Fighting Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Fighting" is a definite standout and does justice to the film with its impressive 1080p High Definition transfer in the theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The visual fidelity is remarkable, showcasing excellent detail with minimal softness and no digital tampering or artifacts like edge enhancement. The color palette is broad and vibrant, capturing natural skin tones and realistic depictions of the setting. Black levels are deep and solid, providing robust shadow detail and effective night sequences. The inclusion of a subtle 3D pop further enhances the viewing experience, making this a refined and high-quality presentation.

Universal's VC-1 encode reinforces this stellar visual output, delivering rich, inky black levels, gorgeous skin tones, and striking fine details. Whether it's the tiny hairs on the back of Tatum's neck or the pores and stubble on Howard's face, the detail is exceptional. The film maintains clarity even during the more frenetic shaky-cam fight scenes, ensuring that Montiel's camerawork and not the transfer itself accounts for the occasional softness. This results in a filmic appearance, with a moderate veneer of grain adding to the realism. Texture levels vary beautifully, from worn cardboard to impeccable clothing details, creating an immersive visual experience.

Technical integrity remains solid throughout, with no significant issues of artifacting, noise reduction, or aliasing. Edges are pristinely clean, and the ever-consistent soft grain level contributes to the film's authentic appearance. While a few nighttime shots exhibit faint crush and errant noise, these disturbances are fleeting and do not detract from the overall quality. "Fighting" on Blu-ray exemplifies Universal's commitment to high-definition excellence, providing a stunning visual presentation that meets and often exceeds stringent videophile standards.

The Blu-ray edition of "Fighting" brings a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that delivers a dynamic listening experience. The audio track shines particularly during the high-energy fight scenes and the percussive musical score, providing an engrossing and aggressive soundscape. The LFE output is assertive, underscoring action sequences with bold bass rumbles. Furthermore, the track presents a well-balanced environmental ambiance, effectively drawing listeners into the bustling streets and nightclubs of New York City. However, directionality is precise, immersing viewers thoroughly into every exterior sequence, enhancing the film’s atmospheric authenticity.

Despite these strengths, the audio mix suffers from significant prioritization issues. Dialogue often competes unsuccessfully with the overpowering soundtrack and ambient noise, leading to frequent spikes in volume that necessitate constant manual adjustments. This inconsistency can be problematic during quieter scenes, where the subtle interior acoustics in locations like Zulay's apartment are otherwise convincingly rendered. Yet, these levelling issues become conspicuous when the action returns to dialogue-heavy moments.

Ultimately, while the powerful and immersive qualities of the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix are undeniable, the track's tendency to overshadow dialogue with its vibrant effects and score can detract from the overall viewing experience. Nevertheless, it maintains a capable presentation with solid directionality and a lifelike audio environment that will appeal to both casual viewers and audiophiles. The Blu-ray also includes additional DTS 5.1 dub tracks in French and Spanish, and subtitles for each language, catering to a wider audience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Fighting" are minimal, unfortunately. Beyond the main feature presentation, the disc includes only a few deleted scenes, presented in high definition. These add minimal value, offering extended sequences and a few omitted moments, such as a scene involving a bootleg Harry Potter book. However, it's evident why many of these scenes were cut, probably for pacing reasons. The additional features include dual versions of the film – both rated and unrated cuts, offering additional footage. The Blu-ray also supports D-Box Motion Control and includes BD-Live functionality, plus a Digital Copy disc.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: A few extended sequences and omitted moments.
• Two Versions of the Film: Both rated (PG-13) and unrated versions.
• $5 Coupon: Attached to the slipcover, providing savings on a combined purchase with another film.

"Fighting," directed by Dito Montiel, occupies an indeterminate space between critically derided mediocrity and occasional redeeming qualities. Conceptually pitched as a "Rocky" for the modern era, it fails to invigorate or reinvent the well-trodden narrative of an underdog’s rise. Channing Tatum’s portrayal of Shawn MacArthur is notably a double-edged sword; while some reviews appreciate his charisma and “aw-shucks” likability, others view his performance as uninspired. Terrence Howard's involvement as Harvey Boarden adds gravitas, yet his talent feels underutilized amidst a plot riddled with predictability and shallow characterization.

The film stumbles primarily in its ambition to juggle multiple subplots without offering substantial depth. The narrative spans Shawn’s gritty street hustling, underground fight engagements spearheaded by Harvey, and a romantic subplot with single mother Zulay (Zulay Henao). This amalgamation is rendered incoherent due to weak character motivations and an unsteady screenplay that scarcely justifies its title. The film’s promotional materials framed it as an adrenaline-charged experience, which is somewhat accurate; however, the paucity of engaging fight scenes undermines this excitement, leaving it feeling disjointed and incomplete.

Technically, "Fighting" is proficient with respect to its Blu-ray presentation, showcasing strong visuals. However, the sound design remains imbalanced, detracting from the overall experience. The fight sequences, although limited, are impactful and well-executed. Despite this, continuity errors such as vanishing bruises and inexplicable healing contribute to an overarching sense of sloppiness. The ultimate fallout is a film that, while buoyed on occasion by Tatum's unexpected charm and solid supporting performances, fails to deliver a compelling or cohesive narrative—earning it a gradual drift into obscurity rather than achieving notable cinematic status.

Fighting, directed by Dito Montiel, presents itself as a mixed cinematic experience that might resonate more with devoted genre enthusiasts than mainstream audiences. The film excels in its fight scenes that capture raw, kinetic energy, but unfortunately falters with a shaky screenplay and uninspired dialogue. By comparison, the technical attributes of its Blu-ray release are impressive. The stunning video transfer provides crisp, clear visuals that enhance the viewer's experience, showcasing the film's gritty urban settings with remarkable clarity.

However, the overall package is somewhat uneven. The audio is highlighted by an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio track that immerses the audience in the sequences, despite not being able to fully elevate the subpar dialogue and inconsistent narrative pacing. Where the Blu-ray release falls short is in its extras, which lack creativity and depth, leaving the user wanting more insight into the making of the film.

In conclusion, while Fighting may not have the lasting power of classics like Rocky, it holds potential for those intrigued by well-executed fight sequences and high-quality Blu-ray presentations. It's recommended to rent it first to see if it aligns with your tastes before considering a purchase, ideally when the price is more favorable.