Blu-ray – Edition DE – DigiDreams Studios – 112 min – 14 July 2020
Video format
• Resolution: 1080p/24
• Ratio: 1.33
Soundtrack
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• English Dolby Digital 2.0
• German Dolby Digital 5.1
• German Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles
• German
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers as well as the viewing equipment specified and used by each tester of the MaG team, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence the rating. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
WORK – Trained to protect...
Jack Devlin is used to tense situations. But after preventing the murder of a friend's daughter, he was caught with a strange fear, fear of white colour. Engaged as a bodyguard, he will have to protect a top model of a sadistic killer while trying to control his fear.
Pilot of a TV series that will never see the light, Blackjack is a low budget B series that evokes a Bodyguard « drugged » action (full of idles and iconic poses). And if the frame is cliché and the artificial characters, the presence of the imposing Dolph Lundgren and the inimitable style of John Woo make it a telefilm to the Hollywood Night above average.
IMAGE – No more fear of white!
Captured in 35 mm (silver texture is there) but finalized in analog SD, the image of this production from the end of the 90s does little better than a simple DVD... If this is for the rate in 23.976 fps and the best compression; But it's still ugly for a Blu-ray.
Contrast management is insufficient, fad colours, unclear details (and/or blurry as soon as the camera is in motion) and very poor definition (see coarse lines). In short, the existing source is in no way worthy of HD support!
SON – Live from Hollywood Night…
Derived from a Dolby Digital Surround blend for domestic use (TV in the 1990s), the original version, whether offered in Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1, has no bite.
The dynamics and basses have been kidnapped, the sound scene is curled up at the front, the pyrotechnic effects like soft-core music have no magnitude and the latter, sometimes invited to the back (but too artificially), suffers from some distortions.
Again, the source is far too limited to satisfy a home-cinema system... Whether he's tough or not!
CONCLUSION – The promise made must be kept!
Apart from collectors who might be tempted by the beautiful limited mediabook packaging, this minor film in the career of Chinese director John Woo, by its 100% television nature of the late 90s, is in no way adapted to the standards established by high definition. The « 21 »Get out!
Artistic note
6
Video quality
2
Audio quality
3
0
The trailer makes you dream anyway :-p