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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Four, The

    Featured In Issue 176, April/May 2013

    Picture4.5
    Sound5
    WSR Score3
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Well Go USA
    (Catalog Number):
    WGU01401B
    (MPAA Rating):
    Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $29.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    119
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2012
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    07/09/13
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Gordon Chan
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Based on the novel The Four by Woon Swe Oan, this is the first film in a planned trilogy. Four martial arts masters dedicate their special skills to the service of Master Zhuge in solving crimes and apprehending powerful criminals. A royal secret. A covert governing organization. A divine constabulary. Everyone wants to know about a stolen coin cast and a mysterious circulation of
    counterfeit currency. Every government agency and financial interest in the region has an interest and a plan. But this scam is only the beginning of their problems. Something supernatural is happening. Someone is forming an army of the undead, created to crush anything that stands in their way, making their way to the capital. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include a making-of featurette (HD 24:22), deleted scenes (HD 04:10), trailers, and upfront previews.

    The 2.35:1 1080p AVC picture exhibits a stylized appearance, with various settings rendered in color casts, while maintaining natural fleshtones throughout. Hues vary in intensity, richness, and warmth, depending on the particular scene. Contrast is well balanced, with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is superb, with fine detail throughout exhibited in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture, especially in close-ups. The imagery is pristine as well and pleasantly visual and engaging. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ Mandarin 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely produced with a sweeping music score that spans the soundstage, while extending to the surrounds. Instruments are well recorded and nuanced in timbre. Foley effects are actively engaged during the martial arts sequences. Atmospherics and sound effects are engaging and spatial. Deep bass executed in the .1 LFE channel is supportive, providing a natural low-frequency foundation. Surrounds are at times energized and directionalized. The Mandarin dialogue is consistently intelligible throughout, and English subtitles are plainly displayed. This is an articulate sonic experience, with excellent fidelity. (Gary Reber)

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