Atomic Blonde Blu-ray Review

"Atomic Blonde" boasts an impressive Blu-ray presentation despite being derived from a 2K master and shot digitally on Arri Alexa cameras. The film's heavily graded visual palette, characterized by strong teal overtones and desaturated hues, is intentional, fitting the period piece's aesthetic. This results in a somewhat flat image but showcases bursts of vibrant color with excellent clarity. Neon pinks, maroon blood, and the flashing hues of Berlin clubs offer a fascinating contrast to the prevailing gray tones. Details like the grime on Lorraine’s face and the creases in her eyeshadow are meticulously rendered, while black levels remain deep and inky, though occasionally marred by minor banding. Overall, the Blu-ray delivers a visually engaging and stylized experience that diverges from the standard razor-sharp digital formats.

The presentation captures Jonathan Sela's stylized timeframe visuals with finesse, though it falls short of the textural complexity found in some top-tier discs or its UHD companion. However, detailed close-ups of skin, clothing textures, and Berlin environments vary from luxury to decay with pleasing clarity. The film's darker, bleaker style is reflected in the restrained color palette dominated by grays and blues, punctuated occasionally by graffiti or neon lights that appear sufficiently saturated. Black levels are robust, and flesh tones align with the movie's tonal intent. While moderate noise intrudes in lower light scenes, the transfer is strong and consistently satisfying across various scenes.

Encoded in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4, "Atomic Blonde" relishes in the vibrancy of neon colors, capturing the 1980s atmosphere with electrifying blues and purples. While secondary hues are richly saturated, Berlin’s street scenes maintain a monochromatic, dreary look that underscores the Cold War atmosphere. Contrast is pitch-perfect, with crisp whites against gloomy city exteriors, maintaining visibility even in the darkest frames. The sharp presentation exposes fine details—from the grimy streets and Percival's cluttered apartment to individual hair strands and fabric textures. Facial complexions are revealingly detailed, highlighting tiny blemishes and imperfections except for the film’s heroines, who maintain flawless appearances except when battle-worn. This Blu-ray presentation is a testament to both stylistic intention and high-quality encoding standards.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "Atomic Blonde" is an auditory tour-de-force, featuring a stunning DTS:X track that delivers a dynamic and enveloping experience. Universal's hallmark delivery of high-energy sound shines through with a mixture of raucous action scenes and an infectious 80s-infused score. The soundtrack, comprising artists from Nena Cherry to Queen, pulsates throughout the film, driving the narrative forward with an immersive soundscape. Car crashes and fight scenes are bolstered by impressive LFE that lends weight and intensity to every impact, while quieter dialogue moments retain clarity and precision.

Music in this DTS:X Master Audio track is both expansive and pinpoint accurate, enhancing the film's environments with spaciousness and envelopment. The overhead channels, while not frequently used for discrete effects, contribute to a compelling sound field that brings various settings to life with startling accuracy. Action sequences become riveting showcases of aggression and engagement, particularly noted in chapter 15 where the music yields entirely to the raw power of gunfire and crashes. Additionally, effects like underwater pressure or dialogue in reverberant spaces elevate scenes to near-reference quality.

The auditory environment further excels in its spacious, well-prioritized presentation of dialogue and atmospheric effects. The DTS:X soundtrack skillfully balances spunky 80s pop songs and Tyler Bates's blaring score across all speakers, enhancing the immersive experience. The mid-range clarity ensures every crack, snap, and punch is delivered with detail, while whispered conversations remain crisp and centered. Occasional overhead effects like alarm sirens or crowd noises add to the hemispheric immersion, rounding out a superbly engaging audio experience. The powerful low-end rumbles across the room, adding heft to every explosion and gunshot, making "Atomic Blonde" a standout in audio presentation on Blu-ray.

