Best of HD DVD, Vol. 1 [HD] DVD

Lethal Weapon
LA cop Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), whose wife has recently died, is a loose cannon with a seeming death wish. This makes him indispensable in collaring dangerous criminals, but a liability to any potential partners. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), a conservative family man who wants to stay alive for his upcoming 50th birthday, is partnered with Riggs. As Riggs gets to know Murtaugh and his family, he begins to mellow, though his insistence on using guerilla tactics to catch criminals is still (put mildly) above and beyond the call of duty. The main villain is The General (Mitchell Ryan), a drug dealer responsible for the death of the daughter of one of Murtaugh's oldest friends. The General is also in charge of a deadly, militia-like gang of smugglers. Adding fuel to the fire is The General's chief henchman, played with all stops out by Gary Busey. Moviegoers familiar only with the relatively tongue-in-cheek Lethal Weapon sequels may be amazed to find out how dangerous and unpredictable Riggs is in the first Lethal Weapon -- and how likely it seems that Murtaugh might not survive until fade-out time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Road Warrior
Director George Miller's follow-up to his own 1979 hit Mad Max is proof that not all sequels are inferior to their originals. If anything, this brutal sci-fi action film is even more intense and exciting than its predecessor, although the state of its post-apocalyptic world has only become worse. Several years after the deaths of his wife and child, Max (Mel Gibson) has become an alienated nomad, wandering an Australian outback that has fallen into tribal warfare conducted from scattered armed camps. After a road battle with psychotic villain Wez (Vernon Wells), Max meets up with the odd Gyro Captain (Bruce Spence), who takes him to the camp of a sympathetic group led by Pappagallo (Mike Preston). As Pappagallo's people are camped at a refinery, Max plans to take their oil -- more precious than gold in this world -- but eventually joins them to fight a band of marauders led by the evil Humungus (Kjell Nilsson). The stunning climax features a heart-pounding chase scene involving an oil tanker-truck and a frenzied rush for the coast, with Humungus and his forces in hot pursuit. Nilsson is a scary villain, with huge muscles and a sinister pre-Jason hockey mask, but the stunt work is the key here, and it is more flamboyantly dynamic than ever, edited at breakneck pace and staged with manic fury by Miller and stunt coordinator Max Aspin. Savage and kinetic, Mad Max 2 is a must-see for action buffs. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Swordfish
Director Dominic Sena follows up his stylish action film Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) with this high-tech thriller. John Travolta stars as Gabriel Shear, a charismatic spy who plots to steal a multi-billion-dollar fortune in illegal government funds. In order to make his scheme work, however, Gabriel needs some help from a computer hacker, which is where Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman) comes in. Stanley has been paroled from prison after serving a lengthy sentence for penetrating the FBI's cyber-surveillance operations. Issued a restraining order that keeps him away from computers and living penniless in a trailer park, Stanley wants only to be reunited with his daughter Holly, who's in the custody of his ex-wife, now remarried to a pornographer. Gabriel and his partner Ginger (Halle Berry) offer Stanley the chance to get his child back in exchange for his help, but the hacker soon realizes he's a pawn in a larger operation than the high-tech bank heist he thought he was perpetrating. In the meantime, a dedicated federal agent (Don Cheadle), the same man who once arrested Stanley, is trying to expose Gabriel's operation. Swordfish also stars Sam Shepard and Zach Grenier. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Training Day
