The Greatest Sea Adventure in History Has Just Begun! The high seas have never been more terrifying than in this riveting, tension-packed adventure directed by the great Richard Lester (The Knack … and How to Get It, The Three Musketeers, Cuba, Superman II). Screen legends Richard Harris (The Long and the Short and the Tall, The Wild Geese) and Omar Sharif (Doctor Zhivago, The Tamarind Seed) head an all-star cast that includes the extraordinary Anthony Hopkins (When Eight Bells Toll, The Silence of the Lambs), David Hemmings (Crossed Swords, Murder by Decree), Shirley Knight (The Group, The Rain People) and Ian Holm (The Homecoming, Alien) in an edge-of-the-seat shipboard thriller! HMS Britannic is caught in a storm at sea. But the real terror is on board—seven bombs planted by a terrorist calling himself Juggernaut, who demands a high ransom in exchange for the passengers’ lives. Bomb expert Fallon (Harris) is flown to the ship and, as negotiations break down, he struggles with the most challenging job of his life in a race against time! The Stellar cast also includes Clifton James (The Reivers) and Roy Kinnear (How I Won the War).
For thoughts on Juggernaut, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
This new Blu-Ray from Kino Classics gives Juggernaut an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1 that looks quite good. The film was released on Blu-Ray nearly a decade ago in 2014 by the label, although it appears to have been out of print for a few years. Without the indication of a new master, we are under the assumption that the new release is derived from the same source with a new BD-50 disc instead of the more compressed BD-25 from before. We do not have that disc to compare the two experiences, but this looks really nice despite being from an older source
The feature has a decent grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the picture, showcasing subtle details in the ship interiors and on the clothing. The color palette seems natural to the intention of the filmmaker with a very natural appearance. Colors show up on the screen nicely, although the scenery is largely made of metallic surfaces. Black levels hold up fine with some admirable depth to the image. There are no egregious bits of damage to be found in this presentation with only the most minuscule instances of dirt and specks in the image. We are glad to see Kino Classics bring this title back out.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a very good DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that delivers a favorable listening experience. Dialogue and background noises remain in harmony with all competing elements so that everything has a chance to shine. The music does not overshadow the dialogue or other important information. This track shows few signs of age related wear and tear. The track can sound the slightest bit thin when it comes to its musical heights, but this is far from a substantial issue. Kino Classics has delivered strong work for this title. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson provide a new commentary track in which they discuss the release and legacy of the film, the background of the performers, where this fits into the career of director Richard Lester, how this compares to disaster films of the time and more that gives insight into the picture.
- TV Spot: A 33-second TV spot is provided here.
- Trailers: The three-minute trailer for Juggernaut is provided here. There are trailers for The Groundstar Conspiracy, Gold, The Eiger Sanction, The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three, Rosebud, Marathon Man, Sudden Terror, When Eight Bells Toll and Cuba.
Final Thoughts
Juggernaut is a truly knockout discovery in the old-school disaster movie genre. The plot is incredibly simple, but the execution will leave you breathless as you have titans of British performing arts trading clever exchanges and taking on pulse-pounding endeavors. Even at nearly two hours the film never feels overlong, as director Richard Lester keeps things moving and escalating. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that shows off a strong A/V presentation and a fun new commentary track. If you are a fan of the disaster genre be sure to snag this ASAP. Recommended
Juggernaut (Special Edition) is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.