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By
NICK ZEGARAC
A byproduct of the cold war
was providing Hollywood with enough fodder to
celebrate espionage in a string of political
thrillers. Some took the threat of Soviet invasion
quite seriously. Others chose a less credible, but
wholly more satisfying route into pure farcical
escapist entertainment.
Of particular interest in this latter category is
Stanley Kubrick's intense black comedy about the
nuclear age: "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to
Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb." The film,
frequently adorning "all-time best" lists, is a
spoof that teeters on political insanity and
military incredulity.
The story begins as homage to the Cuban Missile
Crisis, with General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling
Hayden), an obsessed relic, launching his own
personal assault on Communism. Ripper commissions
a squadron of B-52s to bomb the U.S.S.R.
Naturally, the big bad Russians launch their own
counter offensive -- the so- called "Doomsday
Device." While the world holds its excess gas,
U.S. President (Peter Sellers) enters into riotous
hot-line negotiations with his Commie counterpart.
Always fascinating to watch, Sellers also
interjects his own inimitable brand of craziness
into two more roles: a British military attaché
with a humorous tick, and the psychotic bomb
maker, Dr. Strangelove. This trio of psychotics is
fleshed out by Gen. Buck Turgidson (George C.
Scott) a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants loose canon
whose military advice boils down into two parts
mass hysteria and one part factoid meaningless
statistics.
This is the third outing for "Dr. Strangelove" on
DVD. As with its predecessors, this disc exhibits
a stunningly rich and textured visual
presentation. The B&W image has a marvelously
balanced and remarkably solid grayscale. Blacks
are velvety deep and smooth. There is some minor
edge enhancement and a hint of pixelization but
nothing that will distract you from enjoying this
classic. Multiple aspect ratios are in keeping
with the film's original theatrical presentation.
The movie also boasts 5.1 DTS.
This 40th anniversary edition also embellishes its
extras made previously available with two more
short subjects. Overall, there is little reason to
run out and re-buy this title, although diehard
fans will ultimately want the very latest from the
military boardroom in the cockpit of their own
libraries. Either way, brace yourself -- its blast
off time for the neurotic age! |
