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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Enforcer, The

    Featured In Issue 133, July/August 2008

    Picture4
    SoundNR
    WSR Score4
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number):
    1000037212
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $129.95
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    97
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    1976
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    06/03/08
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    James Fargo
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    After Harry Callahan (Eastwood) handles a liquor store holdup in his own no-nonsense way, he is transferred from Homicide to Personnel. His supervisors quickly want him back, though, after an arms warehouse is robbed by terrorists. Much to Harry's dismay, he is teamed with a rookie partner (Daly), who brings along some comedy to this shoot-em-up action packed film, The Enforcer. (Stacey Pendry)

    Special features include commentary by Director James Fargo, two featurettes: the 30-minute The Business End: Violence In Cinema and the six-minute Harry Callahan/Clint Eastwood: Something Special In Films, and the theatrical trailers for the five Dirty Harry films.

    The anamorphically enhanced 2.39:1 DVD shows some improvement in resolution over the previous release, with fine details delivered nicely. Black levels are consistent, but slightly elevated, and shadow delineation is improved, helping create a more realistic, dimensional picture. Fleshtones are also improved, looking more natural than in the DVD reviewed in Issue 56, and contrast is also balanced better. Flecks of dirt can be noticed at times, but it is hardly a distraction, and edge enhancement is minor, almost to the point of being a non-issue. Color balance is improved significantly, looking not nearly as dated as in the previous DVD. Compression is also improved, with very few artifacts noticeable. The VC-1-encoded Blu-ray Disc shows sharp resolution, but dirt and grain from the source element can distract. The colors appear slightly dated, but are generally nicely saturated. Black levels are solid, and shadow detail is nicely balanced. Flesh has a sunburnt appearance, though. Don't assume that the DVD looks better than the Blu-ray Disc because of the ratings given, but compared to other discs in the two formats, the DVD looks better than its contemporaries. (Danny Richelieu)

    The Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack features good bass tonality, but effects and music can sound dated at times. Dialogue sounds slightly thin, but is always audible, and the front stage benefits from a broad mix that seems to extend beyond the physical limitations of the loudspeakers. Dynamic range is somewhat dated, though, and a harsh digitization can be heard throughout. General distortion is also audible at times during the presentation, with varying degrees of distraction. The Blu-ray Disc's lossless Dolby TrueHD encoding exacerbates the clipping distortion that can be heard, but overall fidelity is improved slightly. (Danny Richelieu)

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    Bill Makepeace
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