The Day of the Falcon DVD review

Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Image Entertainment

DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013

Run Time: 125 minutes

 

 

Entertainment Value: 6/10

Historical Significance: 6/10

Disc Features: 8/10

           

            Day of the Falcon is a complex epic, one in which both sides can be seen to have a valid point of view. It is in the unwillingness of each in understanding the other which ultimately causes bloodshed. Not surprisingly, this occurs because of an argument over money, specifically in the discovery of oil between two territories in a Middle Eastern land.

 

            This conflict begins over a seemingly useless patch of desert between two kingdoms. After years of unwillingness to trust each other, they come up with a plan to keep the peace. Each sends their children to the opposing kingdom to be raised, knowing that this is the only guarantee that they won’t attack each other. Years later, when the boys have grown into men, a Texan oil company informs the leaders of each kingdom that the patch of land between them is rich with oil.

 

            On one side is a king (played by Mark Strong) who believes in the sanctity of things earned through bloodshed or love, and sees no value in oil or the riches it brings his religiously stout kingdom. On the polar opposite side is the opposing king (played by Antonio Banderas), who welcomes the wealth even though it means a breach of treaty between the two kingdoms. Forced to make a decision which side they belong to are the sons who belong to one but were raised by another.

 

            This epic was directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, who handles the battle scenes spectacularly. As a whole this is a well made film, though it could do more to draw the audience in towards the first half. There are a lot of characters and a great deal happens in a condensed amount of time, so that some of the earlier developments feel both rushed and dull simultaneously. All is forgotten once the action begins, however.

 

            The DVD special features include a 40-minute making-of documentary featurette, as well as one about the visual effects of the film. There is also a storyboard-to-film comparison.