6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
Neil and Abby Warner have the perfect life, and a perfect marriage. With their beautiful young daughter Sophie, they are living the American dream. Until today. When Sophie is suddenly kidnapped, Abby and Neil have no choice but to comply with the abductor's demands. The kidnapper, Ryan, a cold and calculating sociopath, takes over their lives with the brutal efficiency of someone who has nothing to lose. It soon becomes clear that Ryan's demands are all the more terrifying, because he doesn't want their money. What he desires is for Neil and Abby's life to be systematically dismantled and destroyed, piece by piece.
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Maria Bello, Gerard Butler, Emma Karwandy, Claudette MinkCrime | 100% |
Thriller | 47% |
Psychological thriller | 12% |
Drama | 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: Dolby Digital 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Former Bond man Pierce Brosnan plays a tough goon on a mission in Mike Barker's Chicago-based thriller "Butterfly on a Wheel" (2007). Following a familiar route, the film gets most everything right but the element of surprise, which isn't too...surprising. Nevertheless, solid contributions by the cast transform this one into the perfect late-night ticket. Distributed in the United Kingdom by Icon Film Distribution. Region-Free.
The captor
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Butterfly on a Wheel is released in the United Kingdom by Icon Film Distribution.
The transfer for this rather recent film is of exceptionally high quality. It reveals a strong, perfectly defined, look and a degree of clarity that will surely impress those of you accustomed to the modern "popping" look many Blu-ray discs convey. The color-scheme is also pleasing. Contrast is handled adequately as well. As to the actual print for Butterfly on a Wheel supplied by Icon Film Distribution, it is absolutely flawless. There aren't any specs, debris, or dirt that I could detect. In fact, during some of the daylight scenes shot in downtown Chicago, the film reveals a mere-documentary look; it is that vibrant and detailed. (Note: Even though this disc is marketed as a region B release, it is actually Region-Free. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).
There are three different audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1, and English Dolby Digital 2.0. I opted for the DTS-HD Master mix and my experience was indeed pleasing.
There are a few things that need to be said about the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. First, even though Butterfly on a Wheel does not offer any particular scenes that are likely to test the muscles of your home system, it is indeed a film with a diverse audio composition. There are selected scenes where active surround sounds become prominent and contribute greatly to one's viewing experience (the abduction scenes). During these scenes, the DTS-HD Master mix reveals better potency than the other two tracks mentioned above. Second, an excellent downtempo soundtrack compliments the camera movements. Third, this isn't a film with a sustained and impressively active audio background. Therefore, you should not expect to be impressed by a dramatic show off of audio power. You should, however, expect a balanced and proficiently done audio mixing, and as far as I am concerned, this is precisely what you will get with this disc. For the record, optional English subtitled are offered for the main feature. When turned on, the subtitles are outside of the image frame, with small text portions occasionally overflowing back into the image.
On this Blu-ray disc you will find the following extras: three deleted scenes and three extended scenes that are offered in standard PAL. This means that for those of you utilizing Region-A PS3s or SAs, these will not be accessible (unless of course your player has been modified to a region-free status). This being said, a quick look at these scenes shows that they introduce little of substance. Nevertheless, they are a welcome addition. Next, there are two standard documentaries: "Breaking Apart the Wheel" and "From Hero to Villain". I recommend taking a look at the latter as it offers a detailed look at writer William Morrissey's work. Both of those documentaries are also offered in standard PAL. Finally, there is a full-blown commentary by British director Mike Barker and William Morrissey.
Butterfly on a Wheel is a well-paced but somewhat predictable thriller that follows the rules of the genre closely. The cast delivers but the script isn't strong enough to allow them to truly shine. As a result, Butterfly on a Wheel won't entice those of you looking for groundbreaking material. The actual Blu-ray release by Icon Film Distribution is near perfect. Recommended.
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