The Fast and the Furious (2001) screenwriter David Ayer follows up that fast-paced action hit with this gritty cop drama from director Antoine Fuqua. Ethan Hawke stars as Jake Hoyt, a fresh-faced Los Angeles Police Department rookie anxious to join the elite narcotics squad headed up by 13-year veteran Detective Sergeant Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington). Harris has agreed to give Hoyt a shot at joining his team with a one-day ride-along during which Hoyt must prove his mettle. As the day wears on, however, it becomes increasingly clear to the greenhorn that his experienced mentor has blurred the line between right and wrong to an alarming degree, enforcing his own morally compromised code of ethics and street justice. As he struggles with his conscience, an increasingly alarmed Hoyt begins to suspect that he's not really being given an audition at all; he's being set up as the fall guy in an elaborate scheme. Training Day co-stars Tom Berenger, Scott Glenn, and recording artists Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Macy Gray. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Cast Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh Gary Busey as Joshua Mitchell Ryan as The General Tom Atkins as Michael Hunsaker Darlene Love as Trish Murtaugh Traci Wolfe as Rianne Murtaugh Jackie Swanson as Amanda Hunsaker Damon Hines as Nick Murtaugh Ebonie Smith as Carrie Murtaugh Mel Gibson as Mad Max Virginia Hey as Warrior Woman Syd Heylen as Curmudgeon Emil Minty as Feral Kid Kjell Nilsson as Humungus Max Phipps as Toadie Vernon Wells as Wez David Slingsby as Quiet Man Steve J. Spears as Mechanic Bruce Spence as Gyro Captain John Travolta as Gabriel Shear Hugh Jackman as Stanley Jobson Halle Berry as Ginger Don Cheadle as Agent Roberts Vinnie Jones as Marco Sam Shepard as Senator Reisman Drea de Matteo as Melissa Rudolph Martin as Axl Torvalds Zach Grenier as Assistant Director Joy Camryn Grimes as Holly Angelo Pagán as Torres Chic Daniel as Swat Leader Kirk B.R. Woller as Lawyer Carmen Argenziano as Agent Tim DeKay as Agent Laura Lane as Helga Tait Ruppert as Ad Agency Executive Craig Braun as Coroner William Mapother as Gabriel's Crew Ilia Volokh as Gabriel's Crew Jonathan Fraser as Gabriel's Crew Shawn Woods as Gabriel's Crew Leo Lee as Gabriel's Crew Marina Black as Hostage Kerry Kletter as Hostage Ryan Wulff as Hostage Ann Travolta as Hostage Margaret Travolta as Hostage Dana Hee as Hostage Denney Pierce as Hostage Jeff Ramsey as Hostage Joey Box as Hostage Debbie Evans as Hostage Sam Travolta as Hostage Tim Storms as Hostage Jason Christopher as Club Kid Jonathan Pessin as Club Kid Scott Burkholder as FBI Geek Mark Soper as FBI Geek Craig Lally as Customs Agent Rusty McClennon as Customs Agent Mark Riccardi as Customs Agent Debbie Entin as Helga's Friend Natalia Sokolova as Helga's Friend Anika Poitier as Helga's Friend Nick Loren as Dark Suit Tom Morris as Policeman Richard Householder as Policeman Michael Arias as Policeman Brenda Eimers as Holly's Teacher Tim Omundson as Agent Thomas Astrid Veillon as Bank Executive Dean Duval as Security Guard Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt Scott Glenn as Roger Tom Berenger as Stan Gursky Harris Yulin as Doug Rosselli Raymond J. Barry as Lou Jacobs Cliff Curtis as Smiley Dr. Dre as Paul Snoop Dogg as Blue Macy Gray as Sandman's Wife Charlotte Ayanna as Lisa Nick Chinlund as Tim Jaime Gomez as Mark Raymond Cruz as Sniper Noel Guglielmi as Moreno Eva Mendes as Sara Harris Sarah Danielle Madison as Female Passenger

