7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A mysterious diver hiding in Amsterdam's canal system embarks on a rampage of gruesome murders, terrifying city officials and leaving few clues for the city's best detective, who doesn't suspect that both his new girlfriend and twelve-year-old daughter may be closer than he is to finding the killer.
Starring: Huub Stapel, Monique van de Ven, Bert Haanstra, Serge-Henri Valcke, Hidde MaasHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 32% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Dutch: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Dutch: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Dick Maas' "Amsterdamned" (1988) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailers for the film; exclusive new audio commentary by writer/director Dick Maas and editor Hans van Dongen; new video interview with stunt coordinator Dickey Beer; new video interview with actor Huub Stapel; original music video; and more. The release also arrives with an 18-page illustrated booklet featuring Michael Gingold's essay "Canal Plus Murder: The Story of "Amsterdamned". In Dutch, with optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
The detective
Presented its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Dick Maas' Amsterdamned arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground.
UPDATE: This release comes from a second pressing that was initiated by Blue Underground. While it is sourced from the same new 2K master that director Dick Maas supervised and we initially discussed here it uses a new encode, and the technical presentation is now dramatically different. Indeed, the very distracting compression artifacts and macroblocking patches that were visible on the previous release are now eliminated; the smearing that collapsed the darker/nighttime footage is removed as well. Unsurprisingly, there are entire sections of the film, both during the nighttime and daytime footage, that now have proper delineation and depth. You can compare screencaptures #9 and 17 with the corresponding screencaptures from the previous review to see how dramatic the difference is; on the previous release it literally looks as if someone had filtered the entire film and wiped out massive chunks of detail(s). I have also attempted to match some well-lit close-ups, such as as the ones in screencaptures #14 and 23, so that you can see that there is a pretty substantial different even when there is an abundance of proper light. Everything else, from color reproduction to overall image stability, remains every bit as pleasing as it was on the previous release. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).
EXCHANGE PROGRAM: If you own a copy of the first pressing of Amsterdamned and you wish to exchange it, you should contact Blue Underground with the following information:
Your Name
Complete Mailing Address (including country if outside the U.S.)
Copy of sales receipt showing purchase of the AMSTERDAMNED Collector's Edition
Email contact: AmsterdamnedBDReplacement@yahoo.com
There are four standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Dutch DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Dutch DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, and French Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The Dutch DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track was created exclusively for the 2K remaster of Amsterdamned, but I viewed the film with the original 2.0 track and then did some random comparisons with the 5.1 track. In terms of clarity, depth, and especially dynamic intensity the end result could not be any more impressive. To be honest, if there ever were any age-related issues that plagued previous overseas home video releases it is impossible to tell because from balance to fluidity the audio delivers the type of consistent quality that the film demands. I tested some of the action sequences, including the big boat chase, and the 5.1 track definitely expands the sound field. As always, however, I think that the final decision whether to view the film with the 5.1 track or the 2.0 track is yours to make.
Blue Underground's second pressing of Amsterdamned should make fans of the film, as well as director Dick Mass, enormously happy because it is a very beautiful presentation of a superb 2K restoration. I think that this Blu-ray release will remain the film's definitive presentation on the home video market, so grab one for your collections now. I also wish to say that the folks at Blue Underground deserve a lot of credit for doing what needed to be done to resolve the technical issues that were present on the original release. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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