Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.
The Fast and The Furious film franchise has been around for the last twenty years. What began as an action film that focused on street racing and hijacking has expanded over the nine movies to a world of espionage and literally out-of-this-world situations.
Director/co-writer Justin Lin returns to the franchise for the latest installment, simply titled F9: The Fast Saga, now available on home media. In this one, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) has to revisit his past as he and the team try to stop an international terrorist organization, led by a sinister assassin, his long forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena).
The movie itself is the epitome of “how far can we push this?” And push they do, with high-octane action and practical stunts in places like Edinburgh, London, and beyond.
The Good
Universal is doing good on their home media releases; not holding back on their audio quality. This disc is no different. Whether you purchase the Blu-ray or the 4K release, the movie is delivered in immersive Dolby Atmos. For a film with lots of action, music, and dialogue, the sound is well balanced.
There was minimal overhead use, considering the number of helicopters, jets, and other things looming overhead. The surround speakers came alive at specific points but could have definitely been used more. That said, explosions registered (and there were plenty) at the sub and the other channels were well represented.
The Bad
The visuals of the movie were a nice mix of traditional European locations and exotics. This would be a great place to see the richness of black levels on the buildings and night scenes, but they just looked OK. For the 4K release, the HDR did little to add to colors popping in scenes shot in the jungle or the shiny exteriors of the sports cars.
Without this, there are minute differences between what you see in the Blu-ray and the 4K additions of the movie. Considering you’re getting the same sound options, this may be an excellent argument to save a few bucks and get the Blu-ray.
The Family
From the first film, the overall theme has been family. Reuniting (and sometimes resurrecting) old characters is a critical element in F9. This is best represented in the boatload of bonus features included. There are two film additions included: a theatrical cut and a director’s cut, which features about seven minutes of additional footage. Both versions feature a commentary with Lin.
Also included are a gag reel, a multi-part production supplement called F9: All In, A Day on the Set with Justin Lin feature, and others. In total, there are around 80 minutes of bonus features to explore all the aspects of the movie. If you’re an action fan or a fan of the franchise, you will enjoy adding this one to your collection.
Personally, I think the franchise hit a high point in the sequels with Fast Five, and from there, it has crossed into something that no longer resembles the original film’s content. But if you’re still enjoying the ride, there’s enough on these discs to continue you down the Fast and Furious road you have come to enjoy.
KB is a native New Yorker/Midwest transplant who’s into tech, sports, and the arts, especially film and music. He still aspires to be a DJ in his other life. You can frequently catch him watching Hitchcock classics, film noir, and anything Star Wars.
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