7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Hotel Mumbai tells the astonishing true story of the victims and survivors of the devastating attacks on Mumbai in 2008.
Starring: Armie Hammer, Dev Patel, Nazanin Boniadi, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Anupam KherHistory | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | 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 SDH, Spanish, Hindi
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
There's no traditional entertainment value to Hotel Mumbai. While the film evolves from a brutal depiction of random and excess terroristic violence into something of a cat-and-mouse Thriller, the movie is exceedingly difficult to watch. It's not escapist fun but rather a somber recreation of one of the world's darker days, days which seem all too plentiful in the past few decades and days that are often recreated for film. Director Anthony Maras makes his debut with Hotel Mumbai and does craft a commendably well made movie that captures both the terrible horrors, and the fleeting glimpses of hope, quite well. But the film is not in the Die Hard mold, focusing on violence presenting as entertainment. It's a somber recreation of real-life violence that, even with some of the more cinematic elements at work in the second half, cannot shake the dour experience of watching a dire real-life event play out on the screen.
Hotel Mumbai was shot on video. Noise is not uncommon, with one of the first examples coming when David and Zahra arrives in their room at the hotel around the 9:45 mark in chapter two. Noise, even in fairly good light inside the hotel, remains for much of the picture, but the image is not otherwise defined by any other source or encode artifacts. The picture reveals well-rounded detailing, but like so many recent Blu-ray releases -- particularly those shot digitally -- there's not much here that really "wows" this deep into the format's lifespan, but rest assured that everything is in good working order, with skin tones, clothes, and the plush appointments around the hotel earning capably sharp, crisp and revealing textural qualities. Colors are likewise solid if not unspectacular at this stage, offering good essential shading to skin, clothes, and particularly blood, which is not in short supply. Black levels hold firm and the image maintains clarity and stability even through thicker smoke and in the aftermath of gunfire, where the screen is often bathed in a haze.
Hotel Mumbai's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is full and fruitful. Musical delivery is a highlight. Clarity is excellent, width extends far, surround immersion is balanced, and subwoofer support is perfectly integrated. Environmental atmospherics are terrific. Blaring horns, squealing brakes, and crowd din are nicely and fully realized with perfectly immersive surround usage, notably around the 10:30 mark during several rather long establishing shots. Gunshots inside the hotel ring out with terrifying intensity and reverb. The cracks and pops are deep, the surround usage is strong, and the sounds absolutely pull the listener into the horror. A few grenade explosions hit hard with depth determined by the distance from the image focal point. Dialogue is clear and detailed and well prioritized from the front center channel.
This Blu-ray release of Hotel Mumbai contains four featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included
with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
Hotel Mumbai is a challenge to watch, particularly in it first act. The film later evolves into something resembling a Thriller, but the challenge of asking the audience to watch real-life atrocity, recreated for film, is a difficult one to overcome. The film is technically well made and earns several standout performances from actors on both sides of the guns. Universal's Blu-ray delivers impressive video and audio presentations. A few extras are included. Recommended.
2-Disc Commemorative Edition
2006
2018
2006
2016
2005
2016
2016
2011
2015
2017
2015
De Heineken Ontvoering
2011
ITV Series
2012
2015
2014
2011
Collector's Edition
2002
2018
2015
2019