Product Details

• Actors: James Franco, Macka Foley, Jim Parrack, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Goodman
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
• DVD Release Date: June 27, 2006
• Run Time: 108 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000F6IODE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,494 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Annapolis (Full Screen Edition)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

ANNAPOLIS - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rocky versus the Navy, May 25, 2006

By 

Robert A. Williams "libertarian" (Oberlin, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Annapolis (Full Screen Edition) (DVD)

Younger fans of Hollywood films will no doubt give this movie the thumbs up. But for those Hollywood film fans old enough to remember the 1982 film "An Officer and a Gentleman" starring Richard Gere, "Annapolis" is a poor imitation. "An Officer and a Gentleman" told the melodramatic story of Zack Mayo, played by Richard Gere, whose self-absorption came into harsh conflict with the communitarian values of his drill instructor Emil Foley played by Lou Gossett Jr . The extra-curricular affair between Zack and a local girl served to illuminate his self-interested attitude in which the interests of others were held in little regard. Only after Mayo's best friend Sid Worley commited suicide over an unhappy romance did Zack come out of his culturally-programmed adolescence and then mature into adulthood.

That said, younger audiences will like the melodramatic plot of "Annapolis". James Franco plays Jake Huard, an amateur boxer and shipyard worker who wants to climb the class ladder to become a midshipman. And this is where Jake Huard parts company with his predecessor Zack Mayo. Zack Mayo was always officer material, just pre-absorbed with getting ahead and not taking notice that others were trying to get ahead also. Jake Huard, however, is in search of his estranged father's approval and determines to suffer whatever it takes to become an officer. Whereas Mayo matured into an officer, Huard remains a self-absorbed boxer in a Navy uniform - although less self-absorbed because he is able to get the monkey off his back and win his father's approval.

In a style reminiscent of "Boom Boom" Mancini, Huard battered his Congressperson with requests for over 30 days straight in order to secure a letter of recommendation to Annapolis. Once there, he bunks with the loser Estrada played by Wilmer Calderon, the methodical Loo played by Roger Fan, and the misfit Twins masterfully played by Vicellous Reon Shannon. Twins and Huard are scorned and ridiculed by the other cadets who view them as misfits. The resulting chemistry between these two characters is superb, reinforced by Shannon's excellent acting in his portrayal of Twins. Huard continues to break rules and grate nerves until his opportunity for redemption arrives - a boxing showdown with the cadet menace Cole, played by Tyrese Gibson. The film quickly transforms itself into Rocky versus the Naval Dictator. Despite the canned character scripts and sea of clichés complained of by previous reviewers, the melodrama never sinks with the ship.

The so-called romance or lust attraction that develops between Huard and the officer Ali played by Jordana Brewster is pretty far-fetched. It is true that, in real American life, sometimes -rarely - American teachers fall for students. It happens. But Huard had one previous meeting with Ali in a bar prior to all this, so she had not always been his superior officer. Younger audiences will find the relationship between Huard and Ali plausible, while older audiences will find it preposterous.

"Annapolis" is directed by Justin Lin and was filmed at a Philadelphia College rather than the actual Annapolis. It seems that the Navy does not cotton to disparaging Hollywood films - they said "No" to "An Officer and a Gentleman" too, which was mostly filmed on location at Port Townsend, Washington rather than the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida.

Rated PG-13 for profanity, lust, alcohol and violence.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars He May Be An Officer, He May be A Gentleman--But Sirs, This Is No "An Officer And A Gentleman", December 17, 2006

By 

K. Harris "Film aficionado" (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Annapolis (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

OK, I had heard "Annapolis" was a pale imitation of "An Officer and a Gentleman"--but I still went into it with an open mind. Just because a film shares similar plot points or qualities with another film doesn't mean it isn't worthy of a look. There are only so many plots to go around--take romantic comedies, for example. If you got rid of those that copied other movies, we'd be left with about six total in the history of cinema. If something is done well, it can defy its limitations and seem fresh. Heck, it isn't even as if "An Officer and a Gentleman" was a novel or new story--it played by fairly conventional storytelling rules, it just did so exceedingly well.

So, trying as hard as possible to offer a different perspective--I, too, feel that "Annapolis" borrows heavily from "Officer." It's all here. Boy from wrong side of the tracks makes good in the service--check. Cadet who can't complete obstacle course helped by hero--check. Cadet who doesn't succeed attempts suicide--check. Hero's tension with superior leads up to big fight--check. Mutual respect, triumph over adversity--check, check, CHECK already. By jettisoning the romance at the heart of "Officer," "Annapolis" is left with only the cliche'--becoming a good person through military service.

But even that pales in comparison. James Franco is a good actor, but he is becoming increasingly expressionless. It's as if he thinks a dour expression equals seriousness. Richard Gere (in "Officer"), meanwhile, ran a real emotional gamut--rage, passion, heartbreak. He made a very typical story moving and powerful. But, of course, he had Louis Gossett, in an Oscar winning performance, to play off of. Let's just say that Tyrese Gibson isn't in that league. As the female lead, we've got Jordana Brewster. She is appealing and likable, if not particularly believable in this role.

One of my main issues with "Annapolis" is its sloppy character development. Franco is regarded as the worst cadet in the unit, and as such is really ridden by his superiors. He is a loner, doesn't ask for help--so you know a valuable life lesson will need to be learned. Gere, in "Officer," was just such a recruit. But the moment he is broken, the moment of his realization--it is a brilliant and emotionally devastating scene played to perfection. In "Annapolis," though, blink and you'll miss it--there's no catharsis here. One night he just decides to be a great recruit. He then studies all night to improve his scores, trains for boxing all day and night for a big tournament, and helps his roommate on the obstacle course all day. I don't know when he sleeps or does any real "soldiering."

"Annapolis" is, essentially at heart, a chaste and glossy remake. But lacking the dynamic performances and the realness, it just falls short as entertainment. No deeper than a typical music video, it's all surface--pretty to look at, but ultimately forgettable. KGHarris, 12/06.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Serviceable, January 29, 2006

By 

Savant11 "Savant11" (Canada) - See all my reviews

I went to see this movie because I have a fondness and deep interest in military colleges. 'A Sense of Honor' by James Webb (a fictional account of Annapolis in the 1960's) is one of my all time favorite books. Though my interest in military colleges has waned over the years it has by no means completely dissipated. And when I heard of this movie I made sure to see it on opening day.


The movie seems to be less about life at the Academy than it is as a lesson about not giving up on yourself. Some of the things I found notable is that for one the film wasn't shot at the school, it was shot in Philadelphia. And has been mentioned before why Jordana Brewster's character didn't get in trouble for the amount of time she spent 'fraternizing' with a male plebe is beyond me. And how the 'Twins' character made it that far in the year by being so heavy is also surprising. Annapolis is one of the most elite universities in the US, would the Academy really have gone out of their way to recruit a poor student, even if he was a boxer?

The film basically is no different than the usual 'fish out of water' story we have seen a million times. But what made this bearable was the fact that the character Huard didn't act out because he was rebellious. But more so out of poor self-esteem. As a working class boy in his heart he did not believe that he did not belong there. However as the film went on, it was nice to see his confidence build. I also liked the friendship with Twins, the two young men really supported each other very well.

I am not a big fan of Tyreese Gibson. But he really shinned in this role as the tight no-nonsense first class-man. It was a marked change from the "home-boy/street thug" roles he normally is cast into.



I thought that while the film was very weak it was also very inspirational.