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Traveta reviews
New Line Home Video
- Cert: R
- Cat.no: N5871
- Running time: 98 minutes
- Year: 2002
- Pressing: 2002
- Region(s): 1, NTSC
- Chapters: 28
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English
- Widescreen: 2.35:1
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: No
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: $26.98
- Extras: 4 original documentaries, gag reel, deleted scene, music video,theatrical trailers, theatrical press kit.
Director:
- Kevin Bray
Screenplay:
- Ronald Lang and Ice Cube
Cast:
- Bucum: Ice Cube
Reggie: Mike Epps
Wiliamson: Tommy Flanagan
Ursula: Carmen Chaplin
Gina: Eve Mendes
Pam: Valarie Rae Miller
Ice Cube appears again,getting back to his roots after the terrible,terrible, let me say it again, terrible Ghosts of Mars. Granted Cube hadnothing do with the writing of that dismal feature, he has written a newmovie and is back at it again. Unfortunately, his latest effort lacksthe energy and laughs of his previous offerings.
More known for his work on Friday, Ice Cube returns as writer and starof All About the Benjamins. Bounty hunter, Bucum (Cube) begins to huntdown Reggie (Mike Epps). When Reggie wins the lottery (places it andloses it with his wallet) and winds up in the middle of a cliched diamondheist (sorry, I just watchedReservoir Dogslast night) , Bucum seesoppurtinity and agrees to work with him to find his lost wallet and thediamonds. The movie morphs from action to comedy but lacks the fluidityofRush Houror Showtimefor that matter. The plot is contrived andsome scenes are just ridiculous.
The action scenes are filmmed well but the laughs are begging for you togo along. Mike Epps says a few funny lines in the beginning but it goesdry after he makes a bad comment about Christopher Reeves (“I don’t wantto jump down and wind up like Christoper Reeves!”). Ice Cube isreportedly putting the finishing touches on the third Friday film(Friday After Next) but after this one andNext Friday,I’m not holding high hopes.
Into the disc. Hands down, New Line Cinema is the best when it comes totransfers and this is a testament to that statement. This is an amazingtransfer right from the minute you pop it in. The movie takes place inMiami and it shows. The ocean is pure blue and the locale is very brightand colorful. This is one of the best transfers I’ve ever seen and justgoes to show that New Line knows what they’re doing. The only problemthat hampers it is a little bit of edge enhancement here and there. Butoverall, a very good transfer.
The sound is presented in three options, all English Dolby 5.1 or 2.0tracks along with a DTS track thrown in. The sound suits the movie welland I never had any problems with dialogue blending or anything.
New Line always puts some extras on their new releases, even if theydidn’t perform well at theaters (take a look at the Dungeons and Dragonsdisc). a Deleted scene, documentaries (each running 8 to 15 minutes inlength), and more round out the supplements and are well done. Anotherindication to New Line’s great work.
Overall, the movie itself sours the disc. The transfer is among thebest, the sound is great, and the extras are good. I would give this onea rent just to see how good the transfer is, but if you’re looking forsome comedy to go with your action, watch Rush Hour 1 or 2, the LethalWeapon series, or Showtime.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALLEmailTraveta
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.