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Category:    Home > Reviews > Drama > Comedy > Crime > Drugs > American Ultra (2015/Lionsgate Blu-ray w/DVD)

American Ultra (2015/Lionsgate Blu-ray w/DVD)


Picture: B+/B Sound: A/B Extras: B Film: B



Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) and Kristin Stewart (Twilight, Snow White and The Huntsman) reunite on the silver screen for a film much different than that last one we saw them together in, the charming indie love story Adventureland. Directed by Nima Nourizadeh (Project X), American Ultra (2015) is a kinetic piece that has action, suspense, laughs, and solid performances and filmmaking.


One of the better films of the year in terms of pure entertainment, American Ultra will hopefully find a wider audience than it did earlier in the year in cinemas during its disappointing theatrical run. Thanks to Lionsgate, the film looks incredible on Blu-ray and is paired with some interesting and in depth extras that don't disappoint. This is definitely a disc worth checking out.


Small-town stoner Mike Howell (Eisenberg) spends most of his time getting high and writing a graphic novel. What Mike doesn't know is that he was trained by the CIA to be a lethal killing machine. When the agency targets him for termination, his former handler activates his latent skills, turning the mild-mannered slacker into a deadly weapon. Now, the utterly surprised Mike must use his newfound abilities to save himself and his girlfriend from getting smoked. The film features a stellar supporting cast as well with Topher Grace, Connie Britton, Tony Hale, John Leguizamo, Bill Pullman, and Walton Goggins! It was also written by Max Landis, who is the son of Mel and wrote the original World War Z novel.


The film opens with a peak into the third act and then showcases some incredible editing that gets us right into the mind of Mike Howell from the beginning. His character is part stoner and philosopher and part efficient killer that could give Jason Bourne a run for his movie. There are many great sequences in the film including a shootout and attack in a grocery store, a armored vehicle pushing a car off the side of the road, and quite a few scenes with heavy pyrotechnics.


This is presented in lush 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and a still-rare release in the new lossless DTS X 11.1 format (English), joined by the English DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 7.1 core version we covered that doesn't disappoint, plus Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English: DTS 2.0 Stereo. The film is also paired with a standard edition DVD with an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and a lossy 5.1 Dolby Digital track, which sounds fine for the format but doesn't match the Blu-ray, of course. Also included is a Ultraviolet Copy of the film for your tablet or smart phone.


Extras include...

Audio Commentary with Director Nima Nourizadeh

Activating American Ultra

Assassinating on a Budget

Gag Reel


Far superior to other films of its kind like The Pineapple Express, this film is recommendable.



- James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/


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