Home Theater Movie Renter’s Guide – August, 2014

“Need For Speed” (Blu-ray) – Reviewed by Jim Milton

movies-Aug2014-NeedSpeed

Synopsis

This story chronicles a near-impossible cross-country race against time-one that begins as a mission for revenge, but proves to be one of redemption. In a last attempt to save his struggling garage, blue-collar mechanic Tobey Marshall (Paul)-who with his team skillfully builds and races muscle cars on the side-reluctantly partners with wealthy, arrogant ex-NASCAR driver Dino Brewster (Cooper). Just as a major sale to car broker (Poots) looks like it will save the business, a disastrous, unsanctioned race results in Dino framing Tobey for manslaughter.

Specifications

  • Dream Works Studios
  • 2014, Rated: PG-13, 2 hours 10 min.
  • 1080p, DTS-MA 7.1, 2.39:1 aspect ratio
  • Starring: Aaron Paul, Imogen Poots,Dominic Cooper and Michael Keaton
  • Directed by: Scott Waugh
  • Rating

    • Entertainment:
    • Video:
    • Audio:
    • Extras:
    • Violence: Yes
    • Sex: No
    • Language: Mild

Commentary

Somewhat of a cross between Fast & Furious vs. Smokey & the Bandit, this racing drama uses some very expensive and exotic race cars. The hero has to drive from NYC to San Francisco in less than 48 hours to compete in an illicit car race. The thing that sets this film apart from all of the others is the use of authentic, non CGI automobiles. I suspect none of them were actually harmed in the making of this movie. The driving sequences are pretty exciting, too. Yes, there is the prerequisite car jumping scene, ala Dukes of Hazard, and an impossible copter ride, but for the most part, the story follows the laws of physics. The Shelby is gorgeous…and loud and mean. A fun rental, but don’t even think about watching it after the family goes to bed.

Technical

Picture quality is very good with great contrasts, detail and eye-popping colors. These cars look like space craft or futuristic fighter jets. I turned the movie volume down from my reference setting of 70 to 60, and still my wife heard it on the other side of the house. This was easily the most dynamic movie soundtrack of the year for me. I discovered a buzz in the room and found it to be a plastic bag I had set next my subwoofer. During the racing, the bag was literally flapping in the breeze. Needless to say…a FIVE for sound!

Extras

Includes: Capturing Speed, Ties That Bind, Circus in Town, commentaries, trailers and deleted scenes.

 “Aftermath” (Blu-ray) – Reviewed by Chris Eberle

movie-august-2014-aftermath

Synopsis

A young man named Hunter walks down a Texas highway listening to reports of escalating nuclear strikes in the Middle East. Suddenly the bombs begin falling on US cities and he sees a mushroom cloud appear in the distance. In his efforts to find shelter, he gathers up a handful of survivors and they all hole up in a cellar hoping to wait out the quickly spreading radiation. During their month underground they must survive each other and groups of attackers that seek to steal their supplies. In the end it’s all for naught as they become sick anyway. After a final battle with looters, only Hunter and another woman survive just long enough to be consumed by radiation sickness.

Specifications

    • Imagine Entertainment
    • 2012, Not rated, 1 hour 32 min.
    • 1080p, DTS-MA 5.1, 1.78:1 aspect ratio
    • Starring: Edward Furlong, Monica Keena, William Baldwin
    • Directed by: Peter Engert

Rating

    • Entertainment:
    • Video:
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    • Violence: Yes
    • Sex: No
    • Language: Yes

Commentary

You can tell from the synopsis that this movie doesn’t offer a whole lot of depth. The message is all too clear, “there’s no happy ending in nuclear war.” The film spends a brutal 90 minutes showcasing despair and death as the survivors wait out their time in a dark basement. In fact, you pretty much know what the ending will be within the first 15 minutes. Aftermath is a direct-to-video release and I have a hard time imagining anyone watching it more than once. There isn’t much action except for a few minutes at the end so its entertainment value is low. Worth a rental? Barely.

Technical

Most low-budget films like this have poor image quality but Aftermath shines here. Color is muted appropriately for the subject matter but detail is retained well enough to maintain excellent depth and dimension. Contrast is just right with plenty of dynamic range but no loss of highlight or shadow detail. Grain is used liberally to enhance the movie’s gritty feel but it never distracts.

There is very little music in the background so the ambient sound effects become more important. The mix works well at creating an immersive environment and recreating the cramped quarters in which most of the film takes place. Dialog is nice and clear and overall detail levels are high.

Extras

There are no bonus features included with this release.

