Cartels Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		2.0

Cartels Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 19, 2017

As if the universe were providing a little synchronistic punchline, I was going to start this review by mentioning the potential interchangeability of Steven Seagal and Bruce Willis in a number of low grade action adventure films that Lionsgate in particular seems to crank out, only to be greeted by a trailer for a Bruce Willis entry (the recently reviewed First Kill) when I popped this Seagal disc in and it booted up. With the ubiquity of these actors showing up in what amount to straight to video offerings, it’s almost a miracle that they haven’t managed to co-star yet, but if they do, chances are the film will be directed by either Steven C. Miller, Willis' increasingly frequent collaborator (including on First Kill), or Keoni Waxman, Seagal's "auteur" for this and several other releases. The interesting thing about this particular entry is that Seagal isn't really even featured very much, as if phoning it in needed to be phoned in.

Seagal is featured as John Harrison, who is managing a debrief of Major Tom Jensen (Luke Goss), an ops leader recounting a mission that didn’t go exactly as planned. Jensen was tasked with protecting a potential informer who (of course) is being hunted by his former gang members. It’s all relentlessly predictable and (with regard to Seagal) actually kind of a little sad, but Goss is quite effective in the admittedly well staged action scenes, as is MMA stalwart Georges St. Pierre as one of the bad guys.

Cartels Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Cartels is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This features a perfectly workmanlike digital capture that at least benefits from occasionally nice looking Romanian locations. Kind of funnily (at least to me, anyway), the film has an almost relentless series of "identifying" subtitles letting you know just where you are at any given moment. The interrogation scenes are kind of cooly graded toward slate gray, but otherwise there's kind of a refreshing lack of aggressive tweaking going on, and as such the palette is healthy and natural looking. Detail levels are generally high throughout the presentation, with some of the outdoor work looking especially well defined.

Cartels Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Cartels features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix which has the expected doses of LFE and shattering action effects placement, but which still comes off as somewhat reserved, given the hyperbolic events going on. There are well placed ambient environmental effects, and dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly. Perhaps due to the interstitial "interview" scenes, the track just seems a little more reserved than might be expected from an action adventure outing like this one.

Cartels Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Cartels Trailer (1080p; 2:00)

Cartels Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The action scenes give this entry a little energy it's sadly lacking in just about all other aspects. Seagal continues to churn out an almost incredible array of "films" (many with Waxman), but he might want to consider that old maxim that quantity doesn't equal quality. There is quality if not real inspiration in the technical presentation on this disc for those interested in a purchase.