{"id":19841,"date":"2018-11-11T20:57:27","date_gmt":"2018-11-12T04:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/?p=19841"},"modified":"2018-11-11T20:59:17","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T04:59:17","slug":"review-meg-4k-bd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/2018\/11\/review-meg-4k-bd\/","title":{"rendered":"The Meg 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Meg<\/em><\/strong> is a fun enough if not also forgettable science fiction action-adventure flick, a bigger budget version of a plot you\u2019d see from Asylum that somehow managed to get an A-grade actor to star.<\/p>\n

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The Meg<\/span>
\n(2018)<\/span>
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Genre(s): <\/strong>Action, Science Fiction
\nWarner Bros. | PG13 \u2013 113 min. \u2013 $44.95 | November 13, 2018<\/p>\n

Date Published:<\/strong> 11\/11\/2018 | Author:<\/strong> The Movieman<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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MOVIE INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Directed by: <\/strong>Jon Turteltaub
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Steve Alten (novel); Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber (screenplay)
\nCast: <\/strong>Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chou, Cliff Curtis, Robert Taylor, Page Kennedy, \u00d3lafur Darri \u00d3lafsson, Jessica McNamee, Masi Oka<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISC INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Features: <\/strong>Featurettes
\nDigital Copy: <\/strong>Yes
\nFormats Included: <\/strong>4K, Blu-ray
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio (4K\/BD): <\/strong>English (Dolby Atmos), English (DTS-HD 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
\nVideo (4K): <\/strong>2160p\/Widescreen 2.40
\nVideo (BD): <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen 2.40
\nDynamic Range: <\/strong>HDR10, Dolby Vision
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English SDH, French, Spanish
\nCodecs: <\/strong>HEVC \/ H.265 (4K), MPEG-4 AVC (BD)
\nRegion(s): <\/strong>A, B, C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe opinions I share are my own.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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THE MOVIE \u2014 3.25\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Ever want to see a big budget Asylum or SyFy TV movie? The Meg<\/em><\/strong> pretty much is that, though a whole lot more fun and gets the big benefit of having, outside of the better production values, of starring Jason Statham playing pretty much similar roles he\u2019s done in the past, like The Mechanic: Resurrection<\/em> or even The Transporter Trilogy<\/em>, albeit at least The Meg<\/em><\/strong> has a better screenplay, for whatever that\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n

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At the Mana One Research Center, funded by billionaire Jack Morris (RAINN WILSON), housed on a platform in the middle of the ocean, scientists take a sub vehicle down to some of the deepest part of the ocean to gather samples and pictures of this unknown area when they are attacked from some unknown, yet large, creature.<\/p>\n

With their vehicle immobilized and running on fumes to stay alive, former rescuer Jonas Taylor (JASON STATHAM), who five years prior made the tough decision to leave two sailors behind on a submarine, which was being bombardon by a mysterious creature, likely the same one that has hit the submersible. After some initial hesitation, he eventually agrees after being informed that his ex-wife (JESSICA MCNAMEE) was piloting it. Although he does manage to rescue them, the return above what is called a thermocline cloud of hydrogen sulfide (basically on top is warmer water, below cold, is breached and this creature, as we discover is a Megalodon, a species long thought extinct, is now on the top and is on the hunt for prey.<\/p>\n

Now it is up to Taylor and the other members of Mena One to take the shark down before it wreaks more carnage before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n

The Meg<\/em><\/strong> doesn\u2019t exactly have an in-depth plot and that\u2019s kind of its charm as a disaster-thriller that doesn\u2019t waste too much time on an over-complicated story and instead embracing some of the stupity which I found, for the most part, did actually work quite well. Key there is, \u201cfor the most part\u201d as there was a few moments, particularly during the climax which was just too dumb, though without getting into major spoiler territory, can\u2019t really reveal (only to say it involves helicopters which come into play adding an additional predicament to Taylor and company.<\/p>\n

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The acting isn\u2019t anything special, but is fine in service of a big budget B-movie. Jason Statham is his usual gruff self but has the necessary charms to carry on a fairly thinly written part; Li Bingbing had a few nice moments although her character\u2019s forced romance with Statham\u2019s Taylor never quite paid off; Rainn Wilson was okay as your stereotypical Richie rich archetype; and the rest fill out their respective parts just fine, including Ruby Rose who really doesn\u2019t have a whole lot to offer, which is disappointing because I tend to like her in John Wick Chapter 2<\/em> and, yes, even xXx: The Return of Xander Cage<\/em>. Here, she\u2019s just a hard ass and really doesn\u2019t bring a whole lot to the ensemble.<\/p>\n

The visual effects were pretty standard stuff and while they weren\u2019t anything overly impressive, still were on par with what you\u2019d expect from a movie with a reported $130-170M, although there were a couple times where the effects were on the weaker side, but given anything with the sharks was shot in the dark water, probably help hide some of the flaws.<\/p>\n

The Meg<\/em><\/strong> was directed by Jon Turteltaub, better known for the National Treasure<\/em> movies and has been a capable enough director, though like Gore Verbinski, not sure you\u2019ll ever be wowed by any of his films, though he does make entertaining flicks like While You Were Sleeping<\/em> and Last Vegas<\/em>. I place The Meg<\/em><\/strong> right there with them.<\/p>\n

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SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 2.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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This release comes with a matted slip cover<\/strong>, inside a redemption code for the Digital HD<\/strong> copy. Despite being a box office hit worldwide, we only get a couple featurettes: Chomp on This: The Making of The Meg<\/em> (12:09)<\/u><\/strong> taking us behind-the-scenes with some generic interviews with members of the cast and crew and \u00a0Creating the Beast (10:25)<\/u><\/strong> which looks at the design process for out megashark.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also an advertisement for the New Zealand Film Commission (1:53)<\/strong> where the film was shot.<\/p>\n

Previews (on Blu-ray)<\/strong>\u00a0 – Aquaman<\/em>, Shazam<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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4K VIDEO \u2013 4.75\/5, BD VIDEO \u2013 4.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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The Meg<\/em><\/strong> takes a bite onto the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs presented with a 2.39 widescreen aspect ratio and given a 2160p and 1080p high-definition transfers respectively. The 4K transfer is quite impressive taking advantage of the crystal blues of the sea as well as some of the brighter elements inside Mana One. Detail was incredibly sharp on both formats with the 4K having the edge, of course, while the Blu-ray there was more noticeable instances of banding whereas the 4K, the transition was smoother, however I did perceive one scene with it, although it\u2019s only apparent if you\u2019re specifically looking for it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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AUDIO \u2013 4.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Both discs come with a robust Dolby Atmos track which more or less does sound fantastic, adding good depth for the shark attacks as well as the crisp and clear dialogue levels making use of the center channel while the front and rear speakers are more often relegated for Harry Gregson-Williams\u2019 score and ambient noises, which there are plenty of during the underwater sequences.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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OVERALL \u2013 3.75\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Overall, The Meg<\/em><\/strong> is a fun enough if not also forgettable science fiction action-adventure flick, a bigger budget version of a plot you\u2019d see from Asylum that somehow managed to get an A-grade actor to star. That said, it\u2019s top-of-the-line escapist entertainment. The 4K release from Warner has great video and audio transfers and a so-so selection of bonus material.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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