5.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
Walter Weed is an unassuming desk jockey at the FBI when the Bureau uncovers a plot to assassinate him. A team of degenerate, psychotic assassins dispatched by mystery man Hal Leuco to win a huge bounty includes a resourceful beauty who has a unique method of killing her prey, a power-tool wielding psychopath and a deadly master of disguise . Also in the hunt is the fan-favorite Tremor family from the original film, featuring nymphomaniacal gun-nut and her lethal kinfolk.
Starring: Tom Berenger, Clayne Crawford, Tommy Flanagan, Vinnie Jones, Maury SterlingAction | 100% |
Thriller | 92% |
Crime | 56% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
D-Box
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In the wake of Narc's critical acclaim and success, breakout director Joe Carnahan shocked his newly pledged devotees with Smokin' Aces, a strange and savage actioner that defiled audiences and left many a cinephile shaking their head. Yet somehow, against all odds, his once-rejected bastard-child began to assemble a respectable home video fanbase; a rather sizable following responsible for making Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball an overwrought, equally divisive reality. But while its ensemble cast isn't as magnetic -- a few third-tier faces return for director P.J. Pesce's prequel, but the first film's big guns are nowhere to be found -- and its frantic script is even more convoluted, its pulpy heartbeat and full-throttle sensibilities spare it from a gruesome eternity in bargain bin hell. Don't misunderstand, Assassins' Ball isn't great cinema. It isn't one of those diamonds in the rough direct-to-video enthusiasts crave. No, it's merely a bloody, visceral oddity that summons Carnahan's patented grit-n-gore whimsy and unleashes it on a fresh batch of eccentric, curse-spewing hitmen and gun-toting, red-shirted federal agents.
The cancellation of 'The O.C.' didn't sit well with Autumn Reeser...
Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball boasts a strong, sometimes striking 1080p/VC-1 transfer that, minor issues notwithstanding, outclasses the majority of direct-to-video presentations on the market. The films fountains of blood are blessed with blazing red intensity, colors are rich and penetrating, skintones are warm and lifelike, blacks are exceedingly well resolved, and contrast rarely misses a step. Special effects shots are a bit disconnected from everything else around them, often revealing the limitations of Pesce's budget, but Universal's technical encode handles such challenges in stride. Likewise, noise and flickering occasionally invade the image (particularly in the agency headquarters and the confines of Malcolm's bunker), but it didn't amount to a significant distraction. Regardless, detail remains sharp throughout, textures are crisp and refined, and overall clarity is impressive. Soft edges and slight aliasing hinder a dozen shots or so, but again, look to Pesce's post-processing intentions and his kinetic editing rather than Universal. Artifacting, banding and DNR are MIA, resulting in a proficient image that's faithful to its director's vision. I doubt anyone will call the direct-to-video presentation filmic, but the studio's high definition efforts go above and beyond.
What Universal's chaotic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track lacks in subtlety, it more than makes up for in unadulterated, chest-thumping audacity. Sure, Pesce's madcap blend of blood-spattered shootouts, RPG 'splosions and screaming cannon-clowns can be overbearing, but with a title like Assassins' Ball, I wouldn't have it any other way. LFE output is aggressive to say the least, pumping enough bass into the soundscape to level an underground bunker on its own. Rear speaker activity is a tad hit-or-miss -- conversations aren't bolstered by the same ambience or acoustic prowess that elevates most of the action sequences -- but when they kick in, they kick in. Miraculously, dialogue is intelligible and well-prioritized, important lines are never lost in the ensuing absurdity, and most every sound effect, be it the roar of a throaty engine or the scattering debris from a concrete wall, is nice and clear. If anything, gunshots are occasionally tinny and a number of cluttered locales are a bit too flat and front-heavy. But again, the studio's track is built to flex its lossless muscle at every opportunity. I doubt anyone will applaud the mix during the film's quieter scenes, but those are few and far between. Jarring music cues, thundering frame wipes, and a hyper-stylized soundfield lay the groundwork for the satisfying sonic insanity that inevitably follows. Considering it's all tied to a direct-to-video release, that's saying a lot.
The Blu-ray edition of Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball arrives with a variety of special features, most of which are presented in high definition. Appreciation for the film's frenetic pace and style is a prerequisite, but anyone who has any affection for any aspect of Pesce's latest direct-to-video sequel will find some nugget, anecdote, or production tidbit to keep them plowing through the supplemental package.
Despite its director's assertions, Pesce's Assassins' Ball clings all too desperately to everything that made Carnahan's Smokin' Aces the utterly bizarre, inexplicably enjoyable cult hit it is. Still, there's some fun to be had, even amidst all the redundancy, and action junkies should heed the call. Universal's Blu-ray release is a strong one -- a high-quality transfer, a rousing DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a solid batch of special features add substantial value to the package -- even if the film itself will alienate as many viewers as the first Smokin' Aces has over the years. Ah well, as unnecessary direct-to-video sequels go, Assassins' Ball is decent. Fans of its Carnahan-helmed predecessor should take note.
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