Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Summit Entertainment – 131 mins – 2008 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.78:1 – Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

There have been a good number of films about the war in Iraq, but none of them have stuck to audiences or received high praise from critics. After many attempts one movie has actually managed to do both, as well as receive the highest honor, an Academy Award nomination for best picture. The Hurt Locker directed by one of my favorite underrated directors, Kathryn Bigelow, has beat the odds and long after the war is over it will be remembered as one of the best movies on the subject. If you haven’t seen it yet, The Hurt Locker is available on Blu-ray courtesy of Summit Entertainment, and it is definitely worth your viewing attention.

 

THE MOVIE

 

The best thing about The Hurt Locker is that it does not have an A-list star attached, so instantly you have no expectations of what the outcome will be. The film takes place in Irag in 2004 following an explosive disposal unit that has just suffered a loss of their main bomb technician due to a situation gone wrong. After the loss, Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner) is given the position, leading a group of disarmament experts who are doing the most dangerous job in the war. Sgt. James is a rebel and does not follow the rules, making the men on his team, Sanborn and Eldridge (Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty) very cautious of him. Tension between the men deepens as Sgt. James’ takes more and more risks, putting them all in greater danger. But unlike Sgt. James these guys are both about to end their rotation and just want to careful and stay alive so they can go home.

 

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, probably one of the only female filmmakers who make action movies, (Point Break, Near Dark, Strange Days) The Hurt Locker, though offering plenty of intense action, is her most serious film to date, offering real characters who are unlike the typical rock-n-roll mavericks that were used to seeing in her movies. Where other war movies turn up the patriotic burner, The Hurt Locker just focuses on the war for what it is to the soldiers who are serving…it’s a job. These brave soldiers do things on a daily basis, risking their lives on the clock. There is a scene where a bomb that can take out ten city blocks has to be dismantled and these guys have no other choice but to do it. This is their job. It doesn’t matter how bad of a day you had at work, you’ll most likely never be in a situation where you have to deal with a bomb that can take out a half-mile radius. This is pure macho adrenaline, and Bigelow nails it perfectly.

 

The backdrop may be a sinister on-going war, but it’s the characters that make it work so successfully. Particularly Renner and Mackie, who are pitted against each other in two of the best performances on screen in 2009. The Hurt Locker does not have the action of other war films, but it doesn’t need it. Its action is in its realism, and highlights a part of the war that few ever even knew about. Fans of Kathryn Bigelow’s work will clearly see how she has evolved as a director, and anyone looking for a solid well acted and executed movie, The Hurt Locker should be on your list. Forget Avatar, The Hurt Locker should be best picture of the year.

 

VIDEO

 

The film is photographed with a documentary style, but not the typical ‘shakey-cam’ look, more of a well-balanced news doc meets gritty splendor. Offering a full 1080p image in a 1.78:1 frame the transfer looks amazing with purposely-muted colors to give the illusion of the burning sun. Flesh tones look good, displaying the sweat-soaked dirty faces of the soldiers, and details like uniforms soiled with sand jump out at you. This is a near flawless transfer that is a must for visual purist and will make you happy you own a Blu-ray player.

 

AUDIO

 

The Hurt Locker provides a Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 Master audio track that will immerse you into the movie. Dialogue is clean, and background ambience makes situations tense, particularly when a bomb must be dismantled. When explosions do occur, instead of just going for a loud bang, emphasis to make the blasts more realistic is executed with absolute perfection. Like the picture quality, the sound design is top notch and will draw the viewer in.

 

EXTRAS

 

This film deserves much more bonus features than what is offered, but with the Oscar buzz, (and hopefully win) there may be an ultimate edition in the future.

 

Kathryn Bigelow and the film’s writer Mark Boal provide an audio commentary track, and it’s a good one, not only providing on the set tales, but also talk about what made Bigelow want to do this movie, and filming in a danger zone. Do yourself a favor and listen to this one all the way through.

 

The Hurt Locker: Behind the Scenes is a quick look at the making of the film featuring interviews from the filmmakers and cast. Running only 12 minutes, it feels like a tease for something that could have been much more informative, but keeps your fingers crossed for an ultimate edition with a better behind the scenes documentary.

 

Finally, there’s a gallery of images from the film as well as behind the scenes that run 23 minutes as a recording of a Q&A featuring Bigelow and Boal done after a screening of the film in London at the Institute of Contemporary Art.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Hurt Locker is an excellent motion picture not only about the war, but also about how it affects the soldiers on both sides. The Blu-ray delivers top quality sound and audio, but the bonus features are limited, making you think there may be a double-dip in the works. Without a doubt this is Kathryn Bigelow’s best film and she will get the Academy award for best director this year. Do yourself a favor and ad this movie to your collection.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 5.0

Video: 5.0

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 104 mins – 2003 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

 

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has made some seriously bad film choices lately, with embarrassing efforts such as Doom, Race to Witch Mountain, and the worse yet…Tooth Fairy. He was obviously the most serious choice to take the muscle bound action hero throne, since Stallone and Schwarzenegger were getting up there in age. He had a strong start with The Scorpion King, and in 2003 he did The Rundown, which was a solid adventure film that showed this guy had promise in this genre. While not a mega-hit, The Rundown had legs and received cult status. The Rundown is available on Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, so if you’re looking for some macho two-fisted action, get ready to Rock.

 

THE MOVIE

 

Dwanye Johnson plays Beck, a ‘bag man’ who has been hired by his boss Billy (William Lucking) to travel into the Amazon jungle to search and rescue his son Travis (Sean William Scott). Beck agrees to do it, just as long as this is his last job, because he wants to retire and use the money to open a restaurant. Beck travels to South America to a small town called Helldorado, a place run by a corrupt scoundrel named Hatcher (Christopher Walken). Travis is there trying to find an ancient artifact known as the Gato, which will bring whoever possesses it fortune and glory, and Hatcher is after it as well. Added into the mix is a local girl named Mariana (Rosario Dawson) who is out for her own aspirations, which makes the situation riskier. Beck now finds himself tangled in a web of danger, and even though he never uses a gun, anything else goes as he attempts to rescue Travis and get out off Helldorado alive.

