Civil War (4K UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Lions Gate  
Release Date: July 9, 2024
Rating: R
Film: 1.5/5
 
Plot
From filmmaker Alex Garland comes a journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.
 
My Thoughts
I had high hopes for this film given its name, but WOW, what a disappointment. First, the story has very little meat on the bone and doesn’t really break any new ground. The film opens with a chaotic scene in NYC as a mass of people are trying to get water from the government. Before you know it, a suicide bomber springs into action and many people die in the incident, but thankfully there’s a photojournalist (Kristen Dunst) there to capture all of the footage.

 
What’s never really explained is why there’s a Civil War in the first place and when a crew of reporters set out to Washington D.C. with a goal to accomplish once they get there, their travel through multiple hot spots doesn’t make much sense at all and isn’t all that believable. Furthermore, the film gets a bit preachy at times, which I (and especially my wife) didn’t find very enjoyable.


While the film itself is a bore, the presentation is excellent in both the audio and the video. The image has a lot of depth, excellent color saturation, and is sharp as can be. The Dolby Atmos audio track features impressive dynamics, great surround sound envelopment, and of course, excellent LFE.

 
Video 9/10 
Audio 9/10 (Dolby Atmos)


Special Features:

• Tom Asunder: Waging Alex Garland’s Civl War Six-Part Documentary
• Theatrical Trailer
• 4K + Blu-ray + Digital Copy

 

 
Conclusion
Call this one a miss or maybe we weren’t in a the right mood. Regardless, my wife was quick to look up other reviews and found we weren’t alone in our feelings. What strikes me is how polarizing the reviews are—much like the politics in the US right now. Give it a rent if you’re interested, but I’d be curious to hear how other’s feel about it once they see it.
 

Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
 (Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
 Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
 ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
 System Controller: URC MX-990
 M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
 M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
 Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[SRW1000]

Thanks for the review, David.  This one has been on our library list for a while now, so I think we're still going to watch it.  Although reading that it's going to be preachy. . .

[Craig Peer]

I have this ordered and am an Alex Garland fan. Everybody else seems to like it a whole lot more that you do -

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/civil_war_2024

Audience Says

" Civil War does a good job of putting the viewer on the ground, although it'll be frustrating for anyone hoping to get any clues as to what caused the conflict in the first place. ".

I don't necessarily need everything spelled out for me. The movie " Arctic " would be one example. I'll chime in after my copy arrives.

[bmoney]

ALMOST watched this a few weeks ago. Now glad I didn’t lol

[Craig Peer]

Watched this with a couple of friends last weekend - very dark and violent - like you'd expect an actual civil war to be. I'm giving in a tentative 4 / 5. Picture and sound were a 10 across the board. Need to watch it a couple more times with other friends and my wife next.  

[Craig Peer]

Interesting writeup on Civil War - How ‘Civil War’ Pulled Off Its Vicious White House End Scene (vulture.com)