Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews

It’s been several years since Xander Cage has been on the scene, but he’s brought back into the fold when a device called Pandora’s Box falls into the wrong hands. It has the ability to bring down any satellite and turn it into a weapon of mass destruction as it crashes down on the planet. One of his conditions for coming back to the CIA was that of recruiting his own team so he can ensure their absolute trust and his own personal safety.

I personally didn’t think the first XXX film was all that great, but I do like Diesel’s style in these types of roles—although I doubt he’ll ever win an Oscar (just sayin’). The script doesn’t have much meat to it, and the acting leaves a lot to be desired from the entire cast, but I like how director Rob Cohen didn’t take the film too seriously and let the actors have fun with their roles. As expected, the stunts are over the top, and one thing’s for certain: Real-world physics has no place in a Hollywood blockbuster! Although, if you like to see things blow up and can handle the nonstop action, then you’ll probably enjoy the ride—just check your brain at the door.

Invariably, there will be comparisons between this UHD and the Blu-ray, and the differences aren’t huge. The source material was shot at 3.4K and finished in 2K, which means this is most likely an upconversion. Colors are a tad crisper in 4K versus 1080p, and there’s more detail in the image, especially on medium and long shots. Shadow delineation is also improved versus 1080p, most likely due to the HDR grading, which not only works with highlights but in shades of gray as well.

Both the Blu-ray and UHD feature an excellent Dolby Atmos (TrueHD 7.1 core) soundtrack that features plenty of bass response, seamless pans, and a plethora of gunshots that will have you ducking for cover. As Atmos tracks have matured on home video, the overhead effects have been seeing more activity, and that’s certainly the case here with helicopter flyovers, falling debris, and even some crashing waves.

The modest supplement package is all housed on the Blu-ray and includes four featurettes. The first deals with Diesel’s return to the franchise, the second on assembling the ensemble cast, the third looks at the sets and filming locations, and rounding things out is a behind-the-scenes look at the various stunts employed. Finally there’s a gag reel and an UltraViolet Digital Copy.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Paramount, 2017
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio Format: Dolby Atmos / TrueHD 7.1 core
Length: 107 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Rob Cohen
Starring: Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Samuel L. Jackson