5.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Travis Block, a shadowy Government agent who specializes in removing operatives who's covers have been exposed, uncovers a deadly conspiracy within his own ranks that reaches the highest echelons of power.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Taylor John Smith, Aidan Quinn, Claire van der BoomAction | 100% |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Blacklight is another movie starring Liam Neeson as someone with "a very particular set of skills" that include gunplay, aggressive driving, knowing his points of ingress and egress, and installing security cameras to protect his daughter and granddaughter. The movie is very adept at adapting content from other films, lacking even a hint of originality within. It's Liam Neeson away from direct-to-video tripe, and maybe the producers should have opted for that route; the film grossed about a third of its budget and left critics without much of a reason to recommend it. It's the epitome of a cut rate Action/Thriller that struggles to offer a compelling reason to watch, or much of a reason to watch at all.
The 1080p picture quality is fine. The digital source is nothing remarkable, but it does yield a stable, pleasing image in the aggregate that offers as expected detail and clarity. The image is clean as it presents faces, city details, and clothing with appreciable textural clarity and intimacy. Viewers will be well pleased with the level of fine detail visible in pores, lines, and hairs while location details are nicely sharp and visually engaging. Color yield is fine. The film offers very neutral temperature and contrast which results in lifelike accents and highlights. Black level depth is fine, white balance is spot-on, and skin tones look natural enough. There is very little noise. Banding is minimal and there is no serious macroblocking to worry about. This is hardly a memorable image, but it gets the job done about as well as can be expected of a midgrade studio film in 2022.
This Blacklight Blu-ray features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is more than adequate but nothing that engenders any sense of aural excitement. It is in good balance, generally, though action scenes could use a little more throttle, depth, and detail. While not quiet, there's a certain lack of enthusiasm to car chases and gunplay that leave the listener wanting something more. Spacing is at least sufficient with ample front end stretch and nicely balanced surround integration. The track offers good clarity and stage balance to music, as well as a decent low end support element and, again, some well-defined and managed surround content. Light atmospherics filter in here and there to add a basic sense of location realism, but nothing that will transport the listener fully into the movie's world. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration. It is also well prioritized for the duration.
This Blu-ray release of Blacklight includes two featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with
purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
In summary, Blacklight is a technically competent movie but it falls off a cliff, and fast, when it becomes clear that the film has zero to offer in terms of original storytelling, forward momentum, audience draw, good acting, or intense action. Everything about the movie is flat at best and forgettable at worst. Universal's Blu-ray is proficient in the A/V department and two supplements equaling just over five minutes of content are included. Skip it.
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