Customer Reviews

Backdraft

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is actually a 2-disc "Anniversary" special edition.

Digitally Remastered Picture & Sound
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English DD5.1 Surround
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
Ron Howard Introduction

Extras:
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Over 40 Minutes of Deleted Scenes
"Igniting the Story" -Director Ron Howard, Academy Award®-winning producer Brian Grazer and others discuss the evolution of the film from script to screen
"Bringing Together The Team" -From the casting room to firefighter clinics see how director Ron Howard brought together a talented team of actors and real-life firefighters
"The Explosive Stunts" -Filmmakers reveal the state-of-the-art technology and heroic stunts that created the explosive action of the film
"Creating the Villain: The Fire" -See how an overwhelmingly talented team of special effects creators and stunt coordinators worked together to bring the fire to life
"Real-Life Fireman, Real-Life Stories" -Get an insider's perspective on what it takes to be a firefighter in this round-table discussion with the crew of Station 73, Santa Clarit

`It lives, it breathes and it hates'. This is the description made by Robert DeNiro's character in Backdraft, stating the volatile nature of something we all fear, but rely on; Fire.

Backdraft is a different movie, filled with characters who are flawed and angry with one another. There are many messages that go along with this movie. I'm not sure where Ron Howard was going with the relationships of the characters, maybe no where and that's ok. Why try so hard to make the relationships go somewhere in such a short amount of time when we can clearly tell that the issues between them are a result of a lifetime of hardships and disagreements. These are not the kind of disputes that get resolved in a short period of time, if ever. You can take away what you want from the movie in that respect.

The movie centers around Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin), who returns home to Chicago after years of failed business ventures to make sure he doesn't follow the family line of becoming a Firefighter. After giving in and completing the Fire Academy, he is placed in his brother's company, one of the toughest. His brother Steven (Kurt Russell) is still a bit annoyed with him for not deciding to become a fireman right off the bat (Chicago firefighters have a stout tradition for family continuance and stubborn old fashioned fire fighting that has no room for progressive tactics). He seems determined to make sure Brian either stays with it and becomes as good as he is, or quits. Brian takes it personally at every turn. Sibling rivalry ensues.

Subplots abound as we learn that fire stations are being closed for political purposes and Brian finds he has feelings for childhood friend (Jennifer Jason Leigh). DeNiro plays Donald Rimgale, the Fire Investigator that is looking into the Backdraft murders (a phenomenon that causes a fire in a closed room to subside after using all the oxygen, but explodes when O2 is reintroduced from the open door), high level politicians and businessman are being killed with this method and it becomes an MO. DeNiro is solid in his role as the Arson investigator, spouting lines about loving fire and understanding it's nature. Kurt Russell is good as he swaggers through his role, a character who attacks fire, knowing for some reason that he won't ever be killed by it. Baldwin seems lost as usual, but the character himself is somewhat lost trying to decide what to do in his personal struggle. Leigh doesn't seem interested in her role but manages to get through and Rebecca De Mornay plays the small role she has as Steven's estranged wife with great world-weary realism. Scott Glenn, mercilessly put in a shaved down role, is good as well. The best character though is Donald Sutherland, playing Ronald Bartel, a pyro-psycho who is locked up in a mental institution. He comes up for release occasionally and Rimgale goes in and repeatedly proves just how insane he still is, no matter what he tricks the doctors and release board into thinking. Sutherland is obviously having the most fun with his part. His character is called upon to help find out who is behind the Backdraft murders.

The biggest character of the film though is the fire, and it is astounding. Even though the movie is over 11 years old, it holds up today. With a combination of real fire exaggerated with computer affects in some spots, the visual result is frightening and actually looks alive in some scenes. All in all, the movie is good, although there are a lot of elements squeezed in to make it somewhat epic, and even though it doesn't quite reach that status, it is a good all around movie with great action, emotion and special effects.

