Film:

Extras:

( Max score: 100 )

81

Product Description:

Daniel Hillard (Williams) is no ordinary father, so when he learns his ex-wife (Field) needs a housekeeper, he applies for the job. With the perfect wig, a little makeup and a dress for all occasions, he becomes Mrs. Doubtfire, a devoted British nanny who is hired on the spot.? Free to be the “woman” he never knew he could be, the disguised Daniel creates a whole new life with his entire family.

I reviewed Mrs. Doubtfire - The behind the seams edition two disc DVD back in February. The following are my comments from that review :

Mrs. Doubtfire is in my opinion a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by everyone. Robin Williams is at his best as he literally transforms into his elderly female alter ego. This role called for him to pull from his dramatic side as well and he pulled it off beautifully. I do think that his true char min this one has to be viewed from his comedic side. There are so many great scenes that for me to try and come up with my favorite would be tough. Sally Field is such an accomplished actress. She adds such credibility and depth to the characters she plays and her portrayal of Miranda was no different. Her reaction when she discovers that Daniel (Williams) is Mrs. Doubtfire is one of my favorite moments not only in this film but ever.

The actors that play the Hillard children were perfectly cast and all did a tremendous job in their roles. Mara Wilson who plays the youngest Daughter “Nattie” is definitely a scene stealer. The remainder of the cast, Harvey Fierstein, Pierce Brosnan, and Robert Prosky were all solid and credited with helping to make this film such a success. Mrs. Doubtfire is a film that can be watched over again as it never seems to lose its appeal. Personally, it is one of my all time favorites.

Mrs. Doubtfire is rated PG-13 for some sexual references. I agree that there may be some language and sexual references that might be inappropriate for young viewers. I believe that they are minor and would more than likely go over their heads.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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I saw Mrs. Doubtfire in the theater when it was released back in 1993 but quite honestly I have no real recollection of what it looked like then. I have owned it twice on DVD. I kind of held my breath while I waited for this blu-ray disc to load in my Panasonic blu-ray player. Once the opening sequence in the recording studio began I was able to breath a sigh of relief. Mrs. Doubtfire comes to blu-ray wrapped in a 1080p MPEG-4 (AVC) encoded package the looks great. Its average bitrate of 27 mbps translated positively to the image. Right away I was able to visually detect the fabric weave in the cotton shirt worn by Daniel (Williams) as he stands at the microphone doing a voice over in the recording studio. Fine detail in his face, beard stubble and the texture of his hair was apparent. The long panning camera shots of suburban San Francisco had nice depth with clearly defined and solid lines. Detail was very good in objects within the foreground while backgrounds look slightly less detailed but retained enough definition to make the entire image dimensionally balanced.

Image sharpness and resolution was excellent which really helped to visually invigorate picture quality. Sharpness and perceived resolution fell off at various points which resulted in a softening effect. This was more noticeable in some of the nighttime and interior shots. Color reproduction was excellent and provided fairly realistic hues without over saturation or blooming (except for reds which were a little on the hot side). I was happy with skin tones, although a few looked a little milky, but the overall balance was solid. Blacks were deep enough that they didn’t look flat. Shadow detail was respectable as well.

The DTS-HD Master Audio had an average bitrate of 3.6 mbps and offered a discernible improvement over the Dolby Digital audio on the DVD. I immediately noticed that voices sounded crispier and had much better intonation. Better clarity and detail helped to improve auditory perception which made slight sounds within the mix intelligible. Something I noticed here that I never noticed on the DVD was during the scene where Daniel (Williams) and his new supervisor enter the warehouse that stores all of the movie reels. As they enter a cameraman is wheeling a large camera by in front of them. As he passes I could hear the sounds of the wheels against the floor. This is heard over other ambient background noise that must have masked it on the DVD. The surrounds see limited use except for musical ambience and light background filler. The center channel and left/right speakers are effectively used and carry the majority of the audio which works well based upon the subject matter.

I was elated when I saw that Mrs. Doubtfire was coming to Blu-ray disc. Fox has done a wonderful job in presenting it.

Fox has ported over the bonus content from the Behind-the-Seams DVD edition. I found those features to be outstanding when I reviewed that 2 disc set. Here are my comments from that review:

If I had to describe the bonus features offered on this Behind the seams edition of Mrs. Doubtfire I would call them comprehensive. This is the kind of treatment that a film like this deserves. Fans have the option of looking at the production of Mrs. Doubtfire from a wide variety of aspects which goes fairly deep. I was anxiously looking forward to the deleted and extended scenes. I found that most were just extensions of scenes already in the film and really didn’t add much to the story. There were several scenes that were more on the serious side and showcased more of the animosity in Daniel and Miranda’s relationship. Two of them directly involved the children and how the breakup was negatively effecting them. I feel that these scenes were appropriately removed from the film. Had they remained it would have given the story too much of a serious feel and interrupted the wonderful balance that it had between it’s comedic side and it’s serious one.

There is enough content to keep those interested busy for hours. As a fan I appreciate the attention to detail offered and took advantage of the opportunity to sit through it all. I expect that you will also.

Cutting Room :

4 Alternate Scenes:

Production Office :

Animation Studio:

STAGE A - The Improvisation of Mrs. Doubtfire (Select Individual Takes or Play All) :

Makeup Department :

PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT:

Mrs. Doubtfire is a heart warming, funny and poignant film that has earned a place among other family classics. Fox Blu-ray has brought it to Blu-ray disc in a great package that delivers sound and video quality that fans are sure to appreciate. The inclusion of the superb bonus supplements from the earlier two disc Behind-the-seams edition only sweetens the pot. Kudos to Fox Blu-ray on catalog release title that is sure to be a hit for years to come.Highly recommended.

Film:

Extras:

( Max score: 100 )

92

Product Description:

After a sudden attack by a French warship inflicts severe damage upon his ship, Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) of the British Navy is torn between duty and friendship as he embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes chase across two oceans to capture or destroy the enemy at any cost.

Master and Commander – The far side of the world is a favorite of mine. This film paints an ostensible portrait of what life was like aboard the British Naval vessel Surprise (very appropriate) in 1805 amidst the Napoleonic Wars. On the surface it would seem as though this film is about the cat and mouse “play” between two capable, smart, sea Captains. I think that there is no question that their intent to subdue and “take” one another is the focus here but there is so much more. This is a story about friendship, courage, duty, trust, and leadership that is put to the test under extreme conditions. Director Peter Weir does a masterful job in creating a suspenseful, powerfully told story of Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey and the HMS Surprise as they purse the French Frigate Acheron.

The screenplay quickly establishes the relationships of the key characters in the story and sets the course of events that play out over the film’s 138 minutes. The time passes rapidly thanks to excellent pacing and solid performances among the cast. Russell Crowe does a great job and portrays Lucky Jack with believable fortitude, charisma and compassion. Paul Bettany as Steven (the ship’s doctor) is the standout performance. He is the voice of reason in the story and Bettany brilliantly brings forth the character’s range of emotions, strength, honesty and courage. My personal favorite is Max Pirkis’ Mr. Blakeney. Here is a 14 or 15 year old Mid-Shipman who has to have his right arm amputated because of an injury suffered during an attack on the ship. He displays the personal attributes that will someday make him a great leader of men in his own right.

The battle sequences are staged so well that even though I have seen this film 4 times now I still find myself holding my breath at times. The relationships at the various levels among the crew are integral to the story and their excellent development is a large reason why this movie works as well as it does. I think the last, and certainly not the least, ingredient present in the mix is the ending. It is fulfilling and satisfying but in a bitter sweet sort of way. Did I mention that this is one of my favorite movies?

The rating is for intense battle sequences, related images and brief language.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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**My audio ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

The DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio Lossless soundtrack presented on Master and Commander is probably one of the most anticipated audio presentations on blu-ray to date. Fans that have been waiting for this one are going to find that the wait was well worth it. This is a reference quality surround mix that has an average bitrate of 4.2 mbps.

The film won an Academy Award for Best sound effects editing and it is clearly obvious why. This is a powerfully engaging audio mix that will test the limits of your audio system. It bombards the listening position with a plethora of surround activity that is simply encapsulating. There is definitely a feeling of total immersion at times that is incredibly realistic. Discrete sound effects seemed to be emanating from every direction during the ship to ship battle sequences. Detail was delivered with startling clarity and emphasis. This gave minute background ambience or in your face percussive blasts substantial impact. Speaking of impact, this track delivers it in spades. Cannon fire had excellent deep bass extension whose tactile quality reached far into the room. This was not just reserved for cannon fire either. In chapter 15 during the violent storm at sea the pounding of the wind and waves was every bit as palpable and dynamic. Add to that the driving rain that seemed to be coming from everywhere and I could have sworn that I was getting wet!

The stable sound field across the front of the room blended seamlessly during panning sequences. Front and rear soundstage integration was as good as I have heard in my room. Dialogue reproduction was very good as I never had a problem with perception. It didn’t have the distinctive transparency that I have heard from some other top notch audio presentations which is the reason for its rating. This was the only thing that kept this soundtrack from a perfect score. It was indeed that good.

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**My video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

There has been much discussion regarding how this film would look in high definition. In my opinion the most important aspect of the encoding is to ensure a faithful reproduction of the films original elements. In my opinion that is exactly what Fox has done. The 1080p MPEG-4 (AVC) video presented on M and C had an average bitrate of 30 mbps and looked very good overall. The color palette is intentionally limited and not given to overly vibrant textures. Color saturation was extensive enough so that they never looked dull or flat. The various green, gray and sepia tones of the Galapagos Islands offered the only really colorfully divergent aspects in the film. Flesh tones appeared quite natural with excellent tonal delineation and depth. Blacks were nice and deep which gave the dark nighttime sequences plenty of depth and dynamic range. The film’s dim opening interior scene aboard the Surprise revealed plenty of visible detail in the shadowy confines of the quarters below deck.

This is not an overly sharp video presentation as it lacks the three dimensional eye popping quality and resolution that is associated with the best high definition blu-ray discs. That is not a complaint per se. There are elements of this film that do not lend itself to the appearance of unending resolve and razor sharp fidelity that other films contain. This is how this has looked in every form that I have seen it in. Grain is present and easily visible at times. The fog bank sequences early in the film are fairly grainy and the quality varies. Detail is very good at times with crystal clear resolve and definitive lines. There are other times where images soften and take on a more one dimensional and flatter appearance. Compression related video noise was never a problem that I saw. This is as good as I have seen Master and Commander look and I think that this presentation is as close to its theatrical roots as it gets.

The bonus features are less that stellar and will be a disappointment to fans. Definitely all fluff and no substance. The trivia track provides pop up trivia when enabled during film playback. The Search content and pop-up map features are fine but I am not sure who would have need of them. The Personal scene selection feature is useful and allows the marking and playback of your favorite scenes. The deleted scenes did not offer anything much to the story which made their exclusion appropriate.

Master and Commander – Far side of the world is a well written, directed and executed film. Since its release on DVD it has been considered one of the best audio mixes to date for the format. Fox has seen fit to include Lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Lossless audio tracks on all of their Blu-ray disc releases which fans surely do appreciate. With the appearance now of blu-ray disc players and receivers and pre/pros capable of decoding the DTS-HD MA signal we are now getting a taste of the full potential of what it has to offer. This reference quality audio presentation elevates Master and Commander to another level entirely and is sure to please its rather large fan base. Some may find the video offering a bit disappointing but that was not the case in my opinion. I felt that Director Peter Weir’s vision of what he wanted this film to look like has been preserved. If there is room for improvement it lies in the bonus content offered which I think fans will find disappointing.

This is a film that I have looked forward to on blu-ray disc. When all was said and done I am thrilled to have it and I enjoyed its presentation in “blu”. I suspect you will too. Recommended.










By Ralph Potts
Executive Editor

Reference Review System:

Sony VPL-VW50 SXRD 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Carada Precision Brilliant White 96" Screen
Oppo 970HD universal disc DVD Player (480i HDMI)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Marantz DV7001 Universal Disc Player
Denon AVR 5308CI THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
Outlaw Audio Model 7700 seven channel amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 seven Channel amplifier
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, VizionWare, Audioquest, Best Deal Cables - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package ]]>Mon, 05 May 2008 20:13:29 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/141188/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/141188/The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)

Film:

Extras:

( Max score: 100 )

94

Product Description :

Francis Ford Coppola returns to the realm of his mastery with a new film about growing young. A bolt of lightning strikes Dominic Matei (Tim Roth) so close to death that he begins to age backwards. When he grows from 70 to 40 in a week, he draws the attention of the Nazis and the world. Now he's running for his life with a new love and no hope of knowing his phenomenal fate.

