5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 2.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.3 |
A gang of thieves plan a heist during a hurricane and encounter trouble when a cop tries to force everyone in the building to evacuate.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Kate Bosworth, Emile Hirsch, David Zayas, Tyler Jon OlsonThriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Force of Nature joins a short and not so-distinct list of action-heist films set during stormy weather, the king of which might very well be Hard Rain, a good little film starring Christian Slater and Morgan Freeman. A few years ago, Hurricane Heist promised something similar but turned out to be a dismal exercise in over amplification and under development. Now enter Force of Nature, a limp-noodle and borderline unwatchable movie that is structurally inept, tonally dour, poorly performed, and sloppily written. Its rightful destination is the storm drain to drown with cinema's other flotsam and jetsam. Here's hoping the storm passes and sunny days return. And fast.
Force of Nature was digitally photographed and generally looks fine. The picture is quite sharp in the aggregate, holding even in the dreary low light interiors during the storm but well evidenced in the brightest scenes, such as partway through the film when the storm's eye passes over the building. Viewers will see fine skin details, hairs, clothing textures, and various other elements with great clarity. Colors push fairly hot. Contrast has been boosted for effect, making blue police uniforms, for instance, really pop from the background. Punchier tones are borderline aflame, and the entire palette often looks unnatural and practically cartoonish. The picture is rife with noise, too, frequently red in color and permeating deep into the image's very essence. Fortunately, no other major source or compression artifacts are to be seen. The movie is way too punchy and noisy but it's otherwise solid within its parameters.
Force of Nature is very loud. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack assaults the sonic senses with regularity, pushing loud, immersive rain and thunder effects into, through, and around the stage with regularity; there are but a few moments when chaotic natural din is not the signature sound component of any scene. The surrounds and subwoofer are certainly active throughout as they carry these effects, and music, too, which is boisterous and pushes hard through every speaker. Prioritization is usually handled well amongst the competing large elements, but dialogue, otherwise clear and center positioned, does sometimes get lost. Nowhere is that more obvious than right out of the gate in the in medias res flash forward to one of the random action scenes from mid movie; Ray's mumbled speech is almost entirely lost to the competing elements. Gunfire hits plenty hard throughout, both as it pushes out of the gun and impacts surfaces, be those surfaces flesh or solids around the complex. Positioning and aggression are never in question. The track is loud and energetic, no doubt about it, and the single best thing this disc has to offer, imperfect though it may be.
Force of Nature's supplemental selection is limited to the film's Trailer (1080p, 2:31) and previews for other Lionsgate films. No DVD copy is included but Lionsgate has bundled in a digital code. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.
There are one or two passably good moments in Force of Nature, including a touching father-daughter moment during a key scene, but the movie is otherwise just about a total loss. An empty story is only further hindered by a poor script and subpar acting even from several notable actors who just cannot elevate trite, lifeless material. Add in substandard technical assets and the movie simply never gets off the ground. Lionsgate's release is without any meaningful extras, no surprise, and the technical qualities are solid but could be better, the video in particular. Skip it.
2022
2015
2004
15th Anniversary Edition
1996
2019
2022
2020
2019
2014
Extreme Cut
2009
1991
1991
2017
2014
Whole Lotta Sole
2011
2011
1991
2022
2018
2018