6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
A Harvard symbologist works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Pierfrancesco FavinoAdventure | 100% |
Thriller | 59% |
Mystery | 16% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Trust no one.
While The Da Vinci Code
bordered on comedy, delivering a superficially complex but ultimately paint-by-numbers laugher
of a plot with
one ridiculous contrivance after another, Angels & Demons manages to offer a somewhat
tighter, more organic, and simply far more enjoyable romp through the world of past and present
intermingled in a dangerous game of violence and deceit. It still suffers from some of the same
problems that hindered its predecessor, namely somewhat shallow and superfluous side
characters, plot contrivances, "secrets" that aren't the least bit difficult to discern well before
the characters in the film manage to do so, and a sluggish pace. Still, the problems don't destroy
the film, but they do weigh it down enough to keep this from being a real nail-biting winner. The
latest film adapted from controversial author
Dan Brown's library, Angels & Demons is billed as a sequel to The Da Vinci Code
(the two share no real common story threads), but the novel was actually published
before The Da Vinci Code. Nevertheless, Director Ron Howard, returning to once
again helm a Brown novel-turned-film, injects Angels & Demons with a bit more focus
and plenty of technical know-how, the result a film that's not great by any means but certainly
watchable and far better than the critically-panned The Da Vinci Code.
My other side isn't "4K" ready.
Sony's commitment to releasing the finest Blu-ray products is evident with every spin of a Sony-branded disc. The consistency of product -- from the
latest blockbusters to the most cherished classic titles from years gone by -- is arguably tops in the entire industry, and why shouldn't it be; Sony
was a lead Blu-ray design and advocacy outfit, its PlayStation 3 console offered disc playback and instant wide format adoption, and the first wave of
titles released back in 2006 bore the
Sony label on the spine. Since then, and through a few growing pains and spurts -- a bloody format war, a misstep or two, the transition from Dolby TrueHD to DTS-HD Master Audio -- the
studio has emerged as the most trustworthy in the industry when it comes to its Blu-ray product. When it says Sony, chances are extremely
high that the movie is going to look
(and sound) about as good as the format allows. Now, Sony is recalling the days of its "Superbit" DVD releases with the emergence of "Mastered in
4K"
(*)
Blu-ray discs. The initial wave consists of a handful of films, all of which have enjoyed previous, and largely very high quality, Blu-ray transfers. The
new
transfers are sourced from 4K masters but here's where the giant asterisk comes in: they're then downscaled to standard Blu-ray 1080p resolution.
That
means buyers can enjoy them on their regular old Blu-ray players and their regular old HDTVs -- no fancy new hardware required. The downside is
that
viewers aren't really seeing the material in 4K; even those who shell out the large sum of cash for a new 4K TV will be treated only to an upscaled
presentation, much the same way today's regular old TV/playback 1080p device combos upscale standard definition DVDs.
Watching the "Mastered in 4K" transfer in 1080p does yield some benefits over the standard 1080p Blu-ray releases, even if it's not a true 4K
experience. The discs
take advantage of a significantly higher bitrate than regular old Blu-ray discs, meaning more muscle to produce the finest picture quality, revealing
superior details and showcasing that perfect cinematic, pleasing grain texturing for pictures photographed on film and more accuracy for those
photographed in the wholly digital realm. "Mastered in 4K" discs also promise superior color balance and accuracy, reproducing a more
faithful-to-the-source palette that will reveal the sort of natural shading and subtle nuance even the best of 1080p Blu-ray cannot match. More, Sony
promises
enhanced viewing on its own line of 4K TVs thanks to a proprietary upscaling algorithm that's designed to squeeze the most out of
the "Mastered in 4K" line of Sony discs, above and beyond what any competitor's display can offer. Makes sense considering some branch of Sony is at
work
along every step of the process. Unfortunately, one of Sony's shiny new 4K televisions was not available for review purposes, but suffice it to say that
either of the launch displays -- the 55" and 65" XBR-labeled sets -- will undoubtedly offer the best consumer viewing picture to date, whether joined
with a Sony "Mastered in 4K" disc or a regular old Blu-ray from any studio.
