6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A rogue submarine captain pulls together a misfit crew to search for sunken treasure in the Black Sea.
Starring: Jude Law, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, David Threlfall, Konstantin KhabenskiyPsychological thriller | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Director Kevin Macdonald's (The Last King of Scotland) Black Sea blends two reliable cinema genres, the Submarine movie and the Heist movie, into a single, smartly crafted, and enjoyably intense Thriller that gets more mileage out of its character interactions and the surrounding submarine drama than it does the men's quest to secure a fortune in gold bricks. The film leans heavier on the "Submarine" side of the ledger, with the gold but a plot driving framework device meant to build characters and the ensuing drama that engulfs them. The film never quite comes fully together, however, springing a few leaks along the way, but its total output of dramatic intensity, craftsmanship, performance, bleak notes, and tight flow make the movie an overall positive watch that's well worth the nearly two-hour investment.
To the sub.
Black Sea's 1080p transfer is a stunner. Although there are brief bouts of banding, which can be heavy in a couple of instances, the image otherwise impresses in every area. Details are positively striking. The HD video source material and the Blu-ray transfer reveal intimate, deep pores and facial lines, stubble, and clothing textures with ease. Rusty old equipment, worn down instrument panels on the sub, gauges, and cracked paint are all marvelously presented. Colors are satisfactory, and even as much of the action takes place in the lower lights, cramped spaces, and flat accents on the sub, daytime exteriors yield attractive greens, colorful flowers, and rich skies. Black levels and flesh tones offer no cause for concern. Noise, blocking, and other intrusions are nonexistent, making for an exemplary new release Blu-ray presentation.
Black Sea's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is up to the task of bringing the film's many sonic elements to life. Music is healthy and commanding, whether the lighter, deeply accented notes that open the movie or the more aggressive beats that support some of the more robust action scenes. There's an unmistakable sense of natural, enveloping space to music, complete with aggressive but balanced surround and subwoofer support. When the heavier music is mixed with chaos on the sub -- spilling water, grinding machine parts, and the general din of chaos -- everything remains well proportioned and prioritized with absolute clarity across every element, major and minor alike. The track produces a number of basic submarine effects to strong precision, including heavy, moaning hatches; crashing waves; and background machinery. Smaller effects like a ticking stopwatch, releasing gas, and churning gears help give full sonic shape to the environment. Dialogue is well balanced and enjoys natural front-center placement. All in all, this is a top-tier track from Universal.
Black Sea contains a commentary and a featurette. Inside the Blu-ray case, buyers will find a DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a
UV/iTunes digital copy.
Black Sea feels always on the precipice of greatness. All of the pieces beyond more interesting individual character dynamics are in place, even as the movie almost necessarily maneuvers through all of the usual Submarine movie devices that add an almost artificial tension to the film due largely to audiences familiarity with how these movies work. The film squeezes out a good bit of overreaching character drama in the interplay, but it fails to offer much of an incentive to care on the micro, single-character level where even the best developed are nothing more than stock figures. It's a fun movie, well made, and worth watching, but it'll likely be remembered for being so achingly close to something much better than "good." Universal's Blu-ray release of Black Sea features excellent video and audio. Supplements are limited to a commentary and a short featurette. Recommended.
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