6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Architect/vigilante Paul Kersey takes on the members of a vicious Los Angeles drug cartel to stop the flow of drugs after his girlfriend's daughter dies from an overdose.
Starring: Charles Bronson, Kay Lenz, John P. Ryan, Perry Lopez, Danny TrejoCrime | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
J. Lee Thompson's "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include various vintage promotional materials for the film, audio commentary by author and film historian Paul Talbot; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Back in business
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, J. Lee Thompson's Death Wish 4: The Crackdown arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.
The release is sourced from the older master that MGM worked with when it prepared the first high-definition release of the film in North America. I think that it is pretty good. It does have that light magenta push that is so typical on older masters that were prepared during the DVD era, but it also has plenty of other decent organic qualities. For example, depth and clarity range from good to very good, and delineation is typically equally pleasing. Some of the indoor footage reveals light black crush, but even there nuances are typically good (see screencapture #13). Close-ups, especially when there is an abundance of light, can look very strong (see screencaptures #3 and 16). There are no traces of digital tinkering (sharpening, contrast boosting, etc.). Grain is nicely exposed, though a new 2K/4K master will undoubtedly introduced an even 'tighter' grain field. Colors are stable, but this is the area where some of the most obvious improvements can be made. A new color scheme with healthier nuances with all strengthen the darker/indoor footage. There are no distracting debris, cuts, damage marks, stains, or warped frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to access its content regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The audio is excellent. I am convinced that when the existing master for this film was prepared the audio was redone as well because there are no signs of deterioration, stability issues, hiss in the upper register, or other conventional age-related imperfections. Basically, the lossless track reproduces the native qualities of the original audio Mono track.
NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.
If you compare Death Wish 4: The Crackdown to the other four films in the franchise, it is easy to see that it is the weakest of the bunch. Charles Bronson does his thing, but the drama and the twists are way too predictable. I think that the final film, Death Wish 5: The Face of Death, is vastly superior, though it is also the most uncharacteristic. The fourth and fifth Death Wish films are available in this set from Australian label Umbrella Entertainment, which is Region-Free. Also, the release has the two excellent audio commentaries by Paul Talbot, the author of Bronson's Loose! The Making of the 'Death Wish' Films and Bronson's Loose Again!, whom I consider the ultimate authority on everything Bronson-related. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
1985
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1982
Extended Edition
2014
1989
1982
2018
1976
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2012
Cinema Cult
1996
Director's Cut
1993
1979
2019
1972
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Limited Edition
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1975