6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Beverly Hills, CA – In modern day Los Angeles -- whether you’re rich or poor -- everyone is just trying to survive without colliding into each other. But is it possible? A rich tapestry of saints and sinners, poets and players inhabit the city: Maverick record producer Ben Cendars, impulsive cop Kenny Battaglia, his actress-turned-police officer partner Bebe Arcel, frustrated Brentwood mom Christine Emory, her pre-bust real-estate developer husband Peter Emory, former gang member-turned-EMT Eddie Choi, Ben’s street-smart driver Anthony Adams, illegal Guatemalan immigrant Cesar Uman and cocky, hot-tempered detective Alex Finet. Crash: The Complete First Season is a riveting series that dares to ride the edge and examine the forces that move our lives everyday.
Starring: Dennis Hopper, Moran Atias, Ross McCall (I), Jocko Sims, Eric RobertsCrime | 100% |
Drama | 76% |
Action | 6% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A blank canvas and a treasure chest all in one.
What is the mark of a successful TV show? Is it a long run, like "The X-Files;" a loyal fan base
even in
the face of premature cancellation, like "Firefly;" a universe that
comes back for more year after year like "Star Trek;" or does a show
simply need to be just good enough to keep viewers interested for the next episode, like "Crash?"
A
2008 production sharing the same name with and loosely based on 2006's Best Picture winner
Crash, this Starz
original
arc-driven series follows the lives of several Angelenos that slowly converge, or "crash," as events
unfold
through the 13-episode first season. Taking on a gritty tone and a morally and emotionally
challenging premise, the show isn't glamorous or alluring but it does develop its characters and,
ultimately, overlap their stories well enough to keep up interest through to the end. Good, bad,
or
indifferent, that "need to know" that brings audiences back and that stems from good
characterization
and an intriguing premise defines both "Crash" and
successful television.
Ben dreams of owning 'Crash' on Blu-ray.
"Crash" converges on Blu-ray with a fairly good and true-to-the-source 1080p, 1.78:1 transfer. Originally shot on 16mm film stock, the image retains a grittiness that reflects the show's downer of a tone nicely. The level of visible grain remains constant throughout, and solid-colored backgrounds are particularly abuzz. Fine detail can look rather good at times but slightly sloppy and indistinct at others; tree trunks, for example, take on a nice texture, while building interiors and several run-down locations in particular reveal plenty of small details that brings the locations to life. Facial detail isn't absolutely impressive, but the transfer does well enough to showcase the usual pores and unshaven cheeks well enough in tight shots. Black levels can waver between inky and overly bright with some fine detail crushing evident in places, and flesh tones take on a decidedly red tint. The image sometimes goes unnaturally soft or blurry whilst leaving but a small segment of the frame unaffected, though this appears to be filmmaker intent to reinforce plot points, draw attention to a particular part of the screen, or make a point not through dialogue but rather via visual manipulation. "Crash" features no apparent noise reduction, minimal edge enhancement, and some blocking in a few shots. Overall, "Crash" looks rather good within the context of its production.
"Crash," disappointingly enough, features no lossless soundtrack; only a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is included. While decidedly sound on the whole, this is something of an inconsistent offering that wavers between crystal-clear and disproportionately mixed. Early on in the season, there's a conversation in a speeding police car with sirens "blaring," but more often than not it sounds as if the sirens are coming from blocks away rather than a few inches over the characters' heads. Of course, there's the necessity of allowing the dialogue to be heard in context, but not at the absolute sacrifice of the integrity of the sound field. Such problems are few and far between, however. "Crash" is a dialogue-driven drama, and rarely are there any glaring problems with dialogue delivery or discernment. Still, sound effects often disappoint. Gunshots in episode three offer virtually no power or precision; they fizzle rather than ring out with any sort of authority, sounding more like a cap gun. A subsequent shootout in episode six offers a bit more in the way of sonic activity; a few nice surround effects make it seem as if several shots are zipping through the soundstage. The track does feature a few additional scattered sound effects, for instance a buzzing helicopter across the rear half of the soundstage in episode two or some lifelike ambience as a symphony of buzzing insects infest the soundstage in a desert locale as heard in episode seven. "Crash" no doubt would have sounded better with a lossless offering, but as it is, this seems like a rather uninspired soundtrack to begin with and with only minimal room for improvement over what's offered here.
Unfortunately, "Crash: The Complete First Season" features only a few scattered extras. Character Arc, the only extra to be found on all four discs, allows viewers to watch only their selected character's (Ben, Anthony, Kenny, or Inez) story arc. Each additional extra may be found on disc four. Behind the Scenes of 'Crash' (1080i, 19:25) is a basic piece that features cast and crew speaking on the show's origins, themes, characters, and more. Also included is an alternate ending to the season's finale (1080i, 3:39), a promo piece for season two (1080i, 0:17), and nine character bios (1080i), featuring each actor briefly speaking on their character.
"Crash" isn't superb television. It's not all that entertaining, it's not the best-scripted show out there, and it doesn't feature any truly memorable characters or story lines. Nevertheless, it works thanks to something of a morbid allure that leaves viewers eager to witness just how far from grace each character can fall and how their interactions with one another can effect the course of their lives. Just when it seems that the show's reached a point where it can't possibly go much further, it delivers a revelation or character intersection that redefines the entirety of the story and makes it almost worth re-watching with the foreknowledge of what's to come in hopes of finding any little hint that points to exactly where each character -- and "Crash" on the whole -- is headed. Hoping to draw its audience in with something of a car crash appeal, "Crash" turns out to be worth watching and leaves itself open for the possibility of a superior second season with a plate of established characters and interesting story arcs to build on. "Crash: The Complete First Season" arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Starz with a limited technical presentation. Featuring a 1080p transfer that's not all that visually appealing but seemingly true to the source, an adequate but generally dull lossy soundtrack, and only a few scattered extras, "Crash" is worth a rental for those curious about the show or wanting to catch up before the start of season two on September 18, 2009.
2011
Reissue
1977
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Tropa de Elite 2: O Inimigo Agora É Outro
2010
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無間道III:終極無間
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2012