Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege Blu-ray Movie Review

Assault on Precinct S.W.A.T.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 23, 2017

If ever there was a movie that defined the absolute midlevel direct-to-video Action flick, it would have to be S.W.A.T.: Under Siege. This one's got it all. It's a film that has nothing to do with the original or the direct-to-video film that followed. It features a name actor in career-winding-down role. Plot is basic, gunplay is generic, sets are bland, characters are flat. It even features an unremarkable twist at the end and a wife with a transparent secret she's hiding from the hero. Random plot holes, second-rate moviemaking, clearly fake props, actors who don't even pretend to know how to handle a gun, and the list of problems and annoyances goes on. There's no way this isn't the world's most generic DTV action flick, but for all its mediocrity it works just well enough as an effectively mindless time killer, a movie with no redeeming value after the fact but passable enough to waste 90 minutes on. In short, the films delivers exactly what's expected of it, never going above and beyond but never stumbling too far down into the gutter, either.

A SWAT team, led by Travis Hall (Sam Jaeger), is called into duty on the Fourth of July to foil a plot. The team's mission is to capture something bearing the mark of a scorpion. The mission appears to be leading them on a wild goose chase until, after a few brief encounters and losing one of their own, they discover their mark: a man (Michael Jai White) whose back bears the symbol. He's taken into custody but somehow, some way, seems to always be a step ahead, predicting future events with uncanny accuracy. Soon, it appears the entire SWAT headquarters is in grave danger when power is cut and the team is forced to seal itself inside, protecting from a pending assault. It turns out a ruthless criminal named Lars Cohagen (Matthew Marsden) wants Scorpion and will do anything to get his target.

Words like "basic" and "generic" define the movie so well there's little room for additional insight or critique. The movie's standardization of its genre is rather stunning, its ability to finely walk that middle-of-the-road line so perfectly almost makes it exemplary, exemplary not in "good" but in how the film really does define its type. Indeed, the film shows no creativity. There's no spark, no real soulful life to it. Every element comes recycled form other films and plot lines. Characters are one dimensional -- even considering the film's twist ending -- and there's no sense of life or purpose to any of them beyond the moment. The plot feels diluted and lacking any serious complexity, thanks largely to the empty vessel characters who nonchalantly go about the story's routine, showing prefabricated emotion in even the most would-be intense moments. But even then, the story never makes a ton of sense. Motivations are a little iffy and the central story line feels forced to simply serve as a vessel for the action. Par for the course for these sorts of films, really.

One area of major disappoint comes by way of the cast's inability to portray SWAT with any resemblance of even feigned accuracy. Obvious prop guns are a hindrance, but there's poor weapons handling throughout, and it seems like some of the actors never held a gun before, let alone received any sort of training. One positive is Michael Jai White, whose moves are anything but untrained or inexperienced. Fans will get to watch him kick some butt, with some obvious and distracting cuts in the action, but he' still a capable entertainer and knows how to deliver some exciting hand-to-hand action, elevating even a flat movie like this.

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege's 1080p transfer is just fine, handling the film's simple visuals well enough. Much of the film is comprised of basic character close-ups that reveal enough texturing to please. Faces and skin showcase a format-average level of complexity. S.W.A.T. tactical gear is revealing of webbing, nylon, and other surface details with impressive depth and clarity. Environments are largely dull, but core support qualities are adequately sharp. Colors are very neutral. No bleak blue and gray push, no excess warmth, no funky color timing: it's a very neutral palette that presents everything in fine working order. Black levels are fine, as are flesh tones. Banding is occasionally evident, particularly early along bright skies. Noise and aliasing are nearly non-factors.

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that, like the video, is just fine and representative of the baseline for a good general Action flick track. Gunfire is potent with some impressive distinction between weapon types and calibers audible through the din of fire. Heavy machine guns blast at two points in the film with startling punch and push through the stage. Bullets fly about with a good sense of place. Explosions are nicely heavy, as are some support effects, like a handful of large SUVs rumbling through the soundstage. Music is capable, offering good front-side push and separation of instrumental elements. High to low, clarity and presentation are fine. Dialogue is likewise fine, playing with natural front-center placement, good clarity, and effortless prioritization.

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege contains no supplements beyond previews for additional Sony titles. No DVD or digital copies are included, either.

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege is clearly not trying particularly hard, but it's not so poorly made as to embarrass itself. For its flaws -- which are many from the top-down -- there's a sense that the film accomplishes its goals, meager as they may be, which include delivering simple, uncreative entertainment that's not even for the masses but rather the DTV aficionado who is just looking for another movie to kill some time. It works well in that role, and coming into it with zero expectations will yield a passable experience. Sony's featureless Blu-ray does deliver solid enough video and audio. Worth a rental on a slow day.