Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Universal Movie ••• Picture/Sound •••½ Extras •••½

In this remake of John Carpenter's suspenseful low-budget classic, policemen and inmates once again combine forces, barricade a soon-to-be-abandoned precinct, and hold off the bad guys - this time, corrupt cops wielding the latest in lethal toys. While the new version doesn't have the raw tension of the original, it's slick and entertaining. Images are detailed, but poor contrast mars crispness. The sound, though, is first-rate, loaded with surround-channel action that sends gunshots whizzing by your ear and immerses you in the pulsing music. Interesting extras include a commentary by the creative team, engaging deleted scenes, and five featurettes. [R] English, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1; French, Dolby Digital 5.1; letterboxed (2.35:1) and anamorphic widescreen; dual layer.