Men of Honor DVD movie review

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HOME DVD Movie Reviews New Releases Upcoming Releases Special Savings & Discounts Specifications: - DVD-Video - Single-sided - Dual layer - Region 1 - Run time: approx. 128 minutes - Subtitle: English, Spanish - Menus: Animated - Scene selection: Static - Package: Keep case - 18 chapters Video Features: - Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35:1 aspect ratio Audio Features: - English: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English: Dolby Surround - French: Dolby Surround Bonus Materials: - Commentary by director George Tillman Jr., Cuba Gooding Jr., and producer Robert Teitel - Deleted scenes - Alternate ending - Animated storyboard - "Making of" featurette - "Master Chief: a tribute to Carl Brashear" documentary - "Win" music video by Brian McKnight - Theatrical trailer and TV spots Release Dates: Theatrical Release: 2000 DVD Release: 04/10/01 Review Date: 04/05/01 List price: $ 30.00 Avg. on-line price: $ 20.99 Pre-order price was: $ 17.99
	Men of Honor Special Edition
			Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Robert De Niro, Hal Holbrook, David Keith, Michael Rapaport, Powers Boothe, Aunjanue Ellis, and Charlize Theron Director: George Tillman Jr. MPAA Rating: R Genre: Drama - Military Studio: 20th Century Fox (Fox Home Video)
	Movie: A- Video: A Audio: A Extras: A- Summary: "Men of Honor" is an inspirational look at the real life of Carl Brashear in his relentless pursuit of becoming the first African-American U.S. Navy Master Diver and Master Chief (the highest position for enlisted men). The movie is very entertaining as Cuba Gooding Jr. shows us that he can deliver a solid performance as the leading role. This movie is not to be missed by fans of military drama and the African-American integration movement of the U.S. armed services in the 1950s and 1960s. At the end of the movie, you can't help but to stand and give these "Men of Honor" a military salute.
	The Story Cuba Gooding Jr. stars as Carl Brashear, a real-life African-American who inspired to be a Navy Master Diver and Master Chief. As a young boy, Carl loves to swim and dive in the lake near his family's sharecrop farm. His father has worked to make a living as a Kentucky sharecrop farmer but has never given any land as his own. When Carl becomes of age, he enlists in the U.S. Navy and leaves town. On the day of his departure, his father expects him to make something of himself, and that he should not plan on returning home. His father says, "Never quit, no matter how tough things get, and things will get tough... be the best." His father's words soak into Carl's heart as he departs to make a career for himself in the new integrated U.S. Navy. Carl's first assignment is a cook on board a battleship. There, his military career doesn't seem to be going anywhere. One day, hanging out with his fellow African-American crew members, Carl watches the white crew members swim in the ocean. Although it is not the designated day for "coloreds" to swim, Carl takes off his uniform and dives in. When the Captain sends his best swimmer to get Carl out, Carl heads for the closest buoy. In what turns out to be a race, Carl beats the other crew member by a large margin. While Captain Pullman (Powers Boothe) does not condone disobedience, he recognizes Carl's fast swim and puts him on the rescue team. It is during his duties as a rescue swimmer that he becomes awed by the deep sea divers and inspires to be a Navy diver. In his relentless determination, Carl writes over one hundred letters for a couple of years to request enrolling in the Navy diving school. When he is finally accepted, he shows up at the New Jersey U.S. Navy diver school, but is not admitted by the resident Master Chief and instructor, Billy Sunday (Robert De Niro). It is with awesome determination, persistence, and hard work that Carl is able to keep up with the coursework at the diving school. Even when he reaches near the head of his class and proves himself a hero with unnerving bravery, Master Chief Sunday and the base commander are unwilling to let Carl graduates as the first African-American diver. How will Carl Brashear overcome the bigotry to become a successful Navy deep sea diver? Cuba Gooding Jr. delivers another solid acting performance, along with Robert De Niro, in this inspiring movie. The movie focuses principally on the military life of Carl Brashear, even though the many deleted scenes in this DVD portrays a richer personal life of Carl Brashear and Billy Sunday. Charlize Theron gives a fine performance during her albeit brief appearances as Gwen, Billy Sunday's lovely and very loving young wife. Director George Tillman, Jr. ("Soul Food") delivers another excellent film that is rich in inspiration and celebrates the human spirit. At the end of the movie, you can't help but to stand and give these "Men of Honor" a military salute. It makes you feel that good. The Extras "Men of Honor" also delivers in terms of DVD bonus features. It comes with: an audio commentary (with director George Tillman Jr., Cuba Gooding Jr., and producer Robert Teitel), deleted scenes including an alternate ending, an animated storyboard, the "Making of" featurette, "Master Chief: A Tribute to Carl Brashear" documentary, "Win" music video by Brian McKnight, a theatrical trailer, and TV spots. The 12 deleted scenes are generally good and offer much more insight to the personal live of Carl Brashear and Billy Sunday. For example, the "Love Scene" clearly shows Carl and his bride Jo (Aunjanue Ellis) consummating their marriage. The last deleted scene is the "Alternate Ending" extended beyond the last scene of the movie. It is pretty touching, though it would have taken the focus away from the main character of Brashear. (Sorry, I can't give it away.) The deleted scenes have fair picture quality, though not the same excellent quality as the final movie itself. The "Master Chief: A Tribute to Carl Brashear" documentary is worthy of your time. It honors the legendary but real-life Carl Brashear. Video & Audio The image quality of this anamorphic widescreen DVD is very good. The colors are accurate and saturated, while shadow detail is very well rendered. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is well balanced and effective. The surround sound channels are aggressively mixed during the action scenes, putting the audience right in the middle of the excitement. The dialog is crystal clear. Recommendation I give a full military salute to these real-life "Men of Honor", this movie and its DVD. As a Special Edition, it comes packed with quite a bit of good bonus material. If you enjoy "Men of Honor", you may also like "Remember the Titans". Buy the "Men of Honor" Special Edition DVD at: Support this site: buy through our links.
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