THE SENTINEL is an entertaining, energetic, and predictable thriller. Many will be watching it for Michael Douglas, Keifer
Sutherland, and Eva Longoria. Michael Douglas has always been one of my favorite actors. He plays Agent Garrison of the United
States Secret Service. He is part of the detail to protect the President and he stumbles upon a plot to assassinate the President.
Even Kim Bassinger isn't annoying as the First Lady which Agent Garrison is having an affair with. Soon Garrison finds himself
framed as the mole that everyone is looking for. He runs and tries to find out who the mole is while a former friend (Kiefer
Sutherland) is the one who is trying to bring Garrison in. As part of the hollywood cliches, Garrison's former bud is the
jealous type who thinks Garrison was having an affair with the guy's wife (I guess he will be a heel when he learns Garrison
is really shagging the First Lady instead). Also, a former student of Garrison's (the sexy Eva Longoria) is the investigator's
new partner. The two problems with THE SENTINEL are the traitor I guessed right early on and the film could have been more
developed like the frame up being earlier in the film.
VIDEO: 2.40:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)
I know the final disc will look better, but the transfer on the screener disc looks horrible. I don't if it is due to Fox
doing it as another step to fight piracy or the final video hasn't been completed. I will update when I get the final product
disc.
AUDIO: English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 2.0 DS, Spanish 2.0 DS
subtitles: English, Spanish
Surround action isn't bad and dialogue is clear.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Four deleted scenes and an alternate ending (the first 3 scenes are letterboxed while the last two are
Anamorphic Widescreen) with optional commentary by Screenwriter George Nolfi. A dark character scene for Kiefer and two scenes
that would have it made feel like a Hollywwod picture received the cut. Whether those cuts make the movie a better picture
is up to you.
The feature audio commentary by George Nolfi and Director Clark Johnson is a better effort than the boring track Clark
did for S.W.A.T. 2 1/2 years ago.
The two featurettes focus on the Secret Service (the film's two tech advisiors (former Secret Service), the actors, and
the screenwriter are interviewed):
THE SECRET SERVICE: BUILDING ON A TRADITION- the history of the secret service, what they do, their training, and they
like former law enforcement and military to be recruited into their ranks (usually in their 30s). It is a tough agency to
get into.
IN THE PRESIDENT'S SHADOW: PROTECTING THE PRESIDENT- goes through what the service does to protect the president, their
dress code, and that only the best (at least after 5 years in the service) get selected to protect the president (first lady,
presidental candidates, etc). President George W. Bush changed the law so the former Presidents only get protected up to 10
years after they leave office.
Also included are two theatrical trailers for THE SENTINEL, a trailer for the Special Editions of ROMANCING THE STONE and
JEWEL OF THE NILE, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING trailer, and a 24 season 4 promo.
FINAL ANALYSIS: THE SENTINEL is a good movie to check out during the time of the year where the cinemaplex isn't having
the top crop showing. It is a solid and yet predictable thriller. The DVD has some good extras despite the lack of a featurette
on the making of the film.
this review is (c)8-27-2006 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission (except for excerpts and a link
to the review). Look for additional content at http://enterlinemedia.livejournal.com and send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com
