Ambushed Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Ambushed" offers a mixed bag in terms of video quality, heavily influenced by its HD video-source and subsequent transfer. On one hand, viewers can appreciate the well-defined details and textures that pop in various scenes—clothing textures, facial lines, and the vivid portrayal of environments provide a certain level of immersion. This is complemented by a diverse color palette that ranges from striking greens to distinctive blue hues, with flesh tones rendered accurately and black levels achieving a commendable depth and clarity. However, this visual fidelity is intermittently marred by technical issues such as aliasing, most noticeable in heavily processed shots, along with occasional light banding, noise, and smeared edges which detract from the overall clarity.

The inconsistency in video quality is further highlighted by the transitioning from scenes that nearly achieve cinematic quality to those that succumb to a lackluster, camcorder-like aesthetic. The 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 encoded transfer showcases both ends of this spectrum—from scenes with semi-competent digital cinematography that leverage shooting locations to their fullest, providing clear facial features and effective color grading, to sequences that appear washed-out, sterile, and devoid of any engaging visual elements. Particularly disappointing are the segments that revert to what seems like low-budget stock footage, contributing to a largely uneven viewing experience.

Despite flashes of visual competence, "Ambushed" struggles with maintaining a consistent video quality throughout its runtime. The fluctuation between visually appealing moments and those plagued by an uninspired presentation suggests a disparity in the film's digital cinematography efforts. The presence of both muted fine details and colors further exacerbates the film’s struggle to present a uniformly appealing or stylistically coherent visual narrative. Ultimately, this results in a Blu-ray experience that, while occasionally showcasing potential, often feels like a missed opportunity to deliver a more polished and visually cohesive product.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack of "Ambushed" provides an audio experience that is commendably well-balanced and dynamically soundscape. The soundtrack is characterized by its proficient handling of a variety of audio elements, from the robust Hip-Hop beats that energetically open the film to the authentically reproduced action sequences. Gunshots resonate with significant impact and precision, while the musical score benefits from pronounced clarity and deep bass support. Ambient effects, such as the urban sounds of city life or the murmured buzz of a crowded bar, effectively immerse the listener into the film’s setting. Despite this, dialogue occasionally struggles to maintain its presence, particularly when competing with the more dominant sound effects or the film's score, leading to moments where it can appear subdued or slightly obscured.

Starz/Anchor Bay's consistent application of the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix on "Ambushed" creates a competent, albeit standard, auditory experience for an action movie. The sound mix shines in its depiction of environmental effects—such as rain—and the visceral punches and kicks during fight scenes which exhibit an impressive level of directionality and immersion, extending across multiple channels. This aspect of sound design adeptly contributes to the creation of a dynamic and engaging auditory environment.

Overall, while the audio mix of "Ambushed" delivers on many fronts with its clear musical cues, impactful sound effects, and ambient sounds that enhance the cinematic experience, it is occasionally hampered by an imbalance that tends to overshadow dialogue beneath the weight of its score and effects. The mix manages to portray individual audio elements with competence, but its inconsistent intensity levels throughout the film prevent it from being heralded as a standout feature. This inconsistency represents a missed opportunity for what could have otherwise been an exemplary audio presentation to support the visual aspects of "Ambushed.

The Blu-ray extra for "Ambushed" offers a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse that is as engaging as it is revealing. Spanning over 15 minutes in High Definition, this featurette titled "Behind the Scenes: AMBUSHED" delves into the chemistry between Lundgren and Couture, Vinnie Jones' role, and the narrative arcs of Frank and Eddie. Directed by Giorgio Serafini, the special focuses on the film's stylistic choices, genre considerations, and the cast's interpretations of their characters, providing insight without pretense towards its status as escapist cinema. Interviewees, including producers and key cast members, present their perspectives with a blend of seriousness and unintended humor, demonstrating commendable commitment to a project acknowledged more for its entertainment value than its artistic originality. Additionally, the package includes a DVD copy of the movie, rounding off the extras nicely.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Scenes: AMBUSHED: A look into the cast dynamics, specific roles, directorial vision, and stylistic elements of the film.

Ambushed," a film that stitches together familiar threads from the crime/drug genre fabric, plays out like a rehearsed tapestry of clichés, albeit furnished with a few sparks of entertainment insufficient to ignite a compelling narrative flame. The plot weaves through the predictable lives of low-level drug dealers caught in a web spun by a hardened crime lord, a scenario seasoned with standard genre spices: A corrupt cop engrossed in the fray, a protagonist in love with a girl far removed from his bleak world, and an ambitious attempt by the filmmaker to emulate the cinematic stylings of Tarantino, complete with artsy attempts at narrative innovation. Despite these efforts and a few noteworthy performances, the film fails to transcend its derivative foundation, offering little more than fleeting amusement, shadowed by an overarching predictability.

The dynamics between Frank, portrayed commendably by Daniel Bonjour, and Ashley, Frank's antithetical love interest, serve as brief intermissions of genuine attempt at character depth amidst the otherwise stale plotline. Yet, these moments of relational intricacy are buried under the weight of the film's inability to offer novel insight into the explored themes. Additionally, the scattered appearances of recognized actors such as Dolph Lundgren and Vinnie Jones, fail to fully capitalize on their potential, further marred by a narrative that veers away from impactful action sequences, opting instead for a drama-heavy direction that struggles to robustly leverage its genre elements.

Ultimately, "Ambushed" navigates through an over-familiar terrain with a semblance of ambition that is belied by its execution. The film dallies with potentially interesting narrative paths—particularly in exploring its characters' internal and relational conflicts—but these are too often sidelined by a reliance on genre tropes and an overall lack of originality. The result is a cinematic endeavor that might momentarily distract but ultimately adds little to a saturated genre landscape, making it a challenge to recommend for anything beyond its occasional glimmers of character-driven substance.

Ambushed," despite its glaring unoriginality and reliance on recycled plot elements and stock characters, manages to narrowly escape being classified as a complete disaster. The film, while not groundbreaking by any stretch, offers enough in terms of character dynamics, pacing, and an uncomplicated plot to prevent it from sinking into oblivion. However, the lack of creativity and depth ultimately prevents it from standing out in a crowded genre. The Blu-ray release by Anchor Bay is noted for its satisfactory video and audio quality, albeit with a scarcity of supplements that might have added value to the purchase. It's a textbook example of a movie that does just enough to be considered a passable watch for genre enthusiasts with modest expectations.

Critics and audiences alike might find themselves grappling with the dichotomy of "Ambushed" as it oscillates between being a serviceable time killer and a testament to the limitations of its low-budget aspirations. Ambitions seem to have been curbed by both budgetary constraints and a screenplay that could generously be described as lackluster. The performances and production value do what they can to salvage the experience, but it remains evident that "Ambushed" is unlikely to leave a lasting impression or redefine its genre.

In conclusion, "Ambushed" exists in a precarious position where it's not entirely dismissible yet struggles to achieve any form of notable acclaim. Its primary value lies in its ability to occupy space as a nondescript entry within the action movie genre, serving as a reminder of the fine line between mediocrity and outright failure. While the Blu-ray release presents a competent technical display, the movie itself does little to justify its existence beyond filling a void for undemanding viewers on a slow viewing day. In essence, "Ambushed" exemplifies the kind of movie you might rent out of curiosity but with well-adjusted expectations for an unremarkable experience.