All the sample videos here are mpeg1 (VCD) quality. The file sizes are quite large considering the length of the videos, but I did this for the sake of cross platform compatibility. My only method of encoding smaller files is .wmv, which some users have problems with. Only download these once, and please if you have already seen the DVD, don't download them to save my bandwidth.

These sample videos were created with permission from the DVD producer/director. Please do not redistribute them.

Director: Justin Brown
Producer: Justin Brown
Associate Producer: James Dralle
Editors: Justin Brown, James Dralle
Camera Operators: Paul Dralle, Bob Rosser, Kyle Escamilla, Cody Brown, Justin Brown
Voice Overs: Butch Leeper, James Dralle, Justin Brown
Cover Art: Chris Nolan
Cover Models: Dan Pasaya, Dave Waddel, Terry Waddel
Photography: Justin Brown, Chris Nolan
Audio Specialist: Paul Dralle
Sound FX: Neil Eckert

Codename Thunder, an Airsoft scenario event which took place in mid August, 2004, was expected to be one of the years premier Airsoft events. As chance would have it, I and most of my team were unable to attend due to previous obligations ( Wizard World Chicago) It was well known in the Chicago theater of Airsoft operations that this event was going to be filmed extensively for a later film project by Summit Lake Entertainment. I was very disappointed I would not be able to be there to get some ideas on filming techniques for my own video projects. After the event, as the AARs (After Action Reports) came in from the various teams that attended, it was obvious that we had missed a great event.

Now six months later, the Codename Thunder DVD release party has come and gone, and I have been asked to write a review of the DVD by the Producer and Director, Justin Brown. I had seen the film at the release party, but several things made me unable to truly appreciate the film in that venue (Heads in the way, some problems with the sound system, talking over the film etc...) Now I have had a chance to view this DVD on a full Onkyo home theater system with large screen TV, a small TV using a Playstation 2, and on my home PC. I think I have covered most of those bases now, so on with the review.

After the Codename Thunder title screen and the requisite listing of sponsors, you are presented with this request:

Support Airsoft, Dont burn this - Buy it

Next comes the very Star Wars-esque (We all got a little giggle out of that) upward scrolling background story:

"With international tension at an all time high, the President of the United States needs some good P.R...and fast. A potentially dangerous situation has arisen in Columbia that threatens U.S. security yet poses a great political opportunity for U.S. forces to save the day."

"Hector Chiro, a rising drug cartel leader, is fiercely determined to control Columbia’s multi-million dollar drug trade. Chiro has assembled a small army of mercenaries and intends to take control of his country once and for all."

"Under “CODENAME: Thunder”, the U.S. has sent elite Special Forces units to war-torn Columbia to gain a foothold in the ongoing war on drugs and bring Hector Chiro to justice..."

"Will the U.S. succeed in ending the Chiro Cartel’s reign of terror? Follow U.S. and Cartel forces as they battle armored vehicles, machine guns, special weapons and each other to complete their missions and gain victory for their armies."

The section following the intro story is a montage of scenes from throughout the event, that does very well to set up the mood of things to come. The music that is playing during this section (Scary Games, by Tristan Andreas) is one of several songs on the soundtrack from Chicago area bands. I must say, this particular song was very nice AND very fitting for these intro scenes.

Next comes "The calm before the storm" A short vignette of the early morning pre-game preparations by both players and coordinators at the event. You have scenes of players inspecting their gear and Airsoft replicas (guns) and donning all their gear. Scenes from the retailers and exhibitors booths, some giddy pre-game comic relief and discussions between the event staff and the team commanders. There is also the required bits of players talking up their custom guns and equipment. Next, a voice over of the event details and rules given to the teams, similar to that found at ANY respectable organized event. And finally scenes from the preparations by each team after entering the field of play, before the event starts.

From this point on the film is separated into several chapters each with their own titles. (Which you can also access individually in the DVD menu). I will separate the rest of this review into sections based on just a few of those chapters.

This scene starts out with a seemingly Metallica inspired song called "Day by Day" by Flathead Fillups. As the song and scene start, things are very low key and calming. Here is where the film and sound editing in this move start to shine. The song and scene are in tune with each other, as the song begins to build to a more Metal, hard driving pace, so does the action in the video. The subtitles tell you that this scene is a recount of a mission with the objective: "Take the Mayan Temple at ALL costs". Soon everything gets very busy and exciting with AEGs firing all around and from all sides. There are some very nice video effects, from slow motion to transition and fades that all work very well for the scene. This scene concludes in a somewhat overacted but entertaining field execution and the cheers of the victors.

When Chiro Attacks sample video
3.6M mpeg1, 20 seconds (right click / save as)

The scene begins with a voice over of mission parameters, which fades into the mission leader finishing up the mission description to the squad entrusted with performing a "Drug Raid" on a stash of "dope". Next comes the sound of helicopters and the squad being "flown" out to their insertion point by a referee. I wont get into too many details (don't want to spoil it too much) but when this insertion team is ready to extract, they find their chopper is no longer available, and they split up to hump it back to base. Now comes another neat part of the editing in the film in which the video from 2 cameras with the two teams, are split and superimposed onto a background clip, showing us the actions of both teams at once. In the exciting conclusion of this scene is one of the instances of the only negative things I can find in the production of the video.

