Originally released in March via Vista Point Entertainment, I bet this Blu-ray title now has a bit more cachet and Red State rental value pop after the recent Navy Seals takedown of Osama bin Laden.
No, there’s no particular special military focus in this 90-minute documentary, which basically amounts to chopper porn. In fact, it was originally an IMAX theater title, so a lot of the square-jawed, rah-rah narration — from the earnest, how-did-that-tree-spawn-that-apple? Martin Sheen — marks it as more of a History Channel spin-off, really. But director David Douglas also provides plenty of action-infused spectacle, making this a decent Father’s Day thrown-in for the mechanically inclined, and those that already have a Sears Craftman tool set and the whole Time-Life World War II illustrated book series. Propulsion and lift are explained, as well as the accouterments of different “birds,” and a series of pulse-pounding mountain rescues, humanitarian aid and reconnaissance missions and other sorties highlight the many roles these powerful and varied aircraft play in our lives.
Straight Up‘s Blu-ray presentation is solid and straightforward, with no edge enhancement issues and very little grain, only in some archival footage. Plus, it comes with a nice complement of supplemental features, including a film trailer, a director commentary track, a making-of featurette, and a small clutch of deleted scenes. To purchase the Blu-ray via Amazon, click here. C+ (Movie) B (Disc)