If you like to watch a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat with great special effects and wonderful, true to life character interactions, I definitely recommend Ron Howard's Backdraft. The interactions among all the actors come across as very natural, as if all the actors where actually who they were playing, making the characters more believable. Not only are the characters believable, but the special effects that continue through out the movie, whether big or small, pull everything together to make Backdraft one of the best films I have ever seen. The basis of this movie is that people around the Chicago area are dying by way of these backdrafts. It is up to the arson investigator, played by Robert DeNiro to find out what is going on. The other characters involved are two brothers who's father died serving the same fire department they work for. Kurt Russell plays the oldest brother, Lieutenant Stephen 'Bull' McCaffrey ,who has been with the force for many years, and William Baldwin plays the younger brother, Brian McCaffrey who just joined the force. Throughout the movie the two brothers battle conflict with each other relating to sibling rivalry among other things, and Brian ends up leaving the force to join the arson investigating office.. Other characters involved around the two brothers are Rebecca De Mornay, who plays Helen McCaffrey, the ex-wife of Kurt Russell. Her part is not that large, but the importance of her character in regards to Kurt Russell is definitely noticeable, and the friendship that still exists between them is easy to relate to. Jennifer Jason Leigh, who plays Jennifer Vaitkus, the ex-girlfriend of William Baldwin, has a bit of a larger role. Not only does she appear from William Baldwin's past, but she now holds the position of Assistant to the Alderman, to whom many contacts will be made. Donald Sutherland, who plays Ronald Bartel, a former arsonist who understands the criminal psychology of pyromaniacs, gives insight to the arson investigation team, by sharing some of his own stories of arson from his past. Scott Glenn plays the role as a fellow firefighter "Axe" Adcox. His character is that of a supporting brotherly figure, to which is not quite appreciated. Finally there is J.T. Walsh, who gives an excellent supporting performance as the sleazy Alderman Swayczak. He is responsible for making changes within the Chicago fire department that do not benefit the department all that well. All of the actors work great together, and seem natural among one another. These special effects, by far, make the movie mesmerizing. Not only do you see the fire as it threatens the characters and destroys everything in its path, but you get to see an insight of how fire really moves, how it breaths, and how it can dance and hide with the wink of the eye. One particular scene, where a building is on fire and the two brothers must go in after a little boy, really give you the feeling of being up close and personal with the fire around them.. You feel the fear of being hurt along the anticipation of trying to save the life of the little boy right along side the characters. The combination of great characters and believable situations, make this story memorable. The story, written by Gregory Widen, is not only full of action, but in some situations, it shows how life really is.. Whether it is the friction felt by siblings trying to live up to false expectations of one another, or doing the right thing when it comes to your job and your personal friendships, nothing in this story appears impossible. Over all a great combination of characters, actors and producer that make one heck of a good film.

Ron Howard's Backdraft, is a film that centers on the lives of two brothers. Their father, a Chicago firefighter, was killed on the job when they were young boys. As adults, the McCaffreys, are both members of fire department. The elder brother Stephen (Kurt Russell), nicknamed "Bull", is a veteran firefighter, who prefers taking on a fire head on. His younger brother Brian (William Baldwin), is a recent graduate into the department, and though he seeks to serve out of his brother's shadow, he finds himself assigned to Bull's stationhouse. While Bull is something of a legend within the department, all is not perfect in his life, as estranged from his wife (Rebecca DeMornay), he lives on his father's old dry docked boat.

The family drama is set against a subplot, involving a series of suspicious fires that are being investigated by the fire department's arson specialist, Lt. Rimgale (Robert De Niro). A local Alderman (J.T. Walsh) responsible for budget cutbacks to the department, is pressing Rimgale for answers. After another clash with his big brother, Brian transfers to Rimgale's arson investigation unit.

Once this occurs, the story expands to become more than just a sibling rivalry, as the focus shifts to the investigation of arson and other matters. De Niro, Baldwin, Walsh and Donald Sutherland, who plays a crazed imprisoned arsonist, then assume more primary roles. The physics of a backdraft are quite fascinating, and the results spectacular and explosive. The film does feature some fine special effects and stunts, related to the fire fighting scenes. The identity of the arsonist, and the reasons for the crimes, may not be very credible, but the film proceeds towards a spectacular and emotional finish. In the end, it all comes back to the two brothers, and the special bond between firefighters.

The film does have its flaws. Baldwin (28) and Russell (40) are a bit of a mismatch as brothers, with more of an age difference as adults, than it appeared when they were children. The incident where Brian mistakenly rescues a mannequin is simply ridiculous. And the attempts to attribute to fire almost metaphysical qualities, may be something only firemen can truly appreciate. While the film's focus does bounce around a bit between drama, adventure and suspense, overall the presentation is still worth seeing. The DVD however offers very little in the way of extras.

