Double Impact Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Double Impact" by MVD Rewind is an impressive upgrade from previous releases, featuring an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The transfer showcases a discernible improvement in the color palette and contrast, resulting in richer and darker visuals. Detail levels are effectively rendered with excellent clarity, especially in close-ups, revealing commendable fine details. Some minor crush in dark scenes persists, but overall, black levels maintain integrity without excessive brightness. The grain structure is well-resolved across the presentation, adding a natural texture to the film while only spiking during optical effects.

Notably, the Blu-ray captures the authentic quality of the original film stock. Light grain is evident and unobtrusive, enhancing the visual fidelity without fault. Occasional specks or scratches are minimal and don't detract from the viewing experience. Exterior shots of Hong Kong stand out, delivering striking facial textures and vibrant colors. The film achieves a pleasing balance in flesh tones and saturation, drawing out the natural beauty of Hong Kong's jungles and bustling shipping areas. High contrast provides needed depth to darker scenes, including key fight sequences, ensuring they appear dense and impactful.

Despite some unavoidable limitations in the visual effects, such as split screens and traveling matte effects that occasionally appear dated, this release ranks among MVD's best in terms of visual authenticity. Overall, "Double Impact" on Blu-ray offers a finely tuned and immersive visual experience that highlights both the strengths and inherent period-specific quirks of this action classic.

"Double Impact" offers a robust LPCM 2.0 audio track that closely mirrors the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track from the previous MGM release. The stereo imaging, while not exceptionally expansive, delivers impactful action sequences with satisfying force in the sound effects. Lower frequencies in this version exhibit decent reverberation, and overall fidelity across all frequencies is commendable. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and is consistently clear throughout, ensuring an unproblematic listening experience.

The PCM stereo presentation provides a well-balanced split across the front channels, adeptly moving action between speakers and directing gunshots precisely. Chase sequences benefit from this dynamic panning, enhancing the sense of movement and engagement. Notably, some dialogue is also directed towards specific speakers, adding a layer of spatial realism. Mastering maintains fidelity beautifully, with deep, rich explosions and clear treble. Despite being constrained to a 2.0 format, the range is maximized efficiently, with no obvious degradation noted.

The Blu-ray extras included for "Double Impact" exemplify deep fan engagement and comprehensive behind-the-scenes insights. The two-part making-of feature not only brings key cast members like Jean-Claude Van Damme to the commentary table but also includes body doubles, providing a thorough two-hour documentary experience. The deleted and extended scenes present in high definition, albeit with some upscaling issues, add significant value, offering nearly an hour of additional content. Further insights come through in a detailed anatomy of a scene with director Sheldon Lettich, an entertaining archival EPK featurette, numerous B-roll and film clips, alongside interviews from 1991 that delve into the film's promotion. Additionally, collectors will appreciate the inclusion of a slipcover and a folded mini poster.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Making of Double Impact: Part One: Comprehensive documentary with cast interviews.
• The Making of Double Impact: Part Two: Continued feature with additional interviews and clips.
• Deleted/Extended Scenes: High-definition scenes with some quality issues.
• Anatomy of a Scene: Director Sheldon Lettich discusses a favorite action sequence.
• Behind the Scenes Featurette: Archival footage with candid moments.
• B Roll Selections: Set footage showcasing the making of the film.
• Film Clips: Short clips featuring scenes from the film.
• Cast and Crew Interview Clips: 1991 interviews delving into character and promotion.
• MVD Rewind Promo: Brief promotional clip.
• Trailers: Includes "Double Impact" and other MVD Rewind releases.

"Double Impact," a Jean-Claude Van Damme action film from 1991, showcases the actor's dual roles as twin brothers—one a mild-mannered martial arts instructor in Los Angeles, the other a battle-hardened gunman entrenched in the Hong Kong underworld. The plot revolves around their attempt to avenge their parents' murder and reclaim their heritage. This movie relies heavily on the gimmick of having double the Van Damme, which, while not groundbreaking, adds an element of novelty to the otherwise conventional narrative.

The film's setting—a lively and chaotic Hong Kong—provides a vibrant backdrop, effectively contrasting the city's burgeoning economic sector with its criminal underbelly. Key action sequences feature explosive stunts amidst docks, shipping crates, and shorelines, culminating in a thrilling face-off between Van Damme and veteran martial artist Bolo Yeung, creating a visceral connection to Van Damme's earlier hit "Bloodsport." The fight choreography caters to Van Damme's dual skills in both hand-to-hand combat and gunplay, enriching the film's entertainment quotient and adding a layer of diversity to the violence depicted.

"Double Impact," while embodying classic early '90s action tropes, is elevated by its self-awareness and exuberant execution. Despite its descent into cliché "save the girl" moments, the film maintains a light-hearted tone that complements its over-the-top action sequences. Elements reminiscent of contemporary arcade videogames further emphasize its unique place within Van Damme’s filmography, making it memorable for both its eccentricity and high-energy escapades. This combination of elements ensures "Double Impact" stands out amid the plethora of action films from the actor’s prime period.

"Double Impact" on Blu-ray offers a double dose of Jean-Claude Van Damme, delivering an action-packed romp that doubles down on adrenaline-pumping sequences and light-hearted moments of comedy. The film thrives on its 90s charm, with Van Damme showcasing his martial arts prowess and stretching his acting abilities as twin brothers. The narrative, while straightforward, supports a variety of fun set pieces and engaging fight choreography that fans of the genre will appreciate. The plot is secondary to the sheer entertainment value, making it an enjoyable watch for those seeking action mixed with some inadvertent hilarity.

From a technical perspective, the MVD Rewind release notably improves upon the initial MGM Blu-ray. This edition provides solid audio-visual quality, with a dynamic soundtrack that elevates the fight scenes and clear, faithful reproduction of the film’s vibrant colors. The visual transfer is clean and detailed, preserving the film’s original look. Beyond just technical improvements, this release includes a suite of appealing supplements that add significant value. Fans can dive into behind-the-scenes content and other bonuses that enrich their viewing experience.

There's an undeniable popcorn-munching, arguably brain-dead quality to "Double Impact," and for those in the mood for such fare, this film provides pretty much everything you could want, along with offering pretty much everything you'd expect. The action sequences are often fun and even funny, and they're matched by the perhaps inadvertent hilarity of Van Damme stretching his acting muscles as two supposedly different characters. The first MGM Blu-ray release of this film offered decent technical merits, but next to no supplements. MVD Rewind has done fans of this outing a major favor by providing a release with solid technical merits and some really appealing supplements. Recommended.