THE LAST SIEGE: NEVER SURRENDER
Artisan Home Entertainment
Special Features DVD
 $19.98

ATF Agent Eddie Lyman has been tracking a small militia group for several years.  After this group narrowly escapes his grasp, Lyman decides to take some time off and join his fiancée on a trip aboard a California train.  Also on board are a prominent Senator and various members of the media.  Subsequent to departing Union Station in Los Angeles, the very militia that Lyman has been chasing hijacks the train.  Armed with a nuclear bomb and firearms, this group is bent on destruction and only Agent Lyman can prevent them from carrying out their sinister plan.

The Last Siege: Never Surrender stars Jeff Fahey, Ernie Hudson, Beth Toussaint, Brent Huff, and Patrick Killpatrick.  The movie was written by Steve Latshaw, directed by Worth Keeter, and produced by Ashok Amritraj and Andrew Stevens.  Released theatrically in 2001, it is rated-R and has a feature running time of 94 minutes.           

The DVD is presented in a fullscreen version (1.33:1) that is not enhanced for widescreen monitors.  The overall quality of the transfer is average.  Images often appear soft, however colors are accurate with saturated hues.  Contrast is occasionally overly dark but black levels are spot on.  With the exception of some film grain, picture defect mastering is solid with no major flaws or digital compression artifacts.

Video Rating: 5 out of 10

The following spoken language options are available for this DVD: English Dolby Digital 2.0 surround.  There are no subtitle tracks but English closed captions are available.  The English Dolby Digital 2.0 track is the basis for this review.  The soundtrack sports a mix that favors the forward channels.  Dialogue is intelligible and natural sounding.  The surround channels are used in moderation for ambient sound effects and music.  The LFE channel is active and enhances the depth of the music score and key sound effects.

Audio Rating: 6 out of 10

The tactile sound effects are above average and are present in about three-quarters of the DVD's 22 chapters.  Subtle to moderate impacts are the type of tactile effect that can be experienced on this disc.  The best tactile effects take place in chapter 2 (ATF shootout at the house), chapter 18 (train colliding with car parked on the tracks), chapter 20 (hand-to-hand combat in the train's baggage compartment) and chapter 21 (detonation of the explosive device).

Tactile Sound Effects Rating: 7 out of 10

Bonus features include interactive menus and scene access.

Bonus Features Rating: 2 out of 10