<![CDATA[High Def Forum - Your High Definition Community & High Definition Resource - Blu-Ray Movie Reviews and Software discussion]]> http://www.highdefforum.com A place to post your Blu-ray movie reviews or simply discuss movies, TV shows, etc. on the Blu-ray format! en Fri, 24 May 2013 10:32:12 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.highdefforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[High Def Forum - Your High Definition Community & High Definition Resource - Blu-Ray Movie Reviews and Software discussion]]> http://www.highdefforum.com My take: Jack Reacher (2012) http://www.highdefforum.com/blu-ray-movie-reviews-software-discussion/141195-my-take-jack-reacher-2012-a.html Wed, 15 May 2013 02:14:37 GMT
Title: Jack Reacher (2012)
BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc / Two Disc Set
Video: 1080p / AVC
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish & Portuguese
Run time: 130 minutes
Studio: Paramount
Rating: PG-13
Region Coding: Region Free

Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher
Rosamund Pike as Helen
Richard Jenkins as Rodin
David Oyelowo as Emerson
Werner Herzog as The Zec
Jai Courtney as Charlie
Joseph Sikora as Barr
Michael Raymond-James as Linsky
Alexia Fast as Sandy
Josh Helman as Jeb
Robert Duvall as Martin Cash
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

Jack Reacher is Christopher McQaurrie's second film to direct, but the man is no stranger to film. He has written several films including Valkyrie, The Usual Suspects, and of course adapted the screenplay for Jack Reacher. So it was no surprise to me that I would be entertained by this film when I saw it in the theater a few months ago.

When five seemingly random people are shot by a sniper in downtown Pittsburgh the police descend upon a goldmine of a crime scene. They find more than enough evidence to convict a man name James Barr, whose fingerprint's, vehicle, and preferred caliber casings are found at the scene. We know the man who killed these people was not James Barr so he refuses to speak to the police or the district attorney until they bring him a man by the name of Jack Reacher.

Reacher is a career military policeman and investigator and when he learns that Barr has asked for him by name he assumes that it's for a good reason. What seems like a cut and dry murder case to everyone else begins to look like something else to Reacher and he soon realizes that there's a much larger game at play. Will Reacher be able to not only prove Barr's innocence, but also find out why anyone would want to frame him in the first place?

I can't recommend this film enough as Cruise fills the shoes of the Reacher character perfectly. You don't have to be an action or Cruise fan to enjoy this. Jack Reacher is one of those crime/thriller/action films that is sure to entertain just about every type of audience. Due to violence and profanity this one is not for younger children.

Framed in 2.35:1 Jack Reacher arrives on Blu-ray with a impeccable transfer. As a matter of fact it is about the best transfer from film I have seen this year so far. Colors are well balanced and saturated, fine detail is sublime, and grain is light and consistent. There's never any issues with softer or out of focus shots and black levels are solid. This is definitely demo worthy from start to finish. My own screen captures from Jack Reacher can be found below.




















Jack Reacher explodes onto Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track emulating the Dolby Surround 7.1 mix heard in theaters. Dialogue is clear and concise in the center channel without any problems. Fronts, surrounds, and rears are used constantly for various effects and the film's musical score. The directionality between all of these channels is extremely enveloping as whoever did this mix was certainly paying attention to detail. The LFE gets quite a bit of attention as well as gunshots, engine revs, and landing blows have serious impact through the sub. There's no doubt that this mix is right up there with the best.

Jack Reacher comes to Blu-ray with a generous amount of supplements. First up is a feature length commentary with McQuarrie and Cruise, which is extremely interesting from start to finish as the two cover virtually every facet of the film's production as well as its adaption from Lee Child's novel entitled One Shot. Next up is the film's isolated score with occasional comments from Composer Joe Kramer. Next is a 26 minute feature that focuses on how Lee Child's book was adapted to the screen and why Cruise was chosen for his role. Next is a 10 minute look at the choreography for the realistic action sequences in the film. Lastly, Child weighs in on the character of Reacher, the series for the character, and his writing. There is also a DVD copy on a second disc as well as an Ultraviolet digital copy insert.

