found here and the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 mix seems to be limited as compared to the DTS I have heard on the film in the past.  Randy Edelman’s score is not bad and Donna Summer duets on the featured song, “Where There Is Love” that did not become a hit though she is long overdue for another one.

 

The combination is very nice for an older title and as good as any HD release of Stallone or Cohen to date.  Extras include a music video for the Summer/Bruce Roberts song and a commentary by Cohen.  All in all, Daylight is better than you might remember and though it is not a great film, it is more entertaining than you might think.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo