6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
The ecosystem of Earth has been destroyed and mankind now lives in orbit. On a run-down space freighter on route to Station 42, a young medic Laura is the only one awake while the rest of the crew lie in sleep hibernation. During her daily patrols through the eerily empty ship, Laura starts to get the feeling that she is not alone.
Starring: Anna Katharina Schwabroh, Martin Rapold, Regula Grauwiller, Yangzom Brauen, Pierre SemmlerThriller | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 96% |
Foreign | 43% |
Mystery | 30% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080/50i
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
German: LPCM 2.0
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Swiss directors Ivan Engler and Ralph Etter's "Cargo" (2009) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment. The only supplemental feature on the disc is the film's original theatrical trailer. In German, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
Close to Earth
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.34:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080/50i transfer, Ivan Engler and Ralph Etter's Cargo arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment.
This is a strong high-definition transfer. Fine object detail is very good, clarity pleasing and contrast levels consistent throughout the entire film. The color-scheme does not disappoint either; blues, greens, reds, grays, blacks and whites look rich and well saturated. Edge-enhancement is not a serious issue of concern; neither is macroblocking. Some very mild motion-judder is occasionally noticeable, but I did not find it to be distracting. There are no serious stability issues. I did not detect any transfer-specific anomalies to report in this review either. To sum it all up, despite getting a 1080/50i high-definition transfer, Cargo looks very good on Blu-ray. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: German LPCM 2.0. For the record, Optimum Home Entertainment have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.
The German LPCM 2.0 track is pleasing. Its dynamic amplitude is surprisingly good; the bass is strong and the high-frequencies not overdone. During the cargo inspections, for example, there are some excellent ambient effects. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable and very easy to follow. There are no serious balance issues with Fredrik Strömberg's soundtrack either. I also did not detect any pop, cracks, or dropouts to report in this review. (Note: The German Blu-ray release of Cargo apparently offers a German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track).
Trailer - the original theatrical for the film. In German, with imposed English subtitles. (2 min).
Cargo is a very ambitious Swiss indie sci-fi film that I enjoyed a lot. There are a few minor issues with its narrative, but I thought that they were very easy to tolerate. I also thought that the young Anna-Katharina Schwabroh was outstanding. Clearly, without her Cargo would have been a very different film. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment, looks and sounds good, but it is Region-B "locked". RECOMMENDED.
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