 

Directed by Peter Berg, (who helmed Friday Night Lights and Hancock) The Rundown is well paced and knows exactly what it’s out to do. This film was made as a showcase for Dwanye Johnson to do his thing, and the cameo by Schwarzenegger in the opening scene proves this as Arnie passes the action hero torch to him by saying “good luck.” Johnson is the reason why this film is enjoyable, he has a charm a screen presence that makes you like and want him to win. There’s nothing new about The Rundown, because it’s a mixture of a dozen other better action films, but it’s still fun and it’s easy to see why the film has gained cult status.

 

If Johnson stayed on this path and looked for scripts that can showcase him in the same manner that The Rundown does, he wouldn’t be forced to play the Tooth Fairy now. If you’ve never seen The Rundown, it is definitely worth a look because of its solid cast, constant action and sense of humor. Maybe Johnson should think about re-visiting this character for a sequel, because sine he doesn’t have a Fast and Furious movie to run back to like Vin Diesel, he needs to get back to familiar territory to revive his fading movie career.

 

VIDEO

 

The Rundown hits Blu-ray with a full 1080p image in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and the transfer is actually really good. The Rundown benefits from its many outdoor jungle scenes that allow colors to pop offering plenty of detail. Skin tones can appear a little too reddish at times, but it fits with the style of the film. The image quality is super sharp allowing you to see every age line on Christopher Walken’s face whenever he has a close up. Those of you who like looking at Rosario Dawson will also be pleased because she has plenty of cleavage shots that ready for Blu-ray.

 

AUDIO

 

Offering a killer Dolby DTS Lossless Master 5.1 sound mix, The Rundown sounds great and is a huge leap over that DVD. There’s plenty of action, so all your speaker will get a workout, particularly the rear speaker because of all of the jungle ambience. Dialogue is clean and sound effects are nicely meshed to immerse you in the action. This one has all the audio bells and whistles you would expect from a Blu-ray, so crank up the speakers.

 

EXTRAS

 

All of the bonus features from the DVD have been ported over to this Blu-ray so you will have no issues with upgrading your disc, but they all still remain in standard definition. 

 

Two audio commentaries are available, one from director Peter Berg and the film’s star Dwayne Johnson. The second commentary track is from the producers Kevin Misher and Marc Abraham. Both tracks provide background information and on the set tales, but overall neither commentary will keep your finger off of the fast forward button.

 

There are five featurettes that clock in at a half an hour: ‘Rumble in the Jungle,’ ‘Running Down the Town,’ and ‘The Amazon-Hawaii Style,’ dive into the making of The Rundown with your basic on the set cast and crew interviews.

 

‘Walken’s World’ is a cool little segment on the man himself, Christopher Walken.

 

‘The Rundown Uncensored’ is barely worth watching, comprised of mock news clips.

 

Finally there are nine deleted/extended scenes.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Rundown is definitely Dwayne Johnson’s best film to date, and though it’s full of clichés there’s a lot of fun to be had. Offering good picture quality and great sound this Blu-ray delivers. If you like this film and never owned the DVD, this is the way to go, all others should give it a rent first, but you’ll be surprised how it hooks you in.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Fox Home Entertainment – 106 mins – 1994 – Rated PG – 1080p Widescreen 2.35: 1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

After the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Hollywood was looking for something else to fit in that molding that would sell, but nothing really caught on. In 1984 an adventure comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis called Romancing the Stone fit in nice enough to fill the void between Indiana Jones movies. And though it’s not the high-flying effects filled adventure that Indy is associated with, Romancing the Stone works on its own level and after 25 years is still and enjoyable film. Romancing the Stone comes to Blu-ray from Fox Entertainment, so hang on for the ride.

 

THE MOVIE

 

A successful romance novelist named Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner), is nothing like the heroines she creates in her books, and is actually single and depressed with nothing exciting going on in her life. This all changes when she receives a call from her sister desperately asking her to bring a package to Columbia. Learning that the package only contains a map, Joan is baffled but goes on the journey to help her sister who she fears is in serious trouble. As soon as she arrives in Columbia, he life is instantly in danger as a man named Zolo (Manuel Ojeda) begins to track her trying to get the map. An attempt on her life is foiled as she is rescued by a stranger named Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas), and American who is hiding out in South America. Being that he knows the territory, Jack agrees to help Joan for a fee, but things get crazier as the they are both targeted by Zolo, as well as having to deal with the bumbling kidnappers who hold Joan’s sister captive (played by Danny DeVito and Zack Norman). A quest begins to see who can get to the spot that marks “X” on the map first to get the treasure and stay alive long enough to grab it.

 

Romancing the Stone is a fun film that is worth watching again every few years. This movie works because all of the elements that bind it blend so perfectly. First, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner make a great team, (and went on to make several other movies together including the sequel to Romancing the Stone). Next the script by Diane Thomas is so well crafted, and finally, the director (a then unknown) named Robert Zemeckis, who would later go on to direct such classics as Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, and Who Farmed Roger Rabbit, nails it from start to finish. Instead of making another Raiders of the Lost Ark clone like everyone else was attempting to do at the time, he delivered a experience that was fresh and fun.

 

Michael Douglas will always be remembered as Gordon Gekko from Wall Street, but his portrayal as burnout adventurer Jack T. Colton should also be noted as a standout, because he’s very likeable, but at the same time holds that dashing and rugged characteristic that makes a movie hero. Sure Indiana Jones could whip his ass, but Jack would charm his way out of the fight, which is what makes him hold his own. And Kathleen Turner who was the blonde movie babe of the early 80’s, goes from being a damsel in distress to a strong women who can go toe-to-toe with the best of them.

