Swordfish Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Swordfish" offers a mostly commendable visual quality, presented in 1080p high definition with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. This release has garnered attention for its distinctive visual style, characterized by a somewhat heavy-handed use of unnatural lighting that imparts a golden or greenish tint across many scenes. Despite the pervasive stylistic choices that may not cater to all preferences, particularly those finding fault with an overly polished, glossy aesthetic that risks detracting from the film's perceived depth and clarity, the transfer delivers a significant enhancement in image quality over prior DVD versions. The sharpness and level of detail are particularly noteworthy, enabling a near-tangible texture visibility in materials, such as the distinct lines on a corduroy sports coat.

Colors on this Blu-ray are robust and well saturated, contributing to strong color reproduction that, while possibly excessive for some viewers, does not suffer from chroma noise or smearing—a common issue in earlier releases. The black levels are described as deep and pure, enhancing the detail within darker scenes impressively. Despite criticisms regarding the film's visual style, particularly its inflated glossiness that may detract from its realism, the transfer nonetheless is praised for its consistency and absence of compression artifacts like macroblocking or pixelization. This is even true in fast-motion sequences, which speaks volumes about the technical proficiency of the transfer.

However, it's important to acknowledge some criticisms regarding the image processing applied in "Swordfish," which arguably diminishes the degree of improvement Blu-ray can offer over standard definition releases. The artificial sheen and hyper-saturated colors can lead to a decreased maximum perceived depth and clarity for some viewers. Still, the overall sense of three-dimensionality is commendable and represents a substantial upgrade from standard definition, even if it doesn’t achieve the pinnacle of what has been observed in other high-definition releases. This Blu-ray does elevate the viewing experience substantially for fans of the film, supported by an excellent detail in both foregrounds and busy backgrounds, although it may not completely transcend its inherent stylistic decisions that have polarized opinions.

The "Swordfish" Blu-ray's audio presentation, offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and encoded at 640kbps, exhibits an aggressive ambition that is certain to captivate enthusiasts of the action genre. From the outset, it is clear that the sound design intends to immerse viewers, with the early scenes setting a high bar through their use of dynamic surround sound, excellent effect separation, and deep bass response. Particularly notable is the auditory treatment of the "Matrix"-esque opening sequence, where sound effects are meticulously placed across the soundscape to create an encompassing auditory experience. Despite this ambition, there's a noticeable limitation due to the lack of a high-definition lossless audio option, somewhat restraining the audio's potential to truly astonish.

As the film progresses, elements such as dialogue and atmospheric soundscapes tend to be overwhelmed by a persistent blend of techno music and gunfire, sacrificing subtlety for bombast. This incessant loudness sometimes detracts from the clarity of spoken words and diminishes the overall atmospheric potential of quieter scenes. Although action sequences like the car chase in chapter 18 showcase a delightful use of the subwoofer and offer an immersive experience with effects like gunfire and screeching tires, there's an underlying restraint observed due to the Dolby Digital mix's lossy nature, hinting at what could have been achieved with a lossless track.

In these scenes of high activity, volumes fluctuate notably—requiring adjustments on the viewer's end to maintain auditory comfort without losing detail in dialogue or subtler sound effects. Despite these shortcomings, the soundtrack is commendable for its separation and space dynamics across channels but ultimately leaves audiophiles yearning for a high-definition audio variant that could leverage the full spectrum of nuances "Swordfish" has to offer. The lack of this option on a high-definition medium results in a slight but significant reduction in scoring for an otherwise robust and engaging audio experience.

The Blu-ray release of "Swordfish" offers an extras package that mirrors the content found in its DVD counterpart, lacking innovation but providing a comprehensive overview of the film's production. The highlight is undeniably the commentary track from director Dominic Sena, who offers engaging insights into the filmmaking process, anecdotes from the set, and technical details, albeit in a more entertaining manner than the film itself. The accompanying video supplements, while suffering from a lack of originality and presenting in standard definition (480p), still manage to capture some interest through a mix of HBO First Look, behind-the-scenes footage, cast and crew interviews, and alternative endings with directorial commentary. Unfortunately, the special features fall into the trap of EPK-style promotional fluff, with much emphasis on hyping the film rather than providing substantive behind-the-scenes content or technical explorations. Significant too is the absence of next-gen interactive features that could leverage Blu-ray's capabilities, leaving the extras feeling somewhat dated and not fully exploiting the format’s potential.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Director Dominic Sena: In-depth discussions covering all aspects of production.
• HBO First Look: 'Swordfish': A standard behind-the-scenes featurette combining movie clips with cast and crew interviews.
• Effects In Focus: 'The Flying Bus': An exploration of the making of one of the film's key action sequences.
• Swordfish: In Conversation: Interviews with key cast and crew discussing various facets of the film.
• Two Alternate Endings with Optional Commentary by Director Dominic Sena: Additional views on how the film could have concluded.
• Music Video by Paul Oakenfold - 'Planet Rock Club Reel': A music video featuring scenes from the movie.
• Theatrical Trailer: The original promotional trailer for "Swordfish".

