HOME   News   Reviews   Adv Search   Features   My DVD   About   Apps   Stats     Search:
  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.85:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
    English
  Extras
  • Deleted scenes
  • 5 Teaser trailer
  • 2 Featurette
  • Filmographies

The Navigators

Madman Entertainment/AV Channel . R4 . COLOR . 92 mins . M15+ . PAL

  Feature
Contract

Based on real events, The Navigators is a story about the railway workers in South Yorkshire and how the privatisation of British Rail affected them. Set in 1995, it tells of a group of workers that have to re-evaluate their working routine overnight. After being able to constantly bludge and get their workmates to clock them in, they are completely shocked when they arrive at work one day to find the British Rail sign being replaced with one for East Midland Infrastructure. Things such as the new mission statement, performance related pay and unpaid holidays are all laughed at by the men, until the hard realisation hits them that they must conform to survive. The major issue of the film targets the safety risk to the workers. They are required to give up this luxury in order to keep working and a major accident is imminent.

"Shite!"

This film had a lot of potential to work, but for me it fails miserably, in fact my selection of a quote from the film sums up my view on it quite adequately. The biggest disappointment is the acting, as the majority of the cast seem to be completely lacking any acting ability whatsoever. The main characters are acceptable, but the general workers adlib for the most part and do this quite badly. I am sure there was a script of some sort, but this only seems to have been a guide. There is the possibility that the director wanted the cast to adlib to create more realism, but it just doesn’t work here at all. The other main annoyance is that nothing seems to happen, this is simply a film about the day to day life of railway workers. Yes, the problems encountered by these men when faced with unemployment is horrendous, but it is not what I would class as entertainment or even particularly educational.

Now to not be completely negative about this film, I must say it is refreshing to see a topic being tackled that is not the standard format aimed at box office success. This may have worked as a play or even with a better cast, but this particular feature just doesn’t cut it. The point of view shown is quite biased in the railway workers' favour, but perhaps a more even viewpoint could have worked better, giving the viewer the option to decide who was right.

Overall, as stated before, I found this film to be an utter bore. Apart from a series of events towards the end of the film, nothing really happens. Those that are into the plight of the British railway worker may enjoy it though. If you want the viewer to sympathise with the workers and show how hard done by they are then what is the point of showing them continually bludging and only aiding the need for privatisation in the first place? Perhaps the better way to produce this film would have been to have made an actual documentary, at least the acting would have been better...

  Video
Contract

Presented in an anomorphically enhanced 1.85:1 aspect ratio, there is little to find fault with in this transfer. The muted colours enhance the English winter well and really capture the intended feel of this film. Picture is sharp throughout and there is little problem with grain and other little nasties like aliasing and lack of detail. Yes these are there, but they cause little to no interference.

  Audio
Contract

Audio is supplied in English Dolby Digital 2.0 and does all it needs to do. It is never put to any major test, so does its job admirably. The accents are at times a little strong and hard to understand, but other than that audio is clear. Overall this audio track matches the video perfectly while doing all it needs to do.

  Extras
Contract

There are a few extras with this release to satisfy all the trainspotters out there...

Deleted Scenes
Running for 24 minutes in total, this collection of deleted scenes are more of the same wonderful scenes that were included in the film – yawn. There is also commentary available from the editor.

Railing Against It
Quite an interesting documentary on the writer of the film Rob Dawber, this featurette runs for 28:38 in total. Covering his personal battle against illness, it also looks at how the film was produced.

Making Tracks
This black and white featurette runs for 16:21 and looks at early footage of the British rail system. It is quite interesting, but by this point you are ready to throw yourself in front of a train rather than watch more of them.

Other extras include a Ken Loach Filmography and teaser trailers for the films Nine Queens, The Cat’s Meow, Molokai, The Tracker and Satin Rouge.

  Overall  
Contract

In case you are still wondering, I didn’t like this film at all... The story is boring, the acting is atrocious and the script is non-eventful. On the positive side, the cinematography is impressive and it really does capture the feel of these people and the conditions they worked in. Perhaps it could have been saved with better use of humour or even actual actors, but unless you have a great love for trains then I doubt you will enjoy this film.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=2298
  • Send to a friend.

    Cast your vote here: You must enable cookies to vote.
  •   
      And I quote...
    "This film is just like Trainspotting, well apart from the humour, the acting and the story... but it's got trains in it!"
    - Adrian Turvey
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Sony DVP-NS305
    • TV:
          AKAI CT-29S55AT 68cm
    • Receiver:
          Sony STR-DE685
    • Speakers:
          Sony SAVE815ED
    • Centre Speaker:
          Sony SAVE815ED
    • Surrounds:
          Sony SAVE815ED
    • Subwoofer:
          Sony SAVE815ED
      Recent Reviews:
    by Adrian Turvey

    The Rise & Rise of Australian Rugby - The Bledisloe Cup: Deluxe Edition
    "This is a quality package for fans of rugby, as well as fans of Australian sporting history."

    Youssou N'Dour - Live at Union Chapel
    "The talented African singer gives a fine performance in this show."

    The Wailers - Live
    "Keep the pizza delivery phone number handy for this one!"

    Matchbox Twenty - Show: A Night in the Life of
    "Great band, great spectacle, great sound, great show!"

    Manchester United - Beyond the Promised Land
    "Fans of Manchester United should enjoy this release, for others it may induce vomiting! "

      Related Links
      None listed

     

    Search for Title/Actor/Director:
    Google Web dvd.net.au
       Copyright © DVDnet. All rights reserved. Site Design by RED 5   
    rss