 

Anyone desiring to see a smart romantic-adventure comedy should do definitely give Romancing the Stone a look, and if you haven’t seen this film in a long time it is very much worth re-visiting. One interesting piece of trivia worth noting is that the role of Jack T. Colton was originally supposed to be played by Sylvester Stallone, who turned it down to do the horrific Rhinestone (where he sings). Just imagine if Stallone made Romancing the Stone and it was successful? We would definitely be seeing a fourth or fifth sequel by now.

 

VIDEO

 

For a film over twenty-five years old, Romancing the Stone’s image quality puts many newer Blu-ray releases to shame. Offering a full 1080p picture in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, Romancing the Stones delivers a great color palette that really stands out in the jungle and desert sequences. Flesh tones are sharp and blacks stand strong, and though there are hints of grain in the night sequences, overall this film looks great and is a big step up from your DVD and that faded VHS tape you have of the film somewhere sitting in an old box.

 

AUDIO

 

While the picture quality rocks, the sound quality leaves a lot to be desired. With a standard DTS Master 5.1 sound track, you never get the pop and boom that you would expect from a film such as this. Dialogue is well done and clear, but the use of background sounds and effects sounds flat. Sound enthusiast will wish that much more effort could have gone into re-mastering the audio, because that would have made the experience much more gratifying. Overall, the sound is acceptable, just without the bells and whistles.

 

EXTRAS

 

Everything from the DVD has been ported over to this Blu-ray, but a nice touch is that the deleted scenes have been up-converted to HD. There’s not a huge variety, but it’s better than some of those Fox Blu-rays that ship with no bonus features at all.

 

Rekindling the Romance: A Look Back is a twenty minute retrospective of the film featuring interviews with Micheal Douglas, Danny DeVito, Kathleen Turner, but oddly not the director who made it all work Robert Zemeckis. This mini-doc is worth a look for fans of the film, just don’t expect anything that stands out.

 

There are seven deleted scenes that are nice to see in HD, but it’s obvious why they were deleted, though they are all worth watching.

 

A small three-minute clip ‘A Hidden Treasure’ pays tribute to screenwriter Diane Thomas who unfortunately died in a car accident shortly after the success of the two Romancing the Stone films.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

Romancing the Stone is an enjoyable film that still packs a punch after a quarter century. The Blu-ray offers an excellent picture, but the audio is more on the level of a standard DVD. This disc should be picked up by fans of the film, or anyone just looking for a fun romantic-comedy-adventure. Romancing the Stone is worth the ride.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Fox Home Entertainment – 106 mins – 1995 – Rated PG – 1080p Widescreen 2.35: 1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

After Romancing the Stone was a big hit in 1984, there was no doubt a sequel would be in the works, but no one expected it to be so fast. Instead of the normal two to three year wait, a second movie was pushed out one year later in 1985. Unfortunately, the rush to theaters wasn’t worth it, because everything that made Romancing the Stone fresh and fun didn’t make it into the sequel. But for those of you who desire to see what happened to Jack and Joan, Jewel of the Nile is available on Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment.

 

THE MOVIE

 

For their second adventure Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas) and Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner), are still romancing the stone, but as expected something goes wrong. Joan travels by herself to North Africa to write the biography a mystery man named Omar (Spiros Focas) who says he is about the become the Emperor, and is giving her to opportunity to tell his story. Quickly Joan learns she’s been duped and is sucked into a plot by a group of lethal radicals who are searching for the precious Jewel of the Nile, and they hold her captive. Back in the states, Jack has his own issues as he learns that Ralph (Danny DeVito) the bumbling hood from the first film is trying to get revenge on him for taking the fortune he believes he’s entitled to. Learning that Joan is in deep danger, he and Ralph team up and rush off to Africa. Jack goal is to save Joan and Ralph’s goal as usual is to find fortune and glory.

 

Jewel of the Nile is a perfect example of messing up a good thing, sort of like Porky’s 2: The Next Day. First the two key players who made the first film’s magic are not involved; director Robert Zemeckis and writer Diane Thomas (who tragically died in a car accident) have been replaced, and everything looks so rushed that it shows up on screen. Jokes that seemed natural in the first film are now forced and the action tries to outdo everything you seen in the original, but is not as satisfying.

 

Overall, Jewel of the Nile is not a disaster; it just needed more time to cook in the kitchen before being rushed onto the plate. Director Lewis Teague tries to hold things togther, but there are so many cracks that things get messy. Audiences didn’t hang on as long as they did for the original film, killing all hopes of a third adventure, which was planned. Instead the trio of Douglas, DeVito, and Turner re-teamed in the 1989 black comedy The War of the Roses. Jewel of the Nile is worth a look just for the hell of it, but if you really loved the first film you will definitely feel let down.

 

VIDEO

 

Romancing the stone looked great on Blu-ray, but Jewel of the Nile seems dull by comparison. Offering a full 1080p picture in a 2.35:1 frame, the film provides decent flesh tones but the colors are not as bright and strong as you would expect. Grain is heavy on this transfer, and more effort could have been made to clean up the image. Though the image quality is better than the previous DVD release, the leap is not that high.

 

AUDIO

 

Just like Romancing the Stone, the audio quality for Jewel of the Nile is disappointing. Though it provides a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix, none of this is fully taken of advantage of, so there are points particularly during action scenes such as the jet fighter sequence when things sound over modulated. Dialogue is clear and the music score by Jack Nitzsche sounds fine, but overall there’s nothing here that will make you want to crank up your speakers.

 

EXTRAS

 

The same bonus features from the DVD have been carried over to the Blu-ray, so if you’re interested in upgrading, you’ll get the same package.

 

Director Lewis Teague provides an audio commentary track that goes into his experience of making the film, and the pressure of delivering a sequel to a successful film.

