2 Guns appears in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1 on this 4K UHD Disc. Across the board, this was an appealing transfer.
Sharpness looked strong most of the time. Some interior elements seemed a little tentative, but the image usually gave us a tight, well-defined image.
Jagged edges and moiré effects remained absent, while edge haloes also failed to appear. Grain seemed light but appropriate, and print flaws stayed absent.
To the shock of no one, Guns offered a typical mix of orange and teal. These tones seemed predictable, but they worked fine within the movie’s design parameters and showed good delineation. HDR added a bit of impact to the tones.
Blacks were dark and tight, while shadows showed nice clarity and smoothness. HDR gave whites and contrast a moderate boost. I thought this was a consistently strong image.
Downconverted to DTS-HD MA 7.1, I also felt pleased with the film’s DTS X soundtrack. With a fair amount of action on display, the mix used the channels in an involving manner throughout much of the film.
This meant gunfire and other mayhem all around the room, and the elements connected in a concise, smooth manner. Add to that music as a bold participant and the soundscape turned into an aggressive partner.
Audio quality always satisfied. Music was dynamic and full, and effects followed suit, so those components came across as accurate and well-developed.
Speech seemed distinctive and crisp, without edginess or other issues. Everything impressed in this strong soundtrack.
How did the 4K compare to the Blu-ray version? The DTS X track expanded on the original 5.1 in a moderate manner.
From a 2K source, the 4K’s image also provided a few improvements, mainly due to the HDR, as delineation seemed pretty similar for both. The 4K felt a little richer and more stable so I preferred it, but it didn’t offer a major upgrade compared to the Blu-ray.
The 4K duplicates the Blu-ray’s extras and includes some new ones. We open with an audio commentary from director Baltazar Kormákur and producer Adam Siegel, both of whom sit together for this running, screen-specific discussion of the source and its adaptation, story/characters, cast and performances, sets and locations, stunts and action, costumes, and related domains.
Overall, Kormákur and Siegel provide a pretty good chat. They interact well and cover enough appropriate topics to ensure we get a largely engaging view of the project.
Eight Deleted and Extended Scenes fill a total of 11 minutes, 50 seconds. We get added exposition as well as a bit more action and some comedy. None of it adds up to anything especially significant, however.
Under Click Click, Bang Bang, we get four featurettes that occupy 30 minutes, 18 seconds all together. Across these, we hear from Siegel, Kormákur, author Steven Grant, producers Randall Emmett, Marc Platt and Ross Richie, screenwriter Blake Masters, production designer Beth Mickle, costume designer Laura Jean Shannon, bull wrangler Marshall DeSouge, head trainer Trevor George, animal trainer Jason M. Owen, armorer Michael Panevics, stunt coordinator Darrin Prescott, SPFX coordinator James Lorimer, New Orleans FD District Chief Chris Mickal, and actors Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Edward James Olmos, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton, and James Marsden.
“Click” covers the source graphic novel and its adaptation, story/characters, cast and performances, Kormákur’s approach, sets and locations, costumes, working with animals, stunts and action, and various effects.
Expect a mix of fluff and insights. We get enough of the latter to keep us with “Click” but too much happy talk comes along for the ride.
From here we go to 4K UHD disc exclusives, and we get a look at the source Graphic Novel. It runs eight minutes, six seconds and brings notes from Grant, Richie, Masters, Kormákur, Washington, and Wahlberg.
As expected, we learn about the original work and its path to the screen. It becomes a satisfactory summary despite a little material that already appeared in “Click”.
More featurettes follow, and Lines of Fire goes for six minutes, 42 seconds. Here we locate info from Paxton, Olmos, Kormákur, Siegel, Wahlberg, Emmett, Masters, Platt, and Patton.
“Fire” looks at improvisation and acting. A few fun moments result but we find a lot of fluff along the way.
A Viking In Hollywood lasts six minutes. It provides comments from Kormákur, Siegel, Wahlberg, Washington, Platt, Emmett, Paxton, Masters, and Mickle.
Kormákur becomes the focal point here, as we get notes about the director. This turns into more puffy stuff most of the time.
Next comes Going Undercover, a five minute, 27 second reel. This one delivers remarks from Washington, Kormákur, Siegel, Patton, Emmett, Platt, and DEA technical advisor Richard Woodfork.
“Undercover” discusses research and realism in terms of law enforcement. It becomes another mix of useful material and praise.
Storyboard to Screen occupies four minutes, 47 seconds. We hear from Kormákur, Wahlberg, Washington, and storyboard artist James Doh.
Unsurprisingly, this reel covers the storyboards. We find a decent but unexceptional program.
The package includes a Blu-ray copy. As mentioned, it provides the commentary, the deleted/extended scenes and the “Click Click” featurette but lacks the rest.
The Blu-ray opens with ads for RIPD, The World’s End, Despicable Me 2, Jobs, Dead In Tombstone, Kick-Ass 2, Fast & Furious 6 and Machete Kills.
Previews adds clips for Jurassic Park Trilogy, Scarface (1983), Jaws, Fast Five, The Bourne Legacy, Contraband and Safe House. No trailer for Guns appears here.
Despite a strong cast, 2 Guns never turns into anything memorable. Although its stars make it watchable, the end product lacks the kick it needs to become better than average. The 4K UHD comes with very good picture and audio as well as a few bonus features. Gun doesn’t flop but it also fails to ignite.
To rate this film, visit the Blu-ray review of 2 GUNS
