You can read our full thoughts on the Sylvester Stallone-produced Creed II in our review of the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray HERE.
Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Warner Home Video and MGM Home Entertainment bring Creed II to Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack with a flyer code for a Digital Copy. The Region Free, BD50 disc sits opposite a DVD-9 copy inside a blue, eco-cutout case with glossy slipcover. After a couple of skippable promos, the screen changes to a generic static menu with options along the bottom of the screen and music playing in the background.
Adonis Creed enters the Blu-ray ring for a second time in top-notch form with a first-rate 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode yelling from its corner. The freshly-minted transfer comes out punching with excellent clarity during the action-packed boxing matches, showing clean, well-defined lines and wrinkles in the satin-polyester fabric of the shorts and gloves. Viewers can make out the stitching and threading as well in various other articles of clothing, such as the scarves and leather jackets worn throughout, and individual hairs are distinct. Facial complexions are highly-revealing, exposing every pore, wrinkle and negligible blemish with healthy, accurate lifelike textures. The people filling the stadium are plainly visible in the distance while some daylight exteriors, especially the training montage sequence in the California desert, reach the level of demo-worthy.
Presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the HD video struts its stuff on its walk to the ring with contrast that hits hard, right on the money. Whether coming from the hot stage lights, the California sunshine or the warm lamps of the Creed home, the presentation is continuously bathed in crisp, brilliant whites, giving the comeback journey an upbeat, hopeful feeling. Likely the result of Kramer Morgenthau's stylized cinematography, brightness levels are not always the most consistent with a couple of poorly-lit interiors seeming somewhat lackluster, but for the most part, blacks are inky and opulent with excellent shadow detailing, providing the image with appreciable dimensionality. Morgenthau's photography falls a bit on the flatter side, lightly affecting the overall palette, but primaries are nonetheless full-bodied and richly-saturated while secondary hues are vibrant and accurately rendered. (Video Rating: 92/100)
The sports drama debuts on Blu-ray with the same wonderfully satisfying Dolby Atmos soundtrack as its Ultra HD counterpart. 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: 84/100)
Adonis Creed and Rocky Balboa return to the ring in Creed II, featuring a rematch against a familiar foe who manages to open old war wounds. With excellent performances from the entire cast, the two fighters fight for more than just the championship belt and the adoration of the public, but also against the ghosts of their past, haunted by the ramifications of bygone decisions. The sequel struts its stuff to the Blu-ray ring with an often-stunning, near-reference video presentation and an excellent Dolby Atmos soundtrack cheering it from the corner. Although the supplements are disappointingly light, they are nonetheless entertaining, making the overall package Recommended for sports fans everywhere.