 

Romancing the Nile: A Winning Sequel runs about twenty minutes and features interviews with the cast and crew. This is your basic behind the scenes stuff that you’ll watch once and it’s done.

 

Adventures of a Romance Novelist looks at the insertion of romance and adventure in the life of the fiction writer Joan Wilder.

 

Six deleted scenes are included, but there’s nothing that holds your attention.

 

Finally, the film’s original theatrical trailer is included, but unfortunately only in standard definition.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

Jewel of the Nile definitely lacks the charm of Romancing the Stone, but it is entertaining in spots, and may satisfy those who just want to see Douglas and Turner on screen together again. The blu-ray itself is basic offering a standard picture and sound, but nothing that will make you want to place it high on your shelf. If you’re a collector who must own the sequels to every good film no matter what, then this one is for you. All others should rent it first to see if it’s worth buying.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 3.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 98 mins – 2009 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.39:1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

After watching a wave of movies with explosions, car chases, shoot-outs, transforming robots, and aliens, it’s refreshing to watch a film that is simply about regular people. Away We Go is a small independent film that knows exactly what it is, and focuses on characters rather than flash and pizzazz, but don’t let this scare you because it has something to say, even if it does it quietly. Away We Go comes to Blu-ray from Universal Home Video, so if you’re looking for something mellow this one is for you.

 

THE MOVIE

 

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Maya Rudolf plays Verona, a young woman who is in a relationship with her boyfriend Burt (John Krasinski from NBC’s The Office). They discover that they are having a baby and with no money, nor steady careers have to figure a way to handle the blessed event. Instead of doing the standard pre-baby checklist, Verona and Burt instead go on a road trip to visit family and friends on a quest to figure out where they want to call home to raise their child. Through this they learn more about each other and what are the important things of life, beyond the typical.

 

Directed by Sam Mendes, who also directed the Oscar winning American Beauty, Away We Go is a slice of life drama that avoids the basic cut and paste romantic comedy guidelines, and instead turns the nine-month journey before the birth of their child into a character based adventure. There are quirky cameos by Catherine O’Hara, Jeff Daniels, and Jim Gaffigan, as well as a various other characters they meet while traveling, which provide comedic elements.

 

The best thing about Away We Go is that the Chemistry between Rudolph and Krasinski makes the film work because you never get sidetracked on what their true intentions are. These are real people and it’s easy to relate to their struggles, especially anyone who has recently become a new parent. The film is not for everyone, and many may find it quite dull, but for those that find a connection to it, Away We Go is a nice simple movie that feels right. And every now and then that’s more satisfying than a transforming robot anytime.

 

VIDEO

 

For a small film, Away We Go looks great on Blu-ray with a full 1080p image set in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Colors are strong and skin tones are smooth, allowing you to see every freckle on Maya Rudolph’s face. There are hints of grain, but nothing that takes away from the overall image quality. While not as sparkling as a big budget sci-fi film, Away We Go holds its own and should satisfy anyone looking for a nice picture.

 

AUDIO

 

Away We Go is a pure dialogue heavy film, so the Dolby DTS-HD 5.1 sound mix does the trick, offering a crystal clear track. Background noises are also nicely balanced, but don’t expect any other speaker but the forward one to get a workout. There’s nothing to complain about, because this is simple audio mix that does the job to draw you into the experience.

 

EXTRAS

 

Away We Go is a small indie film so don’t expect dual disc filled with bonus features and a hologram case. Instead, like the film the extras are simple offering an audio commentary and a short making of.

 

Director Sam Mendes sits down with the film’s writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida to provide an audio commentary track. These three get along very well offering on the set stories, as well as the origins of the script. If you enjoyed the film then the commentary compliments it.

 

‘The Making of Away We Go’ is presented in HD and is your basic quick behind the scenes package featuring interviews with the cast and crew. You’ll problem get more out of listening to the audio commentary track.

 

‘Green Filmmaking’ is exactly what it sounds like; a small piece that focuses on how the filmmakers used environmentally friendly efforts to make this movie.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

Away We Go is a nice change of pace from the traditional Hollywood boom-bang fest, with real people like those you may actually know. The Blu-ray provides a nice picture and good sound, and makes the experience worth it. This may be a ‘chick-flick’ to most, but it’s worth a look and may pleasantly surprise you. Give it a try.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Fox Home Entertainment – 89 mins – 1999 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

 

If you look up the term “cult film,” you will definitely see the poster for the 1999 film Office Space. Just like another cult film, Caddy Shack, fans of Office Space can recite every line, and imitate characters and scenes like they are right out of the bible. Everyone who has worked in a corporate office environment (and that’s a whole lot of us) can relate to the everyday shenanigans of feeling trapped like a rat in a maze. Office Space comes to Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment, so grab your Swingline stapler and mumble your best Milton Waddams impression because work has just begun.

 

THE MOVIE

 

Office Space is the story of Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) and co-workers Michael Bolton and Samir (David Herman and Ajay Naidu) who all hate their job, but are such slackers that instead of leaving, they just continue to be pawns in the corporate game of chess. Their boss Bill (Gary Cole) is a passive aggressive neanderthal who walks around holding a coffee cup all the time as he mentally tortures his employees, particularly the mumbling guy named Milton (Stephen Root) who is one step away from an office shooting. Peter hates his job, life and his girlfriend, and sadly his only thrill comes from going to a local restaurant to look at the new waitress Joanna (Jennifer Aniston).

 

Peter visits a hyper therapist, who ironically dies after putting him under, something that transforms him into a new man, and when he goes back to work he doesn’t take any of his superiors’ crap anymore and tells them the brutal truth about the lousy way they run their company and treat their employees. Instead of firing Peter, they do the opposite and promote him, but fire his friends. Seeking revenge, the three of them unite in a scheme to infect the company’s computer system with a virus that will shift a massive amount of cash into each of their accounts.

