Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula
Overview -
The same filmmakers who brought us the deliciously thrilling Train to Busan follow its success with Peninsula, sadly abandoning the brilliance of its predecessor in favor of bigger zombie mayhem over a strong plot littered with woefully laughable, saccharine-rich tropes. The South Korean actioner crashes into Blu-ray with an exceptional HD video, an outstanding Dolby Atmos soundtrack but a forgettable set of bonuses. In the end, the overall package is only Worth a Look for the most daring and curious among us.
Four years after South Korea s total decimation in TRAIN TO BUSAN, the zombie thriller that captivated audiences worldwide, acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho brings us PENINSULA, the next nail-biting chapter in his post-apocalyptic world. Jung-seok, a soldier who previously escaped the diseased wasteland, relives the horror when assigned to a covert operation with two simple objectives: retrieve and survive. When his team unexpectedly stumbles upon survivors, their lives will depend on whether the best or worst of human nature prevails in the direst of circumstances.
Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take
You can read our full thoughts on Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula in our review of the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray HERE.
Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Well Go USA Entertainment brings Peninsula to Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack. The Region A locked, dual-layered BD50 disc sits comfortably opposite a DVD9 disc inside a blue eco-elite vortex case. At startup, the disc goes straight to a static menu screen with the usual options along the bottom and music playing in the background.
Video Review
The horror sequel debuts on Blu-ray with an exceptional, highly-detailed 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode, looking just as pretty and impressive as it is berserk and gory. Outside of a few soft moments that stand out like bright headlights shining in the eyes of the running dead, the freshly-minted transfer, on the whole, shows distinct, well-defined lines in the interior and exterior of buildings, the various vehicles and in the clothing. While displaying accurate flesh tones — except for the zombies, of course — facial complexions are also highly revealing. The photography of Lee Hyung-deok is surprisingly colorful with bold, energetic primaries and vivid, spirited secondary hues, adding some eye-popping beauty to the well-light scenes. Contrast and brightness, likewise, are right on the money with crisp, vivid whites and deep rich blacks, providing the 1.85:1 image with intense, dramatic highlights and appreciable dimensionality. (Video Rating: 94/100)
Audio Review
The undead heist flick arrives with the same outstanding Dolby Atmos track 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: 88/100)
Special Features
- Making of (HD, 10 min): A collection of BTS footage and cast & crew interviews.
- Trailers (HD, 4 min)
Known in the U.S. as Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula, the highly-anticipated sequel sadly suffers from a horrible case of "Sequelitis," abandoning pretty much everything that made its predecessor a brilliant zombie thriller. Favoring visuals and action over substance and a strong narrative, the same filmmakers heavily borrow from other zombie flicks to deliver a rather dull story driven by an eye-rolling, saccharine-rich center that's more woefully laughable than tearfully poignant. The South Korean actioner crashes into the Blu-ray harbor with an exceptional HD video presentation and an outstanding Dolby Atmos soundtrack. However, bonus features are sadly lacking, making the overall package only worth a look for the most daring and curious among us.
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