The Blu Ray of "Atomic Blonde" offers a robust variety of extras that provide substantial insight into the film’s production and narrative details. The special features are particularly valuable for those interested in the technical and creative processes behind this stylish spy thriller. These extras highlight the contributions of Director David Leitch and actress Charlize Theron, detailing everything from intense fight choreography to immersive set designs. Each supplement is produced in high definition and most include optional commentary tracks, ensuring a comprehensive, engaging experience even for the most detail-oriented viewer.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted/Extended Scenes: Six recovered scenes not included in the final cut.
• Welcome to Berlin: Examination of the film's historical setting and production design.
• Blondes Have More Gun: Charlize Theron’s transformation and training for her role.
• Spymaster: Insights into Director David Leitch’s approach and vision.
• Anatomy of a Fight Scene: Breakdown of a complex long-take fight sequence.
• Story in Motion: Agent Broughton: Animated storyboards featuring Agent Broughton.
• Story in Motion: The Chase: Animated storyboards for The Chase scene.
• Feature Audio Commentary: Director David Leitch and Editor Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir discuss technical and anecdotal elements of the film's production.

Atomic Blonde offers an intoxicating blend of 80s nostalgia, unapologetically visceral action, and a modicum of espionage intrigue. Set in 1989 Berlin as the wall teeters on collapse, the film features MI-6 operative Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) tasked with retrieving a stolen list of agents that, if exposed, could drastically prolong the Cold War. Director David Leitch crafts a stylistically audacious movie, richly imbued with the era's cultural flair. The plot, albeit thin, provides a fitting scaffold for a series of kinetic action sequences choreographed with high precision and set to an electrifying 80s soundtrack that nostalgically pulses through the narrative.

The visual tone is signature Leitch, blending stark, bleak color palettes with bursts of neon vibrancy, drawing from its graphic novel origins The Coldest City. The choreography and cinematography are standout elements. Theron's performance is both physically commanding and charismatic, embodying an icy yet mesmerizing spy. Her chemistry with James McAvoy's David Percival adds a layer of unpredictability and tension, heightening the stakes in an already perilous game of cat-and-mouse espionage. The infamous long-take fight scenes—particularly one set within multiple floors of an apartment complex—exemplify the film's commitment to raw, gritty realism.

Despite its superficial plot, Atomic Blonde succeeds as a visually mesmerizing and sonically exhilarating spectacle. The dialogue is crisp, serving more as transitional interplay between relentless action beats. As a piece that prioritizes style over substantive plot intricacies, it achieves its goal of delivering high-octane entertainment. It's a feast for fans of the action genre who appreciate detailed period aesthetics and dynamic sequences, making it a worthwhile addition to any action aficionado's collection.

"Atomic Blonde" is a visually striking film that stands out for its intense action sequences and stylish, era-specific aesthetic. The narrative, centered around the espionage exploits of Charlize Theron's character, may come off as lacking substantial depth or originality, heavily drawing upon familiar spy movie tropes. However, this is expertly counterbalanced by its high-energy execution and dynamic visuals, which make the movie highly engaging. The performances, particularly Theron's, are first-rate and lend a palpable sense of commitment to the film’s bruising, relentless action.

Technically, the Blu-ray release from Universal meets high standards. Featuring a vibrant 2.39:1 AVC image and an impressive DTS:X audio track, it significantly enhances the home viewing experience. The film's kinetic and colorful energy translates well through the high-quality video presentation, while the robust soundtrack captures the gritty, pulsating atmosphere integral to its appeal. Though the array of supplemental content might feel modest, the extras provided do enrich the overall understanding and appreciation of the film.

Conclusion "Atomic Blonde" is an interesting film that won’t appeal to everyone. The film is high on action throughout, and has a gritty stylized vibe that is unique and appealing, but I can also see why some might find it a bit dull and devoid of much narrative juice as well. The film seems to be mostly about Charlize Theron kicking butt with a killer score, and the narrative muscle that is present is fairly cookie-cutter for one of those "never trust anyone" type of spy thrillers that constantly double backs on itself. It’s one of those movies where you have to pick and choose what you like, as the movie is neither fantastic nor a bad film either. Just a fun action romp that has some distinct flaws as well. The Blu-ray from Universal looks good and sounds amazing and actually has a decent array of extras to go along with the disc. Definitely worth checking out if the trailer piques your interest.

Technical Specifications:

• Starring: Charlize Theron, James MacAvoy, John Goodman
• Directed by: David Leitch
• Written by: Kurt Johnstad (Screenplay), Antony Johnston (Graphic Novel)
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC
• Audio: English: DTS:X (DTS-HD MA 7.1 Core), Spanish, French DTS 5.1
• Studio: Universal
• Rated: R
• Runtime: 115 Minutes
• Blu-ray Release Date: November 14th, 2017