The Equalizer 3 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "The Equalizer 3" on 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers a high-quality, visually immersive experience that faithfully adheres to the film's somber aesthetic. Captured digitally in 4.6K resolution on Arri Alexa 35 cameras and completed as a 4K digital intermediate in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the 2160p HEVC encode includes Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range. The color palette is deliberately muted, focusing on bleak brown and gray tones, which heightens the film's dark overtones. Black levels are richly inky and consistent throughout, providing excellent shadow detail without any signs of artifacting or movement.

The 4K UHD presentation excels in rendering fine details with striking clarity. Close-ups reveal remarkable textures, such as the age lines on Washington’s face and the textures of fabrics and peeling plaster on buildings. Despite the subdued colors, the HDR implementation adds depth and fullness, offering more natural skin tones and highlighting subtle color nuances like visceral blood reds and the occasional lush greens of foliage. Though the overall look is grim, the detailed rendering lifts the image above its standard Blu-ray counterpart by presenting a more textured, lifelike visual experience.

Wide-angle shots showcase the intricate minutia of stone surfaces, adding dimension to the scenes set in the Sicilian locales. The muted contrast aligns with the original photography's intentions, lending a sense of loneliness to the Italian vistas, which are often overcast with cold hues rather than typical Southern Italian warmth. This stylistic choice complements Fuqua's tone and narrative vision. Banding, artifacting, and other visual anomalies are virtually nonexistent, even in scenes punctuated by stark lighting contrasts. Sony’s proficient 4K encode ensures that fans will find great value in upgrading to this version for a superior visual journey through "The Equalizer 3".

The audio presentation of the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Equalizer 3" offers a compelling and immersive experience, predominantly utilizing a high-definition Dolby Atmos mix. The Atmos track expertly balances subtlety and power, drawing you in as the action unfolds on screen. Dialogue is crystal clear, maintaining perfect clarity even during intense sequences. When compared to the 5.1 channel mix available on the Blu-ray counterpart, the Atmos track delivers a significant improvement by expanding the soundstage and enhancing low-level details, notably during scenes involving ambient city sounds, distant cars, and chattering restaurant crowds.

The DTS:X soundtrack is equally impressive, particularly in its use of overhead sound objects which enhance the spatial correlation and create an enriching atmosphere throughout the film. This is especially noticeable in scenes such as the car bombing sequence, where the mix alternates between subtle and active approaches, complementing the overall sound design. The low-end output is robust, providing a solid foundation that enhances everything from McCall’s quiet moments to explosive action scenes involving street violence and car bombs.

Overall, the Dolby Atmos mix offers a dynamic soundtrack that gorgeously encapsulates the viewer in an organic, convincing auditory environment. Ambient sounds and smooth pans across channels contribute to the immersive experience, crafting not just a soundstage but an authentic aural narrative. The LFE (Low-Frequency Effects) are strong without being overwhelming, adding notable emphasis to critical elements like gunshots and physical impacts. This collaboration results in one of the more intense and satisfying mixes recently available on 4K UHD Blu-ray, showcasing what Dolby Atmos can truly achieve in terms of engaging and enveloping audiovisual storytelling.

The Extras of the 4K UHD Blu Ray of "The Equalizer 3" include a range of engaging bonus content that enhances the viewing experience. Notably, over 15 minutes of deleted scenes provide additional context, though they were wisely left out of the final cut for pacing. The featurettes, while short and somewhat surface-level, offer insightful glimpses into various aspects of the film's production. Highlights include an exploration of the long-standing collaboration between Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua, as well as a reunion segment featuring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning, marking their first collaboration since 2005’s "Man on Fire". The disc also serves a visually enthralling piece on the scenic Amalfi Coast and an energetic lyric video for Jason Banks’ “Monster”. However, it's important to note that the 4K disc itself contains no extras; these are available only on the included Blu-ray edition.