If there's been one constant with these "Mastered in 4K" discs -- other than that they all look amazing -- it's that, for the most part, their regular old
1080p release predecessors were so strong that it's just been hard to heartily recommend them. Sure fans might want to pick up their favorite
film and see the quality for themselves, but wholesale trading out of discs just isn't warranted, particularly considering the loss of supplemental
content. Angels & Demons' "Mastered in 4K"/"1080p" Blu-ray release is no different, a victim of its own predecessor's greatness at least insofar as appearing significantly better and
worth the upgrade. But don't let that take away from just how amazing this one looks. It's been said with other titles -- The Karate Kid, Battle: Los Angeles -- that they represent pretty much the best home
video transfers to date, and that holds true with Angels & Demons. Never does the transfer disappoint in any way. The film-sourced transfer
is, in a word, breathtaking in terms of its stability, coloring, and attention to detail. This one's particularly amazing considering all of the ornate objects
seen throughout the film, gold and velvet and silver and old papers and the many close-up shots that reveal in exacting detail the finest little textures
and nuances. It's a treasure trove of eye candy of the highest order, every object near and far detailed with a precision almost never before seen in
the home to
such a high level of perfection. Aside from all of that Vatican visual goodness, the standby clothing and facial textures appear insanely well detailed,
down to the finest pore on Hank's face and the most subtle-to-serious wrinkles on the faces of some of the eldest Cardinals. Colors, likewise, are
beautiful. There's a heavy dosage of reds and golds that shine with the best. The cold archives; the earthen Vatican City exteriors; and the darkened,
moody interiors all reveal every shade with a perfection that viewers might even start to take for granted as the film progresses. Black levels are
superb, deep and pure in every applicable shot and to the perfect degree. Flesh tones are spot-on, influenced only by lighting conditions. There's no
wear, no banding, no edge enhancement, no blocky backgrounds. Only a gentle layer of film grain accentuates one of the hands-down best-looking
Blu-ray discs on the market.
All screenshots have been sourced from the "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray disc. The first nineteen shots have been selected to match those found in
the review of the old release. New screenshots have also been aded for perusal.
Angels & Demons delivers a sinfully wonderful DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, with no reason to believe it's not the same from the previous release. Every note of music is replayed with authority; from the deepest, devilishly-good bowels of the low end to the crystal-clear angelic highs, the music enjoys pristine and lifelike clarity throughout. In fact, Hans Zimmer's score seems incredibly organic; music seems not to stem from a detached orchestra but instead flows from the locations seen on-screen. It's a rare sensation to enjoy a score that so precisely fits in with the material, and Zimmer has pulled it off here, and the Blu-ray's capability of delivering each note with pinpoint accuracy, clarity, and volume does wonders for both the score and the film. Elsewhere, the particle movement inside the Collider delivers a remarkable whooshing sensation as it travels at high speed through the soundstage, and never does the track falter in delivering anything but the most pinpoint clarity through this entire mind-blowing sonic sequence. Supporting surround use is one of the track's strengths; whether more aggressive instances such as a helicopter buzzing across the soundstage or more subtle atmospherics -- dripping water, fluttering birds, or general crowd din outside the Vatican -- Angels & Demons never fails to deliver a satisfying and immersive listen. Save for a few mumbled lines that seem the fault of the actors and not the soundtrack, dialogue in Angels & Demons is accompanied by a hint of bass but nevertheless sounds clear and crisp. Angels & Demons' lossless soundtrack is, perhaps, the disc's -- and the film's -- strongest asset, nearly a match for the stellar "Mastered in 4K" picture.
No supplements are included.
Superior to The Da Vinci Code in every regard, Angels & Demons still isn't great cinema, but it does make for passable entertainment that has on its side a decent if not predictable story, a good performance from a legendary actor, and strong technical elements that accentuate the film's gorgeous locations and sets. On the flip side, Angels & Demons is something of a meanderer, and the film becomes a bit too repetitive and dull once the novelty of the concept begins to wear thin, and it seems that it matters not how the film arrives at its ending but rather that it -- eventually -- does get there and only for a payoff that astute viewers will see coming a mile (or, in this case, a reel or two) away. Sony's Blu-ray "4K" release of Angels & Demons, no surprise, features fantastic, reference-quality video. This is truly breathtaking stuff from beginning to end, a real looker if there ever was one. The soundtrack is great but this release excises all the supplements from the old release, not to mention scrapping the extended version for the shorter theatrical cut. Dedicated fans will want to see it in all its "Mastered in 4K" glory, but those who already own the old release are encouraged to stick with it.
Theatrical & Extended Edition
2009
Theatrical and Extended Edition
2009
Gift Set with Bookends
2009
Limited Edition Gift Set
2009
With Holographic Cell | 2-Disc
2009
Theatrical & Extended Edition
2009
2009
2009
Mastered in 4K
2009
Project Pop Art
2009
Theatrical and Extended Edition
2009
10th Anniversary Edition
2006
2016
2006
2007
Collector's Edition
2004
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2015
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