Act Of Valor

When a mission to recover a kidnapped CIA operative unexpectedly results in the discovery of an imminent, terrifying global threat, an elite team of highly trained Navy SEALs must immediately embark on a heart-stopping secret operation, the outcome of which will determine the fate of us all. Act Of Valor combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the-minute battlefield technology, and heart-pumping emotion, for the ultimate action adventure film—showcasing the skills, training, and tenacity of the greatest action heroes of them all: real Navy SEALs. This film is based on real acts of valor. (Tricia Spears)

Special features include Directors' Commentary; six deleted scenes; Directors' Intro; seven interviews with Active Duty Navy SEALs; the featurettes Making Of Act Of Valor (HD 05:26), Real Bullets (HD 02:13), Real SEALs (HD 02:32), and Silent Warriors (HD 02:50); the "For You" music video by Keith Urban; a Making Of The Music Video (HD 03:58); the theatrical trailer; sneak peeks; upfront previews, and a DVD and digital copy.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture was principally photographed with prosumer-grade Canon 5D Mark II SLRs and formatted in Super 35. Amazingly, this small camera delivers stunning images that rival more expensive digital motion picture cameras such as the Red One and the Arri Alexa. The picture is sharply resolved, with fine detail evident throughout, especially during close-ups of facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. Fine detail on the SEALS' weaponry and uniforms, as well as their camouflaged faces, is fantastic. Even bullet holes and debris from explosions are finely resolved. Contrast is well balanced with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. The color palette is richly saturated. This is an impressive visual experience that delivers tremendous excitement and realism. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a dynamic holosonic® powerhouse, with aggressive soundfield dimensional presence, especially during the jungle fighting scenes with the SEALS. Gunshots are pervasive and loud, but convincingly real sounding. Bullets spray in every direction, with discrete localization throughout the soundfield. Debris flies though the space during intense explosions. These segments convey powerful SPL levels enhanced with deep, energized .1 LFE bass support. What is most amazing is the capture of nuanced, extremely low-level ambient atmospherics, especially during the jungle sequence and during other segments related to preparing for mission execution. The well-recorded music score nicely complements the action sequences without ever overpowering. Throughout, the dialogue manages to remain intelligible but is often wanting in spatial integration, sounding overly close-miked. This is a remarkable reference-quality sonic experience that will put any home theatre system through a challenging and engaging workout. (Gary Reber)