Extras included in this disc:

• Blood Brothers: The Collaboration of Denzel Washington & Antoine Fuqua: A look at the long-term partnership between director and star.
• Call to Action: Features some of the film’s action-packed sequences.
• Robert McCall: A Man of The People: An examination of Denzel Washington’s character.
• Denzel and Dakota: A Reunion: The two stars discuss reuniting after nearly two decades.
• Postcards from the Amalfi Coast: Highlights the beautiful Italian locations used in the film.
• Deleted Scenes: Over 15 minutes of scenes that were cut from the final version.
• Jacob Banks “Monster” Lyric Video: A music video for Jason Banks' song "Monster".

"The Equalizer 3" sees the return of Robert McCall, played by Denzel Washington, in a narrative shift from bombastic action to a more intimate and brutal tale of vengeance. As McCall recuperates in a scenic Southern Italian village after a lethal encounter, he becomes entangled in the lives of locals oppressed by the Camorra, a violent mafia syndicate. The film's pacing is deliberate, building tension slowly with almost no action for the initial 50-55 minutes. Without the sleek, stylized action sequences of its predecessors, the film instead opts for a grim atmosphere and brutal, methodical violence that mirrors McCall's internal struggles. The overall tone deviates significantly from the previous installments, leaning heavily into a dark and bloody revenge thriller.

Despite this tonal shift, the film struggles with maintaining the dynamic presence of its central character. While Washington continues to hold audience attention with his portrayal of McCall, there are moments where his performance feels forced and inconsistent. This film marks another collaboration with director Antoine Fuqua, but despite their history, Washington's portrayal sometimes appears fatigued and slightly disjointed. The narrative aims for depth, presenting McCall as a weary hero grappling with past demons while protecting his newfound community. However, this introspective focus occasionally undermines the action-driven momentum expected from the franchise.

Visually, "The Equalizer 3" is a departure from its predecessors with its heavily stylized and desaturated 4K UHD transfer. The film embraces a bleak color palette dominated by browns and grays, fitting its grim tone. The Dolby Vision-enhanced 2160p image enhances the detailed shadows and natural skin tones, despite a dimmer presentation compared to Blu-ray. While the black levels and detail are impeccable, some might find the muted contrast and pasty white levels slightly off-putting. Overall, this entry adds a new dimension to McCall's story but falls short of the visceral excitement that made the earlier films standout action classics.

"The Equalizer 3" on 4K UHD Blu-ray is a robust addition to the successful franchise, providing an engaging viewing experience that showcases top-notch technical excellence. Antoine Fuqua's direction paired with Richard Wenk's writing continues to deliver a solid thriller filled with compelling action scenes and Denzel Washington's charismatic presence as Robert McCall. The video presentation benefits significantly from the Ultra HD format, boasting a stunning 2.39:1 HEVC aspect ratio that captures every nuance of the darker, grittier tone this third installment opts for.

The audio performance is equally impressive, with an English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1) track that offers an immersive sound experience. From the subtle atmospheric sounds to the intense action sequences, the sound design is meticulous and impactful. While the mixture of tonal consistency in the violent scenes may be polarizing, the film's overall narrative structure deviates enough from its predecessors to add fresh nuance without straying too far from what fans appreciate.

As with any franchise, your enjoyment largely depends on your investment in the previous films. For fans of "The Equalizer" series, this installation does not disappoint. While it may lack extensive special features and an audio commentary that some might desire, the superior visual and audio quality make up for these omissions. Fueled by strong performances and compelling action, it stands as an AV showpiece worth your collection.

If you’re into "The Equalizer" series, then the 4K UHD is definitely the way to go. It has all of the extras of the Blu-ray edition, but also some killer audio and video upgrades that are definitely worth it for the demo quality alone. This third sequel very well may be the last, as Denzel has reported not being that into playing McCall for a 4th time, but I generally enjoyed this sequel. The first film will always be my favorite as an all-time classic, but the 3rd entry adds some nuance with a different take on the narrative structure, and the 4K UHD disc looks and sounds spectacular.

Technical Specifications:

Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastrandrea, David Denman, Gaia Scodellaro, Remo Girone
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Written by: Richard Wenk, Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 HEVC
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), French (Canadian), Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Studio: Sony
Rated: R
Runtime: 109 minutes
Blu-Ray Release Date: October 14th, 2023

Recommendation: Fun Watch