The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power Blu-ray Review

The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power" delivers a video presentation that is unremarkable, served with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that underlines its budget constraints rather than overcoming them. The presentation suffers from various minor issues, including noise, crush, and artifacting. However, these technical flaws can be overlooked to an extent. The real challenge arises in the darker scenes, which form a considerable part of the movie's setting. These nighttime sequences are plagued by murky visuals, lacking clarity and detail, making them a stark contrast to the more vibrant daylight scenes. While colors can be pointed out as passably saturated, especially in terms of skin tones, black levels fall short of expectations, appearing dingy rather than deep or immersive. The movie's attempt at visual distinction struggles under the weight of its limited budget, resulting in a presentation that's serviceable but far from impressive.

Ambitions seem to falter further when it comes to the CGI work, which becomes painfully evident in the high definition format of Blu-ray. The graphical endeavors, from the CGI spiders to the fire-breathing dragon, come across as not only underwhelming but almost comical in their lack of integration with the live-action sequences. The visuals betray the low-budget origins of the film, presenting CGI elements that are not only poorly matched with their surroundings but also washed out and glaringly obvious. Such disparities are highlighted in scenes where CGI is heavily used, contributing to an overall viewing experience that leaves much to be desired. Despite satisfactory daylight scenes that provide a semblance of decent visual quality, akin to television productions from the era of 'Xena', the video presentation fails to elevate "The Scorpion King 4" beyond its humble cinematic beginnings.

The audio presentation of "The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power" on Blu Ray, featuring a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, delivers an adequate but ultimately uninspiring listening experience. The clarity of dialogue is commendable, ensuring that voices are distinctly heard, albeit with a disproportionate emphasis that occasionally overshadows the rest of the audio landscape. This imbalance results in a soundfield where the vocal tracks do not seem organically integrated into the ambient world, creating a somewhat isolated and front-heavy auditory impression. Although there is some attempt to leverage the rear speakers for a more immersive experience and the Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel adds a degree of depth to action sequences, these elements do not compensate for the overall lack of dynamic audio engagement.

Comparisons to the sound quality of older television adventures like 'Xena' hint at the nostalgic yet outdated nature of the film's sound design. Action scenes, which should be a sonorous highlight in an adventure-filled narrative, present themselves with a lackluster impact that falls short of thrilling. The surround channels are underutilized, missing opportunities to envelop the audience in a more captivating sonic world. Even when the subwoofer is engaged, it serves more as an occasional nod to the potential of what could have been, rather than offering a consistent and compelling auditory enhancement.

Ultimately, while the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix executes its fundamental task of delivering clear dialogue, it fails to elevate “The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power” beyond the realm of the forgettable. The sound presentation mirrors the film itself in its failure to leave a lasting impact, characterized by a generic approach to audio mixing that neither offends nor impresses. It's a functional effort that, despite its technical proficiency, lacks the creativity and finesse expected from a cinematic experience aspiring to immerse and captivate its audience.

The extra presentation of the Blu-ray release of "The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power" offers a comprehensive peek behind the curtain of this fantasy action film. The audio commentary, featuring Director Mike Elliott alongside actors Victor Webster, Barry Bostwick, Ellen Hollman, and Will Kemp, provides an engaging overview, presenting the team discussing various aspects of filmmaking with humor and insight. The bonus content includes a collection of deleted and extended scenes that could have expanded the film considerably. Additionally, the three-part making-of featurette goes in-depth into the creation of the film's unique world, the chemistry among the cast, and the integration of real fighters into choreographed combat, offering valuable insights into the production's scale and challenges. A light-hearted gag reel rounds off the extras, adding a touch of humor and showcasing the camaraderie on set.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Director and cast commentary, shedding light on various production aspects with humor.

• Deleted Scenes: A collection of fourteen deleted and extended scenes offering more content from the film.

• The Making of Scorpion King 4: An in-depth three-part featurette exploring the creation of the film, discussing cast chemistry, and detailing the use of real fighters in choreographed scenes.

• Gag Reel: A compilation of bloopers and funny moments from the set.

The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power" marks yet another entry in the sprawling Mummy franchise, pinning Victor Webster back in the boots of the heroic warrior Mathayus. Despite its ambitious casting, ranging from action movie veterans like Michael Biehn and Rutger Hauer to sports stars such as Roy Nelson and Royce Gracie, the film struggles to find its footing. Within its convoluted plot that involves betrayal, a quest for an ancient power, and a cavalcade of throwbacks to better films, it becomes increasingly clear that creativity was perhaps not at the forefront of its production. From the outset, it indulges in low-humor gags and relies heavily on a hodgepodge of scenes eerily reminiscent of iconic moments from revered classics such as "Indiana Jones" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," blurring the line between homage and outright plagiarism.

Technically, "Quest for Power" disappoints with what can kindest be described as sub-par production values reminiscent of a SyFy Channel movie. The action sequences are choppy, the special effects leave much to be desired, and despite the campiness of its dialogue, the performances come across as uninspired. Furthermore, the script does itself no favors by attempting to intertwine fantasy elements with pseudo-scientific explanations, leading to a narrative that's as confusing as it is forgettable. It's within this context that cameos from figures like Lou Ferrigno feel less like meaningful additions and more like missed opportunities.

Despite the flashes of potential, notably in its adventurous spirit and some elements of fun that fans of B-movies might appreciate, "The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power" ultimately fails to carve out a memorable niche for itself within the franchise. Its reliance on recycled storylines and visuals from superior films not only undermines its originality but also detracts from the unique qualities that previous installments somewhat managed to capture. For those pondering a viewing, expectations should be tempered, or perhaps directed elsewhere, lest they find themselves pining for the storytelling depth and craftsmanship of even its direct predecessors.

The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power" finds itself in the curious position of winning some admiration for its lead performances amidst a sea of critical disdain for almost every other element. Victor Webster, Ellen Holman, Barry Bostwick, and Will Kemp emerge as commendable beacons of enthusiasm, almost defying the film's low-budget, campy ethos that straddles the lines of the absurd. Their efforts illuminate the screen with a semblance of fun that starkly contrasts with the underwhelming narrative and dialogue, along with action sequences that often feel more comical than compelling. However, these performances alone struggle to salvage a film that is marred by its overall lack of substantive merit and innovation.

From a technical standpoint, Universal's Blu-ray presentation of "The Scorpion King 4" does little to elevate the film beyond its core shortcomings. The audio-visual quality, while serviceable, fails to impress or add any meaningful dimension to the viewing experience. The special features provided offer a modicum of additional content but do not significantly enhance appreciation for the film itself. This release falls into a niche category, likely only to appeal to those with a specific taste for low-budget, SyFy-esque productions that lean heavily into their limitations rather than transcend them.

In conclusion, "The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power" on Blu-ray is an endeavor that only the most fervent fans of the franchise or genre might find worth exploring. Despite commendable performances from its lead actors, the film is bogged down by its inadequate script, lackluster production values, and an overall execution that leaves much to be desired. Coupled with a basic at best A/V presentation and a scant offering of special features, this release underscores a missed opportunity to revitalize or meaningfully expand upon the Scorpion King saga. Viewers in search of a rewarding cinematic experience are advised to temper their expectations or perhaps redirect their attention elsewhere.