Do or Die
October 2007 Reviewed by: Josh Barber Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

When her son is diagnosed with leukemia, Samantha Sheppard has to admit to her husband that the boy isn't his. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn of the holiday Samantha took to Australia seven years ago, where she met a charismatic man who swept her off her feet. Now she needs to find the man again, to get a blood transfusion for her son -- but that may prove difficult, considering what she learned about him years ago.

A TV miniseries edited into a 90-minute film, Do or Die is part relationship drama, part intense chase film. It's not quite Run, Lola, Run or The Bourne Identity, but it isn't just people sitting around well-appointed rooms discussing things, either. There's a lot of intense cat-and-mouse action as Sam tries to find her man and avoid those who are looking for her as well as for him.

The cast is mostly unknown in the US, but that means you're more likely to buy their characters. The most recognizable actor is Kate Ashfield, whom fans may remember from Shaun of the Dead, but this is a much different role. The script keeps the characters jumping, and the audience doesn't always know which way they're going to move -- it's unpredictable, but not out of character.

The image quality on the disc isn't too high. This series was shot for TV in 2001, so by today’s standards everything looks a bit soft and grainy. The colors have held up really well, however, so the quality isn't too distracting overall. The blacks are solid without swallowing detail, and while the edges are soft, there's no blooming or haloing to be found. Even ultra-bright beach scenes are clear.

On the other hand, the sound is inconsistent. In some scenes, everything comes through well and is balanced nicely. In other scenes, you have to turn the volume up to hear normal conversations. The changes don't seem to match with the flashbacks or any other thematic element, so it doesn't come across like an intentional choice. When the sound is working, it's good, but it just hits too many snags before the end.

The only extra feature on the disc is a link to the trailer and a few other previews, which are barely worth mentioning. Yes, it's been six years since this television project came together, but couldn’t we even get a small feature about what it took to re-cut it into a film? We're not asking for a lot, just some evidence of effort.

You probably won't want to add Do or Die to your home collection, but it's definitely worth renting. The 90-minute running time moves by at a nice clip, and there are some really surprising moments during the chases. Yeah, you've never heard of this one, but at least give it a try.

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