  “True Blood, Season 6” (Blu-ray) – Reviewed by Chris Eberle

movie-august-2014-trueblood6

Synopsis

With the True Blood factories destroyed, vampires are roaming freely in search of humans to feed on. Louisiana governor Truman Burrell clamps down by enacting a vampire curfew and confiscating all vamp-owned businesses. He also develops deadly weapons and opens a Vamp Camp facility to imprison and experiment on them. Along with Sarah Newlin, he hatches a plan to manufacture True Blood laced with poison in an effort to exterminate the entire race.

Meanwhile, Bill has acquired new powers after drinking Lillith’s blood. He kidnaps a scientist to help him synthesize a new kind of True Blood that will let vampires walk in the sun. Sookie finally meets Warlow, the vampire who killed her parents, and finds he’s not what she expected. And she discovers she’s descended from royalty when she meets Niall, her fairy grandfather.

Specifications

    • HBO
    • 2013, Not rated, 10 hours (10 episodes)
    • 1080p, DTS-MA 5.1, 1.78:1 aspect ratio
    • Starring: Anna Paquin, Sam Trammell, Stephen Moyer

Rating

    • Entertainment:
    • Video:
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    • Violence: Yes
    • Sex: Yes
    • Language: Yes

Commentary

After last season’s confusing and drawn out plot involving the Vampire Authority, this series needed a boost and it got one. It’s still not as engaging as the first few seasons but number six is definitely an uptick. With season seven being True Blood’s last, I and all its fans want to see the show end on a high point. As always, the writing is witty and fun with a nice balance of drama and humor. The actors turn in excellent performances all around and keep the plot going even when it tries to bog down. I’ve stuck with True Blood since the beginning and I can’t wait to see what the final season will bring.

Technical

Video quality has steadily improved during the series’ run and the latest transfer easily earns five stars. Contrast is now very consistent with deep blacks loaded with shadow detail. Color is bright and saturated with razor-sharp detail in both close-up shots and wider scenes. And there are no signs of edge enhancement.

Audio is rich and dynamic with good use of the sub and surround channels. While you won’t mistake it for a blockbuster movie, it’s one of the better TV show soundtracks I’ve experienced. Dialog is crisp and perfectly placed within a wide front sound stage. And I still love to listen to the opening credit song performed by Jace Everett. Its southern rock style makes for a perfect introduction.

Extras

Bonus features include five audio commentaries with cast and crew members, in-depth story analysis of each episode, and an inside look at the “Vamp Camp” containment facility featured in the show.

“Noah” (Blu-ray) – Reviewed by Jim Milton

movies-aug-2014-noah

Synopsis

Loosely based on the Biblical account of God’s judgment on a creation that turned its back on Him, Aronofsky’s re-telling has Noah building an ark to save the few remaining faithful and animals from a cataclysmic flood…but mankind conspires to thwart his efforts.

Specifications

    • Paramount Pictures
    • 2014, Rated PG-13, 2 hours 18 minutes
    • 1080p, DTS-MA 5.1, 1.85:1 aspect ratio
    • Starring: Russell Crowe, Ray Winstone, Jennifer Connelly
    • Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Rating

    • Entertainment:
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    • Violence: Yes
    • Sex: Yes
    • Language: Mild

Commentary

Being familiar with the story of Noah, I found this movie a confusing mess. It took on an environmental perspective of Noah, the naturalist, versus the ever growing population of industrialists. The Nephilim (fallen angels that God turned into rock monsters) that built the ark kill more men than the actual flood. All of this could have been just amusing fun, but the last 40 minutes of the movie portrays Noah as lunatic who wants to kill his grandchildren, so God’s punishment can be complete. That is a disturbing and weird variant from the source material. At the very end, the viewer is left with wondering what the whole show was about.

Technical

The gorgeous picture was filmed in Nordic country and is both stark and beautiful. Depth and detail are excellent and the few muted colors shine. Dirt, grime and textiles demonstrate fine details and “sweat of man’s brow”. The sound was all encompassing and dynamic in the flood sequence, yet delicate and silent during the night scenes. The 2 note “Noah motiff” music score got annoying after awhile. The CGI was hit or miss here as well. The flood was well done…but the digital animals (especially snakes), not so convincing. This is a case of bad movie, great disc.

Extras

“We build an ark”, commentaries and theatrical trailers.

 “Divergent” (Blu-ray) – Reviewed by Chris Eberle

movie-august-2014-divergent

Synopsis

In a post-war society living in the remains of Chicago, humans have divided themselves into five factions representing kindness, selflessness, intelligence, physical prowess, and candor. When children reach 16, they are tested to see if they should remain in their birth faction or transfer to another. Tris Prior takes the test and learns she possesses all five traits, a condition known as divergence. She is told to hide this fact and not tell anyone so she chooses to join Dauntless and train to become a warrior.

