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Vol. I
No. 9 Sci-Fi Out to Sea DV Indeed For those of you that are familiar with DVDs and home theater, here’s a format that will show the quality of your purchase. The Superbit collection from Columbia Pictures sets a new standard in high-resolution picture and sound. These discs are special high-bit transfers from the original master. The results are a new benchmark in high resolution. Also included are Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 mixes as well as other audio choices. All DVDs are in superbit widescreen presentations, and iin their original language!
The picture here is to die for. Rich colors abound and its razor sharp. Depth of field shots abound. Images almost leap from the screen as the opening scenes unfold. The sound is magnificent, at times putting you in the middle of the action. All Superbit discs come with a choice of the premium Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 sound mixes, among other choices. The Diva concert scene is used by professionals to test high-end home theater systems. This film rocks right from the start and continues to entertain and amuse you throughout. It’s not for the little guys as it comes with an R rating for sci-fi violence. It’s one of the best choices you could make to show off your new home theater.
Dolph Lungren lends a hand here as a demented preacher-assassin and joins former performers turned actors, Ice T and Henry Rollins. They all turn in good performances and make the plot workable. The picture here is dark but very detailed. The better lit scenes show it off better, the colors are true to life with no cartoon look to the flesh tones. This is very important in high definition TV. There are more than 14 million colors possible on HDTV and it shines on these DVDs. The sound more than lived up to the picture. Its rich sound field made you feel all the action taking place in front of you as well as all around you. These lush, rich soundfields really add body to a film. With the R rating here for some sci-fi violence and language, you should still find no embarrassing moment with the kids. Another good choice to test the limits of your home theater package and enjoy a film at the same time.
Jorgen Prochnow stars as the seasoned captain, training and guiding a
young raw crew through the hopeless war he sees no future in. The sound
mixes have been reconstructed and brought up to date to today’s
standards. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is great and the DTS 5.1 mix puts
you it the bowels of the ship and is so realistic you might think you
have a water leak in your home! Both mixes are in German as was the original
release. They also provide you with a Dolby Digital 2.0 mix in English,
but it’s not that dynamic. Of course there are subtitles available
in many languages so no need to worry. When it comes to the ultimate movie
experience ,it doesn’t get any better than this folks. I’ve
seen many cuts of Das Boot over the years and this, my friends,
is like watching a new movie. A standing ovation is deserved on this magnificent
presentation. There's an R rating for war violence and brief strong language. |
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Copyright © 2005-06, Humboldt Sentinel. All rights reserved. |
The
Fifth Element (1997) - This gem is the work of director Luc Besson,
setting up an epic dark menace that has come to destroy all life on Earth.
The only defense is to find and apply the Fifth Element, which will have
the power to repel this dark menace. Mila Jovovich plays the Fifth Element,
and is very convincing in this difficult role. Bruce Willis plays his
usual self as Corbin Dallas, cab driver and protector of Mila, after she
drops from the sky into his taxi. Gary Oldman plays the evil villain,
or rather the servant of some unnamable dark force headed for Earth. His
orders are to keep the Fifth Element from her tasks. Chris Tucker gives
an over the top performance as the host of the vacation planet Flauston
Paradise, where much of the film takes place.
Johnny
Mnemonic (2001) - This fast paced glimpse of the future, directed
by Robert Longo, has traces of Blade Runner and Tron, blended with other
classic film elements. It’s another entry into the film world’s
glimpses of the shape of things to come. Looking back we see that films
do set up a guide to map out the future. Here the plot concerns Mnemonic
couriers. These couriers carry data implanted in their brains that can
be delivered and downloaded to their clients. Our hero Keanu Reeves is
delivering the code to the cure for a virus that’s decimating all
life on earth. The big problem is that his data banks are severely overloaded.
Unless he gets the data downloaded and out of his system he will die due
to synapse seepage in his brain. Wow, that’s some cross to bear
for anyone!
Das
Boot - The Director’s Cut (1981) - “The Boat” was
the most expensive German film ever made when it was released. Originally
it was part of a mini-series that took over two years to film. Starting
out with over six hours of film, with Wolfgang Peterson’s cut was
limited to three. This is one of the most captivating films ever made.
It tells the tale of a single German U-boat in a cat and mouse chase with
a British destroyer. The Superbit transfer is superb, colors are true
to life and the sound is glorious. The cinematography throws you through
the narrow corridors of the ship and pounds you as it plows throw the
heavy sea.