Mad Max: Fury Road Black & Chrome Edition Blu-ray Review

**SYNOPSIS**


Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Directed by Oscar®-winning filmmaker George Miller (“Happy Feet”) and starring Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) in the title role and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “Prometheus”) as Imperator Furiosa, “Mad Max: Fury Road” is the fourth film in the franchise’s epic history.



Own the Mad Max High Octane Collection on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on December 6!








**MOVIE REVIEW**


Mad Max: Fury Road is being hailed as "The Best Action Movie Ever" by many critics and while I wouldn't go that far as the story and character building is a bit too light, this is without a doubt the most thrilling, innovative, balls-to-the-wall action film to come around in a very long time. From the first few minutes when Max is captured in the desert and brought back to be a blood donor for Immortan Joe's War Boys the film rarely takes it foot off the pedal. Tom Hardy plays Max close to the vest but he opens up a bit more towards the end when he feels a duty to help Imperator Furiosa and forms a mutual respect with her. I'm sure max will be fleshed out a bit more in the inevitable sequel. Charlize Theron is for my money the main character as she is the most kick-ass heroine to come along since Sarah Connor and the most driven on completing her goal to save The Wives from slavery and go to the "Green place". Nicholas Hoult makes you sympathize for his War Boy character Nux.

Immortan Joe is a batshit crazy villain and that goes without saying his followers are too. The character design is something that sets the film apart and makes your draw drop that this was made. Every penny of the budget is seen on screen, especially in the brilliant stunts and vehicular mayhem that is on display here. When you break it down the story is basically being chased from one end back to the other but what a ride it is. I suggest you go get some chrome paint so you can get all shiny when you watch this. Witness! 10/10


**VIDEO QUALITY**


Mad Max: Fury Road arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 - The Black & Chrome Edition is a special treat for Mad Max fans showing George Miller's original vision of Fury Road being presented in a gorgeously surreal black and chrome version. While the film was already stunning in color with rich orange and desert hues pop off the screen the re-grading into a black and white image works better than I ever could imagine. Deep, silky blacks, crisp whites, ominous greys help to add a new way to experience this jaw dropping film. I can see myself revisiting this version quite a few times after watching the color one again. 9/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**


Audio is provided by a Dolby Atmos 7.1 track. - This is hands down the most dynamic and powerful listening experience of the year so far. LFE performance features brutal and gut-wrenching bass that makes you feel like you are on the Fury Road. The engines rumble with startling aggression. When something explodes it will make you nearly jump out of your seat. Surrounds are utilized to perfect effect with silky smooth pans, out of nowhere directional effects, and crisp and engaging environmental support. The almost perfect score from Junkie XL was presented beautifully in the mix and is never drown out by all the insane action. 10/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**

Black & Chrome Disc

* NEW George Miller Introduction to the Mad Max Fury Road: Black and Chrome Edition (HD, 01:37) – Special introductory piece by George Miller describing his vision.

Color Blu-ray Disc

* Maximum Fury: Filming Fury Road (HD, 28:38)

* Mad Max: Fury on Four Wheels (HD, 22:37)

* The Road Warriors: Max and Furiosa (HD, 11:18)

* The Tools of the Wasteland (HD, 14:26)

* The Five Wives: So Shiny, So Chrome (HD, 11:11)

* Fury Road: Crash & Smash (HD, 4:02)

* Deleted Scenes
- I Am a Milker (HD, 00:32)
- Turn Every Grain of Sand! (HD, 1:49)
- Let's Do It (HD, 00:59)

Suicide Squad 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

**SYNOPSIS**


It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?








**MOVIE REVIEW**


Suicide Squad is a loud and entertaining rush of adrenaline that lacks an interesting villain or storyline but makes up for it with some fascinating characters. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn steals the movie with a sympathetic but deadly heart. She is a revelation and I can't see anyone else in that role but her now. Will Smith gets a nice arc with his gun for hire hitman Deadshot. He oozes his usual mix of charm with gravitas. Viola Davis as Amanda Waller to me is perfect as the calculating and cold government agent who thinks it is in the best interest of the country to create a task force with the absolute worst criminals to protect us from metahumans like the next Superman. Jared Leto's portrayal as the Joker is an interesting new vision of the iconic villain but not as memorable as Heath Ledgers legendary performance in The Dark Knight.

