Black Sea Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Black Sea Blu-ray Movie Review

Mill Creek has released the 2014 submarine heist movie 'Black Sea,' starring Jude Law, to Blu-ray. At time of writing, this Mill Creek edition shares a disc with 'State of Play,' and together they form the two-film bundle celebrating the directorial work of Kevin MacDonald. This release includes the same core extras found on the original 2015 Universal release. Picture and audio presentations compare favorably to the Universal disc.

Black Sea Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Good news: Mill Creek's Blu-ray presentation of Black Sea doesn't veer very far at all from the older Universal disc in terms of picture quality. Even as this film shares precious disc space with another feature length motion picture, there's not a significant deterioration in the transfer's presentation. It's not riddled with compression issues and even what compression is here is very, very unobtrusive. Most times, even the most ardent, eagle eyed videophiles won't spot much more than very minor, very cursory compression issues. Banding likewise is limited to a few stray examples, and there are no other major encode or print issues of note, either. Like the Universal disc, this image is clean and efficient. It's quite striking at times, especially considering the clarity with which it capably reveals intimate facial features or the cluster of instruments and other details inside the submarine. Colors are vivid and full with no discernible loss of depth or fiddling with temperature or contrast compared to the Universal disc. Black levels are appreciably and satisfyingly deep and whites are vivid. Skin tones appear healthy under various lighting conditions. This is not more than a cursory, if that, drop off from the Universal disc.

Black Sea Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack likewise does not appear differ much, if at all, from the Universal issue. Musical engagement is rich and satisfying with pleasantly wide and immersive stage fill and appropriate subwoofer usage. The track enjoys amplified impact when the action comes. There's a satisfying symphony and convergence of music and action that pushes the stage to big yield with no discernible absence of clarity when things get heavy. The chaotic din is always well balanced through the stage and brings plenty of aural excitement to the listening area. Ambient effects are just as precise, offering wonderful little sounds of clanks and clinks, beeps, and submerged depth to wonderful engagement and natural, realistic immersion. Dialogue is clear and centered for the duration.

Black Sea Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of Black Sea contains the same two core extras found on the Universal disc. The extras are found under a generic "bonus" tab on the double feature main menu screen where extras for both films appear on the same screen, but under their respective titles. As it ships in this double feature set, no DVD or digital copies are included. No slipcover is included, either.

• A Dive Into the Black Sea
• Audio Commentary: Director Kevin MacDonald.

Black Sea Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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." Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of Black Sea compares very favorably to Universal's release. It's not quite as good, visually, but differences are fairly negligible. For fans looking for a cheap price point for this quality film, this is certainly the way to go.