I just didn’t connect with this film. It started out just fine with Dominic Matei (Roth) as a lonely 80 year old professor who by happenstance is struck by lightening while crossing the street. He wakes up in the hospital and can barely move or speak. He communicates with the hospital staff by squeezing the doctors finger. He makes a miraculous recovery and as he heals grows younger. He ends up being approximately 40 years younger and his recovery has gotten the attention of the medical community. This eventually leads to the Nazi’s taking an interest in him as well. There are a series of flashbacks that detail some of his life and a love interest that didn’t pan out. He is befriended by one of the doctors who begins to study his progress in an attempt to ascertain why he has grown younger. He exhibits new intellectual abilities that allow him to speak various languages and to read/absorb entire books simply by holding them in his hand.

Problems begin to arise. The first is that he begins having dreams about sexual encounters with a strange young woman. He also begins to appear to suffer from split personality syndrome and begins talking to himself. It is then revealed that the dreams he is having are not dreams at all and the woman he has been sleeping with is also staying at the same facility and is affiliated with the Nazis. The Nazis take are more fervent interest in Dominic and begin to pressure his doctor friend about obtaining him. When the doctor refuses he suddenly disappears. Dominic is later approached by a Nazi posing as an interested Doctor. When his intention is discovered the Nazi pulls a pistol and attempts to kidnap Dominic. At this point Dominic uses a mental energy field (?) to force the Nazi to turn the gun on himself.

The above was offered to provide a brief glimpse of what the story was like up to the point where I think it just turned south and lost me. From there the time period moves back and forth which made it hard to figure what year it was. He meets two young women while hiking. One of them looks identical to his young love interest from years earlier. They are looking for directions and he warns them about an approaching storm. He stumbles upon their vehicle later on and finds the driver dead and the young woman a short distance away in a small cave. He approaches her and offers her his help. She not only has no idea who he is but begins speaking in an ancient Hindi language. He can of course understands it and communicates with her getting her to come out and go with him to the hospital. Specialists are called in and you are then lead on a series of unexplainable scenarios involving her. His alter ego/personality appears from time to time to put in his two cents. She has visions and undergoes recessive mental breakdowns which have to do with HER Hindu (?) alter ego/personality whose name is Rupini. Eventually she snaps out of that and recognizes him as the person who gave her directions on the mountain that day. They then fall in love…….it continues down a convoluted road that does not seem to lead anywhere. Did I mention that she then begins to age at an accelerated rate because she is around him? The ending is even more unsatisfying.

I had a hard time sitting through this film once it got to the point outlined earlier. If I missed something than I would be happy to hear from fans of the film to get some insights.

The rating is for sexual content, nudity, language, violence.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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**My video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

Youth without Youth comes to Blu-ray Disc featuring 1080p MPEG-4 (AVC) encoded video that has an average bitrate of XXXX. The Lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel audio had an average bit rate of XXX. Both were of reference quality.

This video presentation had a lot going for it. Detail was abundant from almost every perspective which gave images surreal depth and dimensionality. Object detail was as good as I have seen and offered superb rendering of the minutia in clothing, backgrounds, skin/facial features etc. Exterior shots demonstrated distinctive and resolute definition which made them look extremely lifelike in character. Colors were bold in nature without over saturation or blooming. The period clothing worn in the film was made up of neutral tones like beige, brown, grey and black. Subtle tonal variations within these was noticeable which gave them deeper symmetry. Skin tones were a little on the hot side which gave them a golden hue that I noticed but didn’t see as detrimental. Contrast and blacks had plenty of dynamic range. This made scenes that had dark and light elements look great. Shadow delineation was quite good as it delivered plenty of dimensional depth and gradation. This was noticeable in the film’s opening moments as well as during the dark alley way encounter in the second act. Occasionally some of these elements were not rendered as well which I attributed to a very slight case of black crush. I saw no signs of video noise or compression related anomalies. This was very sharp, clean and highly detailed high definition video.

The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack was audibly superior in its rendering of dialogue. Tim Roth does quite a bit of narration (more of a running dialogue) throughout the film. The subtle texture and defining intonation in his voice were discerned with ease. The sound of his voice during these scenes sounded unlike any others in the film which made it stand out by comparison. The same was true of Alexandra Maria Lara when she took on the persona of Rupini and began speaking in differing dialects. I was surprised at the dynamic and sometimes aggressive nature of this mix considering the film’s subject matter. The surrounds are used a great deal to provide not only ambient background detail but also discretely to produce directional effects. This was startling at times which of course made it very effective. Early in the movie Dominic (Roth) is struck by lightening as he crosses the street. The strike itself was quick, forceful, and vigorously active as it emblazoned Dominic with electrical energy leaving him badly burned and near death. The music used in the film is as big a part in its telling as the narration and it is reproduced with precise imaging and instrumentation that is clearly outlined. Bass response is excellent when used in conjunction with the dynamically active elements present in the mix. I noticed that the audio seemed to have higher volume levels when compared to some TrueHD soundtracks. I didn’t see it in any way as a problem but thought that I would mention it. This was an impressive audio presentation.

The bonus features were quite interesting. The music and makeup features were presented in high definition while the making of was not. The best two features were the high definition offering which was a good thing. The making of was a bit slow and boring as it looked at the film’s production from too much of a documentary style setting. It was apparent that the interviews had been edited and brief clips were included which made them seem to lack focus. They felt too robotic and it seemed liked no one was having any fun. The music feature was similarly documented but the information regarding how the music was composed, orchestrated and then used within the scope of the story was intriguing. There were interviews with the music production personnel, composer, producer, Director and conductor included. The makeup piece ran along similar lines but had more of a personal feel. It documented the extensive use of makeup in the movie and what was required of Tim Roth each day to get into it. The camera was rolling during discussions between Director Coppola, Roth and the makeup designers regarding how it worked and what it was like for Roth having it applied as well as wearing it.

The Director’s commentary didn’t add any information that was radically different from what was contained in the feature documentaries and was pretty dry. There are several current release high definition Blu-ray trailers included as well.

Youth without Youth is based upon a novella by Romanian writer Mircea Eliade which was adapted into a screenplay and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. I have no idea what the novella was like but the film was vague, inexplicable, and at times nonsensical. Sony has brought it to Blu-ray disc day and date with DVD featuring superb audio and striking video quality. This is not new territory for Sony who has consistently offered some of the best high definition Blu-ray disc releases to date. I would recommend a rental of this one to see if it is up your alley. I assure you that you will be pleased with it from a technical perspective.

