Product Description

Working undercover is a job. And an attitude. A mad dog narco cop blurs the line between cop and criminal as he mentors an idealistic rookie partner during his training day. Special features: never before seen footage: stunning alternate ending: subtitles in english french and spanish: and much more. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/13/2007 Starring: Denzel Washington Ethan Hawke Run time: 122 minutes Rating: R Director: Antoine Fuqua

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1477 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2004-06-01
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds
• Running time: 120 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
A powerhouse performance by Denzel Washington fuels this brutal urban police drama, in which a rookie narcotics cop learns the hard way that even good cops can go very, very bad. Washington plays veteran detective Alonzo Harris, a self-proclaimed "wolf among wolves," eager to teach his rookie partner Jake (Ethan Hawke) that normal rules don't apply on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Caught in a web of deception, Jake watches with escalating horror as Alonzo uses his badge (and the support of his superiors) to justify a self-righteous policy of corruption. In stark contrast to most of his previous work, Denzel unleashes his dark side with fearlessness and fury, and the result is excellence without compromise. Director Antoine Fuqua (The Replacement Killers) won't score any points for subtlety, but gritty details (including actual L.A. gang members as extras) and Hawke's finely tuned performance are perfectly matched to Washington's frightening volatility. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon.com
A powerhouse performance by Denzel Washington fuels this brutal urban police drama, in which a rookie narcotics cop learns the hard way that even good cops can go very, very bad. Washington plays veteran detective Alonzo Harris, a self-proclaimed "wolf among wolves," eager to teach his rookie partner Jake (Ethan Hawke) that normal rules don't apply on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Caught in a web of deception, Jake watches with escalating horror as Alonzo uses his badge (and the support of his superiors) to justify a self-righteous policy of corruption. In stark contrast to most of his previous work, Denzel unleashes his dark side with fearlessness and fury, and the result is excellence without compromise. Director Antoine Fuqua (The Replacement Killers) won't score any points for subtlety, but gritty details (including actual L.A. gang members as extras) and Hawke's finely tuned performance are perfectly matched to Washington's frightening volatility. --Jeff Shannon

From The New Yorker
A synthetically plotted melodrama, but still it has power and depth. Denzel Washington is Alonzo Harris, a decorated Los Angeles narcotics cop who breaks in his new partner, Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke), a talented rookie from the Valley. Alonzo bullies and taunts the young man, teaching him the brutal wisdom of the street; Jake, who is highly moral, eager to impress, and ambitious, is hurt and baffled. It takes us a while to realize that what seem like random incidents on the street are really the outer edges of a malaise-the dishonesty of Alonzo and the other members of his undercover unit. Despite some trashy and conventionally violent scenes, the movie is psychologically interesting: the dominating and witty Alonzo wants the respect of the young man he's trying to corrupt. Washington is tormented and brilliant; it's his best performance so far. Hawke, after a quiet beginning, opens his eyes and finds his voice. Pungently written by David Ayer. Directed with high-tension skill by Antoine Fuqua. -David Denby
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

2.5 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:

Though it's refreshing to see Denzel Washington play someone who isn't a saint, his character is evil just because the screenplay demands it, not because of any intrinsic reason; as a consequence, the movie never manages to be about anything but itself.

Training Day is awesome
I can say that the film has no flaws. Also Ethan Hawke's characters is not subdued, in fact, Hawke's character (Jake Hoyt) while being sensitive and moral, is at the same intense level as Denzel Washington's.

You can't write a review, without describing the plot.

The story is very real and vivid. It concerns a rookie cop named
Jake Hoyt (Hawke) who is assigned to a veteran narcotics cop named Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington).

During hia first few days on the job. Hoyr observes how Harris does his job of busting crooks and drug dealers. Alonzo is like a Dirty Harry movie, everyone in the city knows who he is and is scared to death of the gritty cop.

However, underneath, that great cop lies a crooked, corrupt policeman who is playing both sides of the law.... This is Denzel Washington best role ever, and he won the Oscar over Russell Crowe for best actor and it was well deserved.

Denzel through Alonzo creates another memorable corrupt villain
in film history.

Ethan Hawke is also great as Jake Hoyt. In fact both actors were nominated for their roles in the movie.

I just checked out the DVD, and it's absolutely fantastic!!!

The alternate ending is actually almost identical to the original ending, the making of features are great though along
with the candid commentary by Antoine Fuqua.

It was the movie of the year in 2001 and still holds up as corrupt law enforcement is still alive today.

Training Day
This is a rough film that depicts some elements of the drug law enforcement culture and the streets, etc. Not for the light-heart type person, but well written, and strong acting roles, etc.