6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.6 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
From Revolution Studios and and Sony Pictures, Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is a notorious underground thrill-seeker who, until now, has been deemed untouchable by the law. But when crack NSA Agent Gibbsons convinces Cage to infiltrate a ruthless Russian crime ring, this new breed of secret agent (codename: XXX) takes down the enemies of justice with a vengeance in this high-octane, turbo-charged thrill-ride from the acclaimed director of The Fast and the Furious.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Asia Argento, Marton Csokas, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael RoofAction | 100% |
Thriller | 58% |
Adventure | 33% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Czech: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
Hungarian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Russian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1
Castilian and Latin American Spanish
English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Thai, Turkish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sony has re-released the 2002 Action film xXx to Blu-ray in celebration of its 15th anniversary and to coincide with xXx: Return of Xander Cage's recent release to theaters. This new Blu-ray boasts new video and audio presentations, as well as a new supplement in addition to previously released material that wasn't included on the original Blu-ray. It's a rock-solid upgrade over the 2006 Blu-ray; fans will want to pick it up. Read on for more details.
This screenshot looks familiar...
Sony's xXx re-release isn't the end-all, be-all of Blu-ray as some of the studio's more recent remasters may be, but it's a rock-solid image and a very healthy upgrade over the 2006 release. This edition is presented with the MPEG-4 codec rather than the older MPEG-2, as was the case with the original. This new release is attractively filmic. Grain is ever-present, spiking at times and a bit edgier than some might like, but there's no mistaking the picture's 35mm roots and its often beautifully retained cinematic flavor. Details are generally excellent. A few softer or mildly smeary backgrounds aside, textures are quite robust. Intimate complexity can't often match the finest the format has to offer, but skin textures are impressively refined (including close-ups of Xander's tattoos or Jackson's scar prosthetic). Clothing is, too, and many of the European city accents are texturally complex and tactile. There are certainly a few times when raw detail takes a dive -- facial textures during a scene inside a relatively empty opera house in chapter nine being an example -- but more often than not it's all right on the money. Colors are fine, not particularly noteworthy in either direction -- too punchy or too faded -- but enjoying a healthy enough neutrality and a good bit of punch in the daylight, particularly evident during the film's chase climax. Black levels are deep without resorting to crush, and flesh tones appear accurate. Print wear and compression artifacts are practically nonexistent. This is certainly not the peak of Blu-ray, but it's a substantial upgrade since the last time xXx graced the format.
xXx's move to a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 loses soundtrack from the previous release's LPCM 5.1 presentation is more a lateral one, certainly not the drastic upward movement of the video presentation. Regardless of the name, this track is excellent, everything one could want in an action film. It's big, dynamic, enveloping, and offers plenty of low end power to boot. Every action scene is a treat. Whether it's helicopters swooping and blowing stuff up, gunfire ripping through the stage, or an avalanche spilling into the theater, there's a ceaseless intensity and surround depth in play. Gunfire cracks through every speaker, motorcycles tear through the entire stage, alarms blare with amazing authority and realistic presence. It's a wonderful listen and hard to imagine a track much more active or energetic and enthusiastic as this. And even through the chaos, it's never wanting for more precision. Effects are never in a jumble and even through endless streams of gunfire, surrounding explosions, and general chaos, the track always seems in command and the listener capable of sorting it all out in every moment. Music is strong, too, effortlessly wide and wrapped into the back with balance. Many of the film's Metal tracks are impressively edgy and very loud. Dialogue is well prioritized, grounded in the center, and lifelike. Fans will have a blast with this one.
xXx's latest Blu-ray release contains one all-new extra in addition to various vintage features that were not originally included on the 2006
Blu-ray. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.
They don't make 'em like xXx all that often anymore. Unpretentious, loud, exciting, lots of practical effects, a big score and Metal music, plenty of gunfire and explosions, a musclebound hero...it's a quality action film that's equal parts ridiculous and exhilarating. Even at two hours, it's well paced, Vin Diesel is fine as the lead, and it's a whole lot of fun. Sony's re-release is a home run. Everything's better compared to the old release. Audio is the least of the upgrades. The uptick in video is substantial and the quantity of extras is generous, even if most of it simply carries over from the standard definition era. Even the new cover art is great. Highly recommended!
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