Give it up to the A-Team: they've always been good at demolishing things in big, big ways. Freed from the confines of the 1980s TV series, the 2010 blockbuster movie version allows the four members of the paramilitary squad to really amp up the mayhem to newly crazed heights. Liam Neeson plays team leader Hannibal Smith (inheriting the cigar-chomping from the show's George Peppard), and pro wrestler Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is "B.A." Baracus, the TV show's most iconic character (insert Mr. T "I pity the fool" joke here). As the vain Face, Bradley Cooper preens in... convincing fashion, and District 9 out-of-nowhere star Sharlto Copley plays the unhinged pilot "Howlin' Mad" Murdock. These boys are on the trail of some money-counterfeiting plates, from Bagdad to Germany to places in between. It would be understating it to say that the plot is not of primary importance, although Patrick Wilson has some fun as a CIA official and Jessica Biel occasionally strikes poses as Face's ex-flame, now a military officer displeased with the A-Team's extra-legal shenanigans. The storytelling is insipid and half-hearted--but when it comes to snarky dialogue and two-fisted action scenes, director Joe Carnahan is in his comfort zone. It's reasonably fun watching the working-out of such logistical puzzles as dropping a tank (with crew inside) from a plane, or scattering the main characters on a dockside as cargo containers rain down from a ship looming above them. Good times, although is it asking too much for certain basic laws of physics (if you drop a human body ten stories, for instance, it might actually sustain injuries) to be used as a guideline? But worrying about such matters isn't in the spirit of The A-Team, which cheerfully ignores the petty concerns of credibility and logic. --Robert Horton [show more]
The re-imagining of this all-American action adventure TV series from the 80s, about soldiers of fortune on the run from the military for crimes they didn't commit, got a warm welcome on the big-screen with box-office takings of around $176M. Will it get the same reception on Blu-ray and DVD? Well the quality of the Blu-ray transfer is excellent boasting bright, clean, colourful and sharp images that virtually leap of the screen. The extras are impressive too with a decent commentary featuring cast and crew as well as deleted scenes, some very funny outtakes (including the Orange Wednesday spoofs) and plenty of 'making of' footage. The Blu-ray pack also includes both DVD and digital versions of the film as well, so this is a decent value-for-money combi-pack offering.
Created by writers and producers Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell, The A Team is one of the best known and best loved TV series of the 80s. There were five seasons in all that ran between 1983 and 1986 and a total of 98 episodes. The character of B.A. Baracus is still quoted today on school playgrounds (and in offices everywhere) but it was in the UK that the show really found its core audience. In fact it was not as popular as expected in the US. With its distinctive theme tune, its weekly montages of B.A. fashioning some sort of armoured vehicle out of an old car and scrap parts, as well as its well-worn catchphrases - from Hannibal's "I love it when a plan comes together" to B.A.'s "I pity the fool" and "I ain't getting on no plane, sucker!", The A Team was always going to find a loving audience.
This latest update is a cutely-scripted, respectful homage to the TV show and despite a few small changes - yes, unlike in the TV show people do get killed (times have changed, contemporary audiences simply wouldn't buy the sort of madcap gun battles that featured in the original show) - it still feels very much like The A Team. It's also, for the most part, well directed and well paced, despite a slightly longer than average running time the film will hold audience attention from start to finish. As for the increased level of violence, yes there is a lot more, but it remains fairly sanitised, albeit is severely pumped up and soaked in adrenaline. And if the action scenes do get a bit daft (which they do, towards the end) then I still believe that it remains true to the spirit of the original show. It's just the sort of hyper-kinetic action that audiences seem to want these days.
The central cast of Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson and Sharlto Copley all do an admirable job of bringing their characters to life and making them their own inventions whilst also deferentially tipping their hats to the original actors that played the roles in the TV series - two of whom - Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz have a brief cameo at the end of the credits.
So, if you have a Friday evening to fill, if no one else can help, and if you can find a Blockbuster store, maybe you can hire The A-Team.
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Please note this is a region B Blu-ray and will require a region B or region free Blu-ray player in order to play The A-Team follows the exciting and daring exploits of John "Hannibal" Smith (Neeson) Templeton "Faceman" Peck (Cooper) Captain "Howling Mad" Murdock (Sharlto Copley - District 9) and Sgt Bosco "BA" Baracus (UFC star Quinton "Rampage" Jackson) renegade Special Forces soldiers framed for a crime they did not commit Going "rogue" the team must utilize their unique talents - and eccentricities - to clear their names and find the true culprit Also starring Jessica Biel (Valentine&39;s Day) The A-Team is a thrilling reimagining of Stephen J Cannell and Frank Lupo&39;s seminal eighties TV series featuring epic set pieces and some of the most insane stunts ever seen Perfect for the action connoisseur The A-Team Extended Explosive Edition on Blu-ray (with DVD and digital copy) contains three discs fully loaded with extras including deleted scenes an A-Team theme mash-up montage and visual effects footage to name a few If you love it when a plan comes together then make sure you add this incredible action film to your collection This Edition contains fully loaded 3 discs and includes 4 character postcardsThe Devil&39;s in the Details Inside the Action with the DirectorDeleted ScenesGag ReelA Team Theme Mash Up MontagePlan of AttackCharacter ChroniclesVisual Effects Before and AfterActors Bradley Cooper Liam Neeson Jessica Biel Sharlto Copley Patrick Wilson Quinton &39;Rampage&39; Jackson Dirk Benedict Dwight Schultz Brian Bloom & Gerald McRaneyDirector Joe CarnahanCertificate 15 years and overYear 2010Screen WidescreenLanguages English - DTS-HD Master Audio (51)Subtitles EnglishDuration 2 hours and 8 minutes (approx)
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