BLU-RAY REVIEW

Criminal Activities

Featured In Issue 207, June 2016

Picture3.5
Sound3.5
WSR Score3.5
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):
RJL Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
AML00394BD
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$$29.97
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
94
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
(Disc Release Date):
2/16/2016
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Jackie Earle Haley
(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):
(Subtitles):

Criminal Activities tells the story of four friends who stumble into a deal too good to refuse. But when the investment goes bad, they learn that part of their funding came from a notorious ruthless crime boss…and it's payback time. Now they must successfully kidnap a family member of a rival kingpin in order to erase the life-threatening debt. In way over their heads, if they can complete the assigned task without screwing up, they just might escape with their lives. (Gary Reber)

Special features include an interview with John Travolta and Jackie Earle Haley (HD 08:32), deleted scenes (02:09), and upfront previews.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture is generally a pleasing visual experience, with pleasing black levels, shadow delineation, and a saturated color palette. Fleshtones are naturally hued. Resolution is generally revealing of fine detail throughout. The imagery, photographed digitally, is pristine. Much of the camera work is hand-held and not steady. Overall, the picture is acceptable but lacks the precision of a big-budget production. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is conventional, with barely any surround presence, except for rare instances of violence and bass emphasis in a music segment. Keefus Ciancia's score is hip-hoppish and essentially is limited to the front three channels. Fidelity is just satisfactory. Atmospherics and sound effects also occupy the front channels. The soundtrack is strictly dialogue focused, with good spatial integration. Generally, this is a mediocre soundtrack with moments in which the soundfield is energized. (Gary Reber)