They appear to have dubbed some "stock AEG sounds" over the final part of this scene, in an effort to spice things up a bit. The problem is that it seems they only had ONE recording of AEG sounds and bb strikes to use. It is very identifiable as dubbing, and gets a little... irritating in some places. This is definitely not enough to make me give a poor rating on the sound though, just a check that should be noted for future DVD productions. It must also be noted that this AEG sounds issue is MUCH more prevalent if you are watching the video in Dolby Pro Logic or other Hi end audio settings. In general, this whole video is BEST watched in plain old stereo, rather than any form of surround.

Before this scene is completely over you get to see some great comic relief provided by the excellent acting skills of "Downtown" (playing Hector Chiro) of the Minnesota Airsoft Association. I wont spoil it for you, you'll just have to watch it :)

Operation Cheech sample video
9.2M mpeg1, 1 minute (right click / save as)

This has got to be my favorite scene in the movie. The acting by the non player character (Senators daughter) was classic. She played the spoiled Washington brat to a tee. Hector Chiro (Downtown) also had me rolling on the floor, his attempt at a Colombian accent was so ludicrous you had to laugh. Downtown if your reading this, you know I love you right? :) Also, there were probably more BBs spent in this scene than in any other scene, a little too much spraying for my taste, but it was exciting none the less. There's not much else I can say for this scene, you just have to see the whole thing to truly understand. Never the less, here is a sample of some of the finer points.

Operation Drama Queen sample video
9.6M mpeg1, 1 minute (right click / save as)

The number one thing that must be mentioned for this scene, really doesn't have much to do with the video itself. Rather, it has to do with one of the most unbelievable shots ever made by a home made NERF LAW (Light Anti Tank Weapon). The shot itself was not caught clearly on video, but the evidence of the shot was. All I have to say is "Threading the freaking needle".

Unbelievable, must see to believe. Sorry, no sample video for this one.

The remaining scenes on the DVD are:
Downed Pilot, Dual Mission
El Mission: Chalupa
Final Battle
Deleted Scenes

I must say that I am very impressed with the overall quality of the DVD. The menus and fades when going from the menu to each scene are excellent. The only thing I would have had them do differently was to add some audio to the menus. The menu screens have video samples, but no audio. Perhaps just some background music for the menus would make it better.

Other than that, all the menus worked great, no bugs or glitches could be found.

I tell you, some of the shots made by the camera operators on this film were outstanding. This wasn't just the standard "point the camera at the action" shots that you see on the majority of downloadable Airsoft videos online. At one point, a camera operator even got pelted by BBs by someone he had just zoomed in on in the distance. I don't know how the shooter didn't realize he was a camera man, I mean, no one else in the bunker would have been standing upright in the open. :)

On many occasions it appeared that camera operators were literally right in the middle of firefights, all the while not obstructing anyone's line of fire. Bravo to the camera operators.

The video editing, sound editing and voice over work were outstanding. (Not including the previously mentioned AEG sounds) There was a good mix of different effects throughout the film, but not so many that it detracted from the raw footage itself. The soundtrack mixing and voiceovers were excellent, with the various songs placed well within the action and drama sequences.

The soundtrack for the DVD was excellent for the most part. Actually, there was just ONE song on the soundtrack that I didnt like, and I mean I REALLY didnt like it. "Nails on the chalkboard" bad to tell you the truth. I won't say which one it is, to save the artist any grief.

Here is the list of Artists that contributed to the Soundtrack:

9mm- "Dance of the Dead"
Alli With an I- "Mixed Emotions"
Tristan Andreas- "Making Up" and "Scary Games" -Fort Hazel Records
EnemyminE- "Calender", "Setting the Traps" and "Shame Spiral" -UP Records
Feeling Numb- "Blue Prints"
FlatHead Fillups- "Day by Day, "Had About Enough", "Move" -Future Entertainment
Johny Letcher- "Ace" and "Castle"
Kteck- "BloodBowl" -Summit Lake Records
Lucky 7- "Where are You?" -Omega Records
Noise Therapy- "Far Away" -Redline Entertainment, Summit Lake Entertainment.
Size of Alaska- "Alien Pigs", "Danger", "Disaster", "Giants at Work in the Rain" Fort Hazel Records.
Under Thunder- "Greensburg", "North End" -Summit Lake Entertainment, Fred-Man

The deleted scenes span across varying parts of the event, some even from the camping and partying after the event. Oh yes, the debauchery is total and far reaching. Rumor has it that a CAA Special Edition Codename Thunder DVD may be released at a later date. (CAA= Chicago Airsoft Association) To further expand on the scenes of mayhem and hysteria at the after party. But you didn't hear that from me.

If you are an Airsofter, you need this DVD. If for any other reason, to use as a tool to get others to play Airsoft OR to use it to show the unknowing "backyard airsofters" how the game is supposed to be played.

If your not an Airsofter, but like "War pictures" and enjoy watching the works of up and coming movie makers. You should buy this DVD. It isn't "Platoon", but this is actual footage of actual events as they happened, not a re-creation. And these guys really did a great job with this DVD.

BUY IT NOW, SUPPORT THE HOBBY OF AIRSOFT!

The DVD will soon be available through several online airsoft retailers, but for now you can order it through Summit Lake Films:

To order the limited edition Airsoft DVD:
DVD-$20 + $5 S&H ($25)
PayPal: justin@aggressivesportsjoliet.com and include:
Name
Address
Email

Or save the shipping and handling and buy it from Aggressive Sports Joliet's walk in store.