Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Fifty Shades Darker Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 8, 2017

To say that the original Fifty Shades of Grey was poorly received by critics would be an understatement. Even as the source novel was a worldwide sensation and the film was a box office smash, the picture represented a sharp divide between mainstream audiences hungry for a filmed adaptation of E. L. James' novel and cinephiles who couldn't look past the film's shortcomings. With a box office more than ten times the budget, it's no surprise that a sequel has come out of the gate so quickly. Also based on the second book in the trilogy, Fifty Shades Darker explores the characters in greater depth, pushes their relationship to new bounds both in the bedroom and in the heart, and introduces a pair of antagonists who will darken the days of the dominant Christian and the submissive Anastasia. Even as the film progresses the story, it hasn't gained much ground in terms of quality of product. It's slickly made but empty, defined by poor performances and cliché storytelling mechanics wrapped around several of the franchise's trademark titillating scenes of bondage and kink.

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Christian (Jamie Dornan) and Anastasia (Dakota Johnson) are separated. He's still a billionaire playboy with a dominant side in the bedroom and she's looking for a more normalized life. She's taken on a new dream job, doing secretarial work at a major publishing house under a man named Jack (Eric Johnson) who has an eye for his new employee's curves. She inadvertently reconnects with Christian at an art exhibition and the two quickly find themselves drawn back together, passionately kissing and Christian declaring his intentions to win her back. But she's no longer interested in the BDSM lifestyle. She's looking for a more "vanilla" relationship. He promises her just that. But as the relationship blossoms and Christian opens up about her past, Anastasia once again finds herself drawn to Christian's dominant side. Meanwhile, one of Christian's old subs, Leila (Bella Heathcote), begins to stalk the couple.

Fifty Shades Darker progresses the narrative on through to a momentous occasion and a turning point in Christian and Anastasia's life. Yet like most any middle point in a trilogy, it's a fairly dark film. Christian explores his past and opens up about his demons. Anastasia finds herself the subject of envy by one of Christian's past subs while she also finds herself the object of lust at her new place of employment. The movie's darker notes, which also include Christian in peril, are offset by a decision that will change both Christian and Anastasia's lives. Still, the drama is rather simpleminded and straightforward. The story introduces nothing novel and while the narrative does propel the story, it's always clear that the sex is what sells it. As one might expect, Christian and Anastasia engage in various explicit bits of bondage and play ("BDSM"). The actors appear enthusiastic to perform for the camera and, at least in the unrated version, audiences will get their money's worth. Darker does effort to give the sex some depth. Anastasia, who begins the film separated from Christian and wishing to escape from her role as a submissive girlfriend, finds herself drawn back into Christian's world when he finally expresses what drives his sexual desires: a dark past and a search for women who look like his mother. Needless to say it can be very bleak stuff, twisted, too, but it all too often feels like convenient lip service to keep the action hot and steamy and both parties eager to perform.

The movie at least attempts to tell a story, vapid as it may be, but its emptiness becomes all the more apparent as the lead performers struggle to give it the sort of weight it demands. Neither lead is a strength for the movie, and even veteran actors like Kim Basinger and Marcia Gay Harden struggle to bring any serious depth to their parts, though in the case of the latter, playing Christian's mother, there's at least a tangible maternal instinct at play. Basinger, who plays one of Christian's former lovers, capably sulks about, which captures her character's spirit well enough, but beyond a key moment late in the movie she's reduced to little more than cameo for both the film and in Christian's life. But it's Dornan and Johnson who fail to carry the movie. Dornan brings a hunky physique to the movie but little more. Even as the movie is all about exploring his character's depth, there's precious little sense of how it's truly shaped him as a person beyond reciting a few lines. There's little feeling and even less conviction. The same applies to Johnson. She delivers most of her key lines in the movie's most would-be impactful dramatic scenes with a shocking detachment and inability to convey feeling beyond what the words fundamentally mean. All of that means that Christian's openness about his past and Anastasia's willingness to take their relationship from "vanilla" to "hardcore" practically on a dime fall completely flat and let the story down, making it feel even more like it's all about its physical fun rather than equal parts sex and drama.

