6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Cypher enlists the help of Jakob, Dom's younger brother to take revenge on Dom and his team.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris BridgesAction | 100% |
Thriller | 23% |
Crime | 9% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The Fast & Furious franchise has been steadily saturating the cinema landscape since 2001 when the original film, Director Rob Cohen's excellent The Fast and the Furious, sped into theaters and set the pace for a franchise that nobody could see coming, certainly not with this much ferocity, so much kinetic energy, all of this extensive depth and breadth, with such massive budgets, and almost limitless earnings potential. Two decades later, and now on the ninth film in the series (which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic), overcoming the loss of star Paul Walker (not to the franchise but to real-life tragedy), and managing to evolve into more involved (if not increasingly inane) plot lines, the franchise continues to hum along as one of the highest grossing of all time (currently ranked at #7 per CNBC). By now, Furious fans know what to expect: increasingly complicated stunts and insane action, an ever-ballooning character roster, and a universe plot line that continues to be stretched to its breaking point. But the films remain on-point; they deliver, no question about it, even if it's within the age-old context of "it is what it is."
F9 speeds onto Blu-ray with a high quality 1080p transfer. The digitally sourced film often has a noisy look about it, obvious in low light but even clearly visible in bright daytime exteriors. Colors push substantially warm, leaving skin tones looking orange and a fairly hot contrast at work through much of the film. Still, colors are abundantly bold and and leap off the screen, hot as they may be. Whites are punchy and blacks are every bit as deep as the SDR output allows. Detail is excellent. Image clarity, stability, and definition rank highly, yielding exactly the kind of picture one would expect to find in 2021. Complex facial features, clothing, and cars are sharp and precise. Viewers will never be left wanting more in-depth clarity; this pushes Blu-ray about as far as the format can go. Astute viewers might spot some mild compression issues in a few challenging low light spots but overall this is a good image that appears to hold to the filmmaker-intended look throughout.
Is an audio review even necessary? Here's a Dolby Atmos mix for a high energy, relentlessly kinetic, massively budgeted Action film released in 2021 (and it's not from Disney) so of course the audio experience is going to be perfect. And perfect it is. Universal's audio presentation is a classic. It's got action aplenty spilling from every speaker with vehicular mayhem, incessant gunfire, rocking explosions, and score all filling the stage from above, behind, around, and up front with nothing but seamless excellence, perfectly placed discrete effects, and effortless audio cue movement and stage traversal. The subwoofer kicks in with ferocious intensity as needed, but the track is also well capable of defining mild atmosphere and subtle audio cues with equal elegance. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration. No more need be said. This one is a beast and an easy candidate for track of the year 2021.
This Blu-ray release of F9 includes two cuts: Theatrical (2:22:52) and Director's (2:29:55). On-disc supplements include an audio
commentary track, numerous featurettes, and a gag reel. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with
purchase. This
release ships with an embossed slipcover. Note that the title of one of the supplements constitutes a major spoiler for the film and the franchise!
F9 is far from the best film in the series (that title still belongs to the original), but it might be its most emblematic since the original. The blend of high octane action and personal, intimate characterization with a tighter focus than some of the more sprawling past entries (which is all here, to be sure) altogether make this a fine entry and certainly a delight for longtime fans who know the series' ins-and-outs. For newcomers it's an adrenaline rush but established core fans will get the most from it. Universal's Blu-ray is terrific. Reference video and audio are expected, and delivered, and the disc includes a healthy allotment of bonus content as well. Recommended.
2021
2021
2021
2021
2021
2023
2017
2019
2006
2003
2009
20th Anniversary Edition
2001
2017
Extended Edition
2013
Extended Edition
2011
2023
2015
2018
2022
2007
1967
Collector's Edition
2021
IMAX Enhanced
2020
Collector's Edition
2022
Limited Edition / Reprint
2018