5.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Covert security company Vanguard is the last hope of survival for an accountant after he is targeted by the world's deadliest mercenary organization.
Starring: Jackie Chan, Miya Muqi, Jackson Lou, Yang Yang (V), Brahim ChabAction | 100% |
Foreign | 99% |
Martial arts | 57% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Mandarin: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Jackie Chan’s star seems to have faded at least somewhat, both in his native China, where Vanguard came and went without the expected gigantic box office returns (though it did bring in several tens of millions), and here in the United States, where it performed considerably worse. This kind of odd actioner wants to be all kinds of things at once, including everything from Kingsman: The Secret Service to Homeland to James Bond, though it seems spectacularly ill equipped to get there at times. Like a lot of Chan vehicles, this one moves briskly and has its requisite share of action set pieces (many not really featuring Chan in any significant way, perhaps a sign of his increasing age), and it’s often goofily enjoyable in a “traditional” Jackie Chan way, but there’s a kind of carbon copy aspect to the film that never quite gels.
Vanguard is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. I haven't been able to track down any authoritative technical data on the shoot, but I'm assuming this digitally captured outing had a 2K DI. That said, detail levels are strong enough here that perhaps there was a 4K DI (as always with my reviews, if anyone can point me to verifiable information, I'll post an update here). The presentation often offers really excellent fine detail levels, especially with regard to some of the fabrics on costumes. Unfortunately that generally excellent sharpness doesn't particularly help some really almost laughable CGI. Everything from a Chinese New Year dragon to various wildlife in Africa seems to have been digitally created, and while not horrible, the eagle eyed will spot occasional anomalies along the way (the whirling dragon shot from overhead is a notable example). The palette is really nicely suffused, and the film is kind of refreshingly free of aggressive grading choices most of the time. Some very minor banding can be spotted, but I personally didn't consider it a big distraction.
Our specs above are "cheating" a little bit due to how our database works, but this Blu-ray release offers two DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks, the original which is in both Mandarin and English (depending on who is speaking, and in some cases when they're speaking, as one character may ping pong between the two languages), and a completely English version. The Mandarin-English track offers forced English subtitles, as can be seen in some of the screenshots accompanying this review. This is an audio onslaught at times, as befits Chan's legacy, with nice engagement of the surround channels in a number of completely hyperbolic action scenes. The chase the begins with cars and ends with boats is a great example of not just thunderous LFE and almost insane panning effects, but also smart prioritization so that occasional lines of dialogue and even score are well layered. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout this problem free presentation. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are available.
Some with jaded senses of humor (ahem) might be prone to saying that at least Vanguard offered CGI lion Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe his first screen appearance in several years (and, yes, that's a joke). Unfortunately, Chan hasn't subscribed to the maxim that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and he keeps churning out these predictable, paint by numbers efforts. If you're a Chan fan, you'll probably find enough to enjoy here, but chances are you've seen it all before, including (but certainly not limited to) several Chan films. Technical merits are generally solid for those who are considering a purchase.
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