Ambulance
Overview -
Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González, Michael Bay's latest rowdy spectacle Ambulance has its shortcomings but is nonetheless a fun, mindless popcorn spectacular with lots of white-knuckle thrills. The action flick crashes into Blu-ray with a reference-quality audio and video presentation but a disappointingly small collection of bonuses. Nevertheless, the overall package is worth a look and Recommended for action fans.
In this action thriller directed by Michael Bay, veteran Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Candyman), desperate for money, turns to his adoptive brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal, End of Watch) for help. A career criminal, Danny instead offers him a huge score. But when their heist goes awry, the desperate brothers hijack an ambulance with a wounded cop and EMT (Eiza González, Baby Driver) onboard. Will and Danny must evade a city-wide law enforcement response, keep their hostages alive, and somehow try not to kill each other, all while executing the most insane escape LA has ever seen.
- BAYHEM – Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González and crew discuss what it's like to work on a Michael Bay set as viewers watch the legend himself masterfully conduct the mayhem.
- PEDAL TO THE METAL - A look at how Michael Bay took his car chase craft to a whole other level for AMBULANCE.
- AERIAL ASSAULT - Learn how the breath-taking, heart-stopping aerial images in AMBULANCE were captured.
- FINDING AMBULANCE* - Filmmakers and cast discuss the genesis of AMBULANCE and what drew them to the project.
- CHASE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD* - Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González and crew discuss how LA's endless miles of highways and sprawling streets became a character in the film and the perfect location for AMBULANCE.
- A TRIBUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS - Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González talk about their growing understanding, respect, and gratitude for first responders.
Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take
You can read our full thoughts on Michael Bay's Ambulance in our review of the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray HERE.
Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Universal Studios Home Entertainment brings Michael Bay's Ambulance to Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack with a Digital Copy code. The Region Free BD50 disc sits comfortably opposite a DVD-9 copy, and both come inside a blue, eco-elite case with a slipcover. After several skippable trailers, viewers are taken to a static menu with music playing in the background.
Video Review
The pulse-pounding action thriller races to Blu-ray with an exceptionally gorgeous, reference-quality 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode. The freshly-minted digital transfer comes with razor-sharp details from start to finish, exposing every nook and cranny inside the ambulance and in the streets of Los Angeles. The only issue worth noting, keeping it from a perfect score, are a couple of instances of minor aliasing in the windows of buildings during aerial long shots, but they are also easy to overlook and don't distract. Aside from that, facial complexions are highly revealing with natural skin tones, showing every pore, wrinkle and distinct whisker. Bay's signature style is also on full display as the orange-teal photography bathes the action in sumptuous primaries with richly animated reds, energetic blues and lively greens. Secondary hues are equally striking, igniting the screen with a vivid, dynamic variety of warm fiery yellows and various neon colors. All the while, the visuals are saturated in inky black levels throughout and midnight shadows that penetrate deep into the screen without ever sacrificing the finer details, providing the 2.39:1 image with appreciable depth. At the same time, the contrast balance is on point and right on the money, furnishing clean, bright whites and crisp, radiant highlights. (Video Rating: 96/100)
Audio Review
The Bayhem spectacular crashes into home theaters with the same near-reference Dolby Atmos soundtrack enjoyed on the 4K Ultra HD edition. For a more in-depth take on the audio quality, you can read our review of the 4K Ultra HD HERE. (Dolby Atmos Audio Rating: 98/100)
Special Features
- Pedal to the Metal (HD, 10 min)
- A Tribute to First Responders (HD, 7 min)
- Bayhem (HD, 6 min)
- Finding Ambulance (HD, 6 min)
- Aerial Assault (HD, 5 min)
- Chase Capital of the World (HD, 4 min)
Final Thoughts
Michael Bay's latest rowdy spectacle Ambulance is ultimately the filmmaker's usual bombastically garish display of trivial style over hollow substance, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González. Amazingly, whatever its shortcomings and failure to capture the heartfelt drama at the plot's core, Bay nonetheless delivers a fun, mindless popcorn spectacular with lots of white-knuckle thrills that feels reminiscent of earlier works. The action flick crashes into Blu-ray with an outstanding, reference-quality HD video and an awesome, demo-worthy Dobly Atmos soundtrack. In spite of a disappointingly small collection of bonuses, the overall package is worth a look and recommended for action fans.
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