Clear and Present Danger Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray edition of "Clear and Present Danger" presents a significant improvement over previous DVD releases, delivering a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer at a robust bitrate of 33Mbps. However, this transfer does present a mixed bag of results. On the positive side, the color reproduction is notably vibrant, capturing rich jungle greens, bold reds, and clean blue skies in Colombian scenes. Depth and contrast are well-executed, effectively separating shades and creating an appreciable three-dimensional effect. Skin tones are more natural compared to older transfers. Detail and sharpness are generally commendable, allowing for better visibility of fine textures in backgrounds, shadow details, and on-screen text.

That said, there are some prominent issues that detract from the overall experience. Paramount's use of Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) is quite evident and results in a loss of fine facial textures and background details. While DNR helps reduce grain and noise, it also inadvertently obliterates some intricate nuances and gives the image a slightly processed feel. Edge enhancement is another problematic element; one can detect halos around high-contrast edges, especially noticeable in several scenes such as Jack Ryan's plane landing sequence. These issues occasionally disrupt the image integrity, slightly dulling the potential sharpness and overall picture quality.

Overall, this Blu-ray edition offers cleaner and more vibrant visuals compared to older DVD versions but is let down slightly by over-processed elements. While casual viewers may not find these issues distracting, more discerning audiences might wish for a more faithful filmic presentation without DNR and edge enhancement. Nonetheless, this remains the best available version of “Clear and Present Danger” to date.

The audio presentation of "Clear and Present Danger" on Blu-ray delivers a commendably enhanced experience. Utilizing a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track, this release noticeably elevates the film’s original sound design. Dynamics are impressively solid, significantly enhancing the intensity of gunfire, explosions, and other sound effects. The sound field effectively combines both discrete and ambient sounds, ensuring an immersive experience during action sequences, such as the notable rescue mission at the coffee factory. Dialogue through the center channel is crystal clear, with well-defined intonation and variety, enhancing the viewing experience. Imaging across the front three channels reveals distinctive separation and seamless panoramic movement, contributing to an open and realistic sound staging. Low frequencies exhibit substantial impact with palpable room penetration, although occasionally falling short in bass effect during some action scenes.

Paramount's inclusion of a lossless audio track significantly improves clarity and dynamic presence over previous lossy Dolby Digital versions. The enhanced clarity ensures every subtle nuance is well-defined and free from compression artifacts. The surround use is proficient, fostering a deeply immersive experience, especially in high-tension sequences like the alleyway shootout where directional sound effects, such as flying debris and ricochets, contribute to an enveloping atmosphere. Despite the rich detail in most of the audio design, there are moments of inconsistent sonics, particularly in interior scenes that occasionally lack ambient support. Nonetheless, the rear soundfield movements remain impressive in specific Colombian-set pieces, enhancing overall engagement.

Overall, while the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track may not be groundbreaking, it faithfully presents the film’s sound design with satisfying dynamics and respectable surround speaker support. The mix generally holds its own with crisp, prioritized dialogue and effective use of the LFE channel for intermittent gunfire and explosion enhancement. Fans of the film will appreciate the substantial improvement over standard DVD audio, despite some minor inconsistencies in ambiance and acoustics.

The extras for "Clear and Present Danger" on Blu-ray are limited, mirroring those found in its standard DVD edition. The primary feature, "Behind the Danger," offers a 26-minute behind-the-scenes look with interviews from the director and main cast, albeit lacking depth and meaningful exploration of the film’s production or its relationship to the original Tom Clancy novel. While the content is basic and occasionally mundane, providing more praise than insight, it adds some value to the disc. Additionally, the package includes a high-definition theatrical trailer with 2-channel audio. Though these features aren't comprehensive, their inclusion ensures a somewhat enhanced viewing experience over a bare-bones release.

Extras included in this disc:

Behind the Danger: Cast and crew interviews, lacking in-depth production details.

Theatrical Trailer: High-definition preview of the film with 2-channel audio.

"Clear and Present Danger," directed by Phillip Noyce and starring Harrison Ford as CIA Deputy Director Jack Ryan, is a compelling political thriller based on Tom Clancy’s novel. The film navigates complex political intrigue, following Ryan as he steps into the role of Acting Deputy Director of Intelligence after his mentor falls ill. Assigned to oversee an anti-drug operation in Colombia, Ryan uncovers a covert military action authorized by high-ranking U.S. officials, leading to a series of betrayals that leaves a paramilitary force stranded. Aided by rogue operative Clark (Willem Dafoe), Ryan embarks on a mission to rescue the abandoned team while confronting government corruption at the highest levels.

One of the film's notable aspects is its fidelity to Clancy's intricate narrative, despite condensing a 656-page novel into a 141-minute runtime. While the plot's complexity can be challenging initially, multiple viewings reveal the nuanced layers of political maneuvering and personal stakes. Harrison Ford delivers a standout performance, blending naiveté and intensity as Jack Ryan. His portrayal grounds the film in reality, especially in intense scenes like his confrontation with President Bennett (Donald Moffat). Supporting performances by Henry Czerny as the conniving Robert Ritter and Harris Yulin as the manipulative James Cutter are equally compelling, adding depth to the film's depiction of governmental machinations.

In comparison to contemporary political thrillers, "Clear and Present Danger" may appear tame, yet it remains engaging with its blend of action and intellectual tension. The ensemble cast, including a noteworthy performance by Willem Dafoe, enhances the film's appeal. Despite some formulaic roles among the Colombian characters, the main cast's dynamics and the film's tight direction maintain a palpable sense of urgency. Overall, "Clear and Present Danger" stands out as a notable entry in the Jack Ryan franchise, offering a sophisticated take on espionage and corruption while delivering both narrative depth and cinematic thrills.

The Blu-ray release of "Clear and Present Danger" showcases an engaging political thriller that's true to the tone and complexity of Tom Clancy's novels. Harrison Ford delivers a compelling performance as Jack Ryan, navigating through the labyrinthine politics and conflicts with intensity. However, despite the movie's narrative strengths, the Blu-ray edition comes off as a mixed bag. The video transfer, though visually sharp in some areas, is plagued by over-processing, which detracts from the viewing experience. HDR implementation could have enhanced the depth of visuals but wasn’t utilized effectively in this release.

On the audio front, the lossless track is commendable, offering clean, crisp sound that complements the film's intense action sequences without overwhelming the dialogue. The extras include a standard-definition “making of” featurette and the film’s trailer in full HD, both decent but lacking in depth. The animated menus deserve praise for their thematic integration and visual appeal.

In conclusion, "Clear and Present Danger" on Blu-ray is a step up from DVD, primarily audiovisual-wise, but falls short of being a definitive purchase for casual viewers. The over-processed video and sparse supplemental content may deter some. However, for Tom Clancy enthusiasts or collectors of the Jack Ryan series, it remains a worthwhile addition if found at a reasonable price. Renting before purchasing is advisable to gauge personal tolerance towards the video processing issues.