2 Guns 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "2 Guns" presents a significant visual upgrade from its predecessor, showcasing an impressive 2160p/HDR UHD presentation. This newer edition maintains the appealing, film-like veneer, boasting a true and satisfying grain structure that aligns with its cinematic origins. The degree of detail captured is exceptional, exhibiting clarity that extends to both essential and minor background elements, thus providing a noticeable depth over the original Blu-ray. Amplified sharpness highlights facial pores, hairs, and various clothing materials, contributing to an enhanced overall sharpness.

In terms of color grading, the HDR implementation introduces enhanced depth and vibrance. There is a slight overall darkening of the image, yet colors appear more refined, offering significant improvements in punch, depth, and accuracy. Whites are vivid and blacks are notably deeper than the Blu-ray counterpart. The film’s visual details are meticulously captured, from the fine speckles on Denzel Washington’s classic car to the vivid fireballs and precise skin tones.

Universal's use of HEVC compression ensures a clean transfer without source blemishes or encoding issues. Outdoor scenes, particularly under the intense sun, retain their clarity without appearing soft or washed out. This UHD upgrade from Universal stands out for its consistency in delivering rich, deep colors and maintaining an organic look devoid of grain or other defects. While not a benchmark release for the format, it nonetheless represents a solid step up from the previous Blu-ray release.

Universal's updated DTS:X soundtrack for "2 Guns" delivers an impressive auditory experience that surpasses the previous 5.1 configuration available on earlier Blu-ray editions. The new track showcases admirable clarity across all elements: music, action, ambient sounds, and dialogue. The surround back channels effectively provide a larger environmental fill, enhancing the listening experience without excessive amplification. While the overhead channels carry some discrete effects, their major contribution is in creating a more immersive sonic environment. Notably, the subwoofer offers powerful yet balanced support, particularly during music sequences and action scenes.

The DTS:X track ensures that all channels are actively engaged, with pristine vocal clarity and substantial background noise presence throughout the runtime. Action sequences involving gunfire, explosions, and the occasional background elements such as bulls and helicopters are well-rendered, contributing to an engaging and dynamic audio experience. The mix is well-balanced, with precise front channel output, ensuring that musical fidelity is retained and dialogue remains centered and intelligible at all times. Fans of the film will appreciate the seamless auditory backdrop provided by the track, marking a significant enhancement over its predecessor.

The UHD release of "2 Guns" delivers a comprehensive package of extras, consolidating previous offerings while introducing several new features. These supplements include both carrying forward content from the 2013 Blu-ray edition and adding fresh insights into the film's production and graphic novel origins. The inclusion of deleted and extended scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and detailed commentary tracks contribute significantly to understanding the creative process behind the movie. The newly added extras provide a richer exploration of the film's adaptation from a graphic novel, on-set improvisations, directorial approaches, and character portrayals of DEA agents. The available digital copy code further enhances accessibility.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted and Extended Scenes: Additional footage cut from the final film.
• Click, Click Bang Bang: The Making of 2 Guns: Behind-the-scenes documentary in four parts.
• Audio Commentary: Insights from Director Baltasar Kormakur and Producer Adam Siegel.
• Boom! 2 Guns The Graphic Novel: Examination of the film's adaptation from the graphic novel.
• Lines of Fire: Improv on the Set: Review of actor improvisations during filming.
• A Viking in Hollywood: Analysis of Baltasar Kormakur's direction style.
• Going Undercover: The Role of a Lifetime: Discussions on portraying DEA agents.
• Storyboard to Screen: Comparison of storyboards and final scenes.

"2 Guns," featuring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, is revitalized in the 4K UHD Blu-ray format. The transfer offers a marked improvement with its 2160p resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR), creating a vivid and sharp viewing experience that enriches the film's contrasting visual elements. The new DTS:X audio track adds depth, providing an immersive audio landscape with clear dialogue and dynamic range in action sequences. These technical enhancements breathe new life into the 2013 film, especially for action and buddy-comedy enthusiasts.

The film thrives on the palpable chemistry between Washington's Robert "Bobby" Trench and Wahlberg's Michael "Stig" Stigman. Both actors bring distinct personalities to their roles, with Bobby as the seasoned, straight-laced operative and Stig as the cocky, fast-talking counterpart. Their interplay drives the narrative, making it an engaging watch despite the convoluted plot. The storyline kicks off with a high-stakes bank heist and spirals into a series of betrayals and revelations, setting a brisk pace full of explosive action scenes and clever twists.

Supporting performances also stand out, particularly Bill Paxton's ruthless yet entertaining Earl, who uses unique methods for interrogation, and Edward James Olmos' formidable portrayal of the drug lord Papi. Paula Patton and James Marsden add depth to the ensemble cast, each character intricately tied to the film's central conflicts. The film balances its action-packed sequences with character-driven moments, ensuring that audience engagement remains high throughout. While some may find the plot a tad complex, the stellar performances and expertly staged action make "2 Guns" a worthwhile entry in the genre.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "2 Guns" by Universal delivers notable improvements in both video and audio quality that will appeal to fans of the action-comedy genre. The 2160p resolution with HDR enhances the visual experience significantly, offering a sharp and vibrant picture that highlights the film’s dynamic scenes and cinematography. The improved color grading provides a more lifelike texture, and the increased detail helps in portraying the gritty and rugged environments in which the story unfolds.

The newly introduced DTS:X soundtrack adds a new level of immersion, making action sequences more impactful and dialogue clearer. The sound design is well-balanced, ensuring that the explosive moments do not overpower the quieter, more nuanced scenes. This audio upgrade makes full use of multi-dimensional soundscapes, providing an enriched viewing experience that was less pronounced in the original Blu-ray edition.

Universal has also included some engaging new extras on this UHD release, which were absent from the initial Blu-ray version, adding further value to this package. These features provide behind-the-scenes insights and enhance the overall appreciation of the filmmaking craft behind "2 Guns".

In conclusion, Universal has done right by 2 Guns on the UHD format. The new 2160p/HDR video is very good, as is the new DTS:X soundtrack. It's a treat to see the studio add some new extras that were not included on the original Blu-ray. Recommended.