Fury (2014) - 4K Ultra HD Steelbook Assessment

      Fury, 2014.

      Directed by David Ayer.

      Featuring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, Jon Bernthal, Jason Isaacs, and Scott Eastwood.

      SYNOPSIS:

      David Ayer’s film Fury, released in 2014 and focusing on the intense horrors of tank warfare in the final days of World War II, makes its return to 4K Ultra HD in a stylish Steelbook that also includes a Blu-ray. It comes with a digital copy code, but be aware that the 46-minute documentary, The Tanks of Fury, which accompanied the previous edition, is absent here. The reasons for its omission are unclear, but there are still plenty of other bonus features available.

      While World War II may seem like a topic that has been thoroughly explored over the last 80 years, the vast nature of the conflict ensures that numerous stories remain to be told. David Ayer’s 2014 film Fury is a prime example, focusing on the distinct terror experienced by tank crews during the war.

      Brad Pitt portrays Don “Wardaddy” Collier, a tank commander during the war's final days in Europe in April 1945. He, along with his crew—gunner Boyd “Bible” Swan (Shia LaBeouf), loader Grady “Coon-Ass” Travis (Jon Bernthal), and driver Trini “Gordo” Garcia (Michael Peña)—has endured tremendous hardships.

      At the start of the film, the crew is grappling with the offscreen death of assistant driver–bow gunner “Red,” who is replaced by Private First Class Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman), a clerk assigned to the tank crew due to the army's dwindling manpower. Wardaddy is not pleased to have such an inexperienced person in his tank, but he has no other option.

      As the crew of “Fury,” their tank, joins a convoy for a mission deeper into Germany, Norman's inability to make swift decisions during critical moments aggravates both Wardaddy and the rest of the team. This narrative is a familiar one—an experienced commander dealing with a new recruit unaccustomed to combat—yet the film's claustrophobic setting provides a fresh perspective.

      Ultimately, Fury immerses viewers in the fraught atmosphere of late-war Europe, where moral ambiguity arose and vigilance was crucial, even as the war was nearing its conclusion, to avoid becoming casualties themselves. Placing the characters inside a tank, especially during the climactic third act when they face seemingly insurmountable challenges, enhances the experience.

      Unlike many other World War II films, the crew of Fury feels like a family that is slowly unraveling, desperately trying to survive day by day. It is a film filled with emotional moments conveyed through glances, silences, and shared trauma, rather than through overt speeches. It is a movie I anticipate rewatching in the future.

      Fury has been released on 4K Ultra HD before, but this new version comes in a striking Steelbook and features Dolby Vision, should those aspects matter to you. It includes both 4K and Blu-ray discs along with a digital copy code. While the extras are not new, they do provide a solid overview of the film's production.

      However, it’s worth noting that the 46-minute documentary The Tanks of Fury, which explores both the film's production and the realities of tank warfare in World War II, is not included this time. It was featured in the earlier 4K Ultra HD release, and its absence is unclear. It is also not part of the digital copy, which does not contain all the materials listed below. (This highlights another reason to have a physical collection of your favorite films.)

      The bonus features are divided between the two discs. Here’s what you can find on the 4K disc:

      • Tiger 131 (5:25): A look into the Allies’ actual capture of a Tiger tank during World War II and its use in the film.

      • Heart of Fury (6:36): A tour of the tank's interior, presented by Michael Peña.

      • Clash of Armor (6:53): An examination of the advantages and disadvantages of the German Tiger tanks versus the American Sherman tanks.

      • No Guts, No Glory: The Horrors of Combat (28:06): An intense exploration of director David Ayer's commitment to making the film not only visually but emotionally authentic regarding the trauma of combat.

      On the Blu-ray disc, there is nearly an hour of deleted and extended scenes, along with these featurettes:

      • Blood Brothers (11:08): Insight into the rigorous training actors underwent to authentically portray soldiers in combat, despite the reality that actual combat experiences far exceed such training.

      • Director’s Combat Journal (17:32): A