Film:

Extras:

( Max score: 100 )

97

Product Description:

Prepare to enter another world when Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media invite you to experience C.S. Lewis' timeless and beloved adventure as never before on Blu-ray Disc™. Join Lucy Edmund Susan and Peter four siblings who step through a magical wardrobe and find the land of Narnia. There they discover a charming once-peaceful kingdom that has been plunged into eternal winter by the evil White Witch Jadis. Aided by the magnificent lion Aslan the children lead Narnia into a tremendous climactic battle to be free of the Witch's glacial powers forever!

I have not read any of the Chronicles of Narnia books so I cannot offer any insights this adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. As a person who enjoys movies I can offer my opinion regarding the quality of this film. I am a fan and have been since I first saw this movie back in 2005. It is clearly obvious that this is a story about these children and that never gets lost as things progress. I have watched it several times now and I always seem surprised at how quickly the film moves along. It is certainly not short at just under two and one half hours but it never seems that long. It quickly establishes the characters and in short order builds a rapport with the audience. It uses a plethora of visual elements to aid in the story telling which works quite well in my opinion. This is not an overly intricate story which is perfect for its target audience. It does offer enough depth to keep adult viewers entertained. Director Andrew Adamson does a splendid job with the films pacing and bringing out the best in the four children who star in the film.

Tilda Swinton is marvelous as the evil white witch, Jadis. Her performance elicits real disdain from the audience as her plans and actions unfold during the course of the film. The four young actors who play Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan breath life into the characters. Georgie Henley who plays Lucy is a real scene stealer and is the standout among them. This film has epic aspirations but falls short due to the elementary nature of the story. I have no complaints with that because this story does so many things right that in the end, who cares ?

The rating is for battle sequences and frightening moments.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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**My video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe comes from Disney Blu-ray featuring 1080p MPEG-4 (AVC) encoded video and 5.1 channel lossless uncompressed 48khz/24 bit PCM audio. This a reference quality presentation in both regards.

The audio presentation is superbly crafted and offers a diverse representation of the things that we as listeners look for in a good audio mix. The 5.1 channel uncompressed PCM audio had a constant bitrate of 4.6 mbps. Imaging and tonal balance across the front sound stage was excellent during panning sequences. Voices sounded crystal clear and well textured through the center channel. The audio’s superb clarity allowed subtle changes and inflections within the dialogue to be audible. Sonic detail like the clashing of swords, footsteps being made in the snow, the thunderous hoof beats of horses, or the snarling of wolves was all delivered with clean articulation and dynamic realism. Surround sound activity is abundant as the mix uses discrete and ambient directional cues to deliver an enriching, immersive and demonstrative aural experience. Low frequency detail is present throughout but does not always draw strict attention to itself but rather maintains a palpable presence that escalates at times. This escalation does not occur often but when it does it will test your subwoofers ability to deliver clean, tight bass extension. One such example takes place when the rock table cracks after the death of Aslan. It’s brief but trust me you won’t be able to miss it. Another occurs earlier as the beavers lead the four children across the melting river and the ice dam begins to fracture and fall around them.

Harry Gregson-Williams’ magnificent score sounded brilliant with lossless audio’s extended dynamic range. From the deep resounding Timpani through to the airy and succulent choral passages the music was both captivating and descriptive. What makes this lossless audio mix so good is that it consistently seemed to get everything right. I had high expectations for this film on blu-ray and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed.

The video presentation was on par with the audio and is in the class with some of the best we have seen from blu-ray high definition video. The AVC encoded video had an average bitrate of 26 mbps which was apparent as the level of detail visible at times was exquisite. Images depth was appreciable from almost any camera shot. Objects within backgrounds had definable structure/texture which made them appear very lifelike and three dimensional. The video was very dynamic and potent resolve that gave it a transparent lustrous quality. Shadow detail was excellent which helped the many dark shots like those in the woods, at the rock table, and in the beavers den retain the aforementioned definable texture and depth of field. Blacks were not inky but had enough dynamic range and depth that they didn’t appear dark gray. Elevated contrast delivered bright punchy whites and eye popping primary colors. It retained good delineation and fine gradation within bright scenes containing white/gray detail. Colors were vividly reproduced with excellent depth and saturation that made them look natural in appearance. Fleshtones were on the creamy side but I suspect that was more to do the complexions of the cast rather than any post processing of the video. One or two scenes softened just a bit but these scenes contained CGI backgrounds with actors in the foreground. This is in the nature of mixing in CGI and not necessarily a problem with the video itself. Needless to say there were no signs of video noise related to the encoding. There may have been a hint of grain visible but it never drew attention to itself in negative way. This is a first rate video presentation that is near flawless.

Disney has ported over the majority of the bonus features offered on the 2 Disc DVD collectors edition DVD which is sure to please fans. Additionally and exclusive to Blu-ray is the Battle for Narnia interactive game which youngsters will enjoy. It is pretty easy to setup and allows the option of character choice (only 2 are offered), it has a tutorial, several maps, and several difficulty levels. It uses a simple interface for game play that has the battles played out using image stills. There are four modes used in battle which the player can choose from. They are Speed Attack, power, defend, and retreat. Each is explained and each has pluses and minuses. As players advance further into the game they can elicit the help of some of the inhabitants of Narnia to aid them. The game features high definition video and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

There are hours of bonus content offered here that features tons of archival footage from behind scenes. Included are cast, crew and production staff interviews as well as an inside look at the making of the film from soup to nuts. There is also a brief piece on C.S. Lewis which is interesting. The time required to view it all will be time well spent.

Disc 1:

Disc 2:

Exclusive for Blu-ray content:

Creating Narnia:

Creatures, Lands, and Legends:

I am happy to report that Disney Blu-ray has given The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe the treatment it deserves. It boasts reference quality audio and video that puts it in a class among the very best high definition presentations I have seen from the format. The inclusion of a second disc containing the comprehensive bonus supplements previously offered as well as all new exclusive blu-ray only sweetens the deal. This set is as must have for fans and deserves a place in every blu-ray disc collection. I give it my Highest Recommendation.

