Just in time to catch the second one in theatres, Sony releases The Equalizer in stunning 4k. With some new special features and upgraded picture and sound, fans of the film will be anxious to check this one out.
“McCall (Denzel Washington) has put his mysterious past behind him and is dedicated to living a new, quiet life. But when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.”
Robert McCall seems like an ordinary man who values the quiet life, living a normal day-to-day routine. As he stands along the sidelines of society, unnoticed and out of the way, he can’t help but be disgusted by some of the things he sees. Every night he reads a book in a diner, and every night Teri, a young prostitute pimped out by Russians, comes in for refuge before her next forced appointment. The two of them chat occasionally, with McCall opening up that he is reading the 100 greatest books his wife tried to finish before she died. When Teri doesn’t show up one night, then the following night as well, McCall knows something is wrong, learning she’s in the hospital after being nearly beaten to death by the Russians for defending herself against a client that got too rough.
McCall reaches his breaking point, deciding to do something about it. We eventually learn about his past and his unique, unstoppable abilities that attract attention from the Russian mob. McCall then must utilize all the tricks in his book to take down the head of the snake of this evil organization who now have their targets set on him!
Based on the television show in the 80’s by the same name, The Equalizer probably has more things that are different than similar. Although I enjoyed the film immensely, one has to ask why they even bothered to use this title if nothing more than to capitalize on the nostalgia of any fans of the original show. As we all know, Denzel does his bad-ass loner persona in more than one film and is actually pretty amazing at it. My point being, this film is highly entertaining, but far from anything new that we’ve seen.
Despite its unoriginality, The Equalizer does boast some pretty impressive factors that ensure the enjoyment from the audience. Denzel of course is the perfect actor for this role, there’s no denying that. What I also enjoyed immensely about the film was the rest of the cast. Marton Csokas was an amazing antagonist, balanced very well with just enough back story and screen time to make us feel a connection to him, although a negative one. In a very tense sequence we learn about his childhood as McCall tells a story of a small boy growing up in Russia who we believe to be him. The supporting cast is also impressive: Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Melissa Leo, Bill Pullman; they don’t have much screen time, but they all make up for it with their short but sweet performances that help add many layers to the film. Director Antoine Fuqua has done some great films in the past and brings his unique style to the screen in an explosive way. The third act is perhaps one of the most gruesome and original things I’ve seen in this type of film, really raising the bar for the action/vengeance type genre. If there is anyone out there who has ever wondered what it would be like to be trapped with bad guys in a fictional Home Depot, you get your wish, complete with all the unique ways to think of to dispatch them accordingly.
As much as I love the film there are of course moments that leave you scratching your head in disbelief. One such scene consists of huge explosions and one of the most casual, nonchalant walks through that explosion I’ve ever seen, taking the slow-motion walk away from an explosion to unfathomable heights. It’s dumb, silly, and does nothing but further our notion that McCall is basically super-human and cannot be killed, detracting from the humanity he shows toward people who can’t help themselves.
Video
The Equalizer is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen 2.40:1 with HDR. This 4k release looks stunning, providing amazing clarity and detail from the blu-ray release. The HDR provides an amazing balance in color, including the vivid colors and deep darks you’d expect from it. The film is rather dark throughout, taking place mostly at night or in dark locations, but still looks great and is full of detail.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby Atmos. This track sounds incredible, and with an action film like this that has everything: dialogue, explosions, gunshots, you will truly see the range that Atmos has going from one scene to the next. Levels are well balanced, so you’ll hear everything no matter if there are guns firing on one side and a character speaking in front of you.
Special Features
This set has some new extras added just for this 4k release.
On the 4k disc you’ll see:
- 5 Never Before-Seen Deleted Scenes Featuring McCall’s Epilogue Teasing The Equalizer 2
- A Villain’s Psychosis
- Boston: On Location
- A Modern Hero
- Joining Forces Again: Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua
- Playing the Part: The Cast of The Equalizer
- The Home Mart Advantage: The Action of The Equalizer
- Theatrical Trailers
On the Blu-Ray disc:
- Vengeance Mode with Denzel Washington & Antoine Fuqua
- 6 Featurettes
- Photo Gallery
If you’re looking for action, go no further than The Equalizer. With the second one out in theatres now, this is a perfect way to get caught up with Robert McCall and his vow to help those in need.
