Denzel Washington is Robert McCall, an ex-assassin with a mysterious past, who returns to action to serve vengeance for the exploited and oppressed. Witness his transformation from a solitary avenger to an unstoppable force, fighting ruthless adversaries from Russian gangsters to the Italian mafia in this heart-pounding 3-movie collection of action, justice, and redemption.
For in-depth thoughts on The Equalizer, please see my colleague Gaius Bolling’s’ previous piece here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray collection of The Equalizer trilogy is a somewhat confusing move from Sony. Instead of using the previously-released or new standalone 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs for the films, this collection provides us an “IMAX enhanced” presentation for each film without any shifting of aspect ratios. With this setting application being used primarily for marketing purposes, we would have rather just had the Dolby Vision that the standalone Equalizer 3 received plus an upgrade of the first two films from HDR10. The picture quality across these films is terrific, but the deficiencies in other areas make the whole decision to have unique discs in this set feel unnecessary. We do not have any of the standalone discs to compare, so we cannot truly judge the benefits of this IMAX-enhanced presentation over the standard individual discs.
From a visual standpoint, the transfers for these three films offer a fetching visual spectacle that gets more stylistically dark in the third entry, especially. Sony delivers a top-shelf encode across these installments. An area where 4K UHD often shows off is in the command of contrast. Highlights in the films are more refined with whites pure and balanced with no trace of blooming to be found. When it comes to shadow detail, environments are vivid and finely delineated. Black levels in this presentation are immensely deep and inky with impeccable detail. You will also see improvements when it comes to digital noise, as this set provides a natural aesthetic for each presentation.
The expanded range of the color spectrum thanks to HDR works well with this release. These films are primarily gritty and moody, but there are instances when you are taking in the environments under the sun where hues really leap off the screen. The deep colors within the costumes and lighting choices are truly a treat, as well. Skin tones appear natural with crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores and scrapes. This finely delineated detail extends to textures such as hair and even the most distinct ridges of costumes. This 4K UHD presentation handles things quite capably, even if we are not completely sold on the “IMAX enhanced” branding.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray set stumbles slightly when it comes to the audio. Instead of the expected Dolby Atmos track, The Equalizer 2 and The Equalizer 3 make the lateral move to DTS-X. This would be acceptable, but The Equalizer actually downgrades from a Dolby Atmos track on the standalone release to a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track on this new disc. This track is powerful in its own way, but this first film should have expanded, immersive audio like the other two. The DTS-X tracks on the two sequels are stellar. Atmospheric sound effects are rendered with terrific directional accuracy within the mix so that sounds feel even more lifelike. Just look at the implementation of the height channels, which are put through the ringer with obvious and discrete effects that make the journey much more thrilling.
These films dominate nearly all of the surround speakers consistently during both the character-driven moments and the numerous violent confrontations. The robust low-end response from the subwoofer gives moments across the board a tremendous boost with a hefty presence. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting overwhelmed by the music or sound effects. This story knows how to use music the track in turn permeates the room in an enveloping manner. As much as we love elements of what has been accomplished here, the compromise on the audio front feels like a step back.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on the discs included in this collection. If you want to view any special features on disc, you will have to purchase the individual releases. The special features should be available if you redeem the included digital copies.
Final Thoughts
The three movies in The Equalizer trilogy are rock-solid entertainment options for those looking for thrills. The story is often familiar, but the mere presence of Denzel Washington brings a sense of gravitas to the wonderfully grotesque clashes. Not only this, but director Antoine Fuqua wields the frame with purpose and confidence, something that can make or break popcorn entertainment. If the idea of seeing Denzel Washington dispatch some goons in feats of creative violence appeals to you, do not sleep on these films. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray collection featuring an inconsistent A/V presentation and no special features. This release may be more budget-friendly, but those who want uncompromised A/V quality and archival special features will want to stock up on the individual releases. Recommended
The Equalizer 3-Movie Collection is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures 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.