Not forgotten in 60 seconds! (Gone in Sixty Seconds (DVD))

Member Name: Welshlad

Product:	Gone in Sixty Seconds (DVD)
Date:	23/12/00 (77 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Top action, a great cast and Angelina Jolie!

Disadvantages: A blokes film only I would say

Gone in 60 seconds is one of those films I ‘just wanted to see’ for various reasons. Apart from the fact that the gorgeous Angelina Jolie is the co-star (which had nothing to do with it! Honest!), the film features all of the best cars in the world, and loads of great action packed car chase scenes that really do live up to the hype and my expectations.
Given a late Cinematic release in October/November 2000, Gone in 60 seconds is a remake of the 1960’s original *surprise surprise, another remake!), and having not seen the original, I cannot comment on which is the superior version.
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (also responsible for the likes of Armageddon amongst others), Gone in sixty seconds (GISS) tells the story of retired car boosting legend Randall “Memphis” Raines (played superbly by Nicholas cage) who is forced out of retirement and back in to his law-breaking ways, after his kid brother (played by Giovanni Ribisi, from the X-Files, Saving Private Ryan etc) is faced with death unless he agrees to the ultimate boost in return for his younger brothers safety. As he reluctantly agrees to do the job, he sets off to regroup his old boosting team (including Angelina Jolie, Robert Duvall among others) for the boost of a lifetime – the world’s top 50 cars in a single 24-hour stint!
Before they even start, the cops are on their trail and set on putting the elusive Memphis Raines behind bar, something they never thought they would get the chance to do again after failing in years gone by. This leads to a number of action packed chase sequences are many pretty awesome looking driving stunts that lasts for a respectable 118 minutes, of which it never gets in the least bit stale or boring.
Written by Scott Rosenberg and directed by Dominic Sena, this film is fast paced if not a little bit too predictable. This is a film I thoroughly enjoyed and found it to be a good couple of hours entertainment. The cars look g
reat, and the action is superb.

What did surprise me in this film was the fact that Nicholas Cage did all of his own stunts (well, all but one – the big jump scene at the end) as he owns Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s himself, and thus driving them was little problem to him. The producers sent him on three advanced rally courses, and he then drove all of the chases himself, quite a feat in this age, and considering he was playing with millions of pounds of other peoples money!

This film is now out on Region 1 DVD, and soon on Region 2 DVD. The region 1 DVD I have is a very good indeed, and represents a great buy for anyone looking for anyone who likes cars or just likes action movies. The DVD does this excellent film justice, and contains the following extra features:

> Behind the scenes featurette, created especially for the DVD

> “Action Overload” – Basically, this is all the car chase and action sequences played back to back in a music video – top stuff!

> Interview with the producer

> The cult music Video

> Trailer(s)

> A few more I can’t think of!

As you can see there are some decent extras that focus more on the quality than quantity. The animated menus are quite nice visually, and this is in keeping with the film itself that looks great. Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen, the film looks gorgeous, and when they walk into a big warehouse FULL of Ferraris the reflections and range of colours is absolutely impeccably reproduced and is nigh on perfect – a quality that is maintained throughout the majority of the movie.
The DVD is not let down in the Audio stakes either. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 this film does sound very good, although I feel a little bit more could have been done to make it spectacular. That said it is a very good 5.1 mix that will get your Amp pumping (provided you have a Dolby Digital system that is!).
There is plenty of action in all sound fields, with the bass produced from the deep noisy engines and that general all-round feel of presence and clarity meaning all speakers (including the SUB/LFE) given a good workout that really does the film justice and could get those neighbours complaining!
The acting is superb, and Nicolas cage carries off the role of Memphis very well. Rising from nowhere over the past few years, cage is now one of my favourite Hollywood actors, and rightfully command a big appearance fee. While he is excellent in Gone In Sixty Seconds film, his best works still remains as Con Air in my opinion, although I can honestly say I have never seen a cage film I have not enjoyed (including the widely criticised Snake eyes and 8mm). Also with the stunning Angelina Jolie, continuing to impress, you can see why she was chosen to play Lara Croft in the Forthcoming Tomb raider movie (should be hitting UK cinemas early next year).
The cast is generally very strong, and this only adds to a very good package and a worthwhile £20 investment in a very good DVD, seeing as this is no longer being played in UK cinema’s.

I thought this was a top class film that is more of a blokes film that one for the ladies or a family film. The men will love this film far more for the reasons outlined above than others, so my advice to all you guys out there who are able to play Region 1 DVD’s is get this film now!

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