Mile 22 Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Mile 22" leverages its digital 8K source, downscaled to a 4K Digital Intermediate, offering a technically robust and visually engaging experience. The result is a sharp, pristine image that highlights intimate details such as facial complexities and textures with razor-sharp clarity. Highlights include the movie's various battle scenes where blood, sweat, and wounds are meticulously presented. Low-light conditions reveal some digital noise, but the Blu-ray maintains its strong production values with stable sharpness and appreciable subtle refinement.

Colors are subdued but offer moments of vivid vitality, particularly notable in bright red blood and fiery explosions, which are deeply saturated. The color grading employs a slight chill, with a slant toward blue that does not detract from the overall contrast. Black levels are respectably deep, enhancing dimensionality in both brightly lit and darker sequences. Dark shots remain rich and clear, with minimal visual artifacts noted. Occasionally, some visual noise appears due to action scenes or lower-quality handheld camera shots, but these instances are minor compared to the overall exceptional video quality.

Despite its technical achievements, "Mile 22" showcases excellent detail even in challenging scenes involving smoke and low lighting. The film’s urban finale in particular shines with accurately presented elements amid chaotic settings. While the absence of a 4K UHD release might be disappointing given the film’s poor commercial reception, the 1080p Blu-ray remains an impressive transfer. This Blu-ray stands as a testament to modern digital cinematography, providing a largely flawless visual experience that showcases intricate imagery from sweat beads to intricate wound makeup, set against a canvas of strong primaries and healthy skin tones.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix for "Mile 22" is a robust and immersive experience that showcases the film’s high-octane action sequences with impressive clarity and depth. The audio presentation adeptly utilizes the entire surround platform, placing viewers right in the midst of the chaotic action. The seamless integration of the front and rear channels delivers balanced and engaging soundscapes, capturing the intensity of gunfire ricocheting from all directions and the relentless flow of the score through all 8 channels. Dialogue is firmly anchored in the center channel and maintains clarity even during the most frenetic scenes, though occasionally it can be slightly overshadowed by the vigorous gunfire and heavy musical score.

Dynamic range is one of the key strengths of this audio mix, providing powerful low-frequency effects that enrich the viewing experience. The bass output is substantial, although some might feel it lacks the final bit of punch to make certain explosions and impacts truly visceral. Nonetheless, the LFE performance ensures that every gunshot and explosion resonates with authority. Surround channels are used effectively to create spatial dimension, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience with ambient city noises and off-camera cues enriching the overall sound stage, albeit these ambient noises could be more pronounced.

Despite lacking a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X track, the DTS-HD MA 7.1 mix is more than adequate for "Mile 22". It achieves a balanced and dynamic audio presentation that keeps viewers engaged from beginning to end. Whether it’s capturing the chaotic battle scenes with precise imaging or delivering crisp dialogue, this audio track ensures that every element of the action is conveyed with impactful sonic clarity, making it a commendable addition to any Blu-ray enthusiast's collection.

The Blu-ray extras for "Mile 22" deliver a concise but informative look behind the scenes, although they are relatively short in duration. Each featurette provides insight into various elements of the film's production, from the intricacies of stunt choreography to character development. Fans of action cinema will particularly appreciate the detailed segments on combat sequences and the individual spotlight on Iko Uwais, showcasing his expertise in martial arts and stunt work. While the content is engaging, it might leave some viewers wanting more depth. Additionally, the extras include a comprehensive look at the filming locations in Colombia and delve into the roles of the strong female leads in the movie. Overall, while the bonus features are brief, they nonetheless offer a glimpse into the collaborative effort behind "Mile 22".

Extras included in this disc:

• Overwatch: Follow the Overwatch, the para-military division in "Mile 22", and explore the background and inspiration as to why this type of team was chosen for the film.
• Introducing Iko: A spotlight on world-renowned action star Iko Uwais and his experience with combat fighting, stunt work, and choreographing his own scenes in the film.
• Iko Fight: Interview with Iko Uwais discussing his intense fight scenes from the practice room to the final shot.
• Bad Ass Women: A behind-the-scenes look with stars Lauren Cohan and Ronda Rousey, along with writer Lea Carpenter, discussing stunts, intellectual smarts, and the overall tenacity of the film's female characters.
• BTS Stunts: An in-depth take on the creation of the action-packed stunts of "Mile 22" with commentary from Director Peter Berg and the film's stars.
• Modern Combat: Explore the concept of modern action cinema, where scenes are created and shot in real-time with multiple cameras, mesmerizing cinematography, and intense action stunts.
• Colombia: Take a tour of Bogota, Colombia with the cast and filmmakers discussing key filming location points.
• Trailers

The objective of "Mile 22" was to create a high-octane action thriller helmed by Peter Berg and led by Mark Wahlberg, but unfortunately, the film falls short of its mark. The movie presents a straightforward plot of a covert CIA team, Overwatch, tasked with transporting a defector with critical intel across 22 miles of hostile territory. While the premise promises tension and excitement, the execution is marred by a myriad of issues. Among them are Lea Carpenter's script that eschews emotional depth for rapid-fire dialogue and Jacques Jouffret’s excessive quick cuts, which render the action sequences disorienting. The character development is lackluster, leading to an emotionally detached viewing experience despite the presence of talented actors like Lauren Cohan and Iko Uwais.

Technically, the film boasts moments of solid action choreography, particularly from Iko Uwais, known for his impressive martial arts skills. However, these sequences are undermined by choppy editing, making it hard to follow. Cinematographer Jouffret’s jittering camera work combined with editors Parker Jr. and Cheung’s incoherent assembly translates into a chaotic narrative flow. The opening scene evokes elements from "Enemy of the State," establishing a competent team only to let the film descend into a disjointed series of violent encounters. While the sound design and visceral combat may please some action aficionados, the film's reliance on brute force overstory renders it forgettable.

Ultimately, "Mile 22" attempts a gritty and intense depiction of shadowy military operations but ends up as a muddled mess due to its lack of narrative coherence and emotional connection. The film's final plot twist underscores its ambitions but feels unearned amidst the convoluted mess preceding it. This film is more of an experiment in high-velocity filmmaking than an engaging action drama, leaving viewers unsettled rather than entertained.

"Mile 22" reveals a complex but ultimately disappointing action thriller that aims high yet fails to deliver a coherent and enjoyable experience. Directed by Peter Berg and starring Mark Wahlberg, the film's choppy editing and overuse of quick cuts render its narrative virtually incomprehensible. The character development is shallow, with Wahlberg's portrayal of Silva being overshadowed by erratic dialogues and disjointed action sequences. While the intention to portray a masterful urban action drama could have paralleled classics like "Black Hawk Down," the end result is a chaotic, emotionally distant film that falls short of its ambitions.

On a technical level, "Mile 22" excels, presenting a visually stunning 2.39:1 AVC image matched by an impressive DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio track. These stellar technical specifications illustrate the potential the film had, but they cannot compensate for the lackluster storytelling and underdeveloped characters. The Blu-ray includes few extra features that do little to add value to the viewing experience. Set in Colombia, the film's diverse locations offer a visually captivating backdrop, yet the narrative fails to utilize these settings effectively.

In conclusion, while "Mile 22" is a technically proficient release with high-quality audio and visual components, it does not manage to engage viewers due to its muddled execution and weak story. Fans of Peter Berg or Mark Wahlberg looking for another successful collaboration will be left disappointed. This film is more of a misstep in their otherwise solid partnership, proving to be a forgettable experience despite its striking visuals and intense action sequences. If you're after mindless action and stellar technical presentation, it's worth a look; otherwise, it might be best to pass on this one.