The Order Blu-ray Review

The 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray transfer of "The Order" from Sony via Image Entertainment maintains high standards, showcasing Israeli cinematographer David Gurfinkel's detailed location photography to good effect. The transfer exhibits deep and well-differentiated black levels, requisite for scenes in dark caverns and heist sequences. Colors are vibrant in the bright Middle Eastern sun, ensuring a visually engaging experience without over-saturation. Fleshtones appear natural and lifelike, while the neon colors in New York City scenes are vivid yet restrained. The meticulous image cleanup results in only five specks of dirt and two minor scratches throughout the film.

However, there are some technical imperfections. Occasional aliasing on fine horizontal patterns is evident, particularly when Rudy examines a building. Though Sony typically preserves grain, its near-absence here gives the image a subtly digital appearance that deviates from the expected filmic texture. Light DNR has been applied, but not to a distracting extent, although edge enhancement can become noticeable in a few scenes. An inconsistent focus results in approximately 25% of the film appearing soft or blurry, with occasional shots lacking sharpness entirely.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall presentation remains strong. Compression flaws such as banding, aliasing, artifacts, and noise are notably absent, ensuring a clean visual experience. The sepia tone typical of Middle Eastern settings is effectively applied, reinforcing the film's atmosphere. Contrast is well-managed even under tricky lighting conditions, ensuring a visually coherent narrative throughout. This Blu-ray transfer exemplifies solid craftsmanship, even amid a few technical shortcomings.

The audio presentation of "The Order" on Blu-ray is addressed through a balanced DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that takes some unconventional approaches. Notably, the score by Pino Donaggio is prominently placed in the rear soundstage, pushing the surround speakers to carry more of the sonic load than is customary. This unique allocation brings an energetic and well-suited accompaniment to the material, despite the atypical arrangement. The surround channels are effectively utilized for ambient effects such as vehicles passing and glass breaking, enriching the action scenes with a palpable sense of space and dynamism. A standout scene is a sequence set in underground caverns where gunshots create a convincing echoing effect through the surrounds, adding depth to the viewer’s experience.

Despite these highlights, there are inconsistencies in other aspects of the mix. While the music's spread across the channels remains vibrant and full, the effects are predominantly front-centered, resulting in a somewhat flat audio landscape that lacks dynamic range. During action sequences, however, the sound design shifts gears, immersing the audience with seamlessly integrated car chases and other effects meticulously spread through the surround and rear channels.

Dialogue clarity is another mixed bag. While generally intelligible, some sequences suffer from the vocals being overshadowed by the enveloping sound effects and music. This disparity makes dialogue difficult to follow during more chaotic scenes without relying on subtitles. However, the subtitle design is intrusive, characterized by bulky black boxes that detract from the visual presentation. In summary, while "The Order" features moments of strong audio immersion and creative sound mixing choices, it is held back by inconsistencies in effect dynamics and vocal levels.

The Blu-ray edition of "The Order" sorely lacks extras, a significant disappointment given the potential for in-depth content. Unlike the 2002 Sony DVD that at least contained the film’s trailer and a few bonus trailers, this release is entirely devoid of supplementary material. The absence of features like behind-the-scenes footage, director commentary, or making-of documentaries leaves viewers without any additional insights into the film. This void in extras reduces the overall value of an otherwise anticipated release, especially for collectors and fans who expect a richer, more immersive experience from Blu-ray presentations.

Extras included in this disc:

• None

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s 2001 film "The Order" is an action-packed journey laden with the traditional tropes of a JCVD movie, albeit blended with a shameless borrowing from the Indiana Jones franchise. Directed by Sheldon Lettich and co-written by Van Damme and Les Weldon, the movie provides a derivative yet energetic experience marked by ceaseless action. The storyline traces Rudy Cafmeyer (Van Damme), a thief and smuggler, who embarks on a mission to rescue his kidnapped father, an archaeologist entangled in a religious conspiracy involving a lost scroll from an ancient sect.

The early medieval prologue, narrated by Charlton Heston, sets the tone with a backstory reminiscent of "The Last Crusade." The film’s premise pivots around Van Damme’s character navigating through absurd plot points with relentless action sequences. Despite its parallels to Bond and Indiana Jones, Lettich ensures the film’s pace never slackens, keeping viewers engaged even as logic takes a back seat. The blend of kickboxing prowess and relic-hunting escapades furnishes the movie with its distinct flavor.

"The Order" is undoubtedly not Van Damme’s finest, fraught with tonal inconsistencies and clichéd action sequences replete with slow-motion impacts reminiscent of 80’s action cinema. The technological anachronisms are glaring; for instance, the use of 3.5” floppy disks as pivotal elements seem outlandish by contemporary standards. Despite this, the film retains an odd charm primarily due to its light-hearted approach to action and silly comedic interludes. While the narrative structure is predictable and saturated with homage to better-known films, Van Damme’s unique action style renders "The Order" an amusing, if not entirely satisfying, watch for genre enthusiasts.

The Blu-ray release of "The Order" features a mixed bag of attributes that both long-time fans and first-time viewers of Jean-Claude Van Damme will find noteworthy. Technically, the transfer provides decent video and audio quality, though it carries a few minor flaws. The video, while clear and sharp, sometimes falls short in color accuracy, with occasional soft spots. The audio mix is solid, delivering dialogue and action sequences with satisfactory balance, yet it doesn’t quite achieve the immersive experience expected from high-end releases. Special features are notably absent, which may disappoint collectors and aficionados seeking behind-the-scenes insights.

The movie itself delivers a healthy dose of action typical of JCVD's filmography. However, it struggles with narrative consistency and tonal shifts that attempt to blend action, adventure, and comedy without fully committing to any one genre. The storyline is derivative and may remind viewers of better-executed films within the same genre. The lack of grit in violence and absence of more mature thematic content may leave some viewers expecting something edgier feeling shortchanged. Comparisons to the likes of 'Indiana Jones' are ambitious but ultimately unfounded as 'The Order' lacks the directorial finesse and engaging plot required to sustain such parallels.

Despite these reservations, "The Order" does possess redeeming qualities, particularly in the pure nostalgia and ‘Van Damage’ it brings to the table. It manages to entertain within its modest scope, providing a fun, if not groundbreaking, viewing experience. For JCVD fans, this Blu-ray edition remains a worthwhile addition to their collection due to its ability to capture the quintessential elements that define his action stardom.

My sense is that 'The Order' isn't well-regarded among JCVD's fans, but I think it should be. Despite its derivative story, the film is efficient, it doesn't overstay its welcome, and it provides a lot more Van Damage than the unfocused 'The Quest,' which badly needed a sharp directorial eye like Lettich's to insist on a clear narrative. With minor reservations about the video, as noted above, the Blu-ray is recommended.