Fifty Shades Darker Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Fifty Shades Darker arrives on 1080p Blu-ray with a solid, enjoyable, and vibrant presentation. The movie was digitally photographed but often favors a somewhat filmic appearance, anyway. It's texturally sound, showing crisp, well defined imagery for the duration. All of the film's smooth and sleek locations and all of the high-price furnishings stand apart, allowing the viewer to pick through the lush backgrounds with ease. Skin textures are very fine, which includes even finer hairs, particularly noticeable in many of the film's more intimate shots that show various body parts in all their natural glory, whether lips and breasts or ripped muscle structures. High dollar clothes are also very sharp and naturally complex, particularly evident at the charity masquerade. Colors, particularly reds, are very well saturated, those reds maybe borderline excessive but there's no denying the palette's inherent vibrancy. Even some of the cooler blue and gray backdrops show plenty of variety. Black levels are rock-solid, perfectly deep and never revealing crush or a lack of depth. Skin tones appear natural to the actors' complexions and makeup. Source noise is the only serious bugaboo here, and it's only an issue in lower-light shots.

Fifty Shades Darker Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Fifty Shades Darker features a DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack. The movie might not immediately appear to be one that would benefit from such a high end configuration, but it makes honest and somewhat regular use of the added backside and top-layer speakers at its disposal. Thunder gently rolls along the top (and filters through the rest of the stage) in an early scene. Elevator music heard inside a grocery store around the 18-minute mark enjoys a pleasing upside layering. Environmental sounds at an art gallery filter through with realistic presence, and the more aggressive din at a masquerade essentially draws the listener into the high dollar event. City ambience, such as traffic, sirens, and chatty pedestrians enter the stage with very pleasing immersion. A fireworks show at film's end enjoys tangible overhead pops. The track never lets the listener go too long without some interesting and engaging sound effects, many of which make strong use of that overhead configuration. Music enjoys expert richness and definition, strong instrumental clarity and seamless front-side width along with gently supportive back channel usage. A couple of notable action-esque effects deliver a satisfying level of depth and detail, notably a helicopter crash in the third act. Dialogue still drives much of the film, however, and it's presented with all the expected clarity of a new release film.

Fifty Shades Darker Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Fifty Shades Darker contains several featurettes, deleted scenes, and a preview for the next film in the franchise. This release also contains two cuts of the film: Theatrical (1:57:48) and Unrated (2:11:28). A voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy is included with purchase.

• A Tease to Fifty Shades Freed (1080p, 0:35): A short preview of the new film.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Christian and Ana Discuss What Elena Said (0:51) and Christian and Ana Discuss Ana's Security and Her Work (1:00).
• Writing Darker (1080p, 3:16): Author E.L. James discusses writing the novels. The piece also examines the process of adapting a novel to the screen.
• A Darker Direction (1080p, 4:42): Singing the praises of the film's director, James Foley. It also features Foley discussing his familiarity with the novels, his thoughts on their themes, his work and relationship with Author E.L. James, and more.
• Dark Reunion (1080p, 7:58): Foley shares his thoughts on his cast's abilities and how well they know their characters. The actors also discuss their parts and work with one another.
• New Threats (1080p, 8:54): A closer look at some of the film's new characters.
• The Masquerade (1080p, 6:35): Making one of the film's marquee sequences.
• Intimate with Darker (1080p, 7:14): Making the movie's sex scenes and what they mean beyond the physical actions.

Fifty Shades Darker Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fifty Shades Darker hardly qualifies as smart moviemaking. Edgy, maybe, but beyond its signature sex-capades is a vacuous character drama with little to offer beyond various romps and sex toys and their rather explicit usage. Universal's Blu-ray, however, is excellent. Video and audio are near pristine and the package includes a decent little array of extra content. Fans can buy with confidence.