Film:

Extras:

( Max score: 100 )

83

Product Description:

John Clark (Gere) is a meek workaholic who feels trapped in a dull, mind-numbing existence. But one night, his whole life changes when the sight of a beautiful dance instructor (Lopez) inspires him to break out of his mold and sign up for ballroom dancing lessons! Now, he'll have to step lightly - and do some fancy footwork - if he expects to keep his exciting new passion a secret from his family and friends.

Richard Gere is genuinely good in this role which is why Shall we dance? works as well as it does. His candid portrayal of a man who has a good life but feels a void within his existence is something that many can probably relate to. John (Gere) makes a few mistakes when he initially decides that he is going to begin taking ballroom dance lessons. At first he feels an attraction to Paulina (Lopez) a dance instructor who seems to have something heavily weighing on her mind/heart. He does come to his senses and is happily married to Beverly (Sarandon). He makes a conscience decision not to tell Beverly about his dances lessons and subsequently gets caught telling a lie about his whereabouts. She becomes suspicious and hires a private eye to find out what he is up to. When she learns what he is up to she opts to let it go and not invade his privacy any further by continuing to have him followed.

Things come to a head when he participates in his first dance competition and his wife an daughter show up unexpectedly. His daughter cheers him on from the audience which distracts him causing him to step on his partners dress. Beverly is irate that he would keep this from her and can not understand his feeling regarding why he needed to take up dancing. Things move along and come to a tidy and predictable conclusion.

I liked this film and thought that it captured the essence of what a man like John Clark was going through and why taking up ballroom dance filled the void he felt in his life. I was unaware that it was a remake of a Japanese film of the same name which was released in the mid nineties. If I get the opportunity I would like to see the original as I heard it was very good. I thought that Richard Hicks did a wonderful job with the casting. Stanley Tucci is one of my favorite actors and his turn as “Link” was over the top and definitely vintage Tucci. Lisa Ann Walter as Bobbie pretty much stole every scene she was in. The remainder of the cast was perfectly placed and indeed filled in the rest of the pieces to the puzzle quite nicely. The music and dancing numbers featured beautiful choreography and a few toe tapping classics. These were masterfully done and demonstrated just how elaborate, demanding and tough this style of dance can be.

The rating is for some sexual references and brief language.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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Shall we dance? comes to blu-ray disc featuring a 1080p VC-1 video encode and lossless 5.1 channel 48khz/24 bit uncompressed PCM audio. The video had an average bitrate of 21 mbps while the PCM audio had a constant bit rate of 4.6 mbps.

I was impressed with the quality of both the audio and video offered here. I had not seen this film prior to this review and had no preconceived notions about what it would look like. Resolution was quite revealing overall with only occasional softening is some scenes which made them look less dimensional and a little on the flat side. Colors were visually stimulating with over saturated reds and natural skin tone reproduction. Black level and shadow delineation worked well to deliver noise free and fairly dynamic dark scenes with plenty of background detail and depth. Contrast achieved a good balance that left bright scenes looking snappy and dark scenes capable of subtle gradations.

The lossless audio offered clear and concise reproduction of dialogue, wide open and dynamic presence, with good separation and sound staging across the front three channels. The mix used the surrounds and subwoofer to pronounce its level of instrumentation attack and decay that sounded great during the various musical/dance numbers used in the film. This is not the type of film that necessitates prolonged use of the entire system. It did make intelligent use of the surround platform mixing discrete/ambient sounds as well as occasional low frequency detail to deliver an enriching and stable listening experience in my room.

The bonus features offered here were above average and provided a bit of background on the film and it‘s production. The bulk of that comes from the Behind the scenes feature which is fairly lengthy at 24 plus minutes. The Beginner‘s Ballroom is a short segment which takes a look at Ballroom Dancing from an outsider looking in perspective. The four deleted scenes didn’t offer anything viable to the film and were appropriately left out in my opinion. The Pussycat Dolls video was fine and the commentary tracks were standard fare.

Shall we Dance? represents another solid catalog release title from Disney on Blu-ray that is sure to please fans with its strong audio and video quality. Disney continues to support lossless audio and high quality video presentations on their Blu-ray titles which is something that fans recognize and greatly appreciate. Feel free to pick this one up.

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( Max score: 100 )

95

Product Description:

Join Nicolas Cage on a heart-pounding adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat in a race to find the Lost City of Gold. Grounded in history, imbued with myth and mystery, Disney's National Treasure: Book Of Secrets takes you on a globe-trotting quest full of adrenaline-pumping twists and turns - all leading to the final clue in a mysterious and highly guarded book containing centuries of secrets. But there's only one way to find it - Ben Gates must kidnap the President. Packed with fast-paced action and crackling humor, National Treasure: Book Of Secrets is a movie your entire family will want to rediscover again and again.

NT: Book of secrets does not have the fresh feel of the first film but it does have something tangible to offer. The premise in this film revolves around the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the allegation by a southern “confederate“ gentlemen (played by Ed Harris) that Thomas Gates the great grandfather of Patrick Gates, (Jon Voight) was the master mind behind it rather than John Wilkes Booth. This brings together Abigail, Riley and Ben for another treasure hunting adventure that ignites the same chemistry between the three that made the first film a success. Add to that the presence of the elegant and sublimely talented Helen Mirren as Emily ( Ben‘s mother) and the versatile Ed Harris (Bad guy) and you have the formula for another successful collaboration. .

The question is, was Book of Secrets as good as the original? I say that it is. I don’t think that the screenplay is better but I liked the deeper involvement of Jon Voight, the additional elements that require uncovering multiple layers to discover the whereabouts of the Book, the desks, the treasure and finally the climactic scene that finds the treasure. I felt that the scene leading up the discovery of the Golden City was better here than the one in NT. I liked how things played out with Mitch Wilkinson, the president and Ben’s parents. I felt that the action was every bit as good in this one as in the original but that it was done a little better here. I will admit that Book of secrets was definitely more over the top in the realism department. Kidnapping the president, getting out of the Library of Congress when it is surrounded by dozens of FBI and law enforcement, breaking into Buckingham Palace, scamming their way into the Oval Office at the White House….OK maybe it was more of a stretch than I thought !

I saw Book of secrets theatrically and liked it. I was not sure how it would hold up upon repeat viewing. Well it held up just fine and I liked it more this time. The chemistry between Krueger, Bartha, and Cage remains just as strong. Voight was as poised as ever and nothing needs to be said of the exquisite Helen Mirren who is still plenty glamorous for a woman in her early sixties.

