Elektra Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Elektra" by 20th Century Fox boasts a high-quality, 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that is visually striking. The image impresses with its unwavering sharpness and pristine quality, delivering nearly flawless detail perception and visual acuity. Colors are richly saturated and varied, enhanced by the video’s bold use of contrast, although whites can occasionally appear too hot, slightly affecting details in brightly lit backgrounds. Shadow detail remains good overall, offering discernible textures in low-lit scenes. The CGI and green-screen photography slightly soften some shots but do not detract significantly from the viewing experience. Additionally, the film grain is well-preserved, providing a textured, filmic quality without becoming obtrusive.

The film's visual style is heavily influenced by post-production choices, particularly its pushed contrast and selective color saturation. The intense contrast creates a unique chiaroscuro effect, though it sometimes results in overly dark scenes that obscure shadow details and may even cause eye strain for some viewers. This stylized look also leads to inconsistent skin tones, ranging from tan to pallid depending on the scene, reflecting the director's artistic vision. Despite these choices, the transfer maintains exceptional clarity, revealing fine textures, such as the detailed crags on Stick's face and the intricate designs on Elektra's outfits. While the oppressive blacks might be a matter of viewer preference, there's no denying that this Blu-ray is a significant leap over its DVD counterpart.

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray of "Elektra" delivers an active and reference-quality presentation that fully utilizes the entire sound system to create a theater-like experience. The integration between the front and rear channels is seamless, particularly during fight sequences, where sound effects traverse the room with precision. Dynamics are robust and filled with energy, providing discerning articulation and resolute clarity, while the subwoofer is aggressively used to accentuate these dynamics, resulting in palpable low-frequency effects that resonate throughout the space. Dialogue exhibits a clear, refined vocal character with excellent presence and room penetration.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is expertly engineered to maximize the impact of action sequences, featuring chest-rumbling dynamics and immersive cross-channel effects. Bullets zip through the soundfield with alarming force, and knives and other effects move fluidly between channels. The subwoofer adds weight to fists and feet, delivering bass-heavy blows that throb through the room. High-end sounds, like shattering glass, remain pristine, while the LFE channel consistently provides a deep, resonant kick when necessary. Environmental ambience, such as pouring rain and outdoor sounds, enriches the sound design, and Christophe Beck's score fills each channel with depth and definition.

However, it's worth noting that dialogue, while generally clean and intelligible, occasionally feels slightly low in the mix, though not to the point of being difficult to understand. Overall, the audio presentation on this Blu-ray is exceptional, offering demonstration-worthy material that showcases the capabilities of a well-equipped home theater system.

The Blu-ray extras for "Elektra" offer a comprehensive exploration of the film's production and its mythological roots, although the content quality varies. The commentary by director Rob Bowman and editor Kevin Stitt provides insights into the creative process, albeit from a seemingly unaware perspective. "Relentless: The Making of Elektra" is a thorough, albeit overly serious, two-part documentary covering both production and post-production aspects. The multi-angle dailies allow an interactive view of fight sequences, enhancing the behind-the-scenes experience. The deleted and alternate scenes, accompanied by optional director commentary, offer additional context but are not crucial. The standouts are the "Elektra: Incarnation Mythology" documentary, which delves into the character's comic book history, and the "Elektra in Greek Mythology" featurette, providing academic insights into her mythological origins.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Director Rob Bowman and Film Editor Kevin Stitt: Insightful yet detached commentary.
• Relentless: The Making of Elektra - Part 1: Production: In-depth look at on-set activities.
• Relentless: The Making of Elektra - Part 2: Post-production: Detailed coverage of editing, sound, and VFX.
• Elektra: Incarnation Mythology: Comprehensive comic book history.
• Elektra in Greek Mythology: Academic exploration of mythological roots.
• Deleted/Alternate Scenes: Additional footage with optional commentary.
• Showdown at the Well: Multi-angle dailies: Interactive fight sequence viewing.
• Theatrical/Teaser Trailers: Original promotional material.

"Elektra," despite promising elements, fails to deliver a coherent and engaging superhero narrative. Directed by Rob Bowman, the film serves as a spin-off to 2003's "Daredevil," resurrecting Jennifer Garner's titular character, initially killed off in the previous movie. The plot revolves around Elektra's revival by her master Stick (played by Terence Stamp), who trains her in the mystical martial art of Kimagure. This allows practitioners to control life and death, setting the stage for an ancient battle against the evil organization, The Hand. While the setup hints at intriguing lore, the execution feels lackluster, with the villainous organization functioning as generic, evil-for-the-sake-of-evil antagonists lacking clear motives or depth.

The film attempts a psychological edge but flounders with a disjointed script credited to three different writers. Jennifer Garner's portrayal of Elektra, though visually appealing in her iconic red outfit, lacks the depth and allure necessary for Frank Miller's famed assassin. Characters are underdeveloped, resulting in an emotional disconnect; Elektra’s OCD and faux-Freudian flashbacks to her mother's death fail to add meaningful layers. Instead, they serve as clumsy plot devices that do little to enhance the narrative.

Action sequences are another mixed bag. While moments like the forest throwdown and the final set piece at Elektra's childhood home offer some visual flair, often characterized by flying sheets and smoky transformations of defeated ninjas, these scenes are too sporadic to maintain momentum. The film's darker themes and psychological introspection fall flat, weighed down by a script that oscillates between high-mindedness and lack of cohesion. Ultimately, "Elektra" struggles to find its footing between action and character study, resulting in a movie that is more tedious than thrilling.

The Blu-ray release of "Elektra," marketed as the Director's Cut, exhibits minimal changes compared to the theatrical version, with an addition of only three minutes of footage. Unlike "Daredevil’s" substantial Director’s Cut, this minor extension does not significantly alter the film’s PG-13 rating. While the supplementary materials largely mirror those from the 2-disc DVD release, the leap to high-definition audio and visual quality could be a compelling factor for discerning fans interested in adding this title to their collection.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray presentation excels. The high-definition transfer is crisp, offering detailed visuals with a noticeable upgrade in clarity and color balance. The audio track is equally impressive, delivering an immersive experience through its lossless soundtrack. These enhancements capitalize on cutting-edge technology to refine the overall viewing experience, making it a noteworthy consideration for home theater enthusiasts.

In conclusion, while "Elektra: Director's Cut" might not offer substantial new content in terms of additional scenes or narrative changes, its high-definition audio and video improvements provide a marked enhancement over previous releases. Fans of the film and collectors alike will appreciate the enriched audiovisual presentation. However, for casual viewers or those uninitiated with the franchise, this edition represents a solid rental rather than a necessary purchase.