Stripped to its core elements, this movie is "Top Gun" in racing cars but without the compulsive drama and emotion of that film. Nevertheless there's plenty of superb eye candy from Tony Scott to make this an entertaining but shallow affair.
Featuring some incredible stock car racing footage and the dream pairing of Cruise and Kidman, this is a film for DVD. And the news on the visual front isn't bad. There are flecks of print damage to the picture and a fine grain to many of the scenes but the muted colour scheme looks far better than it did on VHS.
Any interest in minor flaws in the image is quickly lost as you are consumed by the Oscar-nominated sound, upgraded here to one of the busiest 5.1 tracks available today. The result is thrilling, with stock cars looping around your living room and the Vangelis-like Hans Zimmer music score triumphantly filling out the front speakers. And if none of that is enough to keep you awake, then prepare for an incredible boom from your sub-woofer in chapter 21 as the final race begins.
The only extra is a plot-spoiling trailer but the incredible 5.1 sound more than makes up for any shortcomings the disc may have.
Chapters: 23
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features: Scene selection, trailer, multiple languages and subtitles, English for the hearing impaired.