Product Description

Movie DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14857 in DVD
• Brand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
• Released on: 2006-09-19
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .35 pounds
• Running time: 132 minutes

Amazon.com
A somewhat contrived screenplay doesn't stop this thriller from serving up some of the most spectacular fire sequences ever committed to film. Like any Ron Howard production Backdraft is impressively slick and boasts a stellar cast, including Kurt Russell and William Baldwin. The actors play sibling rivals who have been at odds since the death of their firefighter father years earlier. Robert De Niro is the veteran fire inspector who is tracking a series of mysterious and deadly arsons, and Donald Sutherland is effectively creepy as the former arsonist who understands the criminal psychology of pyromaniacs. Rebecca De Mornay, Scott Glenn, and Jennifer Jason Leigh are featured in supporting roles. Backdraft is a triumph of stunt work and flaming special effects. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVD
Backdraft looks and sounds better than ever on disc 1 of this 2-disc 15th Anniversary Edition, and includes an introduction by director Ron Howard, who describes how he still gets a thrill whenever he sees a fire engine responding to an alarm, since filming Backdraft ("a film I'm very proud of") gave him a deep appreciation of firemen and the dangerous job they do. Disc 2 is loaded with new and exclusive features, including 43 minutes of deleted scenes taken from a work-print (including extensions of scenes in the film) that are worthy of one viewing, if only to illustrate why they weren't needed in the final film. "Igniting the Story" is a 15-minute featurette focusing on the origin of Backdraft as a screenplay written by former firefighter Gregory Widen, with Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer, Widen, and others describing the process of bringing Backdraft from script to screen. "Bringing Together the Team" runs 19 minutes, and covers casting decisions (including two real-life Chicago firefighters), firefighter training for the cast, and the logistical challenges of placing well-known actors in genuine (albeit safety-enforced) danger.

"The Explosive Stunts" is another 15-minute featurette, revealing Howard's decision to avoid digital technology (because computer-generated fire still looked "phony" in 1991) and focus instead on authentic, practical fire effects, with actors Kurt Russell, Scott Glenn, and William Baldwin performing many of their own stunts under potentially dangerous conditions. (Glenn describes one incident where fire burned through nearly three layers of his Nomex fire-retardant underwear!) "Creating the Villain: The Fire" shows how the still-impressive infernos in Backdraft were achieved, and this is a fascinating featurette given that Backdraft was a one-of-a-kind production, filmed before the advent of sophisticated and real-looking digital fire effects. "Real-Life Firemen, Real-Life Stories" is a 10-minute tribute to a group of Chicago firemen who praise Backdraft for its realism while pointing out some of the differences between the film and the real-life details of firefighting. Of course, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 weigh heavily on these men, who acknowledge Backdraft as the first film to honor the bravery of firefighters prior to their news-making heroism in the wake of 9/11. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

