The Marine 6: Close Quarters Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "The Marine 6: Close Quarters" on Blu-ray, framed at 2.39:1 in AVC, presents a somewhat subdued visual experience characteristic of many contemporary B-movie releases. The film's digital cinematography imparts a clean and relatively cinematic texture, though the overall look is deeply influenced by its heavy ash gray color grading. This choice results in dim colors and somewhat muted details, giving the image a grim and flat appearance. This muted visual style is interrupted only by conspicuous CGI blood and sporadic bright flashes from weaponry, which inject brief moments of liveliness.

Despite this, there are instances where the clarity and sharpness excel. Close-ups, such as those of Patrick in chapter five, reveal strong definition in clothing textures and facial details, including fine pores and facial hair. These moments stand out starkly against the film's generally drab and barren sets. Filmed predominantly inside a decaying factory, the visual flatness seems intentional, designed to reflect the dusty and worn setting. Yet, this results in black levels being suppressed and giving the film an overall washed-out look. Occasionally, colors do achieve a punch, particularly in bright clothing items and Becky Lynch's vibrant hair. While noise is generally not an issue, minor banding appears towards the end of the film during underwater shots, but other source and encoding flaws are minimal.

In summary, while "The Marine 6: Close Quarters" does offer pockets of sharpness and detailed definition, the predominant visual presentation remains subdued and flat. The lack of vibrant colors and deep blacks contributes to a generally washed-out appearance, aligned with the film's choice of setting and mood.

The Blu-ray release of "The Marine 6: Close Quarters" features three lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks, with our focus primarily on the English 5.1 one. Much like its predecessors, the mix is straightforward, delivering the essential elements expected from a direct-to-video action film. The dialogue is consistently clean and clear, even with Shawn Michaels’ rasping voice, while the LFE provides adequate support for the numerous fight scenes and gunfire. However, the mix doesn’t strive for complexity or excitement, reflecting the film's modest budget. The surround usage is decent, offering a relatively immersive experience, but without any groundbreaking audio effects.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack serves its purpose adequately for an action genre outcome. While it meets the basic requirements of presenting music with acceptable width and clarity, gunfire and explosions lack authenticity and significant depth. The environments are not richly textured, and sonic engagement is minimal when action shifts to different settings such as tunnels. Dialogue remains well-prioritized, front-centered, and easily discernible, thereby maintaining audibility throughout.

However, the overall dynamic range is notably restrained, affecting the impact of action sequences. Gunfire sounds high in treble but lacks low-end support, which diminishes the aural punch expected in intense scenes. While the occasional debris falls into stereo channels enhancing a few moments, many large-scale scenes suffer from a lack of dynamism. Surround utilization aligns with budgetary limitations, offering minor yet appreciable effects like echoes bouncing between speakers and dialog cues routing appropriately through channels. This results in an experience serviceable for the film’s right intended market but lacks the rich sonic envelope seen in higher-budget productions.

"The Marine 6: Close Quarters" Blu-ray extras package delivers two engaging featurettes that offer insightful behind-the-scenes content. "Making Maddy & The Marines" presents interviews with the primary cast discussing the physical demands, characters, and collaborative aspects of the movie. "The Breakdown: Epic Fights" provides a detailed examination of the fight choreography led by Tim Man, making it the highlight of the extras. This disc also includes a Movies Anywhere digital copy but lacks a DVD copy and slipcover.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Maddy & The Marines: Cast discusses film, franchise, physicality, characters, plot, and teamwork.
• The Breakdown: Epic Fights: Detailed look at fight choreography with Choreographer Tim Man.

"The Marine 6: Close Quarters" is an energetic, albeit formulaic, installment in the WWE-backed franchise, showcasing Mike "The Miz" Mizanin and Shawn Michaels. The series continues its tradition of casting WWE stars in high-octane, action-packed narratives reminiscent of 1980s Cannon Films. This time, Mizanin and Michaels portray ex-military men, Jake Carter and Luke Trapper, who stumble upon a kidnapping at an abandoned Oregon brewery while aiding a fellow veteran. The narrative involves combating gangsters led by the ruthless Maddy Hayes (Becky Lynch), who has captured a young girl to influence a trial verdict.

The film's plot is straightforward: two Marines fighting their way through relentless adversaries for approximately 85 minutes. Despite predictable storylines and visually monotonous settings, "Close Quarters" delivers consistent if unremarkable action. Mizanin's charisma evolves with each sequel, pairing well with Michaels' seasoned presence, although the latter often overshadows his co-star. Rebecca Quin (Lynch) emulates her wrestling persona with suitable ferocity, creating a formidable antagonist. The film also attempts a twist towards its conclusion, injecting minor excitement into an otherwise flat narrative trajectory.

Despite its flaws, including a lack of tension and substandard performances from some cast members, "The Marine 6" thrives on its relentless action sequences and decent chemistry between its leads. The film flirts with themes of military heroism and brotherhood, albeit with an exaggerated jingoistic overtone that borders on military propaganda. Its brief runtime helps maintain pace and engagement, culminating in a somewhat awkward yet fitting pre-credits tribute video that highlights the series' blend of humor and reverence. While not groundbreaking, the film serves as an amusing, if shallow, action fix for fans of the genre and WWE talent.

"The Marine 6: Close Quarters" continues the familiar narrative arc and style that defines its predecessors. It offers an engaging yet predictable low-budget action experience, highlighted by the noteworthy performances of WWE’s Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, Shawn Michaels, and Becky Lynch. Directed by James Nunn and scripted by Craig Walendziak, the film clocks in at an hour and twenty-six minutes with a decent 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track, available in English, French, and German, provides a robust auditory experience, though the overall presentation doesn't exceed expectations.

The film's strength lies in its high-energy action sequences, undoubtedly elevated by the WWE cast's physical capabilities. However, the narrative remains underwhelming with little depth or innovation in its plot or characters. The locations lean towards the mundane, not contributing much to the visual storytelling. On the Blu-ray release, Sony has delivered fair video and audio quality, though not exceptional. The inclusion of two featurettes supplements the main content but don't offer significant insights or depth.

To conclude, "The Marine 6: Close Quarters" is an adequate rental for fans of the genre or those seeking some mindless action entertainment. It doesn't aspire to be more than it is: a formulaic yet amusing action romp buoyed by its charismatic leads. This installment may not elevate the series to new heights but serves as a fitting climax for Mike Mizanin's tenure in these films.