Mongolian Ping Pong [DVD] [2005]

A flawed but interesting thriller that received a brief theatrical release before disappearing following the bankruptcy of Bryanston Pictures (an independent studio that was reportedly launched by racketeers looking to shelter the money they'd made distributing a number of pornographic features, including Deep Throat), The Human Factor finally re-emerges thanks to this DVD release from Dark Sky Films. The Human Factor has been given a letterboxed transfer to disc in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, which has also been enhanced for anamorphic playback on widescreen monitors; while the source materials are clean enough, the colors are muddy and slightly off balance, leaving the image looking indifferent at best. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo, preserving the original monophonic sound mix on two tracks, and the results are good if not outstanding. The dialogue is in English, with no multiple language options or subtitles included. As a bonus, this disc includes an interview with star George Kennedy, in which he discusses his background in show business, his acting style and his work on this film, and for the most part this digital-shot documentary looks better than the feature it accompanies. Also filling out the disc is a gallery of stills and advertising art, and a television spot advertising the movie. While there are a handful of film fans who will find The Human Factor interesting, it's hard not to wish Dark Sky had either tracked down a better looking print of this film or done a bit more work to repair the color flaws for this release.