7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
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: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
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
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
All Dolby Atmos tracks have a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) core
English SDH, French, Italian SDH, Portuguese, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
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 Blu-ray edition (also available as a 4K combo pack) is an outstanding package with solid A/V
specs and an assortment of solid extras that adds a lot of value. King Shark even gets his own featurette, obviously.
Although Warner Bros.' Blu-ray offers a technically adept Blu-ray presentation of The Suicide Squad, it can't help but pale in comparison to its 4K counterpart. Much of this has to do with disc compression: the ~135 minute main feature (framed at an unconventional 1.90:1 aspect ratio) is paired with a Dolby Atmos track, half a dozen other audio options, and about 90 minutes of bonus features in high definition, which obviously makes for a pretty tight fight. Back in the day, something like this would at least be divided on two discs, which might have alleviated some of the sporadic but noticeable compression issues such as artifacts, black crush, and banding that dot the 1080p landscape. The good news is that they're handled well under the circumstances, but every compliment regarding the 4K's visual presentation can be dialed back a few notches: colors are well-rendered but lack a bit of punch, fine detail is good-not-great, and textures are clearly apparent while not exactly leaping off the screen. Of course, I'm saying all of this in hindsight: yours truly watched The Suicide Squad in 4K first, so anyone approaching this film blind may not pick up on some of these shortcomings. But they are there, whether due to format limitations or disc compression, which makes this a room-for-improvement presentation but one that should still satisfy those with more modest setups.
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 patriotic cover artwork, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy redemption slip. The bonus features below offer a well-rounded and entertaining account of the production.
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.' Blu-ray edition is great too, pairing solid A/V specs with a nice collection of extras. Highly Recommended to those not equipped for 4K.
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