6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Team G.I. Joe is not only fighting for their lives they are fighting for their very existence. Framed for crimes against the country, they are forced to disband by Presidential order. The surviving team members face off against Zartan, Cobra, and the world leaders he has under his influence!
Starring: Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, Adrianne Palicki, Ray StevensonAction | 100% |
Adventure | 72% |
Sci-Fi | 51% |
Thriller | 20% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (2 BDs, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The Cobra revolution has begun.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation is an odd sort of sequel, a movie that's a chronologically in-order followup to the 2009 film but also a fairly unique, individualistic picture that's replaced several
actors and removed a whole lot of characters from the flimsy script written by Rise of Cobra. Retaliation is a film with its own identity
but not its own purpose, a movie that ties up the
story from the last film but in many ways feels like about half a franchise reboot, except, of course, in the one area that counts most: action.
Retaliation, for all its
new names and faces, kicks up the style, pumps up the action, and delivers a shamelessly entertaining tale of good versus evil in a movie that
rarely slows to catch its breath or build up its characters as they bring down the house. Plenty of stuff explodes, countless rounds are fired, and lots of
marital arts action fills in the gaps when the guns take a breather. It's not special, significant, or really memorable moviemaking, but
Retaliation will satisfy that Action-hungry swath of fans while getting back to a more core-friendly Joe experience. Oh, and power
suits are definitely not included.
Game face.
The 2D transfer for G.I. Joe: Retaliation is nothing less than phenomenal.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the 3D presentation. Rather than looking darker than the 2D -- which is a problem many 3D transfers face
--
Retaliation actually appears a bit lighter. There's a paleness to the image, generally, and the black levels aren't as tight and deep as they are
in
the standalone 2D transfer. What's more, details look appreciably more flat here, less dynamic, less realistic, less filmic. The image remains rather
sharp
and
well defined, just not beautifully and naturally so. There are exceptions; for example, scenes that take place in the abandoned gym look really
great, but there's definitely a less dynamic edge to the image on the whole. Colors aren't quite as deep, either, lacking the boldness and vibrancy of
the 2D image. As
for the 3D elements, they're fair but hardly approaching excellence. That the film's theatrical release was delayed for several months for a 3D
conversion
is well documented, but the results just don't show on Blu-ray. An establishing shot of a grassy bank in North Korea at film's start actually proves to
be
one of the
finer 3D moments in the film. There's a healthy sense of sprawling space to the shot that seems to extend well back and far from the viewer. The
transfer
toys
with quality 3D imagery -- looking up and down a deep water well and the mountainside ninja battle being two others -- but there's not a consistent
feeling
of
legitimate depth to much of the 3D experience. Flying glass, sand, and sparks do appear to extend beyond the limits of the television screen, though
such plusses are rather few and far between. Also, text and computer graphics always look like they're above the screen or made of significant depth,
respectively. It's basically effective but something of a disappointment overall, particularly up against the excellent 2D image. This is definitely not
must-see Blu-ray 3D.
Note: Screenshots have been sourced from the 2D transfer and are not reflective of 3D quality.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation explodes onto Blu-ray with a tremendous Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Paramount's latest sound presentation is one of the most dynamic and enjoyable available today. Right from the Paramount logo the track positively dazzles, revealing exceptional clarity within a full, wide soundstage. Surround support is immediate and natural, while bass is big but balanced. Those elements define the entire experience. Action scenes explode with a large array of elements, from cracking gunfire erupting all over the stage to heavy, thumping explosions that push the low end to its limits. Aircraft zip around the stage and heavy ground vehicles rumble all over. The sense of chaos completely surrounds the listener and every action scene in the film proves completely worthy of demonstration showroom floors. Yet the track doesn't just excel at its most exciting. Minimalist elements, small supporting sound pieces, and environmental touches help bring the track to life, again by making use of a very big stage and the track's pinpoint placement and clarity. Musical delivery is robust but smooth, sounding very big and satisfying with full seven-channel implementation and a quality bass element. Dialogue comes through evenly and clearly from the center. This is a fun, reference-quality track from the first second to the last.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation features commentary, deleted scenes, and plenty of featurettes. A pre-menu screen allows users to choose either a Joe
or Cobra theme. All supplements appear on the included 2D-only disc. There are no 3D-exclusive extras.
If lots of explosions, an endless string of gunfire, and plenty of marital arts action sounds even the least bit palatable, check out G.I. Joe: Retaliation. It's the zenith of polished, action-packed modern shoot-em-up marvels. Better, it's a superior film to the previous installment in every area. Better characterization, a good story, and a more faithful adaptation of classic G.I. Joe makes it a runaway success within its natural confines. It won't leave its audiences pondering the meaning of life, but it's rock-solid escapism at its finest. Paramount's Blu-ray 3D release of G.I. Joe: Retaliation features reference-quality sound but a picture quality that's a few ticks below the 2D-only presentation. A nice selection of extra content is included. The 2D-only release is the better value.
2013
2013
Extended Action Cut
2013
Bonus Disc & Exclusive Packaging
2013
Bonus Disc & Exclusive Packaging
2013
Extended Action Cut
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
Extended Action Cut
2013
+ Extended on BD
2013
2013
2009
2014
2017
2019
20th Anniversary Edition
1996
2016
2012
2016
2013
2015
2003
2018
2018
2005
2018
2014
Live. Die. Repeat.
2014
2011
2013
2013