6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In a bleak future, a Marine Captain (Ray Liotta) is sentenced to a remote prison island on which two factions of prisoners, one of builders and the other of looters, are at war. While the looters plot a final attack, the Captain searches for a means of escape.
Starring: Ray Liotta, Lance Henriksen, Stuart Wilson (II), Kevin Dillon, Kevin J. O'ConnorThriller | Insignificant |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | 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 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0
German: Dolby Digital 2.0
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Martin Campbell's "No Escape" a.k.a. "Escape From Absolom" (1994) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an original U.S. trailer for the film and TV spots as well as an archival featurette. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
The prison
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Martin Campbell's No Escape arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.
The release isn't sourced from a brand new remaster that was completed after a fresh 2K/4K of the OCN. Density levels are such that it is actually very clear that an older remaster was used. However, the film looks very healthy, and excluding some limitations -- primarily delineation and depth -- that become easier to recognize during wider panoramic shots, the rest looks quite good (see examples in screencaptures #3 and 10). Many close-ups, for instance, look quite nice, boasting very pleasing depth and clarity even when light is restricted (see screencapture #4). Ideally, grain should be better exposed and resolved, but even though there are some traces of management work, there are no anomalies that would affect negatively your viewing experience. On the contrary, even on a fairly large screen the entire film holds up pretty well. There are no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments. Colors are stable and nicely balanced, but a new master will introduce better saturation. Image stability is outstanding. Lastly, there are no distracting cuts, debris, stains, damage marks, or warped/torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).
There are five standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit), Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0, German: Dolby Digital 2.0, French: Dolby Digital 2.0, and Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
In the United States this film appeared with a Dolby Digital 5.1 track on DVD, but I thought that the lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track handled its soundtrack very well. However, I have only seen the film on TV, so I do not know if there was an original theatrical 5.1 mix outside of the United States. In terms of clarity, depth, and dynamic intensity you should expect top quality. Balance is also excellent.
Any knowledgeable film buff will instantly spot the different bits that No Escape has borrowed from various popular genre pictures that came before it. Three obvious ones are mentioned in our review, but they easily could have been replaced by another set of three to make the exact same point. I honestly don't think that it matters much because all that No Escape wants to do is deliver a good dose of action, and at the end of the day I think that it accomplishes its goal rather well. Umbrella Entertainment's technical presentation of the film is good. RECOMMENDED.
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