Driven to Kill Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Driven to Kill" is notably disappointing, falling far short of what one might expect from a high-definition release. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer, with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, struggles with myriad issues that detract from the viewing experience. The video quality is plagued by pervasive softness, rendering images that often lack clarity and detail. This is especially noticeable in wide shots and full-frame close-ups, where the anticipated level of sharpness and texture just isn't there. Additionally, the image is marred by excessive graininess and noise, alongside troubling artifacts and inconsistencies in color rendering. Scenes are dominated by murky blacks and dull, lifeless colors that fail to pop, contributing to an overall flat and unengaging visual aesthetic. Contrast is erratic, with some scenes displaying overly yellow grass or orange-tinged beaches, exacerbating the presentation's lack of fidelity and cohesion.

Blacks are described as fairly deep yet crushed, which, coupled with average shadow detail, leads to dark segments lacking dimensionality. Fleshtones suffer from inconsistency and a lack of vibrance, contributing further to the visual shortcomings. These issues, unfortunately, persist alongside sporadic technical problems such as hot pixels, banding, and alarming instances where the picture breaks up into visible blocks, notably during chapter 9—a glaring distraction. Despite a gritty texture that could have added a positive film-like quality to the movie, these myriad flaws detract significantly from the overall experience.

On a technical note, despite the substantial shortcomings of the video presentation, black levels are pointed out as one of the few aspects that remain solid throughout the film. This small victory, however, does little to salvage what is deemed an overwhelmingly lackluster HD experience. The Blu-ray disc's region locking may limit its availability, a point of small consolation given the transfer's significant weaknesses. The video presentation of "Driven to Kill" on Blu-ray undoubtedly stands as a missed opportunity to showcase the film in the best possible light, leaving much to be desired for fans and enthusiasts hoping for a definitive high-definition experience.

The audio presentation of "Driven to Kill" on Blu-ray suffers from a series of limitations that mirror the constraints of the film's budget, leading to an overall subpar auditory experience. The lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track does little to elevate the film's sound above average, with dialogue delivery being inconsistently clear and often marred by muffled voices and indistinct accents. This is particularly noticeable in scenes where Steven Seagal's character speaks, his lines often coming across as gravely mutters that are challenging to comprehend. The action sequences, one would expect to be a highlight in terms of audio dynamism, unfortunately, fall flat. Gunshots lack the punch and realism needed to immerse the viewer, sounding more like cap guns or toy blasters than the formidable weapons they represent on screen. This shortfall is exemplified in scenes involving .38 revolver test-firing and automatic machine gun fire in a hospital setting, both of which fail to deliver the impactful auditory experience that could have been a redeeming feature.

Furthermore, the soundtrack's ambition to encompass a space with atmospheric sounds and a depth of field largely goes unmet, with the mix being heavily front-loaded and the rear channels underutilized. Ambient noises, such as street sounds or background music in strip club scenes, provide mild rear channel engagement but do little to create a genuinely immersive soundscape. Even the music score, relegated mainly to the main channels with occasional rear channel use, fails to leave a lasting impression, feeling somehow disconnected from the film's action vibe. The overall effect is an audio presentation that feels confined, lacking the expansive and engaging quality found in more adeptly mixed films.

Lastly, despite the availability of English SDH and Spanish subtitles aiming to aid understanding, they can hardly compensate for the track's deficiencies in clarity and spatial definition. The absence of vigorous rear activity and the thin execution of gunfire and action sequences underscore a profound disappointment in the Blu-ray audio experience for "Driven to Kill." With its constrained dynamic range and feeble handling of sound elements critical for an action movie, this presentation starkly highlights the film's budgetary limitations in audio quality, making it a lackluster auditory experience that fails to support or enhance the visual narrative effectively.

The extras section of the "Driven to Kill" Blu-ray is notably sparse, reflecting a minimal effort in enhancing the viewing experience with supplemental content. Technical specifications, often a point of detailed discussion, are absent, as the release lacks in-depth features that delve into the movie's production, its cast, or the creative process behind it. The only extras present are a selection of 1080p trailers for other movies, which automatically play at startup. This inclusion does little to complement the main feature and suggests a missed opportunity to provide a richer, more immersive exploration of "Driven to Kill" and its place within its genre or the broader film landscape. In essence, the Blu-ray presentation feels like a bare-bones package, primarily focused on delivering the film itself without the added value that fans and collectors often seek in a home media release.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailers at Startup: Trailers for 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine,' 'Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li,' 'Wrong Turn 3,' 'The Marine 2,' and '12 Rounds'.

