Crank 2 - High Voltage (2-Disc Special Edition)

• Studio: Lionsgate

• Theatrical Release Year: 2009

• US DVD Release Date: September 8, 2009

• Rated: R (for frenetic strong bloody violence throughout, crude and graphic sexual content, nudity and pervasive language)

• Running Time: 95 minutes

• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen

• Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)

• Subtitles: English (SDH), Spanish

Movie: 1/2 out of 5

At the end of Crank, Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) fell from a helicopter, hitting the streets of Los Angeles like a sack of potatoes. As Crank 2 opens, his body is quickly retrieved by a gang of Chinese thugs, whisked away in a van, and taken to an operating room. A group of Chinese surgeons then remove his indestructible heart and replace it with a battery-operated artificial one, as thug Johnny Vang (Art Hsu) looks on. Chelios escapes, and, for the next 90 minutes, is on the run chasing after Johnny Vang, trying to retrieve his original heart so that his surgeon friend Doc miles (Dwight Yoakam) can put it back. Vang has stolen the heart for Triad leader Poon Dong (David Carridine, in one of his last film roles).

In order to keep his artificial heart pumping, Chelios must recharge the battery by giving himself electric shocks. He does this through several different methods, including jumper cables from a car battery, taser gun, shock collar, etc. Along the way, he meets up with his ex-girlfriend Eve (Amy Smart), now a stripper, and joins in the chase.

I have to admit, I had a hard time watching this movie. I have liked Jason Statham in the past, particularly in films like The Transporter series, The Italian Job, and John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars. In Crank 2, he seems to be phoning it in, happy to be getting a paycheck to essentially goof off in front of the camera. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor's directing style is frenetic, but ultimately sophomoric, often in-your-face and, throughout much of the film, overly offensive. Most of the women portrayed in the movie are prostitutes, every policeman is eating a doughnut, Mexicans and Chinese are gangbangers, and all of the behavior of the main characters is perfectly acceptable (including having sex in public on the race track at Hollywood Park). The R rating slapped on by the MPAA could very easily make Crank 2 a poster child of what many feel is wrong with the movie rating system in this country.

Video: 4 out of 5

Crank 2 is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (although the box indicates 1.85:1) and was photographed using consumer and prosumer HD camcorders, allowing the filmmakers to shoot quickly and cheaply, but also giving the movie a processed and digital look to it. Colors are solid, blacks are inky, and compression artifacts and noise are minimal.

Audio: 4 out of 5

To match the in-your-face visuals, the Dolby Digital EX 5.1 soundtrack is loud and obnoxious, making good use of both LFE and surrounds. Dialogue is intelligible (when intended by the filmmakers).

Special Features: 3 out of 5

Audio Commentary With Directors Neveldine/Taylor: The two directors discuss writing and directing the movie on a limited budget. Neveldine and Taylor are obviously good friends, but much of what they have to say is tongue-in-cheek, and just as obnoxious as the film.

Making of Crank 2: Split into two parts, this documentary features interviews with stars Jason Statham and Amy Smart, producer Skip Williamson, and writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (drinking beers throughout). Part one focuses more on the pre-production and the use of prosumer HD camcorders on this film, and includes some behind the scenes footage from Gamer as well as Crank and Crank 2. Part two focuses more on location shooting in Los Angeles, dealing with paparazzi on-set, shooting the stunt sequences, the editing process, visual effects, creating the digital intermediate, and hints of a possible sequel.

Crank 2 Take 2: A four-minute look at visual mistakes, such as cameras and crew in shots, introduced by Neveldine and Taylor.

Theatrical Trailer: Presented in non-anamorphic widescreen.

Digital Copy: Located on disc 2 are iTunes and Windows Media Player compatible versions of the movie that can be transferred to your computer or portable media device.

Overall: 1 out of 5

Nothing can disguise the fact that Crank 2 is a terrible movie, despite the high ratings for audio and video, and an interesting documentary on shooting a studio movie in HDV.