 

Written and directed by Mike Judge the creator of Beavis & Butthead, Office Space’s greatest strength is that so many people can relate to it and have fantasized about getting payback from the company that constantly screws them over. Then there’s the built in fan base who worship Mike Judge and have kept this film in circulation to spawn more and more new fans each year. Very few comedies can be labeled “smart” but Office Space fits because it avoids being raunchy and frat house to instead depend on everyday characters in situations that are easily identifiable.

 

For those of you who have never seen Office Space, you will be pleasantly surprised by how well structured it is, and after over a decade still locks into the current work environment. We all know or have worked with guys like this, every office has a Milton Waddams, and every office has a boss who walks around with a coffee cup looking over everyone’s shoulder. This is one of those rare films that whenever you’re flipping channels and it pops on, you’ll watch it again and find something new to laugh at. With all the come and go comedies that that were funny the first time you saw them, but don’t hold up after a second viewing, Office Space still feels fresh every time.

 

VIDEO

 

If you already own the DVD you will definitely want to upgrade to the Blu-ray that has a full 1080p image in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, because the picture quality is superb. Skin tones are excellent and the colors pop without any hints of bleeding. Obviously this is not the first film you would think of when showing off the wonders of high-def, but it does stand out. For a film over a decade old it looks as if this is a fresh release, so if you’re a fan and have a Blu-ray player, this is the way to go.

 

AUDIO

 

This one is all about the dialogue, so fortunately the provided Dolby Digital DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 mix is well tuned. Every mumble that Milton utters is crystal clear, as is all the dialogue, and ambient sounds are balanced nicely. Your forward speakers get most of the workout here, but moments will spark up your rear ones. Overall, this is a solid sound mix that should satisfy.

 

EXTRAS

 

All of the bonus features from the special edition DVD have been ported over so don’t expect any HD upgrades. Fans who desired a more updated retrospective will be disappointed.

 

‘Out of the Office’ is a half hour retrospective that features writer/director Mike Judge and the cast of the film including Gary Cole, Ron Livingston, John C. McGinley and Jennifer Aniston. This is the only worthy feature offered, but unfortunately it’s way too short and scattered.

 

Eight deleted scenes are fine to watch once, but nothing memorable.

 

Exclusive to Blu-ray are a few silly add-ons, such a trivia track that uses Post-Its, and games such as Grab the Stapler, Printer Beat Down, and Whack a Drone. None of these will hold your attention very long.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

A decade from now people will still be quoting office space and there will be a 20^th Anniversary (whatever format has taken over then) Edition. This is the prefect Blu-ray for anyone who is looking to upgrade from the DVD and if you look around online it’s been seen as low as $12. Fans and newbies can’t seem to get enough of this movie, so like Caddy Shack before it; Office Space will live on and on and on.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – 113 mins – 1993 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.35: 1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

Way back in the early 90’s, Sylvester Stallone had fallen from grace as the king of the action film genre and was reduced to doing lame un-funny comedies like Oscar and Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot. He was desperately trying to shake himself out of the shadows of Rocky and Rambo, but nothing else seemed to click. But in 1993 Stallone made a comeback in what is still one of his best action films to date, Cliffhanger. The gimmick that makes this film work is that Stallone never even fires a gun in this film, but it still delivers as much action as Rambo. Cliffhanger debuts on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures, so buckle up and keep your arms and legs in the vehicle at all times, because this is one hell of a ride.

 

THE MOVIE

 

Right from the start the movie does the smart thing by stripping Stallone of his superhero persona, and shows him failing to save a life. Playing Gabe Walker, a Colorado rescue worker who dangerously climbs the snow-capped rocky (no pun intended) terrain, he has disappeared for nearly a year after his failure of not being able to rescue the girlfriend of his close friend Hal (Michael Rooker). He hopes to re-spark the romance with his ex-girlfriend Jessie (Janine Turner) who he left behind, but she wants nothing to do with him for abandoning her and his responsibility. Basically, no one wants anything to do with Gabe, and his pushes himself more into the darkness of self-pity.

 

Things quickly change when a distress call is made to the rescue station involving a pack of climbers who are lost in the mountains. Gabe decides to join in and help, but what they don’t realize is that they’re being set-up by an international criminal named Eric Qualen (John Lithgow) who has attempted to steal millions from the Treasury Department, but his plan was foiled when the plane he and his team hijacked crashes in the Rockies, and three cases packed with cash have been lost in the vicinity of the crash zone. Qualen wants those cases of money retrieved and holds Jessie hostage as he send Gabe and Hal to find them. Gabe, Hal and Jessie who know the terrain better must find away to stay alive and defeat Qualen before their time runs out.

 

Directed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, The Long Kiss Goodnight), Cliffhanger is a tour de force thrill ride that will keep your adrenaline pumping from start to finish. The best thing about the film is that it knows what it wants to do, it’s not about character development, twisting plotline, or a message, it’s about how many kick-ass action sequences you can get away with in a two hour window. Stallone is running around in artic temperatures in a T-shirt as he climbs mountains with his bare hands, swings from mountain formations, and makes leaps that only the Hulk could pull off, and you totally buy it because it’s packaged so well.

 

For its time, Cliffhanger had some of the best and unique action sequences on film, with stunts you would normally see in a James Bond film. Director Harlin has fallen through the cracks of the Hollywood game now, but some of the stuff he did with Cliffhanger is still being copied today. And Stallone was out to prove himself here and make his fans forget about Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot, do stuff that would make Jackie Chan take notes. He is completely at the top of his game. Stallone is not a cop or a soldier, so he never uses a gun, which allows for clever ways to be introduced to eliminate the bad guys. Unlike Rambo, Gabe Walker uses his head instead of an arsenal of weapons, making you more involved with the character’s goal.

