Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Toy Soldiers Blu-ray Movie Review

Mill Creek has released the 1991 Action film 'Toy Soldiers' to Blu-ray. At time of writing the film is only available from Mill Creek as part of a two film, one disc bundle with 'December.' Note that Sony previously released the film to Blu-ray in late 2018.

Toy Soldiers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray presentation at first glance appears to compare favorably to the excellent Sony issue but it quickly becomes apparent that the picture struggles with compression artifacts which range from mild to borderline severe. Lower light scenes particularly exhibit the telltale signs. Look at a stretch around the 15-18 minute mark that encompasses two different scenes: one with the boys drinking liquor and calling a sex hotline in a school basement followed by the terrorists taking out some obstacles at night en route to the school. Both of these reveal a rather dense array of chunky artifacts. Another example comes moments later. Look at the 19:32 mark with Billy seen against a wood panel wall as he and Dean Parker are collecting the mouthwash bottles. The shot, and several others like it in the scene, cannot maintain visual health, succumbing to the poor compression with severe visual consequences. In good light -- many daytime exteriors -- the picture holds to a very healthy, clear, nicely detailed, filmic appearance. Grain isn't overwhelmed by the chunky compression and, while not quite to the Sony disc level, it's very watchable. Viewers will be pleased with the essential clarity and stability in the best lit scenes. Unfortunately, so much of the action takes place in interiors with lesser light -- the headmaster's office, dorm rooms -- and at night that the lesser shots come more frequently than the better ones. More often than not, the compression issues define the image, but the best do hold together with solid foundational clarity and detailing.

Colors are a little flat, not so much faded but there's not a real sense of extreme depth at play. Essentials like green grasses and blue skies seen during daytime exteriors fare well, while neckties and some examples of loud clothing boost the sense of general color output satisfaction. Warm wooden floor planks and the furniture in the headmaster's office hold a pleasing enough accuracy. Skin tones are generally healthy if not slightly pale and black levels are not too terribly prone to crush. It's a shame the compression issues interfere with an otherwise good image. At least fans and videophiles have the Sony issue, but for the less demanding this a problematic yet still very workable presentation in most ways.

Toy Soldiers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack offers a decent listen, one that incorporates essentials well enough but struggles to find much depth or dazzle. Partly, this is due to the film's inherent sound design, which is itself more aligned with simplicity than complexity. As it is, the track holds to good essential delivery of music and other wares. Score plays with appropriate clarity and front end width though to be sure there's not much real muscle behind it. Explosions and gunfire, the latter even considering the large caliber machine gun in the bell tower, don't present with a significant sense of oomph, partly due to the absence of a dedicated subwoofer channel and partly because, again, of some paltry and pedestrian sound design. When rockets fly or helicopters zip around, there's little feel for authentic directional movement. Ambient effects are minimal, particularly outside, but basic background chatter when the students are gathered in the quad or basic cafeteria din are acceptably involved. Dialogue is clear and centered.

Toy Soldiers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

No supplements are included.

Toy Soldiers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray can't touch the Sony disc, primarily due to the existence of mild to severe compression issues. The audio track is decent if not underwhelming. No extras are included. Hardcore videophiles and fans of the film will want to get the Sony disc, but for the undemanding this is a decent alternative. However, because the film with which this shares a disc -- December -- looks so bad as to be unwatchable, it's recommended to just buy the Sony disc instead; there's zero value for the second end on this double feature.