Why So Blu?

Juggernaut (Blu-ray Review)

The cruise liner SS Britannic is traveling through the North Atlantic with over a thousand passengers on board. As the vessel drifts through the vast ocean, its owner – Nicholas Porter (Holm) – receives a call from a man who identifies himself only as “Juggernaut.” The ominous voice on the telephone informs Porter that there are explosives planted aboard the Britannic, and that he will sink the ship at dawn unless a hefty ransom is paid. A race against time then begins as Captain Alex Brunel (Sharif), Royal Navy officer Anthony Fallon (Harris) and police superintendent John McLeod (Hopkins) work together across land and sea in a desperate attempt to avert certain disaster and secure the safety of the ship’s passengers. Juggernaut (aka Terror on the Britannic) is now available on Blu-ray!

Film 

Set aboard a luxury ocean liner cruising off the coast of England, Juggernaut follows a tense hijacking situation when a series of bombs are planted throughout the ship by a mysterious figure, known only as the “Juggernaut.” With the authorities unable to disarm the bombs, a team of bomb disposal experts—led by the quick-witted and rugged Lt. Cmdr. Fallon (Richard Harris)—is sent on board to save the passengers and crew before the ticking time runs out. As they work against the clock, the bomb squad must also navigate the complexities of human nature, from the crew’s panic to the increasingly erratic behavior of the passengers.

The film’s pacing is spot-on, maintaining a careful balance between tension-building moments and character development. Director Richard Lester (A Hard Day’s Night) also uses the confined, claustrophobic setting of the ship to heighten the drama, with the camera often taking us into tight spaces, emphasizing the feeling of entrapment.

Juggernaut also benefits from a strong script by writer Richard Alan Simmons and Alan Plater, who inject sharp dialogue into the otherwise dire situation. There’s subtle humor to the characters’ interactions, which helps break up the unrelenting tension and makes the drama feel more human. In particular, the exchanges between Richard Harris and his team are a highlight—professional yet laced with dry wit. Richard Harris has plenty of hilarious zingers, even in the dire straits he and his crew find themselves in.

At its core, Juggernaut is a thrilling countdown drama, where the suspense derives not only from the dire situation at hand but from the interpersonal tensions that arise within the confines of the ship. With an ensemble cast that includes a young Anthony Hopkins, a stalwart Omar Sharif, and an ever-compelling Ian Holm, the film has the strong character work that keeps it engaging even between the action scenes. It’s never a dull moment aboard the Juggernaut on Blu-ray!

 

Video 

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the Blu-ray.

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

HDR: N/A

Layers: BD-50

Clarity/Detail: The high-definition transfer has done wonders for the film’s sharpness and clarity, making the most of the gritty atmosphere that defines much of the movie. The ship’s interiors, often dimly lit and tense, now pop with detail, and the outside shots of the ocean liner on the open sea look terrific.

Depth:  There’s a rich depth to the image that fans of classic films will appreciate, with a slight grain texture that’s true to the original film stock.

Color Reproduction: The color palette is decent enough. I did not notice any instances of banding or pixelation.

Black Levels: I did not detect any instances of heavy crush.

Flesh Tones: Flesh tones look natural enough – no one is suffering from seasickness, so expect lots of flush English cheeks.

Noise/Artifacts: It’s a 50-year-old film, so expect a blemish here and there. But as was mentioned before, the excellent grain structure more than makes up for any misgivings in regards to perceived noise and artifacts.

 

Audio 

Audio Format(s): English LPCM 2.0 (Dual Mono) (48kHz/24-bit)

Subtitles: English

Dynamics: The audio track is equally impressive, with a robust LPCM 2.0 dual mono mix. John Scott’s haunting score is as effective as ever, pulsing through the speakers with an immersive quality. The ship’s creaking, the distant sounds of the waves crashing, and the muffled urgency of the bomb disposal team’s movements all come together to create a truly immersive experience. Yes, all of this in a dual mono 2.0 mix, of all things!

Height: N/A

Low-Frequency Extension: N/A

Surround Sound Presentation: N/A

Dialogue Reproduction: Dialogue comes through clearly.

Extras 

Eureka Entertainment has loaded up  the Juggernaut Blu-ray with a number of valuable extras. Among them are:

 

• Brand new audio commentary with British cinema expert Melanie Williams
• All Hands on Deck – Brand new interview with film historian Neil Sinyard, author of The Films of Richard Lester
• Down with the Ship – Brand new interview with film historian Sheldon Hall on Juggernaut and the disaster film
• Trailer
• A Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on Juggernaut by British film scholar Laura Mayne

 

Summary 

Juggernaut may not be as widely remembered as other disaster films of its era, but it is no less effective. With strong performances, a taut script, and direction that keeps the suspense mounting throughout, the film remains a standout of the 1970s disaster genre. Eureka Entertainment’s Blu-ray is a fantastic way to rediscover this classic thriller, offering a pristine visual and audio presentation along with insightful special features. Whether you’re a fan of vintage suspense films or just looking for an underappreciated gem to add to your collection, Juggernaut on Blu-ray is well worth the watch.

 

 

Juggernaut is now available on Blu-ray in the UK!

ORDER NOW!

 

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