Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay -
Unrated (New Line Blu-ray +
DVD-Video/2008)
Picture:
B/C+ Sound: B/C+ Extras: D Film: D
While Dark Knight sets new records and enjoys
amazing critical acclaim, too much of the bad Hollywood product plays it safe
and follows formulas by executives with little talent, imagination and no love
of film just trying to keep jobs they should not have. Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (it took
two people to write and direct this?) are responsible for Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantánamo Bay (2008), which
automatically is the worst sequel to a spin-off in cinema history – that in
itself gives you an idea of the desperation here.
The title
characters (John Cho, Kal Penn) are still together and this time, they get on
an airplane, are “mistaken” for terrorists (horrifying movie screens worldwide does
not violate the Patriot Act or U.N., civil rights charters) while on a flight
and are arrested (hurray!) on sight. It
gets so bad hat they are sent to Guantánamo Bay, the first two who clearly
deserve to go there. Before Amnesty
International can do anything, they escape and this becomes one of the worst
chase films of all time.
In yet
another reason Warner Bros. folded New Line into their main studio, this is intended
as a mindless quick-buck release, which bombed at the box office. Anyone worried about this being
“anti-American” is a fool wasting their time; this is anti-everyone!
Disposable,
pointless and even racist in its exploitation of the leads as stereotypes, no
matter how self-sufficient and in control, is an affront that holds back other
non-whites from making strides in Hollywood and Penn’s lame appearance in Superman Returns proves my point and
the overall disposability going on here which is more on the level of the worst
things that really have happened at the real Guantánamo Bay since 9/11.
An
embarrassment all around!
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 image is soft, has motion blur, color issues and is a flat shoot
reminiscent of a bad TV sitcom, which means the anamorphically enhanced DVD is
that much worse, with more of the same and bad Video Black. The DTS 7.1 HD Master Audio (MA) Lossless mix
sounds better than the Dolby Digital 5.1 EX on the DVD, but neither have any
great use of surrounds or soundfield, while the dialogue and supposed jokes are
recorded well in one of the only competent features here.
The
extras (they actually included some!) are 27 additional scenes (!!!!!!!), the “Dude, Change The Movie” feature where
you can rearrange the film’s “narrative” to control their trip proving how
generic this all is, Bush PSA, two audio commentary tracks, a making of
featurette and a bonus digital copy so you can infect your portable PC and
other electronic devices with this mess.
Worst of
all, another sequel has been announced!
- Nicholas Sheffo