Movie: 8/10
PQ: 10/10
AQ: 10/10
Supplements: 7/10
Final Word: A Must Own ]]> Blu-Ray Movie Reviews and Software discussion HD Goofnut http://www.highdefforum.com/blu-ray-movie-reviews-software-discussion/141195-my-take-jack-reacher-2012-a.html My take: Silver Linings Playbook (2012) http://www.highdefforum.com/blu-ray-movie-reviews-software-discussion/141093-my-take-silver-linings-playbook-2012-a.html Fri, 03 May 2013 20:24:46 GMT
Title: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc / Two Disc Set
Video: 1080p / AVC
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Subtitles: English & Spanish
Run time: 122 minutes
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Rating: R
Region Coding: Region A Locked

Bradley Cooper as Pat
Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany
Robert De Niro as Pat Sr.
Jacki Weaver as Dolores
Chris Tucker as Danny
Anupam Kher as Dr. Cliff Patel
John Ortiz as Ronnie
Shea Whigham as Jake
Julia Stiles as Veronica
Paul Herman as Randy
Dash Mihok as Officer Keogh
Brea Bee as Nikki
Directed by David O. Russell

David O. Russell has always had a talent for creating extremely believable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed Three Kings as well as The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook is no exception. It's no surprise that the film walked away with one Academy Award for Jennifer Lawrence's performance as well as seven other nominations including Best Writing and Directing for Russell.

After being in a mental institution for eight months Pat is finally being released due to a technicality with the local court. We soon discover that he was placed there after nearly beating the man to death who his wife, Nikki, was having an affair with who he has stumbled upon in their own house. He returns to his parent's home so that he can piece his life back together while he vows that everything has a silver lining, but that he must work for it.

Pat decides that he must get his life in order so that his Nikki will take him back and everything will go back to normal. This all sounds fine until we learn that Pat is bipolar with extreme mood swings and to make it worse he refuses to take his medication even at the recommendation of his therapist. After being invited to dinner by his old friend Danny he is introduced to Tiffany who is Danny's wife's sister. The two both have behavioral issues, but get along extremely well as they are both attempting to turn their lives around.

Pat really wants Tiffany's help to get back with Nikki, but what begins as a simple way to get her back becomes a slightly more complicated situation as the two began to learn more about each others personality. Will Pat become more than friends with Tiffany? Will Pat be able to control his violent mood swings and win his wife back or will he do something unexpected?

Silver Linings Playbook had some intense competition at the Academy Awards this year, but I still believe that it deserved its nominations. With an excellent screenplay and believable characters this is one that should not be missed. Due to profanity and brief nudity this one is not for children of any age.

As one would expect Silver Linings Playbook arrives on Blur-ray with a nearly perfect 2.40:1 framed transfer. Colors are well saturated without any noticeable problems. Grain is light and consistent. I was actually surprised as to how there was no noise during the film's nighttime sequences. Fine detail is absolutely impeccable as stubble, clothing textures, and various object details are all easily visible. There are a few soft shots scattered about that were slightly distracting to my eyes, but most won't even notice. This might not be a demo disc, but it is certainly well done nonetheless. My own screen captures from Silver Linings Playbook can be found below.
















Silver Linings Playbook comes equipped with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that has no problems whatsoever. Dialogue is clear and concise in the center channel. The surrounds receive much more attention than I was expecting as this is predominately a dialogue driven title. The film's wonderful musical score does wonders in the fronts and surrounds and there are plenty of subtle effects in the sound field that you would expect to hear in a large city like Philadelphia. There are a few instances where the LFE gets some attention without being overpowering. This is definitely one of the best mixes I have heard from a drama this year.

Silver Linings Playbook comes to Blu-ray with a satisfactory set of supplements although it would have been appreciated if Russell would have recorded an audio commentary. At least all of the features other than Cooper's camera attempt are in 1080p. First up is a 26 minute chunk of deleted scenes and they are a treat to watch for the most part. It's obvious why some were cut, but I would have liked for some to be left in the film, but that would have put the film well over two hours and might have affected pacing. Next is a 28 minute collection of interviews with the primary cast members, which provides some excellent personal insight. Next is a 27 minute set of Q & A type interviews with Russell and the main cast. If you have to choose between this and the other interviews go with the former. Next is a brief look at Cooper and Lawrence rehearsing their dance number. Next is a 11 minute dance lesson from choreographer Mandy Moore. Lastly, there is a brief one minute clip of Cooper taking a stab at being a cameraman. There is also a DVD copy as well as an Ultraviolet Digital Copy insert.

Movie: 8/10
PQ: 9/10
AQ: 10/10
Supplements: 6/10
Final Word: A Must Own ]]> Blu-Ray Movie Reviews and Software discussion HD Goofnut http://www.highdefforum.com/blu-ray-movie-reviews-software-discussion/141093-my-take-silver-linings-playbook-2012-a.html