The Guardian
Disney
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After losing his crew in a fatal crash, legendary Rescue Swimmer, Ben Randall, is sent to teach at "A" School, an elite training program for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. Wrestling with the loss of his crew members, he throws himself into teaching, turning the program upside down with his unorthodox training methods. While there, he encounters a young, cocky swim champ, Jake Fischer, who is driven to be the best. During training, Randall helps mold Jake's character, combining his raw talent with the heart and dedication required of a Rescue Swimmer. Upon graduation, Jake follows Randall to Kodiak, Alaska, where they face the inherent dangers of the Bering Sea. In his initial solo rescue, Jake learns firsthand from Randall, the true meaning of heroism and sacrifice, echoing the Swimmer's motto--"So Others May Live!"

Breaking it down scene-by-scene, The Guardian is pretty good. There's lots of action, clearly defined relationships and a look at a noble and exciting profession – or calling, depending on how you look at it. But at almost two-and-a-half hours, The Guardian is an overly bloated action drama that is predictable and drawn out.

The team of Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher is an interesting one. Costner as the grizzled veteran is certainly nothing new. He's made a career of it and he sticks to his guns. Kutcher as the hot-shot rookie is another appropriate choice. However as much as Kutcher might want to shake "That 70s Show", I still see him as the dopey Kelso. He even keeps much of the same mannerisms here as he did in the television show. Not a great thing as far as shaking the typecast bug.

Although there are many action scenes that are big in scale and spectacular in scope, there are times when some of the biggest rescues can't hide the fact that they're being filmed on a sound stage. This cuts down on the potential dramatic affect the film might otherwise have had as these were some of the most important scenes in the film. With all the technology available today, it's hard to generate tense emotion when you can tell Costner and Kelso are swimming in an over-sized dunk tank.

While the bonding and training scenes aren't half bad, The Guardian paints by numbers and runs far longer than it needed too.

Video: How's it look?
Presented in an enhanced widescreen (1.85:1 aspect ratio), The Guardian looks great. There's no noticeable glitches or problems and the colours are nice and sharp, giving Costner and Kelso that extra shiny feeling.

Audio: How's it sound?
When the waves are roaring and the helicopter is hovering, the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound really brings the film to life. There's also dubbed French and Spanish tracks.

Extras: What additional goodies are included?

• Director Andrew Davis and writer Ron L. Brinkerhoff provide a commentary that begins with a lot of the film's background and continues on with a lot of standard behind-the-scenes chit chat.
• "Making Waves" does anything but. Except when it literally does. Running 11 minutes, it's a typical and not too exciting making-of featurette.
• "Unsung Heroes" has the cast and crew providing inspirational comments about the US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. The short featurette acts as a tribute of sorts for those who risk their jobs daily to pull people out of the water.
• Four deleted scenes totaling seven minutes with optional commentary with director Davis and writer Brinkerhoff.
• A warmer and fuzzier alternate ending including an introduction from director Davis.
• Previews for The Prestige, Blu-Ray and that ultra-annoying anti-piracy message. Here's a hint -- those who see the messages are the ones paying to see the movies. You don't need to waste their time.
• French and Spanish subtitles.

Closing Thoughts
Had it been trimmed by 45 minutes or so, The Guardian might have been a really good film. Instead it's bloated and at times boring. The DVD, however, comes with lots of extras, although none that are original or innovative. Overall, it's a solid but not spectacular package.


Review brought to you by our friend Ryan @ Movie-Views.com