Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Jarhead 3: The Siege Blu-ray Movie Review

JINO: 'Jarhead' In Name Only.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 26, 2016

It seems almost random what movies spawn direct-to-video franchises. 2005's Jarhead was a rock-solid wartime picture that took viewers back to the first Gulf War of 1991, telling the story of a Marine sniper desperate to see action in a conflict that was moving too fast for a task meant to be taken slow. Nary a hint of a sequel -- particularly not a real major release sequel of a movie that doesn't even beg for one -- was in the air until, nine years later, Jarhead 2: Field of Fire drooped onto the home video marketplace. That film was not connected to the original beyond its name, and neither is Jarhead 3: The Siege, 2016's "follow-up" to a first film now more than a decade old. Seemingly out of nowhere, this has become a bonafide DTV franchise that only borrows a name to spearhead and raise awareness for an otherwise unrelated story. In all fairness, both sequels are capable and entertaining within the confines of the DTV arena, but one cannot help but think that studio execs felt neither could stand on their own were they simply titled Field of Fire or The Siege, though the decision to borrow from a movie that's not exactly obscure but not exactly hailed as a wartime classic (this reviewer loved it, though) is curious at best.

No, I'm not Jake Gyllenhaal.

Corporal Evan Albright (Charlie Weber) is a Marine veteran who's good at what he does. He's the new guy at a U.S. embassy in the Middle East. He gets along well with his new brothers-in-arms, creating a quick bond with his fellow soldiers, like Hansen (Tom Ainsley), Lopez (Erik Valdez), and Gunnery Sergeant Raines (Scott Adkins). He even catches the eye of the embassy's computer whiz and Arabic language speaker, Olivia (Sasha Jackson). When the guys are on the rooftop looking down on a group of peaceful protestors below, Albright catches a glimpse of someone he suspects to be a high value terror target. His suspicions are confirmed, but no sooner than they are the embassy falls under siege, leaving its personnel to defend it all costs while outside help, led by Major Lincoln (Dennis Haysbert), rushes to the fight via helicopter.

It takes a good thirty minutes for Jarhead 3: The Siege to get to the action. The movie tries, with mild success, to string together a bit of characterization and camaraderie between the fellas (and gal) at the embassy. Whether their teamwork (or lack thereof) in training exercises, performing menial tasks like washing windows or holding up a book for the ambassador, debating the merits of dating the girl in the office, or playing Mortal Kombat, the movie manages to string together a fair bit of basic characterization. It works well enough, though the movie doesn't really need all that much exposition, and much of it goes out the window when the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan. This is a meat-and-potatoes shooter, a movie meant to appeal to base emotions and general cinematic excitement. The structure and narrative, as much as the filmmakers would like, don't lend to a character-driven story, not in the way other War movies Platoon are all about character interaction and depth, supported by action rather than defined by it.

And the movie's practically hourlong action scene satisfies requirements but hardly ignites the screen. Limited by a smallish budget and crammed into a rather confined location -- the embassy's various interior set pieces and the larger area outside -- there's not much to go on. The movie favors a simple approach that efforts to maintain a sense of grounded, authentic combat but never quite finds a rhythm beyond gunfire and movement and supplanted by crude humor that gets added to the mix for no obvious reason. With the action more mindless than mind-blowing and characterization rather standard, it's up to the plot to keep the movie moving forward and maintain momentum. It comes up short there, too. Clearly based around on the 2012 Benghazi attack -- which this film directly references at one point -- Jarhead 3 uses the attack as little more than a catalyst for its action and a crude foundational support for a few moments of "us vs. them" banter, particularly near the end when, in a lull in the fighting, men from both sides shout out reasons behind the conflict, not so much the actual battle at the embassy but rather the larger one around them that's been raging for decades. None of it is in the least bit eye-opening. Everything about the movie is simply a propellant to allow characters to shoot guns. But audiences looking for a mindless modern Action movie can do worse. Keep expectations in check and the movie should satisfy base cravings for a military-styled shooter.

Jarhead 3: The Siege Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Jarhead 3: The Siege arrives on Blu-ray sourced from a digital shoot. The transfer presents with that unmistakable clean, fairly glossy and flat digital sheen. Light noise and banding are visible at times, but rarely bothersome. The image may lack that typical gritty wartime texture, but details still impress. Military uniforms are crisp, revealing creases and stitches with ease. Heavier tactical gear is the most impressively complex element in the film; the material density is impressive in every close-up. Close-cut haircuts, facial pores, and other more intimate individual details excel. Various rough surfaces outside the compound and some of the cleaner lines inside represent well. Colors are satisfyingly neutral, with the earthy desert camo patterns standing out nicely even against the film's rather bright lighting. More intense colors are less frequent but hold to a satisfyingly natural shading. Black levels impress and flesh tones appear accurate. Overall, the presentation is rather typical of a new, digitally shot DTV movie. Most viewers should find very little room to complain.

Jarhead 3: The Siege Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Jarhead 3: The Siege features a solid all-around DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The movie's audio lacks the precision scale and intensity of larger budget and more finely engineered tracks, but there's enough action energy to please. Gunfire pops with fair authority from all corners. RPG rounds zip through the stage and explosions pack a suitably healthy wallop. The entire stage is frequently engaged in action. Light atmospherics are infrequent but come alive in a few early moments, particularly inside an airport. An alarm klaxon at the embassy is well positioned but not substantially aggressive. Music is nicely weighty and widely spaced, with good definition throughout the scale. Dialogue delivery is clear and center positioned. Prioritization even through gunfire and mayhem is fine.

Jarhead 3: The Siege Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Jarhead 3: The Siege contains one supplement. The Making of 'Jarhead 3: The Siege' (1080p, 7:02) features cast and crew covering plot, their appreciation for the military after making the movie, characters and arcs, the film's humor, shooting guns, Dennis Haysbert's presence on the set, and cast camaraderie. The release contains two cuts of the film: a rated version (1:29:06) and an unrated version (also 1:29:06; that's either coincidence, or there's an authoring problem on the disc that selects the same cut regardless of menu choice). Also included with purchase is a DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy.

Jarhead 3: The Siege Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jarhead 3: The Siege is a rather pedestrian movie that has nothing to do with the original, or even the sequel that had nothing to do with the original, for that matter. The film works well enough as a kinda-enjoyable "remember when you were 10 and movies like this rocked!" sort of way. Characterization is empty, there's not much to the plot beyond "they shoot at us, we shoot back," and the action isn't exactly Black Hawk Down levels of authentic, but it's a decent enough mind-off time killer, a lighter version of 13 Hours, perhaps. Universal's Blu-ray features good video and audio. One supplement is included. Rent it.