"Swordfish," presented in Blu-ray, harbors the ambition of entwining high-octane action with a cyber-heist narrative, led by a constellation of Hollywood stars including John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, and Halle Berry. Despite its aspirations and the allure of its cast, the film navigates through a sea of genre clichés and underdeveloped plot points, rendering it a middling affair. Directed by Dominic Sena, it aims to marry the gloss of contemporary cinema with the gritty undertones of hacker culture and counter-terrorism, yet struggles beneath the weight of its own ambitions. The presentation in high definition does little to mask the movie's fundamental flaws: a convoluted storyline and characters that, despite their best efforts, fail to resonate on a deeper level.

Computer hacker Stanley Jobson, portrayed by Jackman, is coerced into a grand scheme by Gabriel Shear (Travolta), aiming to siphon billions from U.S. government coffers. While promising a blend of suspense and technological wizardry, the narrative falls prey to predictability and lackluster execution. The performances, albeit earnest, are overshadowed by a script that struggles to find its voice amidst the din of explosions and techno-babble. The movie's attempts at complexity and moral ambiguity are undercut by its reliance on action movie tropes – fast cars, explosive set pieces, and a superficial treatment of its female characters, notably Berry's underutilized role.

In its endeavor for relevance and edginess, "Swordfish" inadvertently becomes a testament to the challenges of crafting a compelling action-thriller that is both intellectually engaging and visually dramatic. Despite the sheen of its Blu-ray presentation and the undeniable charisma of its leading trio, the film fails to leave a lasting impact, ensnared by its own narrative shortcomings and an evident struggle to transcend the typical boundaries of its genre. For aficionados of the action genre or the film's star-studded cast, it might offer fleeting entertainment; however, it ultimately serves as a reminder that even the most promising of cinematic concoctions can falter without a solid foundation.

The Blu-ray release of "Swordfish" presents a mixed bag for aficionados and occasional viewers alike. On the one hand, the film itself, featuring a stellar cast led by Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry, promises an engaging blend of explosive action and a rock-driven soundtrack. However, it falls short of delivering a compelling narrative, coming across as an underwhelming attempt at crafting a cutting-edge action thriller. This sense of unfulfilled potential is mirrored in the Blu-ray edition, which, while showcasing commendable video quality and a satisfactory last-generation Dolby Digital audio track, does little to elevate the experience beyond the already available DVD version. The inclusion of an average selection of extras does not sufficiently compensate for its inherent shortcomings, leaving the product feeling dated and somewhat redundant.

The technical aspects of the release, primarily the 1080p video upgrade, are indeed highlights, offering a sharper visual experience that fans of the movie might appreciate. Yet, this improvement alone struggles to justify a purchase, especially for those who already own previous iterations of the film. In a market overflowing with superior Blu-ray offerings, "Swordfish" finds itself in a precarious position—lacking significant enhancements or compelling reasons to recommend it over other titles. The additional features, while adequate, fail to inject new life into this release, further emphasizing the gap between potential and actuality.

In conclusion, the Blu-ray edition of "Swordfish" epitomizes a missed opportunity to rejuvenate an action film that has not aged particularly well. Despite its superior video quality and adequate audio track, the absence of substantial updates or exciting new extras makes it difficult to recommend enthusiastically. This release might only appeal to die-hard fans or completists. For the average consumer or Blu-ray enthusiast seeking an essential addition to their collection, there are more compelling options available. "Swordfish" on Blu-ray is, therefore, a curious artifact of its time—neither entirely disappointing nor convincingly persuasive in arguing its case as a must-have title.