Where the film falls a little short is in the plotting. It is more a series of narration, flashbacks and then the Suicide Squad going on their first mission and becoming a team. But you will never be bored as both the theatrical and extended cuts run at a fast pace with the exception of a few government officials deciding what they want to do with Task Force X. I say just go with it and let Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad entertain you for two hours and enjoy the ride. 8/10


**VIDEO QUALITY**


Suicide Squad arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray with a 2160p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 - The added benefit of High Dynamic Range is in full display with the 4k version of Suicide Squad's Theatrical Cut. Harley Quinn's multi-colored hair, her blue, red and gold accented leather short shorts and her coat pop. Colors are vivid when needed and well balanced in more toned down scenes. Contrast gets a boost as well compared to the standard Blu-ray. Black levels were deep and rich, shadow delineation was excellent in darker scenes that take place at night in Midway City or in dank prisons.

The image is super detailed to where you can easily read parts of the dossiers Amanda Waller has on her dream Task Force. Details in Killer Croc's pebbly skin, Harley's different textures of clothing, Close-ups on faces and even weapons are razor sharp. No signs of inherent softness except for flashbacks that use a soft focus for visual effect. 9.5/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**


Audio is provided by a Dolby Atmos track. - Dialogue was always crystal clear and the various accents and tones were easily heard even during louder action scenes. This track is a full on aural assault that uses super smooth pans, crisp environmental effects, gunshots blasting through the room and an entertaining selection of music. Speaking of the music choices they are varied and have excellent fidelity. The track is startlingly dynamic and everything I was hoping the home video release would sound like after seeing the film in theaters on opening day. Bass was deep and there are some very interesting uses of the LFE channel. There is a moment where Deadshot is being beaten by the guards of a prison and you can seriously feel every thwack hit the lower part of your back with the amount of tight and precise bass used for this scene. For folks who haven't upgraded to a Dolby Atmos capable receiver it will default to a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track. 10/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


The bonus features included here are engaging enough and do have some nice behind-the-scenes clips but I do wish that they could have included some extra deleted scenes that weren't added back into the extended cut. 8/10 Below are the descriptions provide on the Blu-ray disc and running times.

* Extended Cut (HD, 02:14:32) - The standard Blu-ray disc contains the Extended Cut of the film while the 4K ultra HD disc only has the Theatrical Cut.

* Task Force X: One Team, One Mission (HD, 23:08) - Face off with DC's Worst as we revel the rich legacy behind Deadshot, Joker, Harley Quinn, Rick Flag, and the rest of Task Force X.

* Chasing the Real (HD, 09:37) - Writer/Director David Ayer brings a heightened sense of reality to Suicide Squad's brilliantly imagined cinematic world, focusing on athletic street-level grittiness and emphasizing each character's unique style and abilities.

* Joker & Harley: “It” Couple of The Underworld (HD, 14:29) - She's rotten. He's damaged. And when these two come together - true love becomes treacherous! Discover why hearts pound for the disturbing and dangerous power couple of pain.

* Squad Strength and Speed (HD, 09:00) - Before they could become the Worst. Heroes. Ever. Cast members had to shape up! Get inside the story straight form the Squad as hardcore training molds their minds, amp their skills and whip their bodies into peak condition.

* Armed to the Teeth (HD, 11:48) - No Super Villain would be caught dead without their weapon. Check out Deadshot's wrist-mounted magnums, Katana's soul-sucking sword, Captain Boomerang's badass boomerangs and Harley's beloved bat and revolver.

* This is Gonna Get Loud: The Epic Battles of Suicide Squad (HD, 10:54) - You know the fight is right when it feels real. See how hard-hitting physical techniques plus high-tech CGI enhancements create explosive actions that grabs you by the throat and won't let go.

* The Squad Declassified (HD, 04:19) - The killer instincts skills and firepower of the world's most dangerous Super Villains are put to the test in the battle for Midway City. See how Task Force X measures up against their unearthly, lethal opponents in this searing blow-by-blow.

* Gag Reel (HD, 02:04)