The rating is for some action and violence.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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National Treasure: Book of Secrets comes to blu-ray disc sporting 1080p MPEG-4 (AVC) encoded video and lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel audio. The video had an average bitrate of 26 mbps while the TrueHD mix audio had an average bitrate of 3.4 mbps. The Dolby TrueHD audio presented on NT: Book of Secrets was of reference quality. This was not an overly aggressive mix but it was definitely an engaging one. Once again Trevor Rabin’s score led the way with musical intonation that was rendered with superb presence, mid range clarity and crystal clear yet smooth treble. Instrumentation was well placed with the sound stage with excellent separation and sonic detail. Surround sound effects were used to realistically fill the rear of the room with ambient as well as localizable spatial cues which aptly matched what was occurring onscreen. This was put to great use during the car chase scene in London which sounded great as it filled the room with crashing metal, screaming pedestrians, and objects whizzing by. I had no idea just how dynamic or enriching this track was until the scene in the final act when the group enters the caverns beneath Mount Rushmore. This entire sequence was well worth the wait and part of the reason that this mix scored a swell as it did. The sounds of falling rocks, the swaying and creaking of the large balancing platform and power of the flowing water created one of the best aural experiences I have had in my theater room. What made it so good was the superb detail and intricate reproduction of the sounds located within the audio. Low frequency effects were delivered with solidified emphasis and deep extension. The dialogue was crystalline and easily heard even during the most egregiously busy sequences. Subtlety was also strong within the mix which made whispers, voices on cell phones and background/ambient sounds distinguishable.

After watching National Treasure on blu-ray I was wondering if the video for this film would look similar to it. As good as NT looked, Book of Secrets kicked it up a notch. Detail was rendered with aplomb and looked every bit as good as I have seen from high definition on blu-ray disc. This was the case in all but a handful of shots and I believe that those were due to the nature of the photography. Images had clearly definable lines with absolute resolve and dynamic extension that was stunning at times. The beautiful vista views of Mount Rushmore, London and France were absolutely pristine in quality. Colors were reproduced with sparkling vibrancy, deep extension, and natural tonality. Flesh tones were solid with the exception of Nicholas Cage who looked like he spent way too much time in the tanning bed. He had a heavy orange cast to his complexion that I found to be distracting. I am positive that this had more to do with personal preference than any inherent problems in the video itself. Blacks were as good as I have seen them with deep extension, dynamic range, and noise free backgrounds. Shadow detail fell into the same category in that it excellent. The sequences filmed in the tunnel at Mount Vernon and then in the caves below Mount Rushmore were brimming with fine background detail, two and three dimensional depth and solid and noise free blacks. Contrast sparked a good balance in that whites were dynamic and blacks had plenty of depth which helped give colors extra pop.

Disney has put together a great set of bonus materials for the release of National Treasure: Book of Secrets. This blu-ray disc contains all of the features from the 2 Disc Gold Collector’s DVD Edition and includes two additional bonus features which are exclusive to Blu-ray disc. The video content is in high definition which is always a plus. There are enough supplements here to keep viewers busy for a few hours as they offer an inside look at the production and challenges to history buffs. Enjoy !

Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features:

I remember thinking after I saw NT: Book of Secrets in the theater that I looked forward to seeing it in high definition on blu-ray. Disney has surpassed my expectations by delivering a knock out debut which offers reference quality audio and video as well as an entertaining and comprehensive set of bonus features. Fans can look forward to this on blu-ray disc. It has found a permanent place in my collection and gets my Highest recommendation.

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( Max score: 100 )

87

Product Description:

From Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of Pirates Of The Caribbean, comes the definitive National Treasure. Get closer to the edge of your seat with the 2-Disc Collector's Edition DVD of this thrilling adventure starring Academy Award Winner Nicolas Cage (Best Actor, Leaving Las Vegas, 1995) as Benjamin Franklin Gates. With heart-pounding chases and close calls, this high-stakes crime caper is the most exciting treasure hunt you've ever experienced.

National Treasure is loads of fun. I own the previous DVD release and never tire of it‘s endless amounts of energy. I think that in order to truly enjoy this film you need to be a Nicholas Cage fan. It‘s his portrayal as Benjamin Franklin Gates that helps create the character‘s believability and strength. Diane Krueger and Justin Bartha play off of Cage quite well to solidify the trio as they perilously play cat and mouse with both the FBI and Sean Bean and his entourage of mercenaries. Add to that the credible turns by screen veterans Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel and Christopher Plummer and simply sit back and enjoy the ride. The screenplay is well paced, smart and loaded with enough twists, turns and action to satisfy those of us who enjoy really great action/adventure films.

The PG rating is for action violence and some scary images which may not be appropriate for children.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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National Treasure: Collectors Edition comes to blu-ray disc sporting 1080p AVC encoded video and lossless 5.1 channel uncompressed PCM audio. The video had an average bitrate of 24 mbps while the PCM audio had a constant bit depth of 6.9 mbps. Based upon the overall scores it is obvious that this is a well balanced presentation and it showed. Images had excellent depth and visual acuity. Exterior sequences benefited greatly from this as they looked stunning at times. Colors were warm with over saturated primaries that appeared to have been tweaked perhaps in post production to give them a bit more extension. This definitely translated positively to images as they were vibrant with superb delineation and variety. Detail in those same scenes was resolute with three dimensional depth of field and clean crisp definition.

Interior and darker scenes were not quite a sharply resolved which resulted in them appearing less slightly less detailed. I can’t say for certain if this is how it looked theatrically but if memory serves I believe so. The scenes shot in the chamber adjacent to where the treasure is discovered didn’t look as detailed and dimensional as other sequences. Shadow detail was good but not as good as I have seen during those scenes. Again, I believe that this is innate to the photography and not so much attributable to the encoding. Blacks were very good with solid depth and noise free backgrounds. On occasion they were crushed a bit but overall were very respectable. Skin tones showed very good tonal distinction and appeared natural in most instances. Depending on the lighting they could appear somewhat waxy in complexion but this was the exception and not the rule. Grain was present and appeared well preserved. Video noise and artifacts were never an issue.