 

Even non-Stallone fans will like this film, because you get more wrapped up in the ride, rather than just waiting to see how he will kill someone like Rambo does. This was still the dawn of CG effects, so even though there are blue screen moments, most of the stuff you’re seeing is pure stunts by real stuntmen, not some character programmed in a computer. (I miss those days). Being that Stallone loves sequels so much and this film was a huge success, it’s odd that he never ventured to make another Gabe Walker adventure. Too bad, because this is one of his best films, and one day when Stallone is really way too old to lace up the boxing gloves, or tie a bandana around his head and pick up an M-60, he can sit in his rocking chair, watch Cliffhanger and say “wow.”

 

VIDEO

 

Cliffhanger comes to Blu-ray in 1080p with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and though it’s a step up from the DVD, it will not jump off the screen, as you’d expect a film of this size to. If this were a film made within the last three years it would have looked spectacular, but being that this is a 17 year old catalogue title that has already seen the light of day on VHS, Lazer Disc, and DVD, besides a basic upgrade not much else has been done to make it glam. The colors are decent, but seem faded in spots, and the sharpness is just satisfactory. Grain rains on this image heavy, particularly in the nigh scenes. Films much older than Cliffhanger have been cleaned up to perfection, so shame on Sony for not going the extra mile. Overall, if you plan on replacing your DVD it is a step up, but nothing major.

 

AUDIO

 

Unlike the video, plenty of work went into the audio, and if you have a surround sound system you will love the experience. Offering a Dolby 5.1 DTS-HD track Cliffhanger draws you in right from the opening scene. Just listen to the cables popping as Stallone is attempting to rescue the falling woman who is struggling to grab his hand. Or the bats that swoop around as the heroes attempt to escape through the mountain caves…Sweet. Dialogue is crisp, but this is not the type of film you watch for quotable lines; you want to hear a helicopter slamming against the face of a mountain, gunfire, a plane crash, an avalanche, and constant explosions. On this level the sound design of Cliffhanger deleivers.

 

EXTRAS

 

All of the bonus features that were present on the DVD have been ported over to the Blu-ray, but the only nice touch is that the amazing trailer for this film has been bumped up to HD. It would have been nice if Stalllone and Harlin sat down to do a new interview talking about the film, but you can’t have everything.

 

There are two audio commentary tracks, one from Director Renny Harlin with a cameo from Stallone himself. Harlin’s track is actually really good and he goes into plenty of details about making the film, not just on-the-set tales that no one cares about. If you enjoyed this film than the commentary track compliments it. The second audio track features the films production designer John Vallone, editor Frank Urioste, and effects supervisors John Bruno and Neil Krepela. This track is a little on the dull side and very outdated because of the current tech we have now.

 

There are 8 minutes of deleted scenes, which are actually more extensions of existing scenes.

 

Director Renny Harlin offers a five-minute personal introduction, discussing the origin and production of Cliffhanger in a nutshell.

 

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger is a twenty-minute featurette that resembles something from Entertainment Tonight.

 

A special effects clip features the opening rescue attempt, and the finale’s helicopter explosion, which was done with miniatures.

 

Side-by-Side storyboard comparisons are shown for three scenes, ‘Helicopter Explosion,’ ‘Air-to-Air Zip Line,’ and ‘Sarah’s Fall.’

 

Probably the best feature on the disc is the film’s trailer, which has been bumped to HD. In my opinion this is one of the greatest trailers for a film that I have seen, period. It uses no dialogue and is just a collection of spectacular action scenes that run over Mozart’s Requiem Dies Irae. When this trailer played in theaters way back in the winter of 1993, audience’s jaws nearly dropped. Not only was it an excellent way to sell the movie, but a perfect way to re-introduce Stallone as a new form of action hero.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

Cliffhanger is a great popcorn action film and one of Stallone’s best. This Blu-ray offers a satisfactory image and amazing sound, and though all of the bonus features have been ported over from the DVD, the trailer has been bumped up to HD, and is a must see. If you’re a Stallone fan buying this is a must, and even those who never saw the film would probably enjoy this one as a Saturday night pick. As the tagline of the trailer echoes “Hang On!”

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Warner Home Entertainment – 108 mins  – 2009 – Unrated – 1080p Widescreen 2.40: 1 – Dolby TrueHD Audio 5.1 – Digital Copy

 

 

With the success of the Judd Apatow films, the ‘R-Rated’ comedy train is back on track. Because of this the latest batch of comedic films have taken the shot at winning that raunchy audience, but one film hit it so big that it’s earned the odd title of becoming the highest rated R-rated comedy of all time. The Hangover, a film with a cast of non-household names literally came out of nowhere and through heavy word of mouth made a truckload of money. The summer’s biggest comedy is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Entertainment, so if you’re planning on going to a bachelor party any time soon, see this movie first.

 

MOVIE

 

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…right? Unfortunately for four buddies this turns out to be more than just a catchy slogan. Phil (Bradley Cooper), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Stu (Ed Helms) throw a bachelor party for their BFF Doug (Justin Bartha) in sin city itself, Las Vegas. It all sounds like some it’s be a fun time that the boys will remember, but then after a long night of boozing it up, the guys wake up and don’t remember anything, and to make things worse the groom to be is MIA. All they have are a bunch of clues that don’t make any sense such as a baby, a stolen police car, a knocked out tooth, a tiger, a stripper named Jade (Heather Graham), and of course a sleeping man in their bed who happens to be former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson. This sets up an adventure to assemble all the pieces that will hopefully lead to the boys finding the groom and getting him to his wedding on time.

 

Director Todd Phillips, who also helmed Old School, goes back to his frat boy ways to deliver a comedy that is aimed at just that kind of audience. What makes this film work is not the script, but it’s more the chemistry from the cast who are not the traditional comedy actors (i.e. Sandler, Carey, Stiller) that we’re used to seeing. Cooper, Galifianakis, Helms, and Bartha play their roles as average guys who are caught in a very bad situation, and this makes them likeable. The supporting actors who pop in and out such as Jeffrey Tambor, Mike Eps and Ken Jeong, who steals the movie playing an insane Asian drug lord in a scene that will stay with you for a long time.

