The Specialist Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Specialist" brings Jeffrey Kimball's distinct visual style to high definition, with a 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer that largely preserves the glossy, saturated characteristic of his cinematography. The disc captures various distinctive scene environments seamlessly, such as heavy smoke post-explosions, Miami pastels during party sequences, dark shadows inside a key church location, and fluctuating light levels in Ray's workshop. The black levels are consistently excellent, and shadow detail remains robust throughout. Importantly, there is no detectable digital filtering or compression-related artifacts, maintaining the integrity of the original filmic experience.

While a notable improvement from the DVD version, this Blu-ray presentation is not without its imperfections. Close-up shots reveal remarkable fine details, such as pores, sweat beads, and specks of dirt on Stallone and Woods, enhancing the movie's tactile realism. However, mid- to long-range shots often result in smeary and waxy appearances, a deviation that diminishes the overall sharpness. Grain levels fluctuate, switching from light to noisy inconsistently, reflecting the soft aesthetics typical of early 90s films. This inconsistency seemingly stems from the source material rather than the transfer itself. Despite these issues, Warner has presented a serviceable upgrade for a lesser-known catalogue title like "The Specialist." Although there is room for improvement, the current transfer is reasonable for an action movie of this stature.

"The Specialist" Blu-ray features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that excels in delivering a powerful low-frequency experience, particularly during action sequences. The opening scene in Bogota exemplifies this with the thunderous sound of water and subsequent explosions, immersing the viewer in a visceral audio environment. The early discrete 5.1 mix explores the potential of the LFE channel extensively, creating an impactful and engaging soundscape. However, rear channel activity remains minimal, with most sounds being spread or panned between the left and right speakers, reflecting an exploratory phase in sound design.

John Barry's score is masterfully integrated into the overall sound mix, enhancing the film's emotional tone. The soundtrack's transition from front to rear channels adds depth, though occasionally the directionality feels forced, detracting from a more natural immersion. Dialogue clarity is consistently maintained, ensuring that verbal exchanges remain distinct amidst the action. While not capturing the immersive intensity of films like "Battle: Los Angeles," the extensive use of bass ensures a consistently dynamic auditory experience. Yet, there are moments, such as a scene where off-screen laughter emanates loudly from the rear channels, that may take viewers out of the intended cinematic immersion.

Overall, "The Specialist" presents an excellent track that capitalizes on its action-packed premise to deliver a robust and engaging audio performance. The thoughtful interweaving of score, effects, and dialogue allows for an enjoyable auditory journey, despite some minor detracting elements in directional sound placement.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "The Specialist" provide a well-rounded experience for aficionados of the film, bringing both informational and entertaining content to the forefront. The theatrical trailer, while standard in quality and presentation, adds an extra layer of nostalgia and promo flair, but lacks deeper exploration that could have been enriched with behind-the-scenes takes or deleted material. However, it remains a concise, albeit basic, addition to the set. The offering here is a good representation of promotional works that will interest collectors and fans alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: Standard definition; encapsulates the film’s essence but misses out on the more intriguing, non-promotional content like alternate takes or deleted scenes.

"The Specialist" serves up a highly engaging mix of genres, blending elements of spy thriller, urban crime drama, and romantic noir. Produced by Jerry Weintraub and featuring a high-profile cast including Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, and a delightfully unhinged James Woods, the film offers a tapestry of over-the-top performances and dramatic flair. Its narrative juxtaposes brooding, complex scenes with absurd and fantastical setups, skillfully maintaining a tongue-in-cheek demeanor without falling entirely into parody. Stallone plays bomb expert Ray Quick, whose ethical dilemmas offer a modicum of depth despite the ludicrous storyline. The film also benefits immensely from John Barry’s lush score, which breathes an emotive soul into chaotic scenes.

The movie fires off with an explosive mission in Bogota, triggering a fallout between Ray Quick and his maniacal partner Ned Trent (Woods). Fast-forward to a tech-less Miami where Ray takes on a job from the enigmatic May Munro (Stone), who seeks vengeance against the crime family that murdered her parents. As motivations intertwine and betrayals unravel, action and intrigue escalate, albeit in a manner that often sacrifices logic for spectacle. Stone charms and seduces her way through Miami's underbelly, while Woods consistently delivers intense scenes with wild-eyed fervor. Despite sporadic plot holes and illogical sequences—such as rare job completions or inexplicable domestic tranquillity—the film remains immune to critical dissection thanks to its playful intentional absurdity.

Significantly, the Blu-ray release enhances these elements with crisp visuals and an impeccable audio track that maximizes Barry’s magnetic score alongside the film’s explosive scenes. Stallone's rigid moral code juxtaposes well against Woods' frenzied villainy, while Stone's sultry presence often tips into excess. Each sequence, whether indulgently brooding or action-packed, maintains a high entertainment value under Luis Llosa’s direction. The endearing ridiculousness and copious action capstones this cult-classic experience, seamlessly blending style and substance in a way that's hard to take seriously yet impossible to dismiss.

"The Specialist" Blu-ray offers an interesting look back at a peculiar chapter in the action movie genre. The film itself is undeniably flawed, from its over-the-top performances to its outlandish plot. Sylvester Stallone takes on a subdued role, with much walking and staring rather than the prolific hand-to-hand combat that fans might expect. Sharon Stone's performance, while exaggerated, adds a campy charm that nostalgically harks back to her former stardom. Despite these quirks, the film holds a certain allure for those who enjoy action movies with a heavy dose of imperfections.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation holds up reasonably well. The video quality is clear and sufficiently detailed, showcasing the film’s 1990s aesthetic. Audio mixes, though not exceptional, are adequate for a mid-tier action title, ensuring dialogue and sound effects come through with clarity. However, the release is notably devoid of any substantial special features or behind-the-scenes content. This lack of supplementary material may disappoint collectors seeking insights or added value.

Given the barebones nature of the release, it's surprising Warner didn't pair "The Specialist" with another Stallone film in one of their double feature Blu-rays. Then again, they may expect the bulk of the disc's sales to come from the international market, which is where the film did most of its box office. It's unfortunate that Warner made no effort to create supplements for the earlier laserdisc or DVD releases, because it's unlikely that anything worthwhile can be made now when the film's principals are so far away from the project (and, sadly, John Barry passed away earlier this year). We're left with the film itself, and for those who enjoy its guilty pleasures, this version is highly recommended.