kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:46 pm Post subject: Jaws [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
Jaws [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet] (Universal's 100th Anniversary)
(Hover over link for price, click to purchase and support our forum at no extra cost to you)
| Quote: | Starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw, 'Jaws' is the film which has left a permanent mark on the history of cinema, remaining one of the most effective horror thrillers ever made, it changed the motion picture industry forever. The simple, high-concept premise of a man-eating shark terrorizing a small beach resort community not only transformed Steven Spielberg into a household name, but also introduced the special effects, blockbuster extravaganza which has become the staple of the summer movie season. As one of the most anticipated titles to hit Blu-ray, Spielberg's classic film arrives with a spectacular, reference-quality audio and video presentation that will more than satisfy movie lovers everywhere. Many of the supplements from previous releases are ported over, but this latest incarnation also offers a couple new surprises, making this Blu-ray edition of 'Jaws' a must-own.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
The classic summer blockbuster takes a massive bite out of Blu-ray with a spectacular high-def presentation. Presented in its theatrical 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode was struck from a recent restoration of the original camera negatives, supervised and approved by Steven Spielberg. Of course, the picture still comes with a few age-related issues, like soft edges in certain scenes, but on the whole, the transfer is fantastic with spot-on contrast and stunning clarity into the far distance. Black levels are true and often sumptuous in several areas with excellent delineation of the various gradations and small background objects hiding in the shadows. The color palette receives a generous boost without feeling artificial, especially in the bold primaries.
The thinly-layered grain structure is a tad thicker and more pronounced in the dimly-lit sequences, which is to be expected and natural. Brightly lit exteriors are astounding, making the horror thriller look fresh and rejuvenated but still comes with an attractive cinematic appeal. The video displays sharp, distinct definition in the hair and clothing of the cast, revealing wrinkles and pores in the faces of actors. You can clearly make out every detail and objects in Quint's boat, from the scratches and imperfections on the wood to the bottles and fishing tools hanging along the walls. Bruce the Shark, in particular, shows a few scars not seen before, and its fish skin is looking especially slimmer and smoother than ever. Overall, this is a magnificent and splendid presentation of a great classic.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The original mono recording is also given the restoration treatment and receives a massive upgrade with this DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack. Credit has to go to the engineers who worked on this because it's brilliant. Rather than simply making new foley effects, they singled the sounds from the original design, cleaned them up and repurposed them, expanding the soundfield into a wonderfully immersive aural experience. The rears often come alive with discrete atmospherics of the beach, ocean and the chatter of tourists flooding Amity. The iconic music of John Williams bleeds fluidly into the surrounds, beautifully enveloping the listening area with excitement and thrills.
Although back speakers are used a bit more than should be allowed, considering the original recording, this lossless mix doesn't lose focus and remains a front-heavy presentation. Conversations are precise and intelligible with superb emotive intonation, though the often slurred words of Robert Shaw (the actor was a notorious alcoholic during production) are difficult to understand in several occasions. Channel separation is well-balanced, delivering many off-screen effects with smooth panning and generating a terrifically warm and convincing image. Dynamic range is sharply rendered and detailed, nicely separating the mids from the highs with extraordinary clarity. Williams's minimalist score benefits from this immensely, exhibiting clean differentiation between the few instruments used in his orchestration. The low-end isn't particularly powerful, but it can be quite potent at times and thrillingly effective nonetheless. |
Kal
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