 

The script is very uneven and watching the film a second time you will notice that various things you saw during the first viewing feel stale. Basically you just have a few funny moments but nothing that is solid enough to hold them together for long. There was plenty of room for tightening and better pacing, but that was instead filled in with another gag, whether it hit or missed doesn’t really matter. A film like the 80’s Tom Hanks comedy Bachelor Party still works after 20 years, but it remains to be seen if The Hangover will still have legs even five years from now. The Hangover came out at the right time and found an audience that was looking for something other than a silly Sandra Bullock comedy. And with a worldwide gross of over $450 million no one is complaining about issues with the script.

 

Anyone seeing this film for the first time as it spins in their Blu-ray player will definitely get some laughs, because there are some laugh out loud moments. Besides director Todd Phillips, star Bradley Cooper really benefited from the success of this film because he’s been pushed from his basic co-starring roles to the possibility of being a leading man. Whether or not you think The Hangover is worth all the hype surrounding it is up to your comedic taste. It’s not as well written as one of the Judd Apatow films, but particularly because of the loot it brought in, The Hangover will have a place in film comedy history.

 

VIDEO

 

Offering a full 1080p image in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio The Hangover looks good on Blu-ray delivering all the bright colors you expect from Vegas. Skin tones are solid showing off plenty of details in the close-ups, but the blacks could be richer, thought they look acceptable. Night shots and darker sequences spill out waves of grain and could have been much more sharper, but overall, mainly because this is a new movie, the transfer looks fine despite some minor issues.

 

AUDIO

 

The Blu-ray delivers a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound mix that works well, allowing for crystal clear dialogue and sound effects. For those with a surround sound system, your front speakers will get more of a workout than the background speakers, because even though there are action-filled moments, the audio effects have been toned down to focus on dialogue rather than flash. The audio will not blow you away, but it does an effective job and should not disappoint.

 

EXTRAS

 

Hmmmm….Anyone smell a double dip here? The bonus features are pretty anorexic, particularly for a film that made so much money for Warner. Yes, you get both the theatrical and unrated versions of the film and a PiP commentary, but nothing else is worth bragging about, which is a hint that there will be an ‘Ultimate,’ ‘Definitive,’ or some kind of special edition that will be squeezed through the cracks one day.

 

The Director, Todd Phillips and stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms are featured in a Picture-in-Picture video commentary, but even though is sounds like this could be fun it gets lame real fast.

 

The Madness of Ken Jeong is an 8 minute featurette that displays why this guy is on his way to getting his own starring movie soon.

 

Action Mash-Up is a useless minute long compilation of the film’s action shots.

A basic gag reel…no biggie.

 

The Three Best Friends Song has the buddies from the movie singing the friends song featured in the movie.

 

Photographs from the missing camera highlights over 100 new odd pics that were taken from the little kid’s cam.

 

Map of Destruction is an interactive map that lets you follow the path through Sin City that the guys took.

 

The Dan Band sings the famous Irene Cara ‘Fame’ song.

 

Mike Tyson sings In The Air Tonight…Oh yes.

 

Finally, there’s a Digital Copy so you can have a Hangover on the go.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Hangover is a comedy that either you will love, or you just don’t get at all, but while not the perfect or best comedy you’ll ever see, it does have some very funny moments. This Blu-ray offers a good picture and audio, but the bonus features are so thin that you have to suspect a special edition will be coming one day. Word is that there will be a sequel to The Hangover, but after pulling in close to a half billion worldwide it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. If you saw this film in the theaters and loved it, this is a must buy for you, but all others may way to give it a rent first to be sure.

 

SCORES: (out of 5):

 

Movie: 3.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.5

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Warner Home Entertainment – 139 mins  – 1998 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.39: 1 – Dolby TrueHD Audio 5.1

 

 

Watching The Negotiator is sort of like finding a needle in a haystack, because on average ten out of ten Hollywood action thrillers are either lame or just downright suck; but this one slipped through the cracks and shines bright. Though it’s over a decade old, The Negotiator surprisingly holds up well because instead of displaying visual effects or over the top action sequences, the film focuses more on characters in a hardcore situation. For those of you who never saw the film, or haven’t seen it since its original release, The Negotiator is available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Entertainment, and it’s definitely worth your attention.

 

THE MOVIE

 

The Negotiator stars Samuel L. Jackson as Danny Roman, a police negotiator who has been targeted for killing his partner; a crime he did not commit. The only way to clear his name is by ironically taking a handful of hostages who work for internal affairs to find out who the real culprit is. The police send in another negotiator Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey), to bring Roman out, pitting the negotiators against one another. Being that both Roman and Sabian know every negotiator trick in the book, a cat and mouse game between the two men breaks outs as the truth about the crime slowly begins to unfold.

 

The clear reason why The Negotiator works is because of the powerhouse performances of Jackson and Spacey. Jackson is strong and flashy, while Spacey is smooth and cool, making you believe every new situation that untwines in this well paced thriller. Director F. Gary Gray, who also helmed the female action thriller Set it Off, understands that he may never get two heavyweight actors such as Jackson and Spacey in his grasp again gives them the room to do what they do best, while he focuses on the dark music video styled visuals and keeps things moving as tightly as possible.

 

The film is not perfect, and maybe should have been under two hours rather than twenty minutes over, but when it works it works damn well. The supporting cast does all it can to keep the wheels rolling; including Paul Giamatti, who was a no name actor back then, but you can really see his potential. Jackson and Spacey are not the typical ‘action heroes,’ so they go for the brain over muscle to get the job done, because if this was a Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis vehicle, the results would have been very different. Anyone looking for a solid action thriller that focuses on characters rather than things exploding every five minutes should definitely place The Negotiator on their list of films to see.

