First| Previous| Up| Next| Last
The Jackal - Collector's Edition (1997)
Front Cover Actor Back Cover
Richard Gere
Bruce Willis
Sidney Poitier
Diane Venora
Movie Details
Director Michael Caton-Jones
Producer James Jacks; Sean Daniel
Writer Chuck Pearrer
Studio Universal Studios
Language English
Audience Rating R (Restricted)
Running Time 125 mins
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
The best way to enjoy this 1997 thriller is to forget the much better film that inspired it (1973's The Day of the Jackal) and get whatever kicks you can from this heavy-metal remake. It's not bad as hokey thrillers go, but all of the original film's suspenseful finesse has been traded in (not traded up) for bigger, bolder action and nonsensical plotting. It's as if Hollywood had forgotten to create excitement without resorting to overblown action and heavy hardware, but there's ample compensation in the casting of Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. Willis is the elusive assassin known only as the Jackal, whose latest target (he uses a cannon-sized gun that's anything but inconspicuous) may be the first lady of the United States. Gere plays a former IRA terrorist who is recruited by the deputy head of the FBI (Sidney Poitier) to trace the Jackal's maneuvers, and Diane Venora offers some gutsy support as a Russian-born agent who assists Gere on his mission. The movie has fun turning Willis into a master of disguise, and Gere adds much-needed gravity to counter the plot's escalating absurdity, but this is the kind of film that falls apart if you think about it too much. Still, that doesn't stop the Collector's Edition DVD from offering an impressive array of bonus features, including a director's commentary, a "making of The Jackal" documentary, deleted scenes, an alternative ending, cast interviews, and more. --Jeff Shannon
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 636
Collection Status In Collection
Links Amazon US
DVD Empire
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio 2.35:1
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
UPC (Barcode) 025192026225
Chapters 31
Release Date 4/28/1998
Subtitles French; Spanish
Packaging Keep Case
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC]
FRENCH: Dolby Digital Surround
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
Commentary with the Director
Original Featurette:
   The Making of the Jackal
Interviews with the Cast
Never-Before Seen Footage
Deleted Scenes
Alternate Ending
Theatrical Trailer
Production Photographs