A great film!!
If you like to watch a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat with great special effects and wonderful, true to life character interactions, I definitely recommend Ron Howard's Backdraft. The interactions among all the actors come across as very natural, as if all the actors where actually who they were playing, making the characters more believable. Not only are the characters believable, but the special effects that continue through out the movie, whether big or small, pull everything together to make Backdraft one of the best films I have ever seen. The basis of this movie is that people around the Chicago area are dying by way of these backdrafts. It is up to the arson investigator, played by Robert DeNiro to find out what is going on. The other characters involved are two brothers who's father died serving the same fire department they work for. Kurt Russell plays the oldest brother, Lieutenant Stephen 'Bull' McCaffrey ,who has been with the force for many years, and William Baldwin plays the younger brother, Brian McCaffrey who just joined the force. Throughout the movie the two brothers battle conflict with each other relating to sibling rivalry among other things, and Brian ends up leaving the force to join the arson investigating office.. Other characters involved around the two brothers are Rebecca De Mornay, who plays Helen McCaffrey, the ex-wife of Kurt Russell. Her part is not that large, but the importance of her character in regards to Kurt Russell is definitely noticeable, and the friendship that still exists between them is easy to relate to. Jennifer Jason Leigh, who plays Jennifer Vaitkus, the ex-girlfriend of William Baldwin, has a bit of a larger role. Not only does she appear from William Baldwin's past, but she now holds the position of Assistant to the Alderman, to whom many contacts will be made. Donald Sutherland, who plays Ronald Bartel, a former arsonist who understands the criminal psychology of pyromaniacs, gives insight to the arson investigation team, by sharing some of his own stories of arson from his past. Scott Glenn plays the role as a fellow firefighter "Axe" Adcox. His character is that of a supporting brotherly figure, to which is not quite appreciated. Finally there is J.T. Walsh, who gives an excellent supporting performance as the sleazy Alderman Swayczak. He is responsible for making changes within the Chicago fire department that do not benefit the department all that well. All of the actors work great together, and seem natural among one another. These special effects, by far, make the movie mesmerizing. Not only do you see the fire as it threatens the characters and destroys everything in its path, but you get to see an insight of how fire really moves, how it breaths, and how it can dance and hide with the wink of the eye. One particular scene, where a building is on fire and the two brothers must go in after a little boy, really give you the feeling of being up close and personal with the fire around them.. You feel the fear of being hurt along the anticipation of trying to save the life of the little boy right along side the characters. The combination of great characters and believable situations, make this story memorable. The story, written by Gregory Widen, is not only full of action, but in some situations, it shows how life really is.. Whether it is the friction felt by siblings trying to live up to false expectations of one another, or doing the right thing when it comes to your job and your personal friendships, nothing in this story appears impossible. Over all a great combination of characters, actors and producer that make one heck of a good film.

Amazon update your details!
This is actually a 2-disc "Anniversary" special edition.

Digitally Remastered Picture & Sound
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English DD5.1 Surround
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
Ron Howard Introduction

Extras:
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Over 40 Minutes of Deleted Scenes
"Igniting the Story" -Director Ron Howard, Academy Award®-winning producer Brian Grazer and others discuss the evolution of the film from script to screen
"Bringing Together The Team" -From the casting room to firefighter clinics see how director Ron Howard brought together a talented team of actors and real-life firefighters
"The Explosive Stunts" -Filmmakers reveal the state-of-the-art technology and heroic stunts that created the explosive action of the film
"Creating the Villain: The Fire" -See how an overwhelmingly talented team of special effects creators and stunt coordinators worked together to bring the fire to life
"Real-Life Fireman, Real-Life Stories" -Get an insider's perspective on what it takes to be a firefighter in this round-table discussion with the crew of Station 73, Santa Clarit

Good film. Poor DVD.
I've always regarded this film as highly watchable: it was never intended to be too much more. However Universal has a bit to answer for with this DVD edition.

Firstly, the picture quality is very grainy and colourless, you really have to pump up the colour settings on your TV before the people start looking like they have skin tone. Secondly, the original aspect ratio of this film is (as advertised) 2.35:1, but after comparison to three other films in the same aspect ratio (Face/Off, Cliffhanger, Boogie Nights) one can clearly see that this DVD is actually in 2.30:1, meaning that parts of the sides of the film are cropped off. Thirdly, there are scenes missing from this edition, especially one noted scene with Kurt Russel - before he gets drunk and goes and to see his wife - about his report concerning Tim having his face burnt off. Fourthly, there are only 16 chapters here for a film spanning two and a quarter hours. To put that in perspective for you, a film like Zero Effect, which is less than two hours, has 31 chapters. This means that you cannot cut to prime action sequences and skip the parts in between when you do not have time to watch them.

The only good thing about this edition is the sound. Remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1, it can really pump out the low rumble of a wave of fire and the crackle of incinerating material if your sound system is up to it.

If you have to have this film, fair enough. But otherwise, wait until Universal gets smart and releases a proper edition that has all the scenes, more chapter divisions, better quality picture in the right aspect ratio, and hopefully a few bonuses like the theatrical trailer or enhancement for widescreen televisions.