The Film
When a guy's resume includes two Crank-fests, two Expendables movies, and three installments of Transporter, it's hard to expect anything too high caliber. Sorry Jason Statham; we're just looking for a high kill count and a few cool action scenes.
Statham delivers in Killer Elite, but the movie gets a slight kick in the pants (literally) from quick appearances by Clive Owen and Robert De Niro.
Loosely based on the adventures of Sir Rannulph Fiennes, Statham plays Danny Bryce, a hit man trying to get out of the business. Naturally, he's brought back in by the abduction of his former partner and mentor (De Niro).
It doesn't really matter what the rest of the plot entails. It's a little confusing and a little too long (30 minutes, to be exact). It doesn't really matter, though, because this is all about explosions and ass-kicking and you'll be treated to plenty of that. If you're expecting more, well, shame on you. Of course, it's sad to see De Niro crap away his legacy yet again, but hey, he's really not in it all that much. At least Killer Elite is not Meet the Fockers, and there's something to be said for that.
The Picture
Killer Elite comes through exactly where you'd expect, in both the audio and video presentations. This 2.40:1 transfer isn't the prettiest thing on Blu-ray, but it's not supposed to be. Instead, it's a little grainy and gritty, but that's absolutely perfect here. The colors are exactly how they are supposed to be, with great contrast and inky blacks. The best part of the whole flick, however, can be found in the detail. In some scenes, you're going to see more than you want to, including every well-groomed piece of rugged stubble.
The Sound
Strap yourself in and get ready for a ride. Killer Elite is loud and proud, and frankly, it should be. The lone DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers punches, gunshots and shards of broken glass in its full surround glory. It's a loud one, but in a very good way. Some of the dialogue is a little low. That's because the film is filled with tough guys that don't feel the need to annunciate. But why bother with this dialogue? Killer Elite hits you right in the face often and when you least expect it. Enjoy.
The Extras
It's hard to blame the principal actors for not wanting to stand around and B.S. about how good this movie is. There are no making-of featurettes or interviews here. Instead, Killer Elite just comes with a crop of deleted scenes and nothing more.
Final Thoughts
With so much talent in front of the camera, Killer Elite should have been a better movie. That said, it could have been a lot worse, too. When you walk into a Jason Statham movie, you should know what you're getting into. His handiwork should keep you entertained for most of the film. However, it's the killer (no pun intended) AV presentation that make this one actually worth sitting through.
Product Details
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