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Blu-Ray : Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: January 1st, 2008 Movie Release Year: 2007

Shoot 'Em Up

Overview -

A gritty, fast-paced action thriller, Shoot ‘Em Up kicks into high gear with a memorable opening scene and never relents. Clive Owen stars as Mr. Smith, a mysterious loner who teams up with an unlikely ally (Monica Bellucci) to protect a newborn baby from a determined criminal (Paul Giamatti) who hunts them throughout the bowels of the city.

OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/VC-1
Length:
86
Aspect Ratio(s):
2.35:1
Audio Formats:
English 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio
Subtitles/Captions:
Spanish Subtitles
Special Features:
Theatrical Trailers
Release Date:
January 1st, 2008

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

What makes a bad movie entertaining? An action extravaganza with the title 'Shoot Em Up' could provide the answer. After watching its trailer and reading its absurd plot synopsis, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what I was in for -- so why was I grinning clear through to the end credits?

In 'Shoot Em Up,' the mysterious Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) saves a pregnant woman from a group of gun-toting thugs and delivers her baby before she dies. Enlisting the aid of a lactating prostitute (Monica Bellucci), Smith goes on the lam with his new "family" in an attempt to avoid a ruthless hitman (Paul Giamatti) and his colleagues. As Smith uncovers the truth behind the baby's paternity, he stumbles onto a conspiracy involving an aging politician, a baby harvesting scheme, and a firearms manufacturer. You got all that?

'Shoot Em Up' may not have any redeeming social value, but it’s tremendously proud of its brazen, amoral compass. The violence is gratuitous, the action is unrelenting, and the plot appears to have been meticulously crafted to make each development more offensive than the last, but it handles its fun, comicbook action with style. Bullets swarm like killer bees, explosions take on a life of their own, and over-the-top stuntwork puts a very tart cherry on top of this cinematic sundae. While it lacks the remarkable dialogue of 'Sin City' or the arthouse cinematography of '300,' the film’s action is so perfectly choreographed, so frantic, and so reckless in its disregard for the laws of physics that it occasionally reminded me of those higher caliber films.

Simply put, it does what it does well. Clive Owen is a whirling vortex of destruction, Giamatti would make an amazing Joker in a parallel universe (where Heath Ledger hadn’t snagged the part), and for once, Bellucci is more than just window dressing. The actors clearly had such a good time making the flick that I found myself buying into the hectic universe they inhabit.

But for all of my smiles and laughs, the story still left a bad taste in my mouth. Some of the characters are so mean-spirited and ill-tempered that I had a hard time rooting for anyone other than the baby caught in the midst of the madness. The supporting cast is also hit-or-miss. I never knew what to expect from scene to scene, and the end result often feels like a clumsy combination of three different films. Worst of all, the third act and the ending are too absurd to be satisfying on any level. As the flick swirls down the drain towards its convoluted ending, it forgets to develop the story or the characters.

In the end, an inane film like 'Shoot Em Up' certainly won't have intellectuals lining up around the block, but it provides action junkies with a quick shot of adrenaline that's entertaining and fun. Is it a great film? Not by any stretch of the imagination. But anyone willing to turn off their brain and dive head first into a pulpy piece of modern noir will probably have a good time.

Video Review

Ranking:

'Shoot Em Up' hits the ground running with a sharp 1080p/VC-1 transfer. Although blue tones have been suppressed, the film's palette is bold and stable, with splashes of orange and red adding to the film’s comic book style. Blacks are inky, whites never bloom, and the contrast is exceptionally strong. The level of fine detail is the transfer’s real selling point. Textures are so crisp that elements like skin and hair have a startling three-dimensional appearance, clearly showcasing the major visual upgrades high definition has to offer.

Film purists will be happy to see that New Line didn't use DNR with this transfer as they did recently with 'Pan's Labyrinth.' 'Shoot Em Up' has a light grain that's visible at all times, and the image never suffers from waxy faces or smeared detail. The only possible complaints might be a few bursts of digital noise and a series of yellowed skintones. However, it seems both issues are intentional effects that shouldn't be mistaken for problems with the transfer itself. Anyone who enjoys the director's visual aesthetic will be extremely satisfied with the high-quality efforts of this striking transfer.

Audio Review

Ranking:

'Shoot Em Up' includes a fantastic DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track that features one of the most chaotic mixes I've ever experienced. Bullets, explosions, screams, shattering glass, splintering wood, ricochets, sparks -- there isn't one essential action-movie sound effect that makes less than a dozen appearances. To its credit, the DTS-HD MA track handles everything in stride. Dynamics are fierce, with bottomless bass rumbles and steady treble tones. The characters sound larger than life and their voices are never lost under the roar of the violence. Better still, the rear surrounds are used to their full potential -- I challenge anyone to call the soundfield flat or uninvolving. The movie itself may not hook everyone, but the surround track is as immersive as they come.

Special Features

Ranking:

New Line brings 'Shoot Em Up' to Blu-ray with high definition versions of all the significant special features included on the standard DVD. The studio has even put together a PiP commentary that I'll discuss in the next section. The only pseudo-supplement that's MIA is a PC enabled bonus which allows users to watch the DVD on their computer while viewing behind-the-scenes photos as well as the original screenplay.

  • Audio Commentary -- Writer/director Michael Davis‘rat-a-tat-tat commentary is a blast, relaying more information in 86 minutes than other directors manage to eke out in three hours. Once I grew accustomed to his rapid-fire delivery, I really enjoyed the candid comments, self-deprecating humor, and astute observations on the final film. I love it when a director is able to explain his thoughts and vision so concisely.
  • Ballet of Bullets: Making Shoot Em Up (HD, 53 minutes) -- While it covers a lot of the same ground as Davis's commentary, this behind-the-scenes documentary is a great addition to the supplemental package. It covers early work on the script, the construction of the sets, the use of countless weapons, Davis's unique application of on-set animatics, and more. There are even entire sections devoted to the CGI, green screen shots, and the stuntwork used to bring the frenetic action to life. This one is a must-watch for even the most casual fans of the film.
  • Animatics (HD, 23 minutes) -- Don't skip past this featurette! It may be called "animatics," but it's more interesting than the standard fare. Davis's animatics built the confidence of financiers, roped in Clive Owen, and were even used during the shoot to show the actors what finalized shots would look like. An optional commentary track is available as well.
  • Deleted Scenes (HD, 8 minutes) -- Nine scenes are available with optional commentary. Most are mere extensions, but I found myself generally surprised that each scene was excluded. They're not groundbreaking, but the 86 minute movie could've used as much meat on its bones as was available.
  • Shoot Em Up Trailers (HD, 7 minutes) -- This section includes three different theatrical trailers for the film.

Final Thoughts

It may be crap through and through, but 'Shoot Em Up' can be quite entertaining when approached with the proper mindset. Thankfully this Blu-ray release is another commendable high-def experience from New Line. A stunning transfer, an excellent DTS HD MA audio track, and a wealth of supplements make this an easy purchase for fans.