Armored Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Armored" boasts a 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer that delivers high-quality video presentation consistent with Sony's reputation. This reference-quality encoding is characterized by its reserved chromatic palette, prominently featuring darker tones and muted primaries, especially within interior and night sequences. Exterior shots benefit from a more expressive color range. The skin tones are rendered with subtle delineation and exquisitely detailed tonal structure, maintaining a natural appearance throughout. Contrast and brightness are well-balanced, yielding deep and punchy blacks. However, detail reproduction in low light scenes can fluctuate, occasionally affecting depth perception.

The level of detail presented in "Armored" is noteworthy, from the fine pores on faces to the intricate textures of armored guard uniforms and even the dust atop an in-car radio. Close-up shots provide clear and appreciable texture, while wide-angle scenes maintain sharpness and depth. Despite this detail richness, the film's color scheme is intentionally somber, with shades of gray, silver, blue, and black dominating due to the story's setting in poorly-lit interiors or dark factories. This Blu-ray transfer handles the film’s bleak tone effectively, demonstrating exceptional handling of such a deliberate visual style.

Instances of aliasing are minimal, and the encoding manages edges and artifacts effectively. While much of the video quality is impressive, some issues arise with the delineation, leading to black levels occasionally swallowing surrounding details, known as crush. These issues, however, are infrequent and do not detract significantly from the overall experience. Ultimately, "Armored" on Blu-ray showcases a consistently solid high-definition video performance that reinforces Sony’s ongoing dedication to quality in their Blu-ray releases.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Armored" boasts a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that excels in creating an immersive auditory experience. The mix makes effective use of the entire sound system, providing pulsating bass and dynamic impact that elevate the film's action scenes and music score. The surround channels are actively engaged, with a blend of discretely placed sounds and spatial ambience that thoroughly fills the room. This well-balanced and active soundtrack ensures seamless integration of the front and rear channels, resulting in a stable and proportioned listening experience, complete with rich, room-resonating bass.

Dynamic range is a strong suit of this soundtrack, extending from visceral highs to deep lows with exceptional sonic detail. The bass performance is particularly noteworthy, providing clean, tight extension that accentuates the atmosphere of the armored truck both when idling and in motion. Directional effects and environmental ambience are seamlessly integrated, enhancing the sense of space and movement within the film. Dialogue is generally clear and easy to discern, although it occasionally gets overshadowed during intense action sequences or heavy music moments. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall audio mix is passable—if not quite demo-worthy—displaying remarkable vigor that often surpasses the film’s content in quality.

The Blu-ray extras for "Armored" provide an engaging yet somewhat inconsistent collection of bonus content. The audio commentary with Producer Dan Farah and Actors Skeet Ulrich and Milo Ventimiglia discusses various aspects of the film, but suffers from sporadic gaps and tangential anecdotes. The "Planning the Heist" featurette offers a decent behind-the-scenes look but contains spoilers and feels promotional. "Armed and Underground" dives into the intricacies of set design, while "Crash Course" covers the film’s intense stunts. Additionally, previews for several other films are included, as well as BD-Live functionality and digital copy options.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with producer Dan Farah, Skeet Ulrich, and Milo Ventimiglia: Informative yet occasionally disjointed track discussing production insights.
• Planning the Heist: Making-of featurette covering the film's conception and main aspects.
• Armed and Underground: Production design featurette focusing on set creation.
• Crash Course: Stunts featurette highlighting action sequences.
• Previews: Trailers for various movies.
• BD-Live enabled
• Digital Copy Bonus Disc

"Armored," directed by Nimród Antal, is a heist film that broaches the genre with an armored transport company at its core. The plot centers around Ty Hackett (Columbus Short), a financially struggling war veteran who joins his seasoned colleagues—portrayed by Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, and Laurence Fishburne—in a scheme to steal millions from their own armored vehicle. However, their seemingly flawless plan unravels under unexpected circumstances, creating tension and a moral dilemma that drives the narrative forward.

While "Armored" features a strong ensemble cast delivering competent performances, the film suffers from a lack of depth and originality. Its predictable plot developments and generic character arcs leave much to be desired. Despite these shortcomings, Antal manages to maintain a certain level of engagement through a steady pace and a tangible camaraderie among the characters. Yet, this is undermined by the film’s superficial exploration of its themes and abrupt character motivations, which can feel jarring and inconsistent.

Technically, "Armored" is well-executed, with competent direction, satisfactory action sequences, and adequate tension. However, the screenplay by James V. Simpson falls into familiar tropes and fails to deliver any substantial twists or fresh insights, making it a fairly standard fare in the heist genre. The film's lack of originality and depth reduces it to a passable but ultimately forgettable experience. "Armored" is suitable for viewers seeking a straightforward action romp but offers little in terms of emotional or intellectual engagement.

"Armored" serves as a paradigmatic example of an average film executed with just enough flair to avoid outright dismissal. The movie's direction is decent, the pacing fair, and the acting competent, but all these elements culminate in a story that feels lackluster despite its high-octane premise. The score injects some adrenaline into the experience, yet there's an underlying void of urgency, drama, and depth that prevents "Armored" from resonating on a memorable level. For less discerning viewers, it offers base-level entertainment, but cinephiles and critics alike may find themselves underwhelmed.

In terms of its Blu-Ray presentation, Sony has provided an impeccable technical showcase. The video quality is stunning, with crisp clarity and vibrant colors that do justice to the cinematography. Audio performance is equally laudable, delivering robust and well-balanced sound that enhances the film's action sequences. However, the array of extras packaged with the Blu-Ray leaves much to be desired. They are largely superficial and fail to provide any substantial insight or value, serving more as filler rather than enriching content.

In conclusion, "Armored" is a movie that's worth a rental for its technical merits alone. While it may not leave a lasting impression or offer profound cinematic insights, it is sufficiently engaging for a single viewing. Its Blu-Ray disc makes for an impressive audiovisual experience, even if the supplementary features fall short of being compelling. Approach this film with tempered expectations, and you're likely to find it a competent, if unremarkable, addition to your collection.