Final Justice Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Final Justice," offered by MVD's Rewind Collection, delivers an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. While the packaging lacks technical specifics regarding the film's source element or any restoration efforts, the transfer stands out for its gritty grain field, intermittently approaching pixelation, particularly with blue and yellow highlights. The image exhibits recurrent damage in the form of nicks, scratches, and white flecks, detracting from its overall polish. Variability in brightness and clarity is also evident; some scenes experience abrupt increases in grain without clear justification. Despite these inconsistencies, brighter outdoor scenes notably succeed in popping with vividness.

In technical terms, MVD's transfer bears evidence of its original cheaper film stock, resulting in a heavy and persistent grain that challenges yet is largely contained by the encoding process. Sharpness and detail manage to escape, revealing texture amidst high contrast levels that narrowly avoid clipping. The brightness remains vivid, enhancing depth within shadows, while the dense color palette complements the on-screen imagery with rich saturation, presenting attractive flesh tones and radiant cinematography. However, the scan retains stray dirt and scratches, hinting at an incomplete restoration process.

Ultimately, "Final Justice" on Blu-ray offers an engaging visual experience despite its rough edges. While certain moments fall short technically, occasional flashes of quality emerge close to 3.5 territory in video score. The presentation captures the film's spirit through effective contrasts and color vibrancy, though further clean-up would greatly enhance the overall impression. Enthusiasts of the film and collectors may find value in this release for its sustained sharpness and authentic portrayal of visual grit inherent to its era and production quality.

The audio presentation of "Final Justice" on Blu-ray features an LPCM 2.0 track, labeled as stereo, though it's essentially a mono experience. The soundtrack's limited dynamic range is palpable, with dialogue frequently exhibiting a boxy and sibilant quality. This is indicative of post-production dubbing or looping, leading to inconsistent ambience and reverb. The music and effects, while decently rendered, often sound shallow and echo-laden, revealing the constraints of its budget-restricted source.

Throughout the film, the soundtrack struggles with clarity and definition. Voices tend to fill the stereo space unevenly and largely emanate from hollow sets, making clear spatial separation essentially non-existent. Consequently, the soundscape lacks depth, with treble appearing thin and without any substantial bass presence. While optional English subtitles are provided to aid comprehension, the auditory experience falls short of creating an immersive sonic environment.

The extras on the "Final Justice" Blu Ray are unexpectedly comprehensive, providing a deep dive into the film's production process. The standout feature is the making-of documentary, which offers an extensive 75-minute exploration with insights from writer/director Greydon Clark, editor Larry Bock, and cinematographer Nicholas von Sternberg. Their discussion through a modern Zoom-like interface adds an engaging layer to the behind-the-scenes content. The disc also includes a commentary track from Hack the Movies, which can be accessed via the setup menu, providing fans additional anecdotes and perspectives. In terms of promotional materials, viewers are treated to trailers not only for "Final Justice" but also for other releases from MVD. A tangible artifact in the form of a fold-out mini poster accompanies the disc, which is housed in appealing packaging with a slipcover.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Making of Final Justice: In-depth exploration of the film's production.
• Commentary by Hack the Movies: Additional insights accessed through the setup menu.
• Trailers: Includes "Final Justice" and other MVD releases.
• Mini Poster: Fold-out mini poster included in the keepcase.
• Packaging: Features an appealing slipcover.

"Final Justice," set primarily in Malta, is a testament to opportunistic filmmaking, capitalizing on substantial production credits to contrive an otherwise implausible narrative. Greydon Clark, the film's writer and director, cobbled together this project to utilize Malta's oceanic studio backdrop, resulting in a notably ludicrous plot. Featuring Joe Don Baker as the Texan sheriff Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III, the film's most memorable, albeit unintentional, legacy is its comedic value—punctuated by its feature on "Mystery Science Theater 3000." The narrative stumbles through contrived situations involving a contrived car crash and an international chase, with Geronimo tasked with escorting a mobster to Malta, where the remainder of the film unfolds awkwardly amidst local disdain.

The film's execution is marred by inconsistent acting, overt sleaziness, and gratuitous nudity, which detracts from what little narrative coherence exists. Baker, in his oversized leisure suit, struggles as an action hero, evoking a caricature of Texan law enforcement akin to period stereotypes. "Final Justice" embodies low-budget aesthetics typical of the '80s, attempting action sequences with limited success—most humorously during a supposed boat chase filmed without utilizing the much-touted water tank. The film strives, futilely, to portray American lawmen as enforcers of justice abroad, against ineffective local police.

Ultimately, "Final Justice" emerges as a spectacle of turgid filmmaking laden with cultural stereotypes and unwarranted machismo. The film cynically portrays an outdated fantasy where one American cop foils organized crime globally—an intention lost amid pedestrian pacing and crude attempts at shock value. Critically, its narrative crescendos fall flat against nuanced contemporaries like Schwarzenegger and Stallone vehicles. The movie’s reliance on exaggerated tropes and exploitative themes cements its status as a relic worthy of ridicule rather than reverence.

"Final Justice," presented on Blu Ray, emerges as a curious artifact of cinematic history rather than a triumph of filmmaking. While set against the picturesque backdrop of Malta, the film itself suffers from a fundamentally flawed narrative and lackluster execution that fails to leverage its striking location. The visual transfer, while capturing Malta's charm to an extent, does not fully surmount the challenges posed by the original material's limitations. Audio quality similarly struggles, occasionally detracting from the overall experience with inconsistent sound balancing.

Despite its deficiencies in storytelling and technical execution, the disc may hold a certain appeal for cult enthusiasts intrigued by quirky commentaries. The trio of Hack the Movies commentators injects a layer of entertainment with their self-aware and humorous observations, possibly acknowledging the film's shortcomings in a manner reminiscent of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 style. This engaging dialogue might provide viewers with a unique angle to appreciate what is otherwise considered an infinitely dull cinematic endeavor.

In conclusion, "Final Justice" offers an experience that falters both visually and sonically. While its scenic location offers some visual respite, the film struggles to justify its place in any earnest cinematic collection. However, for those drawn to the world of cult films and commentary-driven viewing experiences, this Blu Ray might offer enough unexpected delight during Bock and von Sternberg’s humorous interaction with Clark to merit consideration.