Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Blitz Blu-ray Movie Review

Does this movie get the sack or fumble the ball?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 30, 2011

I'm sure I'll do something reckless.

Jason Statham isn't exactly in the same physical class as his 1980s Action movie peers, those hulks of human beings who won the day based on the size of their biceps, the definition of their abs, and the diameter of the veins bulging in their necks. Nevertheless, this bald, middle aged, toned but not unusually bulky actor has solidified himself as one of this generation's go-to Action heroes. He demonstrates some range that his predecessors struggled to find, capable of pulling off the tough guy dramatic and romantic angle as well as, if not better than, the guns-blazing work that might not mentally stretch him to his limits, but that puts his body to the test and food on his table at the end of the day. Statham's latest is Blitz, a Police Procedural/Thriller with a dark edge to it that moves beyond the lame sort of Action movie run-and-gun faux-emotion clichés that are so dominant within the lower-budget genre pictures of the past few years. It's not a blockbuster sort of movie, but Blitz is more of a 1970s-inspired grungy, street-level, mentally and physically challenging grungy sort of picture that's dark and deliberate rather than flashy and entertaining. It's a solid picture, one that's probably never going to amount to much when all is said and done, but a fine all-around performer that audiences with a craving for something with a throwback dark, violent, and quasi-intellectual style will certainly enjoy.

Statham front-and-center.

Tom Brant (Jason Statham) is something of a loose-cannon cop. He's a fine officer, but his excess energy and short fuse get him and his department in trouble on a regular basis. He's recently beaten a trio of thugs to within an inch of their lives, and the media frenzy is threatening to bring down the entire department. All focus quickly shifts off Brant, however, when a cop is gunned down in cold blood. The killer engages in a dangerous and deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the police, using a local London reporter (David Morrissey) as a middle man of sorts. The killer claims that he's going to murder eight additional officers -- no demands, no bargains. Now, Brant must go on the offensive against a true threat, using his physical skills and mental prowess to hunt down and take out, if possible, London's most wanted.

Blitz is a crafty throwback sort of dark cop killer movie with a soul, a boatload of energy, and an intoxicating mood. The picture can be ultra-violent, distasteful, and difficult to watch, but those elements only enhance the film's quality, authenticity, and capability in drawing its audience into a world that's terribly depraved but one viewers cannot help but hope to save as the characters fight to discover and bring down the killer. However, Blitz isn't a classic "whodunit;" the picture makes its killer known early on, which heightens both the cat-and-mouse and psychological games that define various parts of the movie. It also allows viewers to better understand both sides of the equation, to see the picture play out more easily and efficiently, but not to the detriment of watchability or purpose. There's something refreshing about the lack of mystery and the up-front identification of the characters; while there's obviously a major hit on the picture's level of suspense, the increase in openness allows the story to unravel at a faster pace while placing more pieces on the board, leading to a more complex, rewarding, and superior "whole picture" experience. Still, the element of surprise isn't completely lost on Blitz; it finds a nice balance between openness and secrecy, though favoring the former.

Better still, the characters are very well rounded. In Blitz, there's more than a handful of characters constantly in-play throughout, each developed surprisingly well given the relatively short runtime, largely due to the film's more intellectually involved plot rather than shoot-em-up approach. The action fits in very well with the story, never feeling forced and playing with an authenticity that's not usually found in "run around and shoot everything that moves" sort of movies, the type that usually find their way into the straight-to-video bargain bin. Blitz is also a technically sound film; Director Elliott Lester's dark -- but not too dark -- atmosphere, lack of vibrant colors, and somewhat soft photography reinforce the dingy, grimy world that's in-play both physically and emotionally as the characters battle stresses, addictions, broken relationships, bad luck, and other tragic and detrimental happenings, all while dealing with a crazed killer whose own derangement greatly influences the film's visual style. Blitz also enjoys solid pacing and a quality energized soundtrack that kicks the movie into gear on several occasions without overwhelming plot, characterization, or mood.

Blitz Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Blitz isn't a very attractive film by nature, but Millennium's Blu-ray nevertheless seems to capture the essence of what the film's look is all about. The picture is soft and hazy, particularly around the edges, with fairly good definition center-frame. Fine detailing is fair in facial, clothing, and rougher building textures. Clarity is adequate, but the picture is quite dark and dim. There are no real vibrant colors to speak of; the image is dour here, a bit on the bronze side there, but the available hues do appear somewhat natural-to-slightly-warm in their presentation. There are a handful of unobtrusive blink-and-miss-them white speckles; however, there are no additional print issues or compression anomalies. A fine layer of grain rounds the image into form. It's not a dazzler, but instead a workmanlike presentation that seems to nicely replicate Director Elliott Lester's intended appearance.

Blitz Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Blitz features a sturdy, oftentimes energetic, and relatively problem-free Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. When necessary, the track hits hard; whether Brant beating up a few thugs with his "Hurley" stick at the beginning of the movie that sends a powerful crack-like shockwave throughout the soundstage, the deadly intensity of gunfire, or the heavy beats of electronica-rock sort of music, Millennium's audio presentation does a fine job of injecting the listening area with plenty of energy. On the other end of the spectrum, light ambience is nicely integrated. Rolling thunder and falling rain penetrate the soundstage in a 360-degree circle in a couple of scenes, while general outdoor and indoor atmosphere fares quite well in the quest to engulf the listener in the action, no matter the place, time, or situation. This is a quality, involved track; rounded out by centered and clear dialogue, Blitz proves an engaging and satisfying listen from beginning to end.

Blitz Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Blitz storms Blu-ray with but a trio of film-related supplements.

• UK Theatrical Trailer (480p, 1:58).
• Cast & Crew Interviews (480p, 32:00): Jason Statham, Aidan Gillen, and others discuss the picture's style, the characters, casting, working with one another, filming in London, shooting the picture, and more. Unfortunately, the participants aren't identified by name or character, but for the most part, it's easy to sort out who's who after watching the movie or, on the part of the crew, through context clues.
• Behind the Scenes (480p, 12:19): A raw no-nonsense glimpse into the making of a few scenes. It's as if viewers are on the set; there are no cutaway interviews or voiceover narration.
• Previews: Additional Millenium titles.

Blitz Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Blitz is a strong all-around performer, one of those somewhat under-the-radar pictures that's superior to typical blockbuster fare but that's lost to relative obscurity and a straight-to-video sentence before it even has a chance. Regardless of its fate, it's a smart, well-made, and energized yet bleak and throwback-stylish picture that will resonate with fans who have a soft spot for the harder, dirtier sort of cops-and-robbers (or killers, as the case may be) movies of yesteryear. Millennium Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Blitz features strong video and audio but comes up lacking in its bonus feature section. Nevertheless, this disc earns a well-deserved recommendation.