5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Maverick Chicago cop Eddie Jillette poses as a hit man to meet with someone in from New Orleans looking to have a job done.
Starring: Richard Gere, Kim Basinger, Jeroen Krabbé, George Dzundza, John Snyder (I)Thriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Richard Pearce's "No Mercy" (1986) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include an exclusive new program with actor Jeroen Krabbe and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
If you go asking questions in Algiers, they’ll cut your tongue out and throw it in the river.
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, No Mercy arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
A couple of years ago, we reviewed this this release of No Mercy, which was produced by Mill Creek Entertainment. The master that was used to produce the release was older and was supplied by Sony Pictures.
This release is sourced from the same master and, quite predictably, reveals the same limitations. For example, it is very easy to tell that delineation, clarity, and depth could be more convincing. On my system, the bulk of the darker footage looked most convincing, though it is where grain usually looks pretty loose as well. The outdoor footage where natural light produces some unique highlights is the least convincing one, so I think that some very particular encoding optimizations could have rebalanced it quite well. (Unfortunately, this release simply provides more space for the entire film because it uses a dual-layer disc). I took screencaptures #7 and 17 because these are the areas where the encoding optimizations could have made a difference. While dated, elsewhere the visuals typically look either decent or good. (For what it's worth, a player that upscales to 4K can strengthen quite well virtually all of the shaky areas -- at least mine did so). Colors are stable, but saturation and balance could and should be better. Image stability is good. I noticed a few nicks and dirt spots, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
I think that the lossless track is pretty solid. The action can be quite intense at times and on my system dynamic intensity was always satisfying. Is there any room for improvement? As far as any substantial improvements are concerned, my answer would be no because the folks at Sony Pictures have already properly transferred the original audio. I think that they would have to create one of those new Dolby Atmos tracks to impress folks that may demand more. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review.
No Mercy is a very, very solid action thriller with a killer soundtrack by Alan Silvestri that works perfectly for its chosen dark atmosphere. It is one of three Richard Gere films that I enjoy tremendously -- the other two are American Gigolo and Breathless -- and would pay big bucks to have on 4K Blu-ray. If one day it is properly remastered in 4K, many people will discover that it is quite the visual stunner. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release is sourced from the same old master that Mill Creek Entertainment received from Sony Pictures and used to produce this Blu-ray release a few years ago, but has a very nice exclusive new interview with actor Jeroen Krabbe. RECOMMENDED.
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