7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In the 1950s Brooklyn a seedy PI is hired by a shady client to track down a singer who reneged on a debt. The investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn.
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, Charlotte Rampling, Stocker FontelieuHorror | 100% |
Psychological thriller | 76% |
Drama | 74% |
Film-Noir | 56% |
Mystery | 30% |
Supernatural | 25% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Alan Parker's unsettling "Angel Heart" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment. Unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on the disc. The film is presented uncut. Not subtitled in English. Region-B "locked".
Dark dreams?
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Alan Parker's Angel Heart arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Optimum Home Entertainment.
The British distributors must have used an old master for their Blu-ray release of Angel Heart. I detected a few tiny flecks popping up here and there, mild contrast fluctuations and, occasionally, mild edge-enhancement. Generally speaking, the color scheme is convincing. Blues, reds, browns, grays, blacks and whites are natural looking. Detail and clarity seem a bit inconsistent. When blown through a digital projector Angel Heart remains pleasingly stable around the edges -- there are no frame shifting issues to report either. Macroblocking is also not a serious issue of concern. To sum it all up, I believe that without a serious restoration this is probably the best Angel Heart could look at the moment. For the record, the Blu-ray disc contains the uncut 113 minute version of the film. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" disc. Therefore, unless you have a native Region-B or Region-Free player, you won't be able to access its content).
There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. I opted for the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and later on did a few random comparisons with the English LPCM 2.0 track for the purpose of this review.
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track certainly won't test the muscles of your audio system. A quick comparison between the SDVD and this Blu-ray release, however, should reveal plenty of notable improvements in the audio department. The wailing sax, for example, is notably crisper. The famous ritual scene also sounds a lot better on the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This being said, there is very little activity in the surround channels. The bass is also not too energetic.
The dialog is crisp, clear and easy to follow. Furthermore, there are no disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings that I detected. There are not balance issues either. For the record, Optimum Home Entertainment have not provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.
The English LPCM 2.0 track is actually rather good. During specific scenes – a good example is the scene at the end of the film where Harry Angel takes the elevator – the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track sounds richer, but, dynamically, the two tracks are quite similar. The dialog on the English LPCM 2.0 track is as crisp and easy to follow as it is on the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.
Most unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray disc.
During the years, I have gone through a number of different VHS and DVD releases of Alan Parker's atmospheric Angel Heart. I can assure you that each and everyone of them had its fair share of problems. This Blu-ray disc may not be the definitive release of the film, but it certainly is the only one I would recommend that you consider. Furthermore, I don't believe Angel Heart would be fully restored any time soon; it would be awhile before the film is given the treatment it deserves. With that in mind, fans of Angel Heart should consider Optimum Home Entertainment's disc.
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