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Title: Chain Reaction
Region: One
Genre: Action Thriller
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Rachel Weisz, Fred Ward, Kevin Dunn, and Brian Cox
Writers: J. F. Lawton and Michael Bortman
Director: Andrew Davis
Feature length: 106 minutes
Extras: Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
Languages: English DTS Digital 5.1 Surround, English Dolby Digital 5.1, and English and French Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitles: English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Subtitles
Packaging: Amaray Keep Case
Chapter Stops: 24
Sound: DTS Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and Stereo Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 1996/DVD Release: 2001
Theatrical Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Home Video Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
Before Keanu Reeves hit his mark in "The Matrix" he had made a number of action films like "Point Break," for which a review is forthcoming, and "Chain Reaction." Now aside from "The Matrix" many people have criticized Reeves for various reasons, but he has actually done quite good in certain film roles aside from early film parts in "River's Edge" and the "Bill & Ted" comedies. "My Own Private Idaho", "Much Ado About Nothing", and even though I felt the film was terrible, it was refreshing to see Keanu play against type as a serial killer in "The Watcher." So whatever one's feelings might be about Keanu Reeves, he is indeed a versatile actor. "Chain Reaction" is more of a high concept vehicle for him. Keanu Reeves plays a student machinist who finds himself framed for the destruction of several city blocks in an industrial area and the death of a prominent, but controversial scientist involved in an experiment involving hydrogen as an alternate energy source. On the run with him is a physicist, (Rachel Weisz in a pre-"Mummy" role), trying to find the truth behind the disaster they have left behind and prove their own innocence.
In an era where so many films with intriguing concepts get dummied down into twenty-something popcorn bate, "Chain Reaction" is somewhat refreshing if only that despite the obvious parallels to "The Fugitive", which was also directed by Andrew Davis, Morgan Freeman and Brian Cox deliver a bit of credibility and the film is easier to accept and forgive for its moments of pure silliness then some more recent films that will not named here.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has released "Chain Reaction" in an anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) transfer with excellent clarity and resolution, no color bleeding, and nice deep blacks. There are equally edgy English DTS Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and English Dolby Digital 5.1 Soundtrack options that distribute the sound effects equally. English and French Dolby Surround 2.0 Soundtrack options are also encoded along with English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Subtitles on to the same dual layered DVD.
There is a widescreen (2.35:1) trailer for "Chain Reaction" as well as a (2.35:1) trailer for "Unlawful Entry" and widescreen (1.85:1) trailers for "Point Break" and "Big Trouble In Little China," which all street day and date on DVD together with "Chain Reaction" from Twentieth Century Fox on Tuesday, May 22, 2001. All of the trailers feature English Dolby Surround 2.0 Sound.
Two TV Spots with English Dolby Surround 2.0 Sound round off the extra features included on this DVD. The menus are standard interactive still frames that are well rendered and easy to navigate. Check out "Chain Reaction" on DVD along with the other action DVD releases coming day and date from Fox.
© Copyright 2001 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.