The Rookie [Blu-ray]

Great old movie

Usually, you can go see a Clint Eastwood movie and expect at least something decent, but "The Rookie" is genuinely a bad movie. Clint could've given us a nice farewell Dirty Harry movie, but instead he gives us a bad knockoff of "Lethal Weapon." Clint and his cop buddies are always confronting criminals with no backup or any cover, which always ends bad for them. The bad guys are just chop-shop operators led by Raul Julia playing a German and playing it really cheesy. Everyone does stupid things in this movie. Raul Julia and his henchwoman leave $2 million dollars on the ground because they're being chased by Clint and Charlie Sheen in an open field even though they, the bad guys, have a submachine gun and Clint and Charlie have only pistols. Also, the ridiculous scene of Clint and Charlie being chased by a leer jet across the airport's field. Was that supposed to be intense? Being chased by a bulky slow rolling airplane through grass that they could just move to the side to avoid. It's said Clint only agreed to do this if Warner Bros. would let him make "White Hunter, Black Heart." Definitely Clint's worst movie by far.

The chase scene in the beginning were shot in San José, CA on the unopened section of hey 87 at the south end of San José airport. The foot chase in the airport terminal was shot at brand new and unopened Terminal A at the North end of the airport. The part where they're going to get on a private jet was shot at SJC- San José Jet Centre. I, and many other SJC employees from the car hire agencies, airlines and airport police were extras.

Well, it would've been a lot better if I could've seen more of what was going on. So much of this film takes place in REALLY dark settings, to the point that with so little light, quite often it's really hard to tell what just occurred. and that happens a lot through-out the film. I gave it three stars as I like Clint Eastwood and Charlie Sheen both, but this movie bombed as far as I was concerned. I gave it three stars, but I felt I was being quite generous in giving that...!

This review is primarily for the blu-ray transfer--the picture quality, sound quality, etc.--not for how good the story or acting is, or not. This has a beautiful picture, with very accurate colors (as with the flesh tones, for example), vivid colors, and it's quite sharp. And this is a 1990 film. The audio is excellent as well. I'm very pleased with this purchase, which is an upgrade to the DVD I already owned.On my 55" HD TV, this is far superior to the DVD.The movie is compelling throughout, if thin a little in the plot at times, and weak, too, in the poor German accent from the fine actor, Raul Julia (read: "laughable"-- saying "ziss" and "zat" were his only attempts at sounding German). With no attempt even made at a German accent from Sonia Braga! And incompetent, not-believable acting by the guy playing Clint and Charlie's police boss-- he was truly pitiful, and over-acting. He was not helped by his having tired, cookie-cutter lines.But, a film with Clint and Charlie has to be good, at least, if not great, plus entertaining, fun, and funny, too-- and this one doesn't disappoint on any of these elements. A fun ride.There are no extras with this blu-ray, but, yes, it does have a menu!GREAT job on this film's transfer via excellent Blu Ray remastering. One of the best blu rays, technically, for a 1990 film.

Although this title is part of the Clint Eastwood Collection, it is not the usual vehicle for an actor and director of his caliber.Still it is not one of his worst ones as an actor. It has one major asset, the appearance of Raul Julia as the Bad Guy, who plays it with decency and panache.Other than this, this is a tiny action-thriller movie, one of those "weird buddy" style. Charlie Sheen is adequate in the role of the "Rookie", althoughhe comes more through as the wise-guy, than truly a rookie.Clint does his bit and has some funny one-liners, but is not at his usual best, as for instance in his "Dirty Harry" appearances. He looks a bit tired.Still it is an entertaining movie, but not to be compared with other similar products.The DVD comes as is. No Special features, just an additional French track. The image is conventional for this medium and the sound has been expanded to 5.1 surround, although at times barely noticeable.One feels that there is something lacking here, but is never quite sure what it is. Is it the story? Is it the acting? Is it the ambiance?I can just recommend it for a die-hard Eastwood Fan, but not for the general public.Pity, it could have been so much better, especially considering the presence of two co-starring actors like the late Raul Julia and Sonia Braga (both appearing in the splendid "Kiss of the Spider Woman", and in the funny "Moon Over Parador").

Both Clint Eastwood and Charlie Sheen were great together in this movie and Raul Julia was awesome as the bad guy. They were both catching the car thieves nonstop throughout the film.

I remember Barry Norman slagging this off on his film show years ago, he was trying to compare it to the likes of dirty harry. It's a slam bang shoot 'em up kind of movie, not meant to be anything like dirty harry. Old Bazza Norman was getting past his best before date by then and seemed to think all those foreign films with subtitles were brilliant. Watch Clint and Charlie, they make a good team. Enjoyable.

i bought this film for one reason only because it starred one of my favourite actors of all time, the amazing mr eastwood, sadly this film isnt one of his best but then they cant all be dirty harry or million dollar baby, this film starts off with action from the start which leads to the death of eastwoods partner, they are both cops in the theft and auto department, eastwood is then landed with a rich boy rookie who is trying to escape his life as the son of a wealthy man, there are car chases, shoot outs, the rookie being called a coward and then the sterotypical thing of the rich boy throws away his nerves and becomes as brash and arogant as eastwoods characterif you like action then this is a film for you, if you like a bit or even a hint of a storyline then i wouldnt pick this film, all though i hadnt seen it before i felt like i had as it is the same story line from numrous other cop/bad guy films and thats why for me its a three star film and not a fivei could watch anything with clint eastwood in but this film i could quite cheerfully not have ever bothered with

Very good

Love this film from when I was younger

Great Clint Eastwood classic from the 90s , also stars Charlie Sheen, film looks and sounds great ,no extras except a trailer, is a Warner bros release so region free.