The Four Blu-ray Review

Presented in 1080p AVC-encoded format, the Blu-ray of "The Four" exhibits a generally crisp and visually engaging video transfer that aligns well with its fantastical narrative. The film, shot digitally with a 2.20:1 aspect ratio, appears predominantly sharp. However, it adopts a softer, more painterly aesthetic selectively. This choice seems deliberate by the co-directors and Yiu-Fai Lai to seamlessly integrate the CGI elements, giving the fantasy sequences a smoother and more cohesive look. The color grading leans heavily towards a slate gray-blue palette, which, while artistically consistent, does tend to rob some fine detail from the image.

Despite occasional softness and a filtered look that can wash away some high-definition fine details, many scenes in "The Four" demonstrate excellent sharpness and intricate textures. Close-ups particularly shine with abundant fine detail in facial features and clothing textures. The overall contrast levels maintain a mostly good balance, though some of the darkest interior scenes suffer from weaker shadow delineation and less robust contrast. Well-lit segments, however, offer crisp and detailed visuals, imparting a pleasing visual experience.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track of "The Four" is a highly immersive and meticulously designed auditory experience. From the film's opening scenes, sweeping wing effects provide an immediate sense of depth and motion, seamlessly panning through the sound field. This level of detail and nuance persists throughout the film, with discrete channelization impressively utilized in fight sequences and crowded dialogue moments. Fidelity is exceptional, and the dynamic range is remarkably wide, contributing to a rich and fully-realized soundscape.

The mix enhances the film's visual aspects through its thoughtful design. Convincing crowd effects, subtle rain noises, and the bombastic sounds of fight sequences are all rendered with distinct clarity. The front and rear speakers handle the score and chaotic battle scenes adeptly, while dialogue remains focused in the center channel for clear and direct communication. Low-frequency effects (LFE) are employed effectively during battles, providing impact without overwhelming the listener.

Significantly, the balance between dialogue and effects-driven sounds is handled masterfully. The mix ensures that each sound is unique and distinct, prioritizing clarity and richness over sheer volume. This results in a well-rounded audio experience that highlights the nuanced interplay between the various elements of the soundtrack. Overall, "The Four" offers an exemplary DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation that elevates the cinematic experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Four" provide an in-depth look at the technical marvels behind the film's production, emphasizing the extensive use of practical effects and complex wire work. The making-of featurette is particularly noteworthy, offering a detailed glimpse into the special effects ingenuity and cinematographic strategies that elevate the movie. While the deleted scenes offer minimal additional narrative value, they do provide an interesting peek into behind-the-scenes moments. The high-definition trailer, meanwhile, effectively captures the film’s visual grandeur and thematic essence.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making of: Focuses on technical challenges and special effects; includes actor insights.
• Deleted Scenes: Short collection with a behind-the-scenes feel.
• Trailer: Captures the visual grandeur of the film.

"The Four" presents a tantalizing mix of martial arts, fantasy, and period drama, but falters under its convoluted narrative and excessive character roster. From the lens of directors Gordon Chan and Janet Chun, the movie radiates sheer kinetic energy, especially in the opening scenes, which are visually arresting but narratively bewildering. We are thrust into a chaotic world where understanding who is who and their motives becomes a daunting task. At its core, the film revolves around the Divine Constabulary, a group of supernaturally-gifted warriors reporting directly to the Emperor, clashing with Department Six over counterfeit currency schemes aimed at destabilizing the economy.

Character development is sparse, despite efforts to weaponize individual personalities beyond their superhero abilities. Cold Blood (Deng Chao) undergoes a Hulk-like transformation, Emotionless (Liu Yifei) sits wheelchair-bound with psychic powers, Iron Hands (Collin Chou) exudes brute strength, while Life Snatcher (Ronald Cheng) provides comic relief despite feeling extraneous. The film's attempt at weaving in a love triangle and double-agent subplots only adds to the confusion. The villain, An Shigeng (Wu Xiubo), feels underdeveloped with his superficial menace and unmotivated cruelty.

In terms of visuals and choreography, "The Four" intermittently shines with well-executed fights that infuse a comic-book aesthetic. However, these moments are overshadowed by the film's inconsistent pacing and unclear focus. The narrative often feels like it is merely setting the stage for forthcoming sequels, leaving the central plot threads hazy and unresolved. While the visual effects are competent, they fall short of elevating the film beyond typical TV fare. Ultimately, "The Four" caters more to those seeking action-driven spectacles rather than coherent storytelling or deeply fleshed-out characters.

'The Four' finds itself leaning heavily on visual spectacle and martial arts choreography, often at the expense of coherent storytelling and character development. While the film's premise holds promise, its execution falters, resulting in a narrative that lacks logical progression and depth. Technically, the Blu-ray presentation offers a decent image quality and sound, capturing the film's elaborate fight scenes and vibrant settings effectively.

The movie sets the stage for an anticipated trilogy, yet fails to establish a solid foundation with its first installment. Characters are thinly sketched, and their motivations remain unclear, prompting a sense of disconnect for the audience. Despite these flaws, the action sequences are notable and provide entertainment for those who favor exhilarating combat over robust narratives. In essence, the film prioritizes style over substance.

In summary, 'The Four' presents a mixed bag of visually engaging moments and underdeveloped storytelling. While it promises potential in subsequent sequels to flesh out its world and characters, the initial offering remains somewhat unsatisfying. However, action aficionados may still find enough enjoyment in its well-crafted fight scenes to warrant a viewing.

The Four is decent enough mindless entertainment, but this new would-be franchise is off to a pretty rocky start. The film will work best for those willing to not think once, let alone twice, about everything that happens in it, since so little of it makes sense. Still, it's a nice looking feature that does have some spectacular fight choreography, so if you like that sort of thing, you may want to check it out.