7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
There are a thousand ways to raise your adrenaline, and today hit man Chev Chelios will need every one! He has one hour to settle the score and say good-bye to his girl and go out with a little style! The only question is, will he stay alive long enough to see it happen?
Starring: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Efren Ramirez, Dwight YoakamThriller | 100% |
Action | 99% |
Crime | 66% |
Dark humor | 25% |
Video codec: MPEG-2
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 7.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Bonus View (PiP)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Today is the day that I die.
Take your favorite action movie, inject it with the latest steroid cocktail from BALCO, have it pump
some
iron, drink a protein shake, eat a few raw eggs and some red meat, and it might be getting close to
what you're about to experience in Crank. This is a fast paced, nonstop 90 minute action
movie that never, ever slows down until the credits roll. All character introductions, dialogue,
exposition, and turning points in the movie are done on the fly, all seamlessly integrated into this
gigantic action sequence. The goal of the film is to keep the audience's heart pumping at the same
level our hero must keep his pumping, and it works in that regard. Still, this isn't what I would
term a "good
movie." It's a fun ride, but not one worth taking more than once.
Yet another reason not to work at the convenience store.
Crank is nothing short of spectacular, visually. This 1080p, 1.85:1 presentation is outstanding. Like The Condemned, Crank was filmed with high definition cameras. Blacks seemed a little bright at times and flesh tones looked red in places, but these blemishes are intentional; this film has been tweaked and tweaked some more in post production to give it a frenetic look that is never very consistent, but matches the pace and tone of the film nicely. We have the typical polished, high clarity HD picture we have come to expect from the best of Blu-ray one moment, and then it looks like someone just got done messing with the settings on our display devices the next. It's all over the place, just like the movie, but it's a feast for the eyes.
Lionsgate has included both a Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track in addition to the lossless PCM 7.1 track. This soundtrack is LOUD! It features nonstop music including heavy, pulsating songs that sound like a mix between techno and hard rock. There is also a touch of grunge, some mellow soft rock, and even some country. The music rarely stops. Bass thumps throughout and LFE effects are loud and powerful but also bright and natural. This is one you will feel reverberating in your chest and it will rumble your seat. However, I didn't notice much, if any, distortion. The soundtrack, especially the dialogue, is remarkably clear for a film this loud. Surrounds are not only active but they are used relentlessly. This is one of the best tracks out there, and is certainly something you can use to show off your system, and everyone but your neighbors will be impressed.
There are quite a few good supplements on this disc, but there is surprisingly no commentary
track.
All of the extra are in high definition, a very nice added bonus.
There are two alternate ways to watch Crank other than the standard cut of the film.
First
is Crank: The Family-Friendly Version. This is the version of the film you will see if
Crank is ever broadcast on public television or on airplanes. It replaces the abundant foul
language with more "acceptable" terms. It's more funny than anything else. Crank'd Out
Movie Mode features a picture-in-picture (though not true, profile 1.1 PiP) that overlays the
image with interviews with cast and crew and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. If you "answer the
phone" by hitting enter on your remote, you will be taken to some additional behind-the-scenes
footage. It's a pretty cool way to watch the movie and get the supplements at the same time.
Other features on the disc are as follows: Pushing Crank (1080i, 6:21) focuses on
advertising the film, especially on the internet. The Stunts of Crank (1080i, 17:25) is a
look at the making of the various stunts from the film. Shooting Crank (1080i, 7:10) is
about shooting the film in digital high definition rather than on film or video. This featurette
discusses advantages, disadvantages and limitations of the new HD medium. The main
advantage is having your laboratory on set where the film can be tweaked on demand. This was
the
best of the documentaries to be found on the disc. Crank @ Comic-Con (1080i, 11:20)
is is a peek inside a Q&A session at Comic-Con where the directors and cast talk about the film in
front of an audience. More Stories From Crank (1080i, 25:18) is a series of five separate
featurettes (with the ability to watch them all at once) showing cast and crew talking about
various aspects of the film. It features directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Tailor and actors Jason
Statham, Eferen Ramirez, Adam Biddle, and José Cantillo. Finally, a 1080p montage of
now-available Blu-ray discs from Lionsgate wraps up the special features.
I'll give credit to the makers of Crank for being bold enough to step outside the box and try something new. The film didn't strike the right chord with me, but audiences found it more agreeable. Crank has raked in over twice its budget and a sequel is due sometime in 2009. Lionsgate's Crank is an unbelievable feast for the senses. The stunning picture quality is surpassed only by the remarkable audio tracks. Extras are decent, but a feature commentary would have been a great addition. This is a film worth watching once, but I cannot recommend a purchase based solely on the strength of the audio and visual quality. For fans only.
2009
Rogue Assassin
2007
2002
2015
2008
2-Disc Extended Cut
2008
2009
2012
2005
1995
2008
2007
20th Anniversary Edition
2000
1997
Extreme Cut
2009
2014
Director's Cut
2009
Unrated
2015
Collector's Edition
1986
2010