Into the Blue Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.5

Into the Blue Blu-ray Movie Review

"Into the Blu?" That's the best this one deserves.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 30, 2024

In new release news that should excite an extremely small minority of home video enthusiasts, MGM has recently reissued John Stockwell's 2005 film Into the Blue on Blu-ray a year shy of its 20th anniversary, replacing a disc that debuted in the format's infancy which featured the now-outdated MPEG-2 codec and LPCM audio. Although a new 4K edition probably would've been the more logical step forward here, this disc -- which appears to be an exact port of Capelight Pictures' 2018 German Blu-ray -- at least features a marginally improved A/V presentation and a few minor new extras for a low price. It's still nothing to get worked up over, but perhaps worth a look for die-hard fans.

For a film synopsis and review of Into the Blue (well, more of a light roast), please take a trip back in time to Martin Liebman's review of Sony Pictures' 2006 Blu-ray, which is now old enough to vote. It has a few fleeting highlights including great underwater cinematography... but as a whole, there's just not much below the surface.

Into the Blue Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The long and short of this "new" Blu-ray edition of Into the Blue is that it looks to be a tighter encoding of the same master used for Sony Pictures' 2006 Blu-ray. Obviously the earlier disc's then-passable MPEG-2-encoded transfer will show its limitations more readily nowadays, and from that perspective this new AVC encoding brings it slightly closer to modern standards. (I use "modern" lightly, as a true 4K UHD release was probably the way to go here.) Nonetheless, most of what Marty Liebman has to say about Into the Blues picture quality in that linked review still applies here: fine detail is solid even with occasional softness present (sometimes by design) and colors are still a highlight with oranges and blues obviously leading the charge. As a whole, the image now looks ever-so-slightly darker and with an obvious uptick in fine detail and overall tightness -- perhaps still not entirely film-like, but in direct comparison the older Blu-ray clearly has more of a video-like sheen. Depth and stability are somewhat improved as a result, and gone are the trace levels of ringing and light banding on most of the darker underwater sequences. Overall, it's a decent step up, even if the near 20-year wait probably warranted an even stronger visual improvement than what we get here.

Into the Blue Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For all intents and purposes, this DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix likewise appears to use the same source elements as the older Blu-ray's LPCM 5.1 counterpart in a different container, although I found it to be an overall more immersive and active experience than how Marty described it I rated this slightly higher in accordance with that observation. The rear channels and LFE are quite potent during key scenes throughout the film, while more dialed-back moments play more or less the same with well-rendered dialogue that stays mostly in the front channels and dynamic range is very strong overall. If you need more specifics, please just refer back to Marty's 2006 Blu-ray review and consider this a slightly beefed-up version of that earlier track... or at least mixed slightly closer to optimal volume levels.

Please note that this disc does not include the optional French and Spanish dubs or subtitles on that earlier Blu-ray, nor does it include French, Spanish, and Korean subtitles... only English and German on both counts.

Into the Blue Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with sleek cover art that unsurprisingly mimics Capelight Pictures' 2018 German Blu-ray, including interior artwork that's very uncommon with major studio releases these days. As this Blu-ray appears to be a carbon copy of that linked import -- which is confirmed by the Capelight branding and bold red "15" logo on the disc -- it opens with your choice of German or English menus. A number of extras are also included, two of them new to American audiences and the rest identical to Sony Pictures' 2006 Blu-ray.

• Audio Commentary with director John Stockwell

• Diving Deeper 'Into the Blue' (20:34)

• Deleted Scenes (10 clips, 17:46 total) with optional director's commentary

• NEW! Test Shooting - A trio of rough clips from presumably right after the audition phase of production. All three have a "2005 MGM" copyright date at the end and were not included on previous Blu-ray editions.

• Scott Caan (3:38)
• Scott Caan and Paul Walker (0:58)
• Tyson Beckford (0:54)

• NEW! Theatrical Trailer (2:08) - This now-vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

Into the Blue Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

John Stockwell's Into the Blue isn't high art or great "guilty pleasure" entertainment, occupying the lukewarm territory now filled by any number of direct-to-streaming productions. Back then it was at least mildly hot stuff due to the sizzle factor of Jessica Alba and now long-gone Paul Walker (as well as admittedly good underwater cinematography), but as a whole still fails to truly excite now just as it didn't then. MGM's surprising new Blu-ray edition of this now 19 year-old film appears to be an exact copy of Capelight Pictures' 2018 German Blu-ray which, in turn, offers light but perceptible improvements over Sony Pictures' 2006 Blu-ray in all areas. If that's enough for you, indulge by all means.