Solomon Kane (Blu-ray)

Pulp sword and sorcery character, Solomon Kane, is resurrected for the big screen (after making a comic book comeback in 2008) and provides a somewhat satisfying if not especially memorable appetiser before the box office goes all Conan on our asses early next year (both characters were created by Robert E. Howard in the 20s and 30s).

The story takes place in 16th century England, where Kane, a former warrior, has sworn off violence to atone for his past sins. Seeking a peaceful life with a travelling family, Kane believes that his life of bloodshed is to remain a distant memory, until, that is, an evil priest turned sorcerer slaughters the family and takes the daughter prisoner. Given no choice, Kane must return to his violent ways in order to save the young maiden, and vows to destroy anyone and anything that stands in his way.

Old school in both heart and story, Solomon Kane would have been held in much higher regard if this was made circa ’82, but now, for anyone with distinct memories and a fondness for the sword and sorcery craze of the early 80s, Solomon Kane offers nothing new to the genre, and remains a predictable yet occasionally entertaining minor epic. With action scenes that impress, an admirably serious tone and a solid turn by Purefoy (it’s nice to see a West Country boy, complete with Somerset accent, enjoying the action limelight), Solomon Kane is a worthy renter for a Friday night.

Blu-ray wise, the visuals and audio are predictably top notch for such an action-packed affair. Consistently clean, sharp and finely detailed throughout, the picture quality boasts excellent clarity and contrast, and while some of the key special effects look a little synthetic (especially during the final climax), the above par visuals certainly enhance the viewing experience. The audio doesn’t exactly hinder the experience either, and the DTS soundtrack boasts a strong bass with plenty of depth and plenty of aural action which keeps the rear speakers busy throughout.

The extras aren’t bad, and for fans of the character and the movie, the two commentaries provide plenty of insight into the background and resurrection of Kane, while the PIP feature allows much scrutiny of the production itself.

Overall Verdict: An old school sword and sorcery epic with plenty of heart but little in the way of originality. The Blu-ray certainly enhances the experience though...

Special Features:
Commentary By Michael J. Bassett and James Purefoy
Commentary By Michael J. Bassett
PIP Storyboard Comparisons
Video Introduction By Michael J. Bassett
‘The Making Of Solomon Kane’ Featurette
Montage Clip
Interviews With Cast And Crew
Deleted Scene
‘The Making Of The Fire Demon’ Featurette
Artworks
Trailer

Reviewer: Lee Griffiths