Review of Unbreakable (2 Disc Set)

Introduction

For decades, the battle of good vs. evil has been fought in comic books - a medium best described as a mixture of almost every genre under the sun. The comic book is a visceral and bold way to narrate a story, normally between a costumed superhero and a deformed arch-enemy.

M. Night Shyamalan, the writer/director of The Sixth Sense has now added to this concept, in a bid to offer another unique spin on the supernatural genre. However, instead of a guy in a stupid costume, the good guy is far more subtle. And so is the bad guy.

The plot revolves around a train crash - a scene that has become far too common over the past few years - and the horrific nature of it. There were no survivors, bar one. The sole survivor is David Dunn, a security guard who is going through some serious marital problems. His wife and himself sleep in separate bedrooms, and his young son is beginning to feel isolated, and wishing that his parents would get along, so they can all live together peacefully. And the strange thing is, Dunn doesn`t have a scratch on him.

On the other side of the equilibrium is Elijah Price - a man with a rare genetic disorder that makes his bones so brittle they break (or shatter, hence the logo shrouded in shards of glass) incredibly easily. He is fascinated with comics, and owns a comic book themed art gallery, Limited Edition. After the crash, he sets out to contact Dunn, and explain his theory...the theory that their situation is reminiscent of a comic book.

Bruce Willis` performance of Dunn is excellent, from the vulnerability of his character even though he seems to be this amazingly strong and powerful figure physically, to his domestic problems and questions he raises after meeting Price. Samuel L. Jackson`s portrayal of Elijah Price is just as strong - not only does he show how a disability can be such a problem, but also how when someone gets a theory, when someone has a purpose in life to discover something relevant to their life or beliefs, that they will act on that until they get the answers required.

Video

It is presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, and the visuals are deep and the colours are well defined. There are no compression signs visible, the palette is used well, and the print is always crisp and clear.

Unbreakable has got some great cinematography, and Shyamalan`s directing is excellent, with intelligent angles and subtle movements. The best visual element of the movie though is how symbolic it is - for instance, in the latter part of the movie, when David Dunn is at a train station late at night, he is wearing a poncho, and it soon appears to be a cape, the trait that defines Dunn for who and what he is.

Audio

A DD 5.1 track is on offer, and the surrounds are used well. The movie is very ambient, it relies on its score and dialogue, and they are reproduced excellently by the crisp and clear audio stream.

James Newton Howard`s score is very distinctive, its singular notes and tone sets the scene well, and it is easily recognisable as the music from Unbreakable: it stays with you, just like other famous scores.

The script, just like The Sixth Sense, portrays a unique signature, Shyamalan`s signature. From setting the scene and the questions in the first act, to beginning to answer them and then the sting in the tail in the latter part of the movie, it sits well and keeps up a good pace throughout.

Features

The following extras are on offer:

Behind the Scenes - this is a 13 minute insight into the production process, featuring interviews with Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, producer Sam Mercer and director M. Night Shyamalan. Altough the running time is short, it packs enough information in to show you how the concept was thought up, and the reflections of the main players. Well worth watching.

Comic Books & Superheroes - this is a 23 minute featurette focusing on the history and following of comic books, and how the superhero is always striving for the goal of world peace and how the enemy is striving for the complete opposite. It is good to see a featurette focusing on something other than just the production process, and comic book fans will no doubt really enjoy this.

Deleted Scenes - this is a collection of 7 scenes that didn`t make the final cut, each with introductions by Shyamalan, explaining why they didn`t make the cut. There combined running time is 27 minutes, and they add a lot more to the character development, and as Shyamalan says, it was a shame to lose them. But hey, that`s what DVD is for, right?

Multi-Angle Featurette - this is a featurette that lets you flick between the final cut and the storyboards from the train station sequence. This is worth seeing as the storyboards are done well, and from them you can still sense the atmosphere of this scene that has a distinctive tone.

An Excerpt From An Early Film of Shyamalan - this clocks in at just over 2 minutes, and it is great fun to watch...it is a clip of Shyamalan`s early film-making days, when he staged a fight sequence at the end of a kidnapping movie. Oscar-worthy it ain`t, but watchable it is.

Theatrical Trailer - a very atmospheric trailer to say the least.

2 Collectable Alex Ross Illustations - these are 2 shiny illustrations depicting Dunn and Price on postcard-size prints. Very stylish.

The menus are animated excellently, and there is music playing in the background.

Unbreakable is supplied in a deluxe drawer case, with 2 disc holders, and a 20-page booklet containing extensive production notes.

Conclusion

The movie is very well done, and everything comes together to create an atmospheric and provocative movie. Not only are the acting and script sharp, but the directing shows just how talented Shyamalan is. I`ll definitely be checking out his next movie, Signs...

Disc wise, everything is excellent, from the excellent packaging to the quality of the presentation. The only flaw is the absence of a commentary, as the vocal contribution of Shyamalan, Willis and Jackson would have made repeat viewings essential.

Overall, due to its original and strong premise, good execution of the elements, and a strong disc (make that discs), this is a great purchase, especially since you can now pick this up relatively cheaply.