Crew David S. Lazan - Art Director Susan E. Novick - Associate Producer Mary Vernieu - Casting Scott Strauss - Co-producer David Wisnievitz - Co-producer David Ayer - Co-producer Michele Michel - Costume Designer Randy Fletcher - First Assistant Director Antoine Fuqua - Director Conrad Buff - Editor Bruce Berman - Executive Producer Davis Guggenheim - Executive Producer Mark Mancina - Composer (Music Score) John Houlihan - Musical Direction/Supervision Naomi Shohan - Production Designer Mauro Fiore - Cinematographer Jeffrey Silver - Producer Bobby Newmyer - Producer Robert C. Goldstein - Set Designer Sue Lomino - Set Designer Russell Williams II - Sound/Sound Designer Spiro Azatos - Stunts Coordinator Ken Bates - Stunts Coordinator Tierre Turner - Stunts Coordinator David Ayer - Screenwriter Chuck Cohen - Second Unit Director Of Photography John C. Pattison - Properties George Simpson - Supervising Sound Editor Jan Pascale - Set Decorator David S. Lazan - Art Director Susan E. Novick - Associate Producer Mary Vernieu - Casting Scott Strauss - Co-producer David Wisnievitz - Co-producer David Ayer - Co-producer Michele Michel - Costume Designer Randy Fletcher - First Assistant Director Antoine Fuqua - Director Conrad Buff - Editor Bruce Berman - Executive Producer Davis Guggenheim - Executive Producer Mark Mancina - Composer (Music Score) John Houlihan - Musical Direction/Supervision Naomi Shohan - Production Designer Mauro Fiore - Cinematographer Jeffrey Silver - Producer Bobby Newmyer - Producer Robert C. Goldstein - Set Designer Sue Lomino - Set Designer Russell Williams II - Sound/Sound Designer Spiro Azatos - Stunts Coordinator Ken Bates - Stunts Coordinator Tierre Turner - Stunts Coordinator David Ayer - Screenwriter Chuck Cohen - Second Unit Director Of Photography John C. Pattison - Properties George Simpson - Supervising Sound Editor Jan Pascale - Set Decorator David S. Lazan - Art Director Susan E. Novick - Associate Producer Mary Vernieu - Casting Scott Strauss - Co-producer David Wisnievitz - Co-producer David Ayer - Co-producer Michele Michel - Costume Designer Randy Fletcher - First Assistant Director Antoine Fuqua - Director Conrad Buff - Editor Bruce Berman - Executive Producer Davis Guggenheim - Executive Producer Mark Mancina - Composer (Music Score) John Houlihan - Musical Direction/Supervision Naomi Shohan - Production Designer Mauro Fiore - Cinematographer Jeffrey Silver - Producer Bobby Newmyer - Producer Robert C. Goldstein - Set Designer Sue Lomino - Set Designer Russell Williams II - Sound/Sound Designer Spiro Azatos - Stunts Coordinator Ken Bates - Stunts Coordinator Tierre Turner - Stunts Coordinator David Ayer - Screenwriter Chuck Cohen - Second Unit Director Of Photography John C. Pattison - Properties George Simpson - Supervising Sound Editor Jan Pascale - Set Decorator David S. Lazan - Art Director Susan E. Novick - Associate Producer Mary Vernieu - Casting Scott Strauss - Co-producer David Wisnievitz - Co-producer David Ayer - Co-producer Michele Michel - Costume Designer Randy Fletcher - First Assistant Director Antoine Fuqua - Director Conrad Buff - Editor Bruce Berman - Executive Producer Davis Guggenheim - Executive Producer Mark Mancina - Composer (Music Score) John Houlihan - Musical Direction/Supervision Naomi Shohan - Production Designer Mauro Fiore - Cinematographer Jeffrey Silver - Producer Bobby Newmyer - Producer Robert C. Goldstein - Set Designer Sue Lomino - Set Designer Russell Williams II - Sound/Sound Designer Spiro Azatos - Stunts Coordinator Ken Bates - Stunts Coordinator Tierre Turner - Stunts Coordinator David Ayer - Screenwriter Chuck Cohen - Second Unit Director Of Photography John C. Pattison - Properties George Simpson - Supervising Sound Editor Jan Pascale - Set Decorator

