Review of Ronin

Video

A nice anamorphic 2.35:1 print is provided here, split over 32 chapters. As noted on the director’s commentary, colours are deliberately ‘damped down’ to avoid any bright colours being in the film. Thus there is a menacing feel to the whole movie, which adds to the visual impact.

This film is a fast paced action espionage thriller, with several high speed car chase scenes.

Audio

Check out the 5.1 mix on the car chases!! Much thought has gone into the sound stage on this film, and consequently a superb surround sound track has been recorded. The rear channels come alive during the car chases, and the gunfire scenes. Throughout the movie, much of the music is channelled to the rears, but this never become obtrusive.

Features

The menus are nicely animated, and the disc contains quite a few extras.

A 21 minute ‘Filming in the Fast Lane’ documentary covers much of the car chase sequences and other special effects. A full length directors commentary (which is playing as I write this review with my laptop on my knees) from John Frankenheimer provides interesting background information, and an insight into the meticulous directing Frankenheimer employs on his movies.

You also get an alternative ending, which I actually prefer and wonder why it was never used! Also you get the theatrical trailer, and an 8 page booklet included.

Conclusion

The car chase scenes in this film must be one of the most exciting sequences of its kind I have ever seen on film. I whinced when that nice Audi got walloped left right and centre, and it was amusing to notice that the Citroen that was being chased sounded like a tiny lawnmower running too fast! This film does things with cars that even the 007 series or the Steve McQueen classic Bullitt cannot match.

Director John Frankenheimer is used to high speed car chase films, as one of his previous works has included Grand Prix in 1962. This was ahead of its time in that all the car sequences actually occurred with no special effects. He employed several racing drivers to make the sequences convincing, and he has done the same on Ronin.

Robert De Niro excels in his part as Sam, and Jonathan Pryce plays a far more menacing baddy that his Eliot Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies,

Overall this is a wonderfully fast moving film, and as thrillers go, is paced far faster than average. The DVD is regarded as one of the rare discs where the Region 2 version is better than the Region 1, as we have a nice clutch of extras here, as well as PAL picture quality over the NTSC Region 1.