6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Blinded and left to die in Vietnam, Nick Parker has been missing in action for more than two decades. Finally home, he sets out to find and forgive his old Army buddy.
Starring: Rutger Hauer, Terry O'Quinn, Brandon Call, Noble Willingham, Lisa BlountMartial arts | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Phillip Noyce's "Blind Fury" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include an exclusive new audio commentary by Charles Robert Carner and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Blind Fury arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by Sony Pictures. Unfortunately, this is one of the weaker older masters I have seen emerge from the major's vaults. The biggest issue on this master is the presence of sharpening that produces quite a bit of edge-enhancement. There are a few areas here and there that tend to hide the sharpening rather well, but most of the time it is very easy to see and becomes distracting. Also, because of the sharpening, grain exposure isn't convincing. In fact, most of the time the grain tends to appear like exacerbated digital noise, which is why in various areas fine nuances are problematic. Highlights are unconvincing as well. Color balance is decent, but if fully redone in 4K and properly regraded, the entire film will have a much better and significantly more vibrant color scheme. Image stability is good, but I noticed some shakiness in multiple areas. All in all, while this is a serviceable presentation, at the moment Blind Fury does not have the solid organic appearance it needs to look as convincing as it can on Blu-ray. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The lossless track is outstanding. I have a hard time believing that there is any room for meaningful improvements. If the folks at Sony Pictures remaster Blind Fury in 4K, they will likely redo the audio as well. However, I can't see how they can offer better audio quality -- on the current lossless track, sharpness, clarity, depth, and balance are excellent. I did not encounter any transfer-specific anomalies to report in our review.
As I was listening to the excellent new audio commentary screenwriter Charles Robert Carner recorded for this release of Blind Fury, I began wondering what other character actor from the 1980s could have played the blind vet and not made it look like a poor contemporary replica of Zatoichi. I could not think of any suitable names. Rutger Hauer was the perfect choice for the part and this is why Blind Fury so easily changes its tone and remains a very entertaining film. I do not want to sound nostalgic, but these are the type of genre films that disappeared at the end of the 1980s and I miss them the most. They are perfect to see very late at night and relax with before you go to bed. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an older and unfortunately pretty average master that was supplied by Sony Pictures. If you decide to pick it up, it will have to be for the new audio commentary and when it is heavily discounted. RECOMMENDED.
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