Plot: What’s it about?
Gino (Steven Seagal) is a detective who works in the same neighborhoods he grew up, so he knows the area and of course, the people that live there. He has noticed a lot of changes in the neighborhood, most of which have been for the worse, but he plans to keep the streets safe. Gino doesn’t talk a lot, but he is a man of action and driven by his desire to protect the innocent, he is dedicated to cleaning up the area. Another man from the area, Richie (William Forsythe) is on the other side of the situation, as he intends to widen his criminal operations, even if it means leaving a trail of bodies. When Gino’s partner is gunned down, the tension reaches a boiling point and both men face a dangerous future. Can Gino take out Richie and return peace to the streets, or will he simply be the next victim on the list?
In the world of cinema aikido, no one can match the prowess of Steven Seagal. While he is overweight now, without his signature ponytail and stuck in direct to video productions, he was once a big name in the world of action movies. When it came to breaking arms, slamming faces on tables, and flipping guys by the dozens, Seagal ruled the scene. Out for Justice was made in his prime run, not a good movie by normal standards, but a fun action driven picture. The story is basic, but the real draw is of course the action and it is frequent and well crafted. Seagal is more than capable here, a natural presence in the fights and while he isn’t a great actor, the role is tailor made for his persona. This is the kind of movie you just turn off your brain and enjoy, an over the top, ass kicking movie that entertains action junkies. Warner’s HD-DVD isn’t a revelation, but the visuals are improved, though overall, I think a rental is the best choice in this case.
Video: How does it look?
Video- Out for Justice is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a solid transfer, an improvement over the standard release, but by no means a substantial upgrade. The transfer looks good in well lit and outdoor scenes, where the image is bright and well detailed. In those scenes, you can tell clarity is improved and subtle visual details are visible. In the darker scenes however, the visuals aren’t as remarkable. The colors seem bright and natural, but contrast is a little off and as a result, overall picture quality takes a hit. As I said, the movie looks good here, but we have to expect more from high definition releases
Audio: How does it sound?
I wasn’t impressed by the audio here either, as the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 track isn’t as powerful as I’d like. This is an action movie, with gunshots and fistfight, but this mix doesn’t make those elements prominent. A gunshot should be a loud, powerful noise, but here there is minimal presence or impact. I wouldn’t say it puts a huge damper on things, but this kind of movie benefits from a strong surround presence, no doubt. On the positive side, the dialogue sounds good, so at least that’s in order. This disc also includes French and Spanish language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