 

VIDEO

 

For a film that is over a decade old The Negotiator looks better than most of the recent hi-def releases, offering a solid 1080p image in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The majority of this film takes place at night, and fortunately blacks stand strong with hints of grain, but nothing that feels overwhelming. Colors are sharp and the skin tones are so smooth in the close-up shots that you can see all the sweat coming from the hairpiece Jackson wears. This is a major leap over the previously muddy DVD, so if you’re a fan of this film and thinking about upgrading, this is your shot.

 

AUDIO

 

Like the picture quality, the sound for The Negotiator is also top notch, with a Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 sound mix that will have your neighbors convinced that there is a hostage situation going on in your house. Dialogue sounds crisps, and the background effects and ambience reels you in giving both rear and forward speakers the full treatment. The Negotiator is a pleasant surprise for sound enthusiast, and adds much more to the experience of watching the movie as a whole.

 

EXTRAS

 

The film, picture and sound are all great, but the extras leave plenty to be desired, because they are still the lame standard defintion featurettes ported over from the DVD. 

 

‘The Eleventh Hour: Stories from Real Life Negotiators’ runs less than ten minutes and focuses on actual cops who deal with hostage negotiation scenarios.

 

‘On Location: Why Chicago’ is your basic on the set featurette that details filming in the windy city, and includes mini interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Negotiator holds up a decade later thanks mainly to the performances of Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey. This Blu-ray offers excellent picture and sound, but the bonus features are anorexic. Fans of the movie should definitely consider the upgrade over DVD, and anyone seeing the film for the first time should be satisfied.

 

SCORES: (out of 5):

 

Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 2.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Warner Home Entertainment/BBC – 150 mins  – 2009 – Unrated – 1080i Widescreen 1.78: 1 – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

 

 

Ever since the high definition era unfolded, the one type of genre that quickly benefited from it were nature documentaries. Why? Well the best way to show off your new HDTV was by displaying images of nature that were so crisp and life-like that you’re convinced you are staring out of a window looking out at the amazon, even though you’re just sitting in your living room. BBC, which has already had great success on Blu-ray with the Planet Earth series, now looks at another wonder of our home world with Yellowstone: Battle for Life. Now get yourself a hot cup of cocoa, sit back, relax and take in the visions and sounds of this amazing natural wonder.

 

THE SERIES

 

The series is divided into three parts running an hour each titled, Winter, Summer, and Autumn, showing animals surviving under the most extreme conditions in a one year time frame. The first part, Winter, focuses on a pack of wolves, foxes, and Bison trying to find food and stay alive during one of the coldest winters in history. You’ll truly appreciate these animals after seeing what they have to endure for these freezing months with a scarce water supply and nearly non-existing sources of food. Acting only on instinct, these animals prey on each other’s weaknesses to push through and survive until the climate becomes warmer.

 

Summer, the second chapter, is much more pleasantly visually, because you can now see the beauty of Yellowstone that has been covered for months by snow and ice. The frozen waters have thawed, and are flowing to full potential, and colorful vegetation and flowers fill what was once was lifeless. But even in such a beautiful surrounding, the creatures of nature still battle to survive for food and territory. And being that the weather is much more tolerable, it makes it much more convenient for the strong to hunt the weak.

 

The final chapter focuses on Autumn where the leaves change and fall, and the big grizzlies, sheep, and beavers gather everything they need to face the winter weather that will soon strike. The never-ending battle of the strong against the weak continues and the natural cycle of seasons changes the environment until the inhabitants of Yellowstone are again forced to deal with the intense cold weather that returns to the conditions which were introduced in the first chapter of the series.

 

Like all nature documentaries, besides the visuals, one of the main factors that draws you in is the narration, and for this Yellowstone series actor Peter Firth does a fine job to keep your interest flowing as you journey through the seasons. Anyone who enjoys these types of nature series and likes to kick back and show them off on their HDTV will definitely enjoy this three-part look at the wonders of Yellowstone.

 

VIDEO

 

Yellowstone: Battle for Life comes to Blu-ray with a 1080i image in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and though it is a very impressive image, it still doesn’t look as superb as the Planet Earth series. Yes, there are moments that look truly spectacular, replicating a location you may have only thought could be seen in a science fiction movie, but it’s real and here on Earth. Some moments, while not flat, don’t look as “hi-def,” but you have to really credit the camera team who put themselves in these situations to get these shots. Summer and autumn provide the best picture quality, displaying much more colors and depth of field, while winter is obviously so packed with snow that the locations are grim. Overall, there is plenty of joy for the eyes, so viewers of nature films will be pleased.

 

AUDIO

 

Offering a DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix, Yellowstone: Battle for Life sounds good, but there’s not much to expect from a nature documentary. The front speakers handle most of the audio, but in scenes where there are birds chirping or flowing waters, the rear speakers handle it well. Peter Firth’s narration sounds crystal clear commanding your attention to the scenery without overpowering it. Obviously, the idea is to allow you to hear the natural sounds of Yellowstone, so on that level the audio succeeds.

 

EXTRAS

 

There are three featurettes running around ten minutes each that go behind the scenes of the documentary series. Jeff Henry: The Snowman features the photographer that put himself in extreme conditions to get some amazing shots. Geyer Gazers looks at the team who worked on Geyser segment. Mike Kasic: The Snowman focuses on the audio recorder who used unique methods to capture the natural sounds of Yellowstone.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

Yellowstone: Battle for Life is definitely worth adding to your collection, especially if you already own some of the other BBC Blu-rays in their nature series. The Blu-ray offers some striking visuals, as well as provides a wealth of information about one of the greatest natural wonders the Earth has to offer.

 

SCORES: (out of 5):

 

The Series: 3.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 2.0

Bottom Line: 3.0