6 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
An elite and tight-knit unit of the Drug Enforcement Agency is targeted by a violent cartel after a major bust at a safe house. They are also investigated by their own when millions of dollars of recovered money vanishes.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Olivia Williams, Terrence Howard, Joe ManganielloAction | 100% |
Thriller | 62% |
Crime | 35% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Outside of, perhaps, Raw Deal, Arnold Schwarzenegger has never been known to star in truly gritty, edgy films. Bloody, yes, but there was always a mass audience appeal to them, some underlying humor, and nothing too serious or brooding. Even in those film in which he portrayed a down-and-out sort of character, as was the case in End of Days, there was still that classic Arnold flow and feel. All of that changes with Sabotage, easily the darkest, most difficult film of his career. On the surface, it's little more than a "whodunit" procedural with more blood and guts than Predator, but deeper down is the story of a haunted man surrounded by hardened, downtrodden people all carrying heavy baggage and burdened with difficult emotional turmoil. The film may not be a rousing success and a classic Arnold crowd pleaser, but it's arguably the most complexly deep film of his career but one that still entertains as a run-and-gun Action flick on its grisly surface.
"Hasta la vista, baby."
Sabotage features a solid 1080p transfer that's largely typical of a modern, digitally photographed motion picture. As expected, there is plenty of crisp, razor-sharp details around the frame. Skin textures are particularly well defined in the many close-up shots, but military style gear, clothing, and surfaces -- including some beautiful woodwork seen outside Arnold's character's home -- are magnificently displayed on Blu-ray. Colors are even and bold, never garish and never dull but enjoying a natural middle ground that satisfies in every scene, bright or dark. Blacks are balanced and accurate, and flesh tones never push too hot. The image is largely free of unsightly compression issues, banding, noise or other unwanted elements. In short, this is a rather standard -- in a good way -- modern high end, new movie HD image.
Sabotage features a well-rounded, but not quite perfectly immersive and realistic, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation never struggles, but it never quite gets over that hump to sonic perfection. Music is well spaced and clearly delivered, enjoying light surround and a solid low end, evident particularly early in the film during a house party sequence. There's good power to explosions, the concussion practically swarming through the speakers and into the listening area. Gunfire erupts neatly and aggressively, perhaps not quite so loud and potent as it should but with good, zipping speed and sharpness as the projectiles fly around the stage and impact surfaces in every speaker. Dialogue delivery is accurate and focused in the front-center portion of the stage.
Sabotage contains two alternate ending clips, a handful of deleted scenes, and a short making-of featurette. DVD and UV digital copies are
included in the Blu-ray case.
Of all the Arnold movies out there, Sabotage probably features one of the lowest replay values in terms of sheer entertainment content. There aren't really any good one-liners, the action is crisply delivered but ultimately rather routine, and it's one of those movies that, once the secret's out of the bag, there's not much reason to go back to it multiple times, save for a second watch to look for any clues that may have been missed the first time around. In short, it's definitely worth checking out but it probably won't rocket to the top of all that many people's "best of Arnold" list, if only for the sheer volume of great films on his resumé. Universal's Blu-ray release of Sabotage delivers strong video and quality audio. The supplements are a little on the thin side but get the job done. Worth a rental for sure and perhaps a purchase at a sale price for Arnold movie collectors. Either way, be sure to check it out. This is a high quality film all around.
2014
2017
Special Edition
2008
Extended Cut
2013
1993
The Dirty Harry Collection
1973
2011
The Dirty Harry Collection
1976
1995
2005
2014
2010
2013
Combo Pack
2012
2009
2015
2012
2012
Bastille Day
2016
2004