Incrementally superior to the DVD edition (worthy)
A. Dent | Minas Anor, GD | 01/11/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"'Network connected features for this disk are not yet available. Please check back for updates.' - is what I get when I go to Special Features/BD LIVE. The message is hard-coded into the disk (no attempts are made to actually go online to check for updates) so the BD LIVE option could be a joke but I suspect that not everyone is going to 'get' it.
With or without BD Live, when it comes to a Tarantino movie, I'm a two-timer. I simply HAD to have the Blu version of Death Proof even though, past experience with the Kill Bill 'Blus' was a strong indication that this first Blu-ray edition wasn't going to offer much more than the DVD on-purpose-trashy-looking package. And almost right I was. As with the Kill Bills, the Blu edition has, on one disk only (nice), the 'extended and unrated' version of the movie and all the extras found on the 2-DVD edition. The 3 extra extras not found on the DVD are:
- The uncut version of 'Baby, it's you' with Mary Elizabeth Winstead (absolutely beautiful, a capella)
- A Death Proof 'international trailer' presented in VCR-like resolution (if he likes the way you move, then he decides the way you die)
- Extended music cues, whatever they are
- BD Live (see the first paragraph) for the full explanation
- Audio is available in English, French, Italian and Spanish, ALL as 5.1 Dolby, with the default English sound as 5.1 TrueHD.
Discussing the picture quality of a movie that's 'scratched' on purpose is not easy. Speaking for myself, I ALWAYS notice a significant improvement between DVD and HD. So, to me, the scratches on the BD edition look sharper :) and the TrueHD sound is superior to the DVD experience,
My verdict: I do not regret getting the Blu edition. It's not a revolutionary leap when compared to the DVD but the overall better quality, the one-disk convenience and the few extra do justify the purchase to me (and a friend is going to get the DVD). However, I WILL take away one star for the 'BD Live' joke."
ACTION & SUSPENSE!
Hortense | Cudahy, CA USA | 02/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a visually stunning adventure worthy to be in anyone's Blu-Ray collection! I am particularly satisfied that this is an extended version of the film, which includes the steamy lap-dance that was cut short from the movie theaters. The action progresses with the movie, and the sound of the roaring engines really put you in the drivers seat. If you have a sound system with your home theater setup, you will enjoy this!"