7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
Set two years before the first season of `Burn Notice', this prequel unveils the story of how Sam Axe went from being a respected Naval Commander to the man of mystery who now teams up with Michael and Fiona.
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Kiele Sanchez, RonReaco Lee, Pedro Pascal, Ilza PonkoThriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Part The A-Team, part MacGyver, USA’s Burn Notice is a smart spy series that’s build up quite a fan base over the show’s past four seasons, thanks to its crackling dialogue, wry humor, and intense underdog action, pitting “burned” C.I.A. agent-turned-private investigator Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) against drug runners, con-men, kidnappers, and organized low-life scum in general. Mixing episodic, “P.I. for hire” plots with an ongoing narrative about Westen’s unexplained dismissal from the C.I.A., the show strikes a balance not often found in basic cable television: you can drop in for any given episode and have a good time, but there are certainly rewards for dedicated fans who follow the overarching story. The Fall of Sam Axe is for them. A feature-length, made-for-TV prequel, Fall charts the previously only hinted at background of Westen’s wisecracking, womanizing former-Navy SEAL sidekick, Sam Axe, played by the inimitable cult favorite, Bruce Campbell, star of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead series. As Campbell would say, groovy.
Burn Notice: Season Two got an inconsistent, artificially grainy, sometimes nearly unwatchable Blu-ray release, and 20th Century Fox has since understandably shied away from putting out the following seasons in high definition. If Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is any indication, however, hopefully that will change going forward. Despite its made-for-TV-movie pedigree, this prequel looks excellent on Blu-ray, with a 1080p/AVC encode that's sharp, clean, and colorful. Shot on high definition video, The Fall of Sam Axe boasts a degree of clarity that the series has never before been able to obtain on home video. Facial textures are minutely distinct and the stitching of the various rebel/military uniforms is visible for inspection. Blades of grass, muddy terrain, and jungle brush all yield up their details. Skin tones can veer a bit too heavily toward the super-tan, overly orangish end of the spectrum--especially in earlier scenes, like the one where Sam is sleeping with the admiral's wife--but otherwise color is excellent, with vibrant foliage greens, bright bursts of orange fire, and rich, dense neutrals. Black levels are deep and defining, and contrast is spot-on. My complaints are relegated to a few minor quibbles: video noise sometimes spikes during darker scenes, and some highlights look slightly overexposed. No major distractions whatsoever. This is definitely a good look for Burn Notice.
For a made-for-TV movie, a made-for-TV caliber DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, albeit one that's perhaps a bit more active and energetic than most. You won't mistake this mix for Saving Private Ryan, but there are some effectively oomphy explosions that will modestly rock your subwoofer, along with loud gunfire that pops off from all directions and some subtle environmental ambience, like barroom chatter, propeller sounds, and quiet outdoorsy noise. Underscoring the action is a rock/orchestral score that's rather generic and never really rises to the occasion, but serves its purpose and sounds good enough. I don't expect sonic miracles from productions like this--just a solid soundtrack that bolsters the onscreen action well and has no crippling audio slip-ups. In this, The Fall of Sam Axe delivers. Dialogue is somewhat variable--in some scenes the vocals are full and bass-anchored, while in others they seem thinner and more hollow--but conversations are always easily understood. The disc includes optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles.
The Fall of Sam Axe is not quite the fall it could've been--this is a rather lighthearted adventure, all things considered--but it's a fun prequel that explores the backstory of one of Burn Notice fans' favorite characters, along with setting up the show's fifth season. (Which premiered in June.) The real promise here is in the possibility that we might see more Burn Notice on Blu-ray in the future, and I'm sure the sales of The Fall of Sam Axe will play no small role in that decision. If you're a fan, do your part!
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