Lethal Weapon
If the 1980s and 1990s were the golden age of action movies (in sheer volume at least), Lethal Weapon, descended from the tougher, grittier cop movies of the Seventies (Dirty Harry and The French Connection), remains one of its most lasting products. Similar to the following year's Die Hard, the first Weapon balances a likable and believable sense of humanity with a good helping of freneticaction. Mel Gibson is the star here, and his menacing but exposed performance (as in Mad Max) gives the film much of its edge. Director Richard Donner manages the pace of the movie well, and he is careful to make his two stars (Gibson and Danny Glover) the center of our attention without sacrificing the action thriller conventions and construction. Since his major film debut, 1976's The Omen, Donner has proven himself to be one of the more entertaining directors working firmly inside of the Hollywood system. This was the movie that launched Glover into the public consciousness after some notable supporting roles in Witness, Places in the Heart, and Silverado. It also marked a successful comeback for Gibson after a two-year break from filmmaking. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
 

The Road Warrior
Mad Max 2 (The Road Warrior) is a pure expression of cinematic existentialism. The characters spend their time driving through a barren, post-apocalyptic world looking for gasoline so that they can continue to drive around the desert and find more gasoline. Of course, there's an exciting action movie thrown in as well. The loner protagonist at the center of our attention is again Max (Mel Gibson), who in the first Mad Max lost his wife and child to a murderous bunch of thugs. Max retreats from society, living the life of a scavenger in the "wasteland." It might be a sci-fi setting, but Max is a direct descendant of classic Western and film noir antiheroes. He looks out for himself and only himself, and there's only a very fine line between him and the bad guys. The setup of the "reluctant savior" rescuing the stranded "villagers" is about as traditional a storyline as you can get, and the movie precedents are no less obvious: it's Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven (minus the six other guys). Following the success of this movie, Gibson became an international star. Talented writer/director George Miller has gone on to mixed financial success as a producer and director, but has consistently produced interesting and original material. The infamous Kevin Costner vehicle Waterworld is basically a remake of Mad Max II in an aquatic setting. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
 

Swordfish
(not reviewed)
 

Training Day
In his most nefarious film role yet, Denzel Washington keeps the audience stumbling off balance, forcing them to ponder whether his unorthodox crime-fighting methods are justifiable radicalism or a deviant abuse of power. With bawdy humor and grudging praise providing counterpoint to his fierce stares and verbal intimidation, it's difficult to determine whether he's toughening a protégé through trial by fire, or laughing at a patsy he despises. Antoine Fuqua's Training Day is a violent, vigorous film sure to leave viewers uneasily processing their feelings about it. In that climate of renewed reverence for the police, the film's exaggerated portrayal of narcotics officers can't help but feel a bit uncharitable. Still, there's immediacy to the thesis that these undercover cops are so ornately jeweled, so hip to street culture, and so entrenched in their renegade philosophies that they become indistinguishable from the gangsters they're hunting. The film also understands how this world is governed by bravado, as Washington astutely and systematically manipulates Ethan Hawke's eagerness to prove he's man enough for the job. Washington alternates between visceral intensity and mere showiness in a role that's courageously unlikable, while Hawke makes the most of a soft, underwritten character. Even while including a handful of stylized camera tricks, Fuqua maintains a tense realism by filming in some of L.A.'s worst neighborhoods, using his own street credibility to convince real drug dealers and low-lifes to appear in the film. No less challenging for its flawed sensationalism, Training Day is bracing cinema. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
 

Disc Title: Lethal Weapon - People Awards: Bill Nelson: Academy, Best Sound (nominated) Dick Alexander: Academy, Best Sound (nominated) Les Fresholtz: Academy, Best Sound (nominated) Verne Poore: Academy, Best Sound (nominated)

The Road Warrior - Film Awards: L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Foreign Film (winner)

Disc Title: Training Day - People Awards: Denzel Washington: Academy, Best Actor (winner) Denzel Washington: American Film Institute, Best Actor (winner) Denzel Washington: Golden Globe, Best Actor - Drama (nominated) Denzel Washington: L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Actor (winner) Denzel Washington: Screen Actors Guild, Best Actor (nominated) Ethan Hawke: Academy, Best Supporting Actor (nominated) Ethan Hawke: Screen Actors Guild, Best Supporting Actor (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, English, French Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DDS2.0: Dolby Digital w/ 4 channels of sound from a 2-channel stereo mix. Additional Features: The Road Warrior: Exclusive-to-High-Def bonus: director/ cinematographer commentary! Swordfish: Alternate endings Director commentary Interviews Making-of featurettes and music video Training Day: Additional scenes and alternate ending Director commentary Making-of featurettes and 2 music videos Lethal Weapon: Additional scenes DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1: 2.40:1 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 4 DVD Sides: 4 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 426 min