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New Port South
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment // PG-13 // March 12, 2002
List Price: $29.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
Originally, "New Port South" was going to get a wider release, but instead, it eventually was only released in limited markets before going straight-to-video. The film, produced by John Hughes and written by son Jason, rarely seems like anything worthy of coming to a theater-near-anyone; it often seems like a very murky and depressing episode of the Fox show "Boston Public" - another "school" where not a minute seems to go by without some sort of drama.
"New Port South" is the tale of a group of kids who find that one of their own is tired of the kind of disrespect they are shown by their teachers and the general environment, which seems - and looks - more like a prison than a place of learning. Guided by the ideas of a former student who tried to rise up against the teachers and ended up getting locked away in a mental institution, they start off making a plan to get the students on their side and take things further from there, but the one takes things farther than the group.
Of course, this is one of those films where the kids couldn't simply go to their parents (the viewer doesn't see the parents) and describe what a nightmare their school is or even band together and go to the press. In reality, their actions would get them in a world of further trouble, but - of course - it's only a movie. It's already hard to sympathize with any of the characters, who are hardly defined at all, but it's even more difficult when they opt to take a course of action that doesn't seem very bright.
The film suffers further from Hughes' screenplay and the performances. None of the actors turn in a very noteworthy performance and there are several intense moments that are overplayed. I'm sure the screenplay was attempting to get a message across, but any issues that are raised in the film are either not touched on in much depth or awkwardly handled before going forward. Technical credits aren't much better, as the cinematography, which I'd guess is intentionally dark to give it a "prison" feel, is dull and the electronic/rock score is headache-inducing. "New Port South" could really have been an interesting drama about kids trying to turn around a school that had gone downhill, but it really doesn't even slightly succeed in being compelling or enjoyable.
The DVD
VIDEO: Buena Vista Home Video presents "New Port South" in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is certainly not the most visually interesting picture; it has a dark appearance and probably looked similar during its theatrical run. Sharpness and detail are either very good or lackluster; some scenes appear slightly soft in comparison to others.
Further problems arise: some grain shows up on occasion, as do a few specks and marks on the print used. Mild edge enhancement is seen during several scenes and becomes an annoyance at times. No pixelation is seen, but the other problems add up to enough to be concerned. Colors are very muted throughout the film, although some very slightly vivid colors occasionally appear. This is an okay presentation - no more, no less.
SOUND: Buena Vista presents "New Port South" in both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1. The previously mentioned electronic score is particularly grating and, unfortunately, often comes from all speakers. Other than the score, the surrounds really aren't employed for anything else besides some light ambience in the hallways. Audio quality seemed fine, if not noteworthy - dialogue came through clearly, while the score and what sound effects were included were crisp.
MENUS: Very basic film-themed images serve as backgrounds.
EXTRAS: Sneak peaks for other Buena Vista titles.
Final Thoughts: "New Port South" is a poorly acted and weakly written mess of a school melodrama that starts off dully and never gets going. Buena Vista's DVD edition provides decent audio and video, with, in this case, thankfully little in the way of supplements. Not recommended.
Originally, "New Port South" was going to get a wider release, but instead, it eventually was only released in limited markets before going straight-to-video. The film, produced by John Hughes and written by son Jason, rarely seems like anything worthy of coming to a theater-near-anyone; it often seems like a very murky and depressing episode of the Fox show "Boston Public" - another "school" where not a minute seems to go by without some sort of drama.
"New Port South" is the tale of a group of kids who find that one of their own is tired of the kind of disrespect they are shown by their teachers and the general environment, which seems - and looks - more like a prison than a place of learning. Guided by the ideas of a former student who tried to rise up against the teachers and ended up getting locked away in a mental institution, they start off making a plan to get the students on their side and take things further from there, but the one takes things farther than the group.
Of course, this is one of those films where the kids couldn't simply go to their parents (the viewer doesn't see the parents) and describe what a nightmare their school is or even band together and go to the press. In reality, their actions would get them in a world of further trouble, but - of course - it's only a movie. It's already hard to sympathize with any of the characters, who are hardly defined at all, but it's even more difficult when they opt to take a course of action that doesn't seem very bright.
The film suffers further from Hughes' screenplay and the performances. None of the actors turn in a very noteworthy performance and there are several intense moments that are overplayed. I'm sure the screenplay was attempting to get a message across, but any issues that are raised in the film are either not touched on in much depth or awkwardly handled before going forward. Technical credits aren't much better, as the cinematography, which I'd guess is intentionally dark to give it a "prison" feel, is dull and the electronic/rock score is headache-inducing. "New Port South" could really have been an interesting drama about kids trying to turn around a school that had gone downhill, but it really doesn't even slightly succeed in being compelling or enjoyable.
The DVD
VIDEO: Buena Vista Home Video presents "New Port South" in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is certainly not the most visually interesting picture; it has a dark appearance and probably looked similar during its theatrical run. Sharpness and detail are either very good or lackluster; some scenes appear slightly soft in comparison to others.
Further problems arise: some grain shows up on occasion, as do a few specks and marks on the print used. Mild edge enhancement is seen during several scenes and becomes an annoyance at times. No pixelation is seen, but the other problems add up to enough to be concerned. Colors are very muted throughout the film, although some very slightly vivid colors occasionally appear. This is an okay presentation - no more, no less.
SOUND: Buena Vista presents "New Port South" in both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1. The previously mentioned electronic score is particularly grating and, unfortunately, often comes from all speakers. Other than the score, the surrounds really aren't employed for anything else besides some light ambience in the hallways. Audio quality seemed fine, if not noteworthy - dialogue came through clearly, while the score and what sound effects were included were crisp.
MENUS: Very basic film-themed images serve as backgrounds.
EXTRAS: Sneak peaks for other Buena Vista titles.
Final Thoughts: "New Port South" is a poorly acted and weakly written mess of a school melodrama that starts off dully and never gets going. Buena Vista's DVD edition provides decent audio and video, with, in this case, thankfully little in the way of supplements. Not recommended.
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