Enemy of the State appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.35:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. This was a pretty mediocre presentation.
Sharpness was usually decent, though the use of digital noise reduction affected clarity. Closer shots seemed fine, but wider elements tended to come across as somewhat soft and tentative. I noticed no issues with jagged edges or shimmering, but I saw examples of edge haloes. As for print flaws, sporadic specks cropped up but nothing major marred the image.
Colors looked fine, though they could be somewhat murky. Exteriors showed good vivacity but interiors tended to appear on the flat side. Blacks were similarly dull, and shadows seemed a little too dense. This was an early Blu-ray and it showed its age.
On the other hand, the uncompressed PCM 5.1 soundtrack of Enemy of the State seemed consistently strong. I expect lively audio from Bruckheimer action extravaganzas, and while Enemy wasn’t as wild as something like Armageddon, it still worked very well.
The soundfield used all five channels to good effect. Vehicles dominated the more action pieces, as helicopters, cars and other objects moved about us cleanly. Gunfire and the like also featured prominently, and the mix helped form a nicely three-dimensional impression. Music boasted good stereo imaging as well, and the surrounds displayed a lot of information.
No problems with audio quality occurred. Speech was consistently natural and concise, and I noticed no edginess or other flaws. Music sounded bright and dynamic, and effects followed in the same vein. Those elements appeared clean and accurate, and they boasted very nice bass response. Low-end was smooth and deep. All in all, this was a strong mix.
How does the Blu-ray compare to the 2006 DVD? Audio was a bit bolder, and visuals seemed tighter and more concise. Despite the issues that accompanied the Blu-ray’s transfer, it still offered a step up in quality.
When we head to extras, we begin with four deleted scenes. These include “Jones Gets Bitten” (43 seconds), “Confrontation at the Limousine Service” (2:08), “Dean Searches for Brill on the Ferry” (2:02) and “Fiedler Digs the Nanny” (0:52). The first just shows a little more of the break-in at the Dean home, while the second extends Dean’s attempts to settle his problems. These become mildly interesting additions but nothing memorable.
The Making of Enemy of the State fills 29 minutes and 14 seconds. It offers the standard combination of movie clips, behind the scenes shots, and interviews. We hear from director Tony Scott, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, tech advisors Steve Uhrig and Marty Kaiser, technical advisor Harry Humphries, Controlled Demolition Inc. president Mark Loizeaux, mechanical effects coordinator Mike Meinardus, and actors Will Smith, Regina King, Gene Hackman, Lisa Bonet, Jake Busey, Jamie Kennedy, Barry Pepper, Jason Lee, and Jon Voight.
“Making” examines modern surveillance technology and its use in the movie, the National Security Agency and its depiction, legal issues, cast, characters, and performances, the relationship between Scott and Bruckheimer, locations, physical challenges, stunts and explosions, and hopes for the movie’s reception.
“Making” is as non-specific as its title. It keeps matters fairly general and doesn’t provide a strong view of the film’s creation. It works better than most features of this sort, but it doesn’t make much of an impact.
Entitled All Access: The Showdown, the next featurette goes for 13 minutes and 19 seconds. This looks at the film’s climax and consists entirely of raw footage from the set. We see cast and crew as they shoot the violent sequence. I enjoy this sort of piece and think this one is interesting to see.
In addition to the film’s trailer, we find Movie Showcase. With that, we’re told we’ll get “instant access to the filmmaker’s most cinematic moments that showcase the ultimate in high definition picture and sound”. What this means is that we find an alternate form of chapter search, as the “Showcase” links to three short clips; these run a total of five minutes, 40 seconds. The “Showcase” feels pointless to me.
Note that the 2006 DVD offered an extended version of the film, whereas this Blu-ray includes only its theatrical cut. I don’t regard that as a tragedy, for I didn’t feel the longer edition improved the movie.
Enemy of the State offers one of the better flicks from the Bruckheimer factory. It presents an intriguing concept that’s gotten even more relevant over time, and it includes more than enough action to maintain our interest. This Blu-ray offers excellent audio but visuals seem lackluster and we don’t get many bonus materials. I enjoy the movie but think this becomes a mediocre release.
To rate this film visit the original review of ENEMY OF THE STATE