7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Super-Villains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X where they are heavily-armed and dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.
Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester StalloneAction | 100% |
Comic book | 94% |
Adventure | 82% |
Fantasy | 68% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.90:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.90:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Atmos
Italian: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
Hungarian: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Polish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Tamil: Dolby Digital 5.1
Telugu: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spain and Latin-American Spanish
English SDH, French, Italian SDH, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A sorta-sequel in name only, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad confused casual moviegoers who vaguely remembered whatever the hell this was back in 2016. ("Didn't we see that already"?) Unsurprisingly, this confusion -- as well as day-and-date streaming on HBO Max -- led to much lower ticket sales this time around. It's a shame, too: in almost every respect, this take on DC's classic team of miscreants is a much more worthwhile film than its predecessor, and one that clearly doesn't swim with the current. It's a lot of fun at times, and one of my favorite comic-related productions in recent memory due to a potent mixture of big-screen mayhem, absurd detours, and B-movie scrappiness.
It's a wild ride that stays entertaining for its two hour-plus runtime, which really does zip by thanks to its lightweight tone, memorable characters, and a handful of terrific set pieces peppered with over-the-top gore and mostly well-placed needle-drop moments. None of these elements should be all that surprising to fans of Gunn's earlier films like Slither, Super, and both Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel, with much of the film's big budget going to the perfect ensemble cast -- which also includes Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, Jai Courtney, and original Suicide Squad comics scribe John Ostrander -- and a slathering of special effects that bring this colorful world to vivid life. (I'm resisting the urge to spoil its "last boss" reveal, a sequence that's as absurd as it is jaw-dropping.) As a total package this is great work, with only a few minor nitpicks along the way -- scene transitions and establishing shots that try too hard, as well as one lazy "rewind" moment that hurts some of its third-act momentum -- that are no match for its most memorable moments. Simply put, it's a fun time at the movies and should earn more than a few spins in the future.
While our own Brian Orndorf wasn't as enamored with The Suicide Squad in his theatrical review, needless to say this one was right the hell up my alley... or maybe I just
saw it on a good day. But whether you're a fan or not, Warner Bros.' new 4K edition (also available as a stand-alone Blu-ray) is an outstanding package with top-tier A/V specs and
an assortment of solid extras that adds a lot of value. King Shark even gets his own featurette, obviously.
Seen in its native 2160p glory, The Suicide Squad is a scruffy stunner in 4K and one that impresses with technical proficiency and great use of HDR enhancement (presented in either Dolby Vision or HDR10+, depending on your setup) to deliver a basically flawless presentation. Colors are stunningly rendered; many scenes make use of the trendy but biologically effective "teal-orange" combo to create immediately impressive compositions, such as the subdued interiors of Project Starfish's underground laboratory (above) or the bright orange jumpsuits of Belle Reve inmates (at top). Others go for all-out color, from obvious candidates like Polka-Dot Man's vivid secretions and the cotton candy-colored Starro, as well as flowery fireworks when Harley Quinn goes into all-out badass mode during her violent escape from ruthless captors. Black levels and brighter highlights are balanced nicely, even the white-out downpour during the film's second half that threatens to wash out critical details but instead stands as a visual highlight. Fine detail and textures are likewise perfectly rendered, with many scenes leaving an immediate impression on visual clarity alone. This is a smooth but not waxy picture overall, and one that should delight those who saw The Suicide Squad theatrically or on HBO Max, where it debuted simultaneously. This 4K presentation likely meets or beats both options, offering die-hard fans and first-timers an outstanding visual experience that suits the main feature perfectly.
For my thoughts on the included Blu-ray's inferior but still pretty decent 1080p transfer (which is what all of this review's screenshots were sourced from), please see my separate coverage of that title.
Unsurprisingly, The Suicide Squad's Dolby Atmos mix swings for the fences, offering a nice mixture of playful sonic flourishes and all-out chaos during the film's most intense moments. Dialogue follows these rules as well, staying up front during normal conversations but sneaking into the surrounds and rears in group settings. From the opening sequence and first firefight in Corto Maltese to the gleefully absurd showdown with its oversized final villain, the action sounds very satisfying during critical moments and, more often than not, totally envelops the listener in an aggressive but not overcooked manner. Other sequences and specific moments, including a sudden approaching storm with its rumbling thunder and foggy white-out downpour, make fantastic use of the height channels, as do the crumbling buildings and urban destruction of the film's final act. Circular movements, such as a fatal showdown between two of the Squad's main characters over the fate of a Project Starfish hard drive, have fun with panning effects that pair nicely with creative visuals. All told, it's a perfectly satisfying mix that really can't sound better on home video; one that consistently maintains The Suicide Squad's potent mixture of playful detours and extreme intensity.
Optional subtitles (including English SDH) are included during the main feature and all applicable extras.
This two-disc set ships in a dual-hubbed keepcase with dynamic cover artwork, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy redemption slip. All extras below can be found on the included Blu-ray disc, although two are repeated on the 4K.
James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is an absurdly fun spectacle with colorful characters, over-the-top action, and a few huge set pieces that launch what otherwise feels like a goofy, low-budget romp into much bigger territory. Although slightly derivative of other superhero films and franchises, it skates by on pure charisma and confidence alone, even if it sadly underperformed at the box office... even compared to the much less impressive 2016 film, which is just a crying shame. (I guess the Joker really is that big of a draw.) Regardless, Warner Bros.' 4K edition is terrific, pairing top-tier A/V specs with a nice collection of extras. Highly Recommended to fans and first-timers alike.
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