6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After deadly terrorists abduct his niece at a soccer match, an ex-soldier with lethal fighting skills wages a one-man war to save her and prevent mass destruction.
Starring: Dave Bautista, Pierce Brosnan, Ray Stevenson, Aaron McCusker, Martyn FordAction | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
With Bruce Willis having abandoned enthusiasm for the “Die Hard” series long ago, why not bring in Dave Bautista to take his place? The former professional wrestler and possible former Drax from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Bautista makes for a fine man-against-the-odds for “Final Score,” which is as close to a “Die Hard”-style of actioner without triggering interest from 20th Century Fox lawyers. Ultimately overlong and improperly balanced in the script department, “Final Score” does have Bautista, who, despite his hulking frame, does a steady job of playing the everyman caught in a terrorist situation that takes place on a grand scale. The lead is welcome with emotion, but he’s best with ferocity, providing the production with a sizable punch and level of panic to help refresh the familiar.
The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation carries the HD-shot feature to expectation, excelling with fine detail, which picks out bruised and sliced facial surfaces and strange hair, and costuming retains texture, moving from casual gear to the crispness of security outfits. Stadium flybys also stay sharp, securing a distinct look at soccer action and spectator support. Colors are direct, isolating cinematographic moods for fight sequences, with cooler blues representing industrial lighting, while blazing reds pop with Russian flare signaling. Skintones are natural. Delineation is pushed to the edge with a feature that's largely unleashed at night, but frame information isn't sacrificed. Some mild banding is detected.
There's a big game to enjoy during "Final Score," and the 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is careful to create an immersive space for the listener. Atmospherics are quite strong, capturing crowd involvement in the game and declarations of national pride. Concourse travel is also packed with community bustle, generating an agreeable you-are-there feel for the movie. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and clean, isolating accent quirks and surges of intensity. Exposition needs are also met during confession time while characters are inside the stadium, keeping dramatics clear. Scoring is direct, with crisp instrumentation and respectful support, escalating in volume when the moment calls for it. Surrounds are active, with some directional movement for vehicles and crowd chants. Sound effects are distinct, including metallic hits with bullets and solid objects. Low-end is adequate, but holds back some with major explosions, failing to bring real heaviness to acts of terrorism.
Cruelly, all the fun stops at the hour mark, finding the screenplay suddenly interested in the dreary details of Arkady and Dimitri's relationship, which only manages to slow the film to a crawl. Pressure is applied by the discovery of plastic explosives, and Mann works in plenty of "Die Hard" tributes, but this type of entertainment works best in snowball mode, following Michael as he slides into greater trouble. "Final Score" doesn't build, it deflates, ending up a feature that's too long and focused on non-essential elements. However, for the first half, the picture is an energetic distraction, and Bautista proves himself quite capable in the battered hero role, giving "Final Score" the boost in charisma and power it needs.
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