U.S. Marshal Mason Pollard specializes in “erasing” people – faking the deaths of high-risk witnesses. With the technological advances of the last 25 years, the game has upgraded, and it’s just another day at the office when he’s assigned to Rina Kimura, a crime boss’ wife who’s decided to turn state’s evidence. As the two flee to Cape Town, South Africa, with a team of merciless assassins on their trail, Pollard discovers he’s been set up. Double-crossed and fueled by adrenaline, he needs to be at the top of his game, or he’ll be the one who’s erased. Permanently.
For thoughts on Eraser: Reborn, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Eraser: Reborn comes to Blu-Ray with a terrific 1080p transfer which really shows off all aspects of the film perfectly. The aesthetic stays locked in with a natural color palette which captures all of the visual brilliance of the locales very nicely. There are the dazzling pops of color, such as elements of the environment, the clothes and production design, which really enhance the spectacle of the experience. Black levels hold up well with no glaring instances of black crush present. Digital noise and banding present as only a very minor issue with this release. The amount of distinct clarity and detail present on this Blu-Ray is truly something to behold. Subtle details on faces are amazingly clear and fine texture such as facial hair holds up surprisingly well both in close-ups and long shots. This is a great presentation for a very visually polished film.
Audio Quality
This disc comes equipped with a powerful DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio presentation that capably handles everything that is thrown at it. The sound design of this film is pretty dynamic with action set pieces popping up on a consistent basis, all of which are executed very effectively. There are elements in this track that are truly enveloping while Mason is on his mission. Sounds are appropriately rendered with precise directionality from the more kinetic scenes to the quieter dialogue-driven scenes filled with subtle inflections. The serviceable score brings an energy to this film that helps propel it forward. Dialogue is presented perfectly clear without ever being overwhelmed by any of the competing sonic elements. The low end gives this film a boost when it kicks into high gear. The mix here is very well done with nice engagement of all the channels, which makes this track perfect for the experience.
Special Features
- The Warrior and The Witness – Making Eraser: Reborn: A nine-minute behind-the-scenes featurette in which the cast and the creative team discuss how the world has evolved since the 1996 film, how they raised the stakes, the on-location filming, filming the action sequences, working within a restricted budget and more.
Final Thoughts
Eraser: Reborn is not a genuinely great film, but when you compare it to similar direct-to-video action films it towers above most. The best way to approach this film is to forget any connection it might have to the previous Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle and judge it on its own merits. The cast perform capably in their roles, even showing a bit of charisma at times, especially in the case of Jacky Lai. The action scenes are competently composed and only some of the special effects work looks a bit wonky, mostly when it pertains to one particular animal. It is far from high art, but it is much better than we feared it might be. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of special features. If you are an action film junkie struggling to find decent films, there are worse ways to spend your time than with this one.
Eraser: Reborn is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