The audio presentation delivered the goods as well. Trevor Rabin’s score never sounded better as the mix made excellent use of the front and rear sound stage to drive the music based upon the onscreen action. No question that the music was the star of this audio delivery. Imaging and separation across the front three channels was well focused and airy. The sounds of falling fragments from the exploding Charlotte, or the creaking of 200 year old timbers came through the surround channels with terrific clarity and immersive realism. Bass within the mix never reached deep in the sub harmonic frequencies but on occasion offered excellent extension as it kept pace with car chase, exploding ships and a variety of gunfire. Clarity, Detail and Dynamics were all responsible for the first-rate reproduction of the audio which was rendered with clean, authoritative, composure.

This is an extensive bonus set that is sure to please even the most discerning fans. Disney has seen fit to port over the majority of features from last year‘s Two Disc DVD Collector’s Edition which is a nice touch. This set covers the production quite well and offers plenty of historical significance to boot. I recommend you take the time to view it all as it will be well worth your time. Disney‘s Total Menu system is really cool and makes disc navigation extremely easy.

Featurettes and fun factoids:

Exclusive Blu-ray Disc Feature:

An interactive look inside the Declaration of Independence with more than 70 minutes of new video content, along with never before seen audio commentary by Director Jon Turtletaub and actor Justin Bartha. This is a really cool feature that allows you to dissect the Declaration line by line and to use tools to gather further in depth information with added video features.

National Treasure is one of the most anticipated catalog titles coming to Blu-ray Disc to date. Disney has shown strong support for the new high definition format right from the beginning. Their knack for offering high quality video presentations along with lossless audio on blu-ray has created a solid reputation among enthusiasts. This release is another example of Disney‘s commitment. It offers strong audio/video quality and an extensive bonus set which is sure to thrill fans. Highly Recommended.

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( Max score: 100 )

95

When a lonely young boy named Angus discovers a large, mysterious egg along the shores of Loch Ness, no one is prepared for what lies within. He soon discovers that the strange, mischievous hatchling inside is none other than The Water Horse, the loch's most mysterious and fabled creature! But with the Water Horse growing ten times its size every day, Angus finds it increasingly difficult to keep his new friend a secret.

I am definitely a fan of films about fables and legends especially when they include a bond between the focus of the legend and children. The WaterHorse: Legend of the deep is just such a story and it is a heart warming one indeed. What makes it so touching is that it revolves around a boy during World War II whose father, with whom he is very close, goes off to war. The boy misses his father desperately which can be seen through a series of flashback sequences showing the two together. He is left with his mother, who is head house mistress of a large estate and too busy to spend time with him, and his slightly older sister. Angus, played splendidly by Alex Etel, stumbles upon what he later finds out is a large egg that contains a wondrous and perhaps mythical creature called a Waterhorse. There can only be one of these creatures in existence at a time and before dying they will lay the egg of its successor.

The rating is for some action peril, language, and brief smoking.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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The 1080p MPEG-4 (AVC) encoding had an average bit rate of 22 mbps and the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel audio had an average bit rate of 1.9 mbps both of which were reference quality.

The audio mix is a surround sound junkies delight. It features frequent use of the entire surround platform which bombards the listening position with activity that is intricately placed within the sound field so as to provide a feeling of total immersion. This is a dynamic presentation that at times it bombastic in nature. The under water sequences provide superb presence and a realistic sense of submersion as localized and spatial sounds collide as Crusoe and Angus dive deep into the abyss of the loch. I couldn’t help but feel as though I had a small creature loose in my theater room as the mix used sound effects that traversed the entire room as Angus searched the workshop for the tiny sounds made by the entity that hatched from the egg. The blasts of large cannons or the deep rooted thunder during a storm tore through my room with excellent low frequency precision and solidity. Low frequency depth was not the deepest I have experienced but it created a believable experience that sounded superb. Every subtle nuance within the mix was detectable thanks to crystal clarity and open sound staging. This is one that will thrill your friends.

**My video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

Sony has provided a wonderful set of bonus features for The Waterhorse: Legend of the deep. These offer an in depth look at the project from concept through filming. There are extensive interviews with the director, cast and crew. There is plenty of on location footage that details how many of the sequences were shot and what Alex Etel needed to do to prepare for his role in this film. Don’t let the little ones watch too much though as it will give away many of the secrets of how Crusoe was created ! They can enjoy the virtual Crusoe game and create their own Waterhorse and watch him grow up (nice tough). All of the bonus features are presented in high definition which is always a welcome addition. Well done Sony !

Blu-ray Exclusive:

The Waterhorse: Legend of the deep is a great family film that both adults and children can enjoy. Its strength lies in its characters who are wonderfully portrayed by the cast with special mention of young Alex Etel who was amazing. Sony has delivered yet another superb audio/video presentation in high definition Blu-ray that includes a comprehensive set of bonus supplements. This is one that belongs in every collection and it gets my highest recommendation.

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( Max score: 100 )

88

Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan are two thieves who haven't got a prayer in FIRST SUNDAY, a sinfully, funny comedy co-starring Katt Williams and Chi McBride. Sentenced to 5,000 hours of community service, Durell Jefferson's (Cube) life quickly goes from bad to worse. Realizing that the Lord helps those who help themselves, he eventually decides to help himself to the neighborhood church's building fund. Accompanied by his dimwitted partner-in-crime LeeJohn (Morgan), the two down-on-their-luck men are dismayed to discover the cash has already been stolen, so they hold the congregation hostage in a Hail Mary attempt to learn who amongst the righteous has already run away with their loot!

I have seen a number of films starring Ice Cube and I find him to be appealing on camera but not a particularly good actor. His comedies tend to team him up with a “funny man” which allows him to play the “straight man” counterpart. In this case the funny man is Tracy Morgan who I just do not find to be funny. The screenplay is simple but just lacks cohesiveness which leaves the superb cast (other than Cube and Morgan) left to flounder. What I do like about Ice Cube’s movies is that they always seem to have a positive message imbedded within them and this one is no different. In this case it revolves around his character’s desire to keep his son from moving to Atlanta with his mother who is having financial difficulties and needs to relocate to get back on her feet. He is faced with some tough decisions that force him to look at himself and ultimately he realizes what is most important in the end. There are some funny moments and like him or not Morgan is the reason for them. The cast is sprinkled with some veteran actors and relative newcomers who do a nice job in support of the two leads. When all was said and done I wanted to like First Sunday more than I did. It was just a bit too shallow and tried too hard to be funny which is `where it came up short.