MOVIE: In a much needed re-release Universal gives us an incredible 15th Anniversary set for Backdraft. Backdraft is a movie that we see so often nowadays, but Ron Howard executed it in such a way that it remains as one of the best of the "real-life hero tribute" films. The script is filled with contrived dialogue and some incredibly lame and cliched plot turns, but it's the fire footage that makes this film exceed above the rest. The filmmakers initially wanted to go with CGI fire, but the tests done looked so fake that they turned to the real thing. Some amazing scenes are shot in this film that we'll probably never see in a film again due to the fact that CGI has advanced so much over the past decade. The characters are likable and relatable, but the acting is a bit overdone. This isn't the greatest film ever made, but the characters feel real enough to keep a strong emotional connection with the audience, and that's the essence of good filmmaking. Many see Backdraft as the ultimate tribute to firefighters across America, and while the ending of the film sends a tribute, the movie is actually very much centered around the two brothers. Heroism and courage are not central themes of this movie, but it's more about embracing the people around you (not teamwork). The film also features the first collaboration between Ron Howard and Hans Zimmer, in which Zimmer produces one of his best synthesizer based scores. A really good film that finally gets the DVD release it deserves.

VIDEO: Owners of the original Backdraft release will rejoice with this all-new digitally remastered transfer. The colors are solid, but I think they picture could have been sharper. There was no hazing or haloing during the fire scenes though, and that was my biggest fear.

AUDIO: I didn't own the previous set of the Backdraft, but I'm guessing that this Dolby 5.1 mix is the same mix from the old set. If it is new, then it's a shame. The subwoofer get's a good workout and Zimmer's score is prominent but the dialogue and quality overall is not that rich or spread out.

SPECIAL FEATURES: The special features are really short, I went through them in one day. Even though they are short, they are great to watch and are informative. When you play the film you will see a short introduction from Ron in his scruffy beard mode. The best featurette was the "Igniting The Story" one in which we go through the script to screen process. We interview some key people about bringing the movie to life, and surprisingly Hans Zimmer gets his own section about the score. I was so happy to see Zimmer in there discussing his work because composers usually never get any screen time in the special features. The other featurettes cover the casting, stunt work, using fire as a character, and then real-life accounts from real firemen. A great set of features with new interviews mixed in with interviews from 1991.

BOTTOM LINE: Buy this set whether or not you own the old one or not. While not the best work we've seen from Ron Howard, it's definitely one of those movies that takes you on an exciting and emotional ride. It also has the honor of being the definitive film about fire fighters unlike the most recent and forgettable Ladder 49.

Viewed in the context of a post 911 world, this terrific film directed by Ron Howard becomes even more meaningful as a detailed portrait of the lives and lifestyles of a group of Chicago firemen trying to come to terms with as series of violet arson/murders plaguing the metropolitan landscape. And, given Kurt Russell's appeal as an action hero, this gorgeously filmed epic take on the look and feel of a travelogue into a fiery Hell! The cast is uniformly superb, ranging from Russell as the older brother whose intimidating presence is so troubling for William Baldwin, who is trying to join what amounts to the family business, and one their hero father died in the line of duty participating in.

Also terrific here is Scott Glenn as one of the senior firemen on Russell's squad, and Jennifer Jason Leigh as Baldwin's long-lost love now working for an ambitious local city council member. Robert DeNiro appears as an eclectic and somewhat iconoclastic specialist trying to piece together the forensic evidence, and Donald Sutherland makes a cameo as a Looney-tunes firebug who absolutely thrills at the sight, smells and sounds of the backdraft. And of course, the quite lovely Rebecca DeMornay does an interesting turn as Russell's estranged wife, trying to come to terms with how to live either with or without him.

The story is quite absorbing, as are the series of vignettes bringing us deep into the world of the individual firemen. As a result, we come to quickly care about what happens to these characters as they suit up and slip down the pole to the waiting fire-truck, en route to yet another inferno. The drama works very well, and the action sequences are both realistic and spectacular, and the way the characters are developed and presented adds immeasurably to the story line. This is one sure to stir up your juices and get you going. This one get two thumbs way up! Enjoy!

