Street Kings 2: Motor City Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Street Kings 2: Motor City" presents a surprisingly excellent 1080p/AVC-encoded digital transfer. Shot using the Red One camera, the film boasts a naturally cinematic look with impressive sharpness. Everything from Ray Liotta's highly detailed facial features to the texture of fabrics and everyday objects is crystal clear, contributing to a sharply defined visual experience. While some shots are unavoidably soft, the overall consistency in clarity is commendable. Colors are rich and varied; skin tones exhibit warmth, and primary and secondary hues are vivid, providing a striking visual palette. Contrast is generally strong, although some nighttime scenes reveal slight haziness and noise in the black levels. Despite being housed on a single-layer disc with a low bit-rate, the transfer manages to avoid significant compression issues such as banding or blocking.

The visual quality is nothing short of jaw-dropping, especially for a direct-to-video sequel. The picture depth is consistently remarkable, with vibrant colors and an insane level of detail throughout. Textures appear superbly nuanced, and edge definition is fantastic without any signs of artificial enhancement. Black levels, though mostly appropriate, occasionally blur details in extremely dark scenes. Nonetheless, such minor imperfections are easily overlooked when faced with the highly realistic skin textures and distinctly full-featured faces that practically leap off the screen. This release sets a high bar for DTV titles on Blu-ray, delivering an unexpectedly striking visual presentation that rivals high-end productions.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for "Street Kings 2: Motor City" offers a mixed listening experience that doesn't quite meet the expectations set by its dynamic video counterpart. Opening with a high-intensity drug deal, the audio presentation initially impresses with gunfire reverberating across multiple channels and robust low-end rumblings enhancing the sense of danger and tension. However, as the film progresses, the audio becomes surprisingly restrained, with rear channels contributing mostly subdued background ambience and minimal directional effects. Jon Sadoff's score, while lacking memorability, is delivered with clarity and dynamic range, and dialogue remains consistently clean and intelligible throughout.

Despite the initial promise, the track falters in maintaining an immersive soundscape. Later gunfights are disappointingly confined to the front and center channels, significantly reducing spatial realism. The bass, which starts strong and complementary, grows so overpowering that it undermines other audio elements. Disturbing technical inconsistencies further mar the experience, such as a prominent metallic rattle and static during dialogue delivery between the 25 to 26-minute mark, and occasional mic placement issues causing lines to sound muffled or scratchy. Overall, while the track has its moments of effective sound design, it ultimately falls short of creating a fully engaging auditory environment, leaving viewers desiring a more balanced and enveloping sound experience.

For those requiring subtitle support, the Blu-ray offers English SDH, Spanish, and French options in large white lettering, ensuring accessibility and clarity for all audiences.

The Blu-ray extras of "Street Kings 2: Motor City" provide a comprehensive look behind the scenes, though their contribution to the film's deeper appreciation is variable. While some features are insightful, such as Murder Scene Deconstructions, others like the deleted scenes add little value. Key extras include directors and co-writers discussing character research in Creating a Convincing Cop Story, while Motor City Setting profiles Detroit’s significance as more than just a backdrop. The interactive bonus, Weapons Check Personality Profile, provides an engaging user experience. Overall, these extras offer a decent blend of technical exposition coupled with contextual film insights, catering well to enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Two short, inconsequential scenes.
• Murder Scene Deconstructions: Behind-the-scenes featurettes on filming key murder scenes.
• Creating a Convincing Cop Story: Insight into the character research process.
• An Explosive Opening: Overview of filming the drug deal gone bad opening scene.
• Motor City Setting: A profile of Detroit’s importance to the film.
• Weapons Check Personality Profile: An interactive quiz determining suitable firearms based on user input.

"Street Kings 2: Motor City" suffers as a sequel in name only, failing to live up to the original's standards. While marketed as part of the "Street Kings" franchise, the film carries only a superficial connection—revolving around police corruption—marked by a single returning character, Sergeant Green, played by Clifton Powell. The world-weary script is drenched in cop movie clichés, presenting a tired pairing of a veteran detective, Marty Kingston (Ray Liotta), and a zealous rookie, Dan Sullivan (Shawn Hatosy). Directed by Chris Fisher, whose previous work includes the maligned "S. Darko," the film struggles with lifeless direction and unremarkable cinematography, giving it a subpar, made-for-TV feel. The B-list cast, including a notably disinterested Ray Liotta, delivers flat performances that lack the charisma needed to elevate the already predictable narrative.

The film's structure fails to maintain the initial momentum built by its opening shootout sequence. This rash decision to frontload what should have been a climax sets the stage for a series of tedious developments. The so-called twist—Kingston being behind the murders of his colleagues—unfolds early and predictably, undermining any potential suspense. There’s an unforgiving sense of inevitability as Kingston attempts to outmaneuver Sullivan, whose character adds little to the tension with his lackluster portrayal. Dialogues teeter between mundane and embarrassingly cringe-worthy, often making it difficult for the audience to invest in the unfolding drama.

Overall, "Street Kings 2: Motor City" feels more like a straight-to-video misfire than a genuine attempt at an engaging police procedural. Its adherence to tried-and-true tropes without any fresh twists leaves it struggling to justify its existence. Whether it's the uninspired action scenes or wooden character interactions, the movie offers little for viewers to root for or find engaging. With its predictable plot turns and lack of engaging drama or compelling characters, this film falls short of being an effective thriller, making it hard to recommend even for fans of genre fare.

"Street Kings 2: Motor City" is an underwhelming installment in the crime thriller genre, marred by a predictable plot and a misguided attempt to leverage the success of its predecessor. Despite the proficiency of Ray Liotta in his role, the film falls short of delivering an engaging or original storyline. The movie strictly adheres to overused cop movie tropes, rendering it formulaic and devoid of any fresh narrative elements. The script's heavy reliance on clichés might momentarily entertain fans of straightforward crooked cop tales, but it lacks both the depth and creativity needed to be a memorable film.

From a technical standpoint, however, the Blu-ray release excels. The video quality is exemplary, boasting sharp image resolution, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast levels that enhance the viewing experience. Equally noteworthy is the audio quality, which is robust and immersive, ensuring that the film's soundtrack and effects are delivered with clarity and impact. While the exclusive extra feature disappoints due to its lack of substantial content, the inclusion of a bonus DVD stands out as a redeeming factor, offering additional value for viewers.

In conclusion, "Street Kings 2: Motor City" is an unnecessary sequel that fails to justify its existence. The movie's adherence to tired clichés results in a lackluster narrative that takes itself too seriously. Unless you are an ardent Ray Liotta enthusiast, skipping this film is advisable. However, the high-quality audiovisual presentation on Blu-ray might make it worth a rental for those interested in technical excellence.