Specifications

    • Summit Entertainment
    • 2014, Rated PG-13, 2 hours 19 minutes
    • 1080p, DTS-MA 7.1, 2.40:1 aspect ratio
    • Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet
    • Directed by Neil Burger

Rating

    • Entertainment:
    • Video:
    • Audio:
    • Extras:
    • Violence: Yes
    • Sex: No
    • Language: No

Commentary

Post-apocalyptic society, check. New social order to keep the peace, check. Young attractive female heroine whose name ends in “is”, check. Another young-adult book trilogy comes to the big screen and it’s bound to rake in the dough. Comparisons to The Hunger Games are inevitable but Divergent stands on its own pretty well. It’s definitely darker in mood and relies less on the romance and humor elements so prominent in that film. The long second act is spent in the intense training of Dauntless initiates and serves to toughen up our main character for what lies ahead. There is romance here but it plays a minor role. Action is the main focus and it’s delivered in large helpings. I enjoyed the group of young actors cast in this latest Hollywood cash generator as they all performed their roles with enthusiasm. If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games, you’ll enjoy Divergent; plain and simple.

Technical

Image quality is on-par with most modern film transfers with tons of detail, great contrast, and excellent color. Speaking of the palette, it changes often to suit the mood of the moment. I’m not usually a fan of the interpretive-style of color rendition so often seen in movies today but Divergent is done particularly well. Action scenes are definitely cool in tone while more intimate exchanges between characters are painted in warm reds and oranges. One thing that stays constant is a wide dynamic range encompassing the brightest whites and deepest blacks.

The DTS-HD Master Audio track is presented in 7.1 and is in your face from beginning to end. Even though I watched using a 5.1 setup, a lot of things happened behind my head. The use of both surround and sub channels is nothing short of excellent. I really could find no flaws whatsoever.

Extras

Bonus features include audio commentary with producers and director Neil Burger, a 47-minute making-of featurette, a shorter documentary on the faction system seen in the film, deleted scenes, a music video, and two theatrical trailers.

 “Bears” (Blu-ray) – Reviewed by Jim Milton

movies-aug-2014-Bears

Synopsis

From Disney Nature, the studio that brought you Earth and Chimpanzee, comes Bears – an epic story of breathtaking scale. Showcasing a year in the life of a bear family, mother Sky teaches her two impressionable cubs, Amber and Scout about life’s most important lessons. Set against a majestic Alaskan backdrop, their journey begins as winter ends. Emerging from hibernation, the three face the bitter cold and an exciting but very risky outside world. Astonishing footage captures the fast-moving action and suspense of an endearing family learning to live life to its fullest in one of the planet’s last great wildernesses.

Specifications

    • Disney Studios
    • 2014, Rated G, 1 hours 13 minutes
    • 1080p, DTS-MA 5.1, 1.78:1 aspect ratio
    • Narrator: John C. Reilly
    • Directed by: Alastair Fothergill

Rating

    • Entertainment:
    • Video:
    • Audio:
    • Extras:
    • Violence: Surly bears
    • Sex: No
    • Language: No

Commentary

This film maintains the same quality as the others in the Disney Nature series, which is to say that it is amazing. With stunning Alaskan vistas and incredible close-ups of wild brown bears, I found the story to be very entertaining (even though its geared toward tweens). I never realized that 50% of bear cubs do not survive their first year. This is also one of the few films that offers tremendous insight into the “making of”, which as part of the extras, is almost as fascinating as the film itself. John C. Reilly narrates and basically does a good mix of facts and humor. Unlike others in this series, none of the bears die, so you will not have to have that “circle of life” talk with your kids after the movie. This is a excellent movie to show off the details of a high definition picture on your big screen. Highly recommended!

Technical

I mentioned the picture quality is top notch. The sound is equally impressive with majestic musical sweeps and plenty of outdoor surround sounds. The detail of the picture is wonderful. Every hair, every gnat, every drop of dew displays a 3D quality. It’s hard to imagine how they got shots inside the bears den, but they pull it off. Technically, shooting in the outback of Alaska is about as difficult as any place in the entire world. Well done, Disney!

Extras

Bonus features include several vignettes about the actual making of the movie, the hardships faced by the film crew and the daily search for this particular “family” of brown bears…all of which are worth viewing, so don’t pass them up. A few theatrical trailers are also included, as is a DVD version of the film.