In "Driven to Kill," Steven Seagal resumes his unyielding march through the action genre, albeit with less of the grace that marked his earlier forays into cinema. This time, Seagal portrays Ruslan Drachev, a former Russian mob enforcer turned crime novelist, whose attempt at a peaceful life is shattered when his daughter’s engagement drags him back into the murky waters of his past. With his daughter assaulted and his ex-wife murdered during what should have been a joyous wedding preparation, Ruslan embarks on a vengeful path that inevitably leads to a confrontation with old foes in the New Jersey underworld. The premise, ripe with potential for hard-hitting action and dramatic narrative, unfortunately, gets bogged down by a convoluted plot and a jarring mishmash of accents and half-hearted performances.

The film struggles with its identity, oscillating between a sincere revenge thriller and a caricature of the genre. Technical aspects do little to elevate the experience; the over-reliance on shaky cam techniques in action sequences obfuscates rather than intensifies the violence, and the editing leaves much to be desired, with continuity taking a backseat to gratuitous close-ups. The score, an odd cocktail of accordion and polka, serves more as a distraction than an enhancement to the already disjointed storytelling. Even for aficionados of direct-to-video action flicks, "Driven to Kill" offers little in the way of novelty or execution, recycling plot elements and character archetypes without adding new insight or excitement.

Despite these shortcomings, there are fleeting moments where the film almost justifies its existence. A few hand-to-hand combat scenes remind viewers of Seagal’s capabilities, even if they're glimpsed through a fog of cinematic trickery. However, these instances are too sparse to salvage the film from its own mediocrity. Characters fail to elicit sympathy or interest, rendering the film's emotional stakes as flat as its action sequences. In essence, "Driven to Kill" feels like a haphazardly stitched together patchwork of action movie tropes that fails to capture the essence of what made Seagal a household name in the genre. A true aficionado might glean some enjoyment from its clumsy execution for sheer nostalgia's sake, but it's a far cry from the gripping suspense and martial arts mastery that characterized Seagal's best work.

"Driven to Kill," released on Blu-ray, offers an experience that can only be described as a guilty pleasure for aficionados of action cinema, particularly those with a penchant for Steven Seagal's unique brand of storytelling. The film itself navigates through familiar territory with its blend of minimalistic production values, questionable acting performances, and a narrative that somehow intertwines into a barely coherent yet entertaining spectacle. It is undeniably aimed at a niche audience, relishing in its capacity to provoke laughter through its conspicuous flaws rather than in spite of them. The technical aspect of this Blu-ray release does little to elevate the material. With a 1080p video presentation that falls short of expectation, it showcases a rather uninspiring visual quality that's neither vivid nor particularly engaging. The audio accompaniment, albeit marginally better, cannot mask the film's inherent shortcomings and struggles to add any substantial value to the overall viewing experience. Notably, the release is starkly lacking in special features, leaving enthusiasts and curious viewers alike with much to be desired.

Contributing to the home theater setup, such as the JVC DLA-RS20 projector and Carada Precision Screen, alongside the diverse array of players including the Panasonic DMP-BD55K and Sony Playstation 3 among others, one might anticipate a premium viewing experience. However, even this ensemble of high-caliber equipment cannot mitigate the fundamental issues plaguing this release. The Sherbourn Technologies amplifier and Axiom Audio speakers, notable for their quality, further emphasize the disparity between the potential of a solid home theater system and the disappointing delivery of "Driven to Kill" on Blu-ray.

In conclusion, "Driven to Kill" emerges as an example of missed opportunities within the Blu-ray market. Its principal allure lies in its appeal to those seeking entertainment in the form of unequivocally subpar cinema. Despite being showcased on potentially superior home theater setups, the Blu-ray fails to deliver a commendable audio-visual experience, compounded by an alarming absence of additional content or special features. It stands as a testament to the notion that certain films might be best left to their cult following, rather than seeking broader acceptance through high-definition formats. For those looking for an action-packed, thought-provoking cinematic journey, it may be wise to explore elsewhere.