7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.7 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
When two sexy young divers who dream of finding hidden treasure take some friends on an extreme sport adventure, the last thing they expect to see below the shark-infested waters is a legendary pirate ship rumored to contain millions of dollars in gold. But their incredible good fortune is short-lived, as a ruthless gang of deadly criminals gets word of what they have uncovered. The discovery of a lifetime could just cost the treasure hunters their lives, in the exciting new thriller from the director of Blue Crush.
Starring: Paul Walker, Jessica Alba, Scott Caan, Ashley Scott, Josh BrolinAction | 100% |
Adventure | 38% |
Thriller | 37% |
Crime | 16% |
Video codec: MPEG-2
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: LPCM 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Korean
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
We could spend the rest of our lives waiting for another opportunity like this.
Into the Blue is proof-positive that it doesn't take regurgitated TV shows, decades-old
comic book superheroes, seamless digital effects, wizards, dragons, or talking CGI animals to
promote a movie. No, the old standby, the tried-and-true method of plopping a few
20-somethings with perfect bodies into swimsuits for the camera worked well enough for
this
2005 Paul Walker (The Fast and the
Furious) and Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four) seaside
Action/Adventure. Though not exactly a box office champion, Into the Blue nevertheless
unburied a few coins and proved a worthwhile endeavor, even if the end product is
terribly forgettable but not particularly deplorable and considering the movie is barely
anything more than an attempt at updating The Deep for hipper
21st-century audiences.
Underwater breath holding, world record-setter.
Into the Blue dives into high definition with an all-around good 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The image appears consistently sharp and bright, both on the surface and in the depths of the water. Sun-drenched exteriors prove particularly pleasing to the eye, and the transfer consistently renders the finer details of every frame nicely. Fine detail is more impressive in dry shots; whether wear-and-tear on boats or piers or facial hairs and pores in tight shots of the actors, Sony's Blu-ray transfer of Into the Blue manages to render most everything thrown its way sharply and consistently. There is some lingering softness here and there, but by and large the image retains a noticeable sharpness and without much of an artificial tinge; haloing is present but minimal in some scenes. Color reproduction is the transfer's strength; Into the Blue is host to a myriad of colors, with the bright beautiful ocean blue the main attraction. The sparkling array of colors lends a sense of realism and depth to the transfer that's rather impressive. Underwater shots are expectedly a bit less than exemplary across the entire visual spectrum, but whether the nicely-textured hull of the downed plane or the bright colors of the many fish that swim by in many frames, the underwater scenes deliver a highly impressive array of details and colors throughout. Black levels are never overtly problematic, and flesh tones vary from person to person but seem consistently natural. All told, Into the Blue's transfer is surprisingly solid given its status as one of the earliest Blu-ray releases.
Into the Blue offers a sparkling PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack that might not shine with the best of them, but it's nevertheless a treasure trove of sonic goodness. Everything about this track ranges from good to excellent -- panning, spatial effects, atmosphere, bass, and dialogue reproduction. The film's opening scene inside the belly of the soon-to-crash cargo plane engages the aural senses with the booming thunder outside and the rattling belly of the plane inside, the combination foreboding yet realistically pleasing, a strong opening that immerses the listener in the moment and sets a strong tone for the remainder of the picture. However, the underwater sequences seem somewhat less pronounced; while engaging and full, there's not that ultimate sense of submersion into the water. Sound effects and the general din of the water pressure seem reserved, but certainly not disappointing. The track uses the entire soundstage to fine effect in such scenes, but surface sound effects certainly prove more robust throughout. The back channels are utilized throughout, whether for slight ambience or full-on and highly charged sound effects. The track, then, delivers a strong sense of space and depth, opening the entire world for a mostly seamless listening experience. Musical accompaniments, too, are crisp and pleasant, and dialogue never poses any difficulties. Into the Blue's uncompressed soundtrack delivers in all areas.
Into the Blue surfaces onto Blu-ray with a few extras. First is a commentary track with Director John Stockwell who shares his thoughts on the scope of the production; the process of assembling particular shots, scenes, and sequences; shooting underwater; the work of the cast and Paul Walker's struggles with diving; the performance of the real sharks used in the film; and an additional array of film-related topics. Stockwell never really engages his listeners but he never flubs the track, either. It's a generalized track that, like the movie, is a take-it-or-leave-it offering. Diving Deeper 'Into the Blue' (480p, 20:34) offers a standard-in-construction but somewhat deeper and more enlightening than normal look at the film, with some of Director John Stockwell's comments proving more informative from a thematic perspective than much of what's found in the audio commentary. The piece also focuses heavily on the interesting world of underwater filmmaking in the second half. Also included are 10 deleted scenes (480p, 17:46) with optional director commentary and 1080p trailers for Hitch, Stealth, and xXx.
Into the Blue proves that there's not much to lose by dropping a few Hollywood hotties into the middle of paradise for an underwater adventure where the stakes are high and the clothes are few. Indeed, the movie delivers as-promised, offering plenty of blue water and lots of skin, but not much more. Perhaps the very definition of "average," Into the Blue certainly isn't a classic or even memorable picture, but it's far from scraping even the surface of the vast ocean of cinematic bottom-feeders that offer no redeeming value. Into the Blue is competently made and sufficiently entertaining, but that's about it. A watch-it-and-forget-it sort, the movie just "is," living happily enough with the knowledge that there might be better, but that there's also plenty worse. Sony's Blu-ray release is rather impressive, offering an enjoyable picture and sound presentation that's backed up by a few extras. Worth a rental.
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