The Sum of All Fears [DVD] [2002]

Ben Affleck stars as action hero Jack Ryan in the adaptation of Tom Clancy's The Sum of all Fears. The film is presented in a pristine-looking 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Paramount has done an excellent job at making sure the colors, black levels, and flesh tones are all well saturated and represented accurately. Besides the smallest amount of edge enhancement, this transfer appears to be in great shape. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in English. This is a very enveloping sound mix that sports directional effects from both the front and rear speakers to maximum effects. All aspects of the mix are free and clear of any hiss or distortion, making this 5.1 audio track a great ride for movie fans. Also included on this disc are Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround soundtracks in English and French, as well as English subtitles. This special "Collector's Edition" of The Sum of all Fears sports a few fine supplements, starting with a commentary track by director Phil Alden Robinson and cinematographer John Lindley, and a second by director Robinson and novelist Tom Clancy. Both of these commentaries should provide viewers with a wealth of both story and technical information about the making of the film. While Clancy often complains about the "butchering" job done to his book, he is filled with a lot of neat information about the script and the events that take place in the film. Seven short featurettes ("Casting," "Production," "Carrier Attack," "A-4," "Hospital," "Motorcade," and "Helicopter") offer a glimpse into how the film was cast, what it was like to work on the special effects, and how many of the visual stunts were achieved. Each of these featurettes focuses on a different aspect of the film, some running longer than others. Finally there is a theatrical trailer for the film.