French Connection II Blu-ray Review

French Connection II shines on Blu-ray with a 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer that demonstrates a noticeable leap in visual fidelity from its predecessor. The transfer captures the gritty yet vibrant essence of the film's setting, delivering stable images with a fine balance of detail and texture, especially in close-up and mid-level shots. The fabric of Popeye Doyle's fedora and the nuanced surfaces within dimly lit rooms are portrayed with commendable clarity. The natural tonality of the period clothing and the landscapes imbues the visual presentation with a lifelike quality. Despite its age, the film conveys colors with pleasing saturation, and fleshtones are accurately rendered, maintaining a lifelike appearance. Blacks are deep and enrich contrast, adding depth to shadows without compromising detail. Moreover, the grain present enhances the filmic texture, contributing to an overall higher fidelity image that benefits significantly from high-definition treatment.

However, the visual presentation is not without its flaws. The opening scene starts off softer and somewhat dull before sharply transitioning into clearer, more focused imagery. This initial inconsistency may stem from original photography limitations rather than the transfer process itself. While generally bright and detailed, certain scenes display an oversaturation of colors, notably reds, leading to a somewhat artificial appearance in specific elements like clothing and blood. Despite these occasional oversaturations, the majority of the film maintains a more natural color palette, especially when compared to the overly processed look of the original film's Blu-ray release.

Indeed, French Connection II's Blu-ray presentation serves as a testament to careful restoration and transfer efforts, managing to strike a delicate balance between preserving the film's original aesthetic and embracing the capabilities of modern high-definition formats. The level of detail in textures and backgrounds, coupled with the improved black levels and color stability, elevates the viewing experience. While grain and sporadic print speckles hint at the film's vintage, they do not detract from the overall quality of this catalogue transfer.

The audio presentation of "French Connection II" on Blu-ray, featuring a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, echoes a sentiment of missed opportunities to truly renovate its auditory experience. Despite the upgrade from its original mono track, the film's sonic landscape remains disappointingly narrow, predominantly anchored to the center channel. Dialogues tend to muddle with effects, lacking the necessary volume to clearly cut through the mix, compromising intelligibility at critical junctures. The incorporation of ambient sounds and music into the rear channels aims for a more enveloping soundstage but falls short, resulting in a sound field that feels disjointed and fails to convincingly bridge the front and rear auditory spaces.

Sound effects, from the subtleties of urban ambiance to crucial action sequences, such as explosions and shootouts, suffer from an absence of dynamism and depth. The efforts to simulate a surround experience appear half-hearted, with key moments that could benefit from an expansive sound design instead presenting with underwhelming impact. This constrained fidelity and lack of a significant low-end presence notably detract from what could have been a more immersive listening experience. Even scenes poised for robust auditory engagement are rendered with a surprising lack of vigor, leaving much to be desired in terms of sonic immersion.

Overall, while the audio track benefits slightly in clarity from its lossless format when compared to its original monaural mix, it doesn't venture far from its mono roots. The resultant effect feels like a cautious step towards modernizing the audio without fully committing to a comprehensive remaster. Consequently, both explosives and gunshots lack authenticity and potency, and the score suffers from a tinny quality indicative of a superficial stereo processing rather than a genuine reimagining. This half-way house approach results in an audio presentation that struggles to meet contemporary expectations, delivering an experience that is functional yet fundamentally unremarkable.

The "French Connection II" Blu-ray offers a comprehensive suite of extras that deepen the appreciation of the sequel's production and execution. Primary among these are two engaging commentary tracks: one by director John Frankenheimer and another by star Gene Hackman alongside producer Robert Rosen. Frankenheimer's commentary, recorded a year before his passing, is especially insightful, providing a rich technical breakdown of scenes and admitting to the intimidation he felt in crafting a sequel to such a revered film. Hackman and Rosen's track, while dryer, presents a detailed look into the movie’s troubled production. Exclusive to the Blu-ray, the "Frankenheimer: In Focus" documentary and "A Conversation with Gene Hackman" featurette offer personal recollections and professional observations that enrich the narrative behind-the-scenes. Additionally, the isolated score track in DTS-HD Master Audio, D-Box motion code functionality, and multi-language theatrical trailers round out a solid package, ensuring that fans of the franchise have plenty to explore beyond the film itself.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer: A deep dive into the directorial vision and technical aspects.
• Commentary by Gene Hackman & Producer Robert Rosen: Insights into the film's production and challenges.
• Frankenheimer: In Focus: A 25-minute documentary featuring friends and family of Frankenheimer.
• A Conversation with Gene Hackman: A 7-minute interview with the actor discussing his role and performance.
• D-Box Motion Code Enabled: For an immersive viewing experience with compatible furniture.
• Still Galleries: Collections of wardrobe and storyboard stills.
• Isolated Score Track: The film's score in DTS-HD Master Audio quality.
• Theatrical Trailer: Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
• Fox on Blu-ray - The French Connection Trailer: A look at the original film's trailer.