"Backdraft is the story of two brothers. After the death of their firefighter father, older brother Steven (Kurt Russell) follows Dad's footsteps into the Chicago Fire Department. Younger brother Brian (William Baldwin) bounces from one scam or get-rich-quick scheme to another. But Brian eventually winds up back in Chicago in the Fire Department, and in Steven's Co. 17, no less. They go back and forth for a while, until finally Steven drives Brian out of the department and into arson investigation. Brian winds up working for an arson investigator (Robert De Niro) investigating a series of murders-by-arson.

This movie features a stellar cast, giving mostly excellent performances. Special notice should be given to Russell, in what I think is his best performance ever. J.T. Walsh gives an excellent supporting performance as the sleazy Alderman Swayczak, as do Rebecca De Mornay as Steven's estranged wife and Scott Glenn as Firefighter "Axe" Adcox. Donald Sutherland is especially creepy, yet charming as an imprisoned arsonist to whom De Niro and Baldwin go to for advice on identifying the arsonist. Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh (playing Brian's girlfriend and Swayczak's aide) could have held up their parts better, but that doesn't detract from the movie as a whole.

The fire is the real star of this movie. The special effects are truly incredible, and have to be seen to be believed. This movie boasts the best effects I've ever seen in a non-science-fiction movie. Whoever the effects man is should have won an Oscar for the fire scenes in this movie.

Some may criticize the ending for being overly sentimental, but every single time I see this movie, I get choked up during Steven's last scenes. As an older brother, I really identified with Steven and how he wants the best for his brother, but he isn't quite sure of the line between pushing him to improve and pushing him down.

The special effects alone are worth getting this movie, but director Ron Howard put together an all-star cast that (mostly) managed to put together a movie in which the plot isn't entirely overshadowed by the effects. All in all, a very good movie that's well worth your $15.

I've always regarded this film as highly watchable: it was never intended to be too much more. However Universal has a bit to answer for with this DVD edition.

Firstly, the picture quality is very grainy and colourless, you really have to pump up the colour settings on your TV before the people start looking like they have skin tone. Secondly, the original aspect ratio of this film is (as advertised) 2.35:1, but after comparison to three other films in the same aspect ratio (Face/Off, Cliffhanger, Boogie Nights) one can clearly see that this DVD is actually in 2.30:1, meaning that parts of the sides of the film are cropped off. Thirdly, there are scenes missing from this edition, especially one noted scene with Kurt Russel - before he gets drunk and goes and to see his wife - about his report concerning Tim having his face burnt off. Fourthly, there are only 16 chapters here for a film spanning two and a quarter hours. To put that in perspective for you, a film like Zero Effect, which is less than two hours, has 31 chapters. This means that you cannot cut to prime action sequences and skip the parts in between when you do not have time to watch them.

The only good thing about this edition is the sound. Remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1, it can really pump out the low rumble of a wave of fire and the crackle of incinerating material if your sound system is up to it.

If you have to have this film, fair enough. But otherwise, wait until Universal gets smart and releases a proper edition that has all the scenes, more chapter divisions, better quality picture in the right aspect ratio, and hopefully a few bonuses like the theatrical trailer or enhancement for widescreen televisions.

Ron Howard is a genius people. Not only did he get a Baldwin to finally act, he captured the grit and pain of firefighting. Yeah, we all know you can't see crap in a fire but for smoke and black, but hey it is a movie. If you didn't well up for a sec at the end of this, you have no heart or was sleeping. Wish Universal would remaster this, get the picture better, dts would be nice, and add some extras, overall a hell of an entertaining film. Kurt Russell is awesome in this, the man can act, check out Escape from New York, Tombstone or The Thing to see what I mean.

This is a great film giving a real insight into the jobs and lifes of firefighters, with excellent special effects helping it along the way. The film starts off in the early 70s with a young (very young!) William Baldwin going with his father on what should be a routine fire but tragically Brian sees his father die in front of him. 20 years later we see Brian (Billy Baldwin) and Steven (Kurt Russell) Mccaferey estranged brothers having to work together in the same fireforce, and try to make up their relationship and solve the case of a arsonist going around Chicago killing official type people. Russell and Baldwin are suberb as the fueding brothers and are supported by a great ensemble cast (Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland, Scott Glenn and others) This is an excellent film to watch I highly reccemend it.