The rating is for language, brief sexual humor and drug references.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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The 1080p MPEG-4 (AVC) encoding presented here had an average bit rate of 25 mbps and was of reference quality. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel audio presented here had an average bit rate of 1.5 mbps and sounded great overall. First Sunday is essentially a dialogue driven affair that contains elements that do benefit from use of the entire surround platform. Early in the movie as the characters are being introduced there is driving Hip Hop music which serves as its foundation. The driving rhythms and intense low end activity reach deep into the room and could be felt within the fabric of my leather seating. These scenes created an aural atmosphere within the room that was brimming with surround activity. The music had a wonderfully balanced quality that enabled the various vocal and musical segments to be clearly audible as they were seemingly suspended in acoustic space. Dialogue intelligibility was first rate throughout the presentation. Sonic detail was excellent which gave palpable distinction to the sounds of objects, background ambience, and tonal characteristics of voices in the church choir. This was not an overly dynamic mix but then again it didn’t need to be. Low frequency effects within the mix were few but easily felt when called upon.

The video presentation was top notch. Detail was abundant and offered the “looking through a window” effect that makes images look lifelike, three dimensional, and definable. Subtle delineation in the exteriors of buildings, passing vehicles, and vegetation within the city limits was clearly visible. Small object detail within the confines of the church created an excellent sense of depth during the numerous panning shots used as Durell and Lee John held the church staff hostage. Resolve at times had a seemingly infinite feel which provided superb rendering of close-up shots of the cast. Being able to clearly see the texture of fabrics in clothing or the refined epidermal differences from one person to the next was a regular occurence. Colors were vibrant and boldly expressive as they seemed to leap off of the screen. Fleshtones were rendered with superb expression and natural tonality. I saw no signs of video related aberrations what so ever. Overall image quality was whistle clean, with gorgeous eye popping visuals and succulent detail.

**My video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

The bonus features offered on First Sunday were above average and didn‘t provide much of an inside look at the production. The Hood Robbin’ feature was basically a making of documentary that featured some background on the film’s origin, interviews with the cast, crew, and director etc. The Camera Wrap Speech was a video shot after the last scene wrapped and featured Director David Talbert making a few presentations to the cast and offering his thanks to all. The Gag Reel and Outtakes were your basic cast goof and breakups which were mildly entertaining. The Deleted scenes and commentary tracks didn’t offer any intrinsically valuable information in my opinion. Fans of the film will probably have a better appreciation for them.

Enhanced for Blu-ray:

First Sunday is a below average comedy that does not bring anything original to the genre. Director David E. Talbert compares Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan in their roles to Sidney Poitier, Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby. I find that to be a huge overstatement and certainly not the case in my opinion. The remainder of the cast did a commendable job with what they had to work with and helped make the film better than it would have been otherwise. Sony has brought First Sunday to blu-ray disc with a stunningly beautiful video presentation with excellent audio and respectable bonus supplements as icing on the cake. Fans of the film will indeed be pleased.

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( Max score: 100 )

82

Within the FBI there exists a division dedicated to investigating and prosecuting criminals on the internet. Welcome to the front lines of the war on cybercrime, where special Agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) and Griffin Dowd (Colin Hanks) have seen it all?until now. A tech-savvy internet predator is displaying his graphic murders on his own website and the fate of each of his tormented captives is left in the hands of the public: the more hits his site gets, the faster his victims die. When this game of cat and mouse becomes personal, Marsh and her team must race against the clock to track down this technical mastermind who is virtually untraceable.

Untraceable takes a very interesting look at the power of the internet and our reliance upon it. The premise puts an up to date spin on a concept that has been around the block in a number of films. The story establishes solid character bonds between the Agent Marsh and her partner Agent Dowd. Conversely it really never allows the audience the chance to bond with either of them on a personal level which makes it hard to care about them. The same is true of Owen Reilly (Joseph Cross) the bad guy in the film. Initially there is no indication why Owen is capturing and torturing his victims. Once his purpose is revealed it seems rather convoluted. There are several instances where things don’t add up but then again this is nothing new in film making. In this case I felt that this film, which purports to be detail oriented, left out too many details. As a viewer I found myself thinking how did he do that? When did he have time to make that happen? How was he able to do that in broad daylight?

The rating is for some prolonged sequences of strong gruesome violence/torture and language/

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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The video was very good overall but didn’t have that WOW factor that is present with the top tier high definition video I have seen from blu-ray. I think the biggest reason for this was the creative decision to filter the color in order to provide a darker and more somber visual experience. The cinematography was also purposely kept to darker elements in order to establish a gloomy feeling in both interior and exterior environs. This translated into an image that lacked punch and vibrancy even during daytime or well lit scenes. The color palette was on the reserved side with the occasional use of brighter tones that appeared natural in rendering but lacked pop. Shadow detail was good at times and not at others. For instance, in the films opening sequence, object detail within the shadowy dark areas in the basement were clearly visible. Later on as Agent Marsh uses an emergency call box on a dark bridge there was no visible structure within the black hooded rain slicker she was wearing. This was the case at several points in the film.

Detail was rendered quite well which lent images to look stark in their realism at times. Close up shots of the cast revealed subtle texture and fine description of things like crows feet around the eyes, individual hairs with eyebrows, and blemishes covered by makeup. Some of the longer shots and darker sequences softened at times which I attribute to post production manipulation. Grain appeared to be preserved well and was only clearly visible occasionally.

Overall this presentation was appropriate and kept well within the scope of the film’s premise. I suspect that most will find it to be likeable.

**My video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

The special features offered here a fairly comprehensive and present an in depth look at the film from its beginnings to completion. The PIP feature is slick and offers so much information that I found myself watching for the pop ups. Detailed explanations of what is going on in specific sequences and why is provided by the director, producer, production designer or cast. The four documentaries were a mixed bag and provided background on the script, casting, make-up/special effects and behind the scenes while filming. I would have liked to have seen more than 5 minutes on the make-up and special effects used in the story as they were quite good. Looking at them in total though I was pleased with what was presented.

Blu-ray Disc Exclusive:

An immersive experience featuring interviews with the filmmakers, and cast, storyboards, production photos and behind-the-scenes footage that runs concurrently with the film.

Untraceable is a film that will probably fall between the cracks because it lacks the depth of other films that have used a similar concept. While I found it good enough to keep me interested it probably won’t hold solid replay value. Fans will be pleased overall with its presentation on blu-ray disc as it offers good audio/video quality and a nice set of bonus supplements.