In "French Connection II," Gene Hackman returns as the tenacious NYPD detective Popeye Doyle, journeying to the picturesque but perilous streets of Marseilles to pursue Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey), the elusive drug kingpin from the original film. This sequel, skillfully directed by John Frankenheimer in place of William Friedkin, trades the gritty realism and tight narrative of its predecessor for a broader and more fictional storyline, incorporating a darker exploration into the psyche of Doyle. Captured and forcibly addicted to heroin by his nemesis, Doyle's harrowing ordeal and subsequent struggle for redemption stand at the heart of this narrative, offering Hackman a platform for an intense, deeply committed performance that explores new depths of his character.

Despite setting itself apart with scenic French locales and moments of genuine character development - notably through interactions that reveal a lighter, more humane side of Doyle - "French Connection II" navigates through a narrative that occasionally feels bloated and less cohesive than its Oscar-winning precursor. The sequel introduces levity and complex character arcs but seems to lose stride with pacing issues and a script that sometimes languishes in extending scenes beyond their welcome. However, Hackman's portrayal, especially during Doyle’s excruciating detox, elevates the film, presenting a multifaceted view of the character that transcends the original's scope.

Critically speaking, while the film suffers from comparisons to its illustrious predecessor - lacking in the raw authenticity and conciseness that made "The French Connection" a landmark in cinema - it stands on its own as a compelling character study set against the backdrop of international crime. The sequences of action and suspense, though fewer and interspersed with slower segments, contribute to a narrative that ultimately provides a satisfactory if not entirely necessary continuation of Popeye Doyle's relentless pursuit of justice. "French Connection II" occupies an ambiguous space between being a profound exploration of its central character and a sequel that could have ventured further in innovation and intensity.

The Blu-ray release of "French Connection II" delivers a notably solid experience for fans and newcomers to the franchise alike, albeit with mixed receptions regarding its necessity and comparison to its predecessor. The sequel extends the gritty and intense narrative of Detective Popeye Doyle, portrayed with the same dedication and depth by Gene Hackman, a highlight that remains unchallenged. The technical execution of this Blu-ray edition by 20th Century Fox is commendable, featuring a good video transfer that ensures the film's grimy aesthetics and urban decay are presented with clarity and detail, especially when viewed on high-end equipment such as the JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector and complemented by an array of high-quality audio-video setups including but not limited to Panasonic DMP-BD55K and Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray disc players. The audio track, while deemed adequate, pairs satisfyingly with a variety of sound systems, from Canton Ergo Series speakers to Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers, ensuring a robust auditory experience.

However, opinions diverge on the sequel's storytelling ambition and its overall impact compared to its ground-breaking predecessor. While some view it as a worthy follow-up that smartly expands on the lore and character depth, others criticize it for falling short of the original's high standards, labeling it as an inessential addition to the saga. Nevertheless, the inclusion of several engaging supplements adds value to this Blu-ray release, complementing the film with behind-the-scenes insights and enriching the viewing experience for enthusiasts.

In conclusion, "French Connection II" on Blu-ray stands out for its technical merits, particularly in video and audio quality, which are brought to life on advanced viewing setups. Although the film itself may not captivate all viewers as powerfully as the first installment, Gene Hackman's performance and the additional content make this release worth considering. It's recommended for fans eager to explore more of Popeye Doyle's story, provided they temper their expectations regarding its alignment with the original's acclaim. This Blu-ray edition successfully caters to a niche audience, maintaining its stance as a significant, though arguably not essential, addition to the franchise's legacy.