Peppermint Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Peppermint" on Blu-ray, delivered in a 2.39:1 AVC encode, presents a commendable visual experience despite its inherent challenges. The film’s predominantly nighttime scenes exhibit a slightly desaturated and bleak look, underscored by minimal lighting that often amplifies digital noise and banding. However, the transfer manages to maintain a high level of detail and clarity, evident in various textures such as skin, clothing, and environmental elements. Close-up shots reveal intricate details like wrinkles and pores, while scenes set in locations like Skid Row display well-resolved grime and urban textures. Despite occasional softness and smudgy corners, the disc's video quality is generally strong, with deep black levels and natural skin tones.

Notably, the color reproduction in "Peppermint" is adept at highlighting the film’s moody atmosphere. While the chroma range is not exceptionally diverse, hues transition effectively to support the narrative's tonal shifts. Primaries, particularly reds and the luminescence of explosions, are vividly showcased against darker settings. The contrast is precise, offering excellent depth even in low-light conditions, enhancing the film's three-dimensional appearance. Although some banding issues and slight purple pushes in nighttime exterior shots are visible, they do not significantly detract from the overall viewing experience.

Technical specifications reveal an encoding of AVC MPEG-4 at 1080p resolution on a BD-50 disc, ensuring a clean and detailed presentation. The disc excels in balancing detail and depth, with notable "pop" in textures and environments. While minor instances of crush and digital noise persist in specific darker scenes, the positive aspects of this transfer outweigh these drawbacks. Universal’s decision not to release a UHD version is warranted, as the 1080p Blu-ray already provides a satisfactory level of detail that is unlikely to be significantly enhanced by higher resolution.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track on the "Peppermint" Blu-ray delivers a commendable experience, falling into the good-to-excellent range but stopping short of achieving greatness. The track's strength lies in its ability to deliver satisfying action sequences with impressive directionality and a well-defined sound stage. Gun battles are particularly engaging with a notable spread of fire across multiple channels, effectively using the surround speakers to enhance the auditory impact. Explosive scenes, such as those in chapters eight and twelve, provide solid low-frequency effects, while city atmospherics and discrete effects, like a bus loudspeaker announcement, create a palpable sense of immersion. Dialogue remains clear and front-focused, maintaining its clarity even amidst chaotic action sequences. However, there are occasional instances where dialogue softens, although not significantly enough to disrupt the overall balance.

The surround sound presentation in "Peppermint" is filled with atmospheric nuances and immersive details that elevate the viewing experience. Music from the score and various songs extend into the surrounds, enriching the soundscape without overpowering the primary audio elements. The low-frequency extension effectively underscores moments of intense action and gunfire, contributing to a dynamic auditory landscape. Noteworthy scenes include Jennifer Garner's character smashing a car into a house, where debris is audibly dispersed through multiple channels, and helicopter pans in the final act that enlarge the soundstage. Despite being somewhat front-heavy at times, the audio track manages to retain a coherent mix where nothing feels lost. Overall, while "Peppermint" may not rival top-tier action films in its audio sophistication, it delivers a robust and immersive track that enhances the film's high-energy sequences effectively.

The Blu-ray release of "Peppermint" offers a limited but focused set of extras. The behind-the-scenes featurette "Justice" delivers a rapid but insightful look at the film's plot and character development. Despite its brief duration, it effectively highlights Jennifer Garner's physical preparation and commitment to performing her action sequences. The inclusion of a full-length audio commentary by Director Pierre Morel provides a comprehensive examination of the film's technical aspects, locations, and performances which significantly enriches the viewing experience. Additionally, purchasers receive a DVD copy of the film and an iTunes digital copy code.

Extras included in this disc:

• Justice: A lightning-quick plot recap and character introduction featuring Jennifer Garner and Director Pierre Morel.
• Feature Commentary: Director Pierre Morel discusses various aspects of the film such as photography, locations, plot, characters, and sound effects.

"Peppermint" directed by Pierre Morel plunges viewers into a potent mix of vigilante justice and raw vengeance through the character of Riley North, played by Jennifer Garner. This film borrows heavily from familiar tropes within the genre, drawing comparisons to classics like "Death Wish" and the modern revenge thriller "John Wick". The narrative unfolds with Garner’s Riley North, a mother who metamorphoses from a grieving widow into an unstoppable force after losing her family to gang violence. Garner’s transformation is facilitated by five years of rigorous, off-screen training, which prepares her character for an all-out war against the gangsters who destroyed her life, making her portrayal both gritty and engaging, yet grounded in a semblance of realism.

Technically, "Peppermint" exhibits competent craftsmanship. Morel’s direction ensures that Garner’s action sequences, while intense and violent, avoid lapsing into implausibility. The film employs a straightforward action repertoire, keeping the audience visually engaged, albeit with moments of narrative lag. One notable aspect is Jennifer Garner's grounded performance. She brings a palpable human element to Riley North, portraying both her fury and vulnerability convincingly. However, despite this strong central performance and well-choreographed combat scenes, the movie struggles with pace and often falls back on cliches that can render parts of it generic and predictable.

The film's foreboding atmosphere is punctuated by moments of high-octane action and brutal retribution. Nevertheless, its reliance on hyper-violence and stereotypical depictions of Mexican drug gangs can feel cartoonish and detract from its overall impact. The integration of social media to spur public support for Riley adds a modern twist but does little to alleviate the film’s heavier tonal issues. While "Peppermint" aims to provide a cathartic experience akin to vigilante legends, its execution often stumbles amidst conventional plot devices and an overly bleak framework. Despite these challenges, it still offers an entertaining escape for fans of the genre looking for an unrelenting revenge saga.

"Peppermint" offers a formulaic yet engaging experience typical of revenge thrillers, centered around Jennifer Garner's compelling performance. While the film struggles to carve a unique identity among action genre counterparts, it compensates with intense gun battles and a dedicated lead performance. Directed by Pierre Morel, and running at 102 minutes, the movie's plot is burdened by predictability and clichéd twists, but it may still serve as an entertaining time-waster for less discerning viewers.

Universal's Blu-ray release ensures robust technical specifications, featuring a 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio and an English DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio track. Subtitles are available in English SDH and Spanish. The video quality is commendably sharp, with clear detail and vibrant color reproduction. Garner’s portrayal of a grieving mother turned avenger is the highlight, despite being limited by a lackluster script and formulaic character development. Nevertheless, the movie manages to capture her intensity and action proficiency effectively.

Unfortunately, the supplemental materials on this Blu-ray pack feel underwhelming. They include a brief two-minute featurette and an audio commentary, which do not add substantial value for those seeking deeper insights or additional content. The overall Blu-ray package may appeal to hardcore fans of the genre or Jennifer Garner’s performance, but it offers little beyond a conventional revenge narrative.

In conclusion, "Peppermint" is worth a watch for its high-octane action sequences and Jennifer Garner’s spirited performance. The Blu-ray provides strong audio and visual presentations but lacks enriching extras. While it may not break new ground or earn a spot in coveted Top 10 lists, it stands as a decent option for fans of the genre seeking a competent yet unremarkable addition to their collection.