6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.6 |
A couple works hard to renovate their dream house and become landlords to pay for it. Unfortunately one of their tenants has plans of his own.
Starring: Melanie Griffith, Matthew Modine, Michael Keaton, Mako, Nobu McCarthyThriller | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
There are few things in life worse than a bad neighbor, and one of those few things is a bad tenant. That's a lesson Matthew Modine and Melanie Griffith are going to learn the hard and painful way in Pacific Heights, John Schlesinger's (Marathon Man, Midnight Cowboy) 1990 Thriller that pits stretched-thin landlords against a criminal and all-around bad dude who moves in, doesn't pay the rent, and makes life hell for everyone in the building. It's a movie that plays with an appropriately dark and gritty atmosphere and an overall sense of uncomfortableness, anger, and fear. It's very well done and one of the best of its class.
Pacific Heights arrives on Blu-ray via a pressed MOD (Manufactured on Demand) disc at a resolution of 1080p, even if it really doesn't look it. The opening title sequence is certainly in rough shape and does not inspire much, if any, confidence in the product. Faded colors, modest detail, and splotches and speckles galore define the sequence and, unfortunately, much of the movie to follow. It's not in poor shape, but neither is it in excellent shape. There are some softer, hazier shots throughout. Details are never striking, but the image maintains a generally decent, if not fairly worn and aged, picture that looks like something out of a second-run, third-rate theater. Core facial and clothing textures are decent enough and environments, whether rough pre-restoration work in the house or more finely manicured San Francisco exteriors, offer acceptable clarity. Colors are regularly faded with no intensity in low or moderate light and only some agreeability even in well-lit locales, such as San Francisco exteriors, courtroom interiors, and a hospital room. Grain has not been removed but it lacks the finesse and consistency of superior filmed productions. There are no encode issue of note. The movie is certainly in passable high definition shape, and for a modest catalogue release that is pushing three decades in age and that has changed studio hands several times over the years, it's probably close to reasonable expectations, though Sony is usually known for putting out a better product than this.
Pacific Heights brings its domestic chills to Blu-ray by way of a somewhat crude, but generally proficient and engaging, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track is large, opening with aggressive music and acceptable clarity across the dominant front side. The film is largely dialogue heavy, with the spoken word offering good details and firm front-center positioning. There are some good street level details and atmospherics, including cars rushing through the stage on a couple of occasions. Din inside a hotel lobby at the 74 minute mark is a bit simplistic but effectively immersive. The track finds significant intensity, if not only baseline clarity, during a nightmare dream scene at the 53-minute mark, probably the single most sonically intense moment in the movie. Rain does come down with impressive stage saturation and feel for its driving sharpness in one scene. It's not a bad track at all. It's a little worse for wear but generally acceptable in all areas of concern.
For this Blu-ray release of Pacific Heights, Sony has only included the film's Theatrical Trailer (480i, 1.78:1, DD 2.0, 1:08). No DVD or digital copies are included. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
Pacific Heights is a quality film that holds up almost three decades after release. It's tight, well managed, intense, smartly constructed, and thoroughly well performed. The audience feels the frustrations and experiences the angers on the one-sided story where much of the antagonist's doings and dealings and plans and purposes are left in the dark. It's a quality movie watching experience. Sony's nearly bare-bones Blu-ray features passable-at-best video and audio that is capable but not of supremely high quality. Recommended on the strength of the film.
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Warner Archive Collection
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Dynasty of Fear / Honeymoon of ... Fear
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A Strange Case of Murder / Angel Street / SD
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