6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A missing wedding ring leads to a wild-goose chase involving meth addicts, skinheads and an Elvis impersonator.
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Paul Walker, Elijah Wood, Vincent D'Onofrio, Chi McBrideCrime | 100% |
Comedy | 33% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Oh, the stories people's things could tell. They say "if walls could talk..." but what about pawn shop trinkets? Imagine the stories behind grandpa's shotgun, that fancy custom ring, the old beater car in the lot, or the baseball bat stuffed in a barrel with the other sporting goods? To whom did they belong, what deeds did they perform, how were they acquired, why were they sold? The history those items could share -- and the future history those items could make -- is the premise behind Pawn Shop Chronicles, a Pulp Fiction wannabe with smaller ambitions and less in the way of memorable characters and quotable banter. Director Wayne Kramer's (Crossing Over) film takes audiences on a peculiar journey into the heart of the deep South, telling the tale of racist drug users, a man with a strange pornographic addiction and a dark secret, a newly married man searching for his former spouse, and a struggling Elvis impersonator. Yup, it's eclectic movie time, and nope, it's no classic. Nevertheless, there are a few good things to discover within the film and enough to warrant a watch.
Pawn Shop Chronicles comes to Blu-ray with a well-defined 1.78:1 high definition presentation. Though it's typical of B-level HD video -- there's a flatness and glossiness to the image that's no longer seen on the best of the best huge budget productions -- it holds up rather well overall, revealing quality textures and solid colors. The image enjoys a good, steady crispness and definition throughout. Facial textures are nicely stable, and background objects retain a good, natural sharpness. Colors range from brilliant to deliberately dull and tired. Splashes of bolder colors in the way of bright lights, green grasses, and red gas cans show the transfer's prowess, while the more toned down parts of the film show its ability to remain true to the artistic vision. There's no major bouts of noise or unwanted artifacts. The picture does shift into a wider aspect ratio on a few different occasions to accentuate a scene or create a more flavorful cinematic feel.
Pawn Shop Chronicles features a well balanced and largely faultless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. From the first notes forward, it's clear the track enjoys a wide, even stage and strong clarity. Every element plays within its place and with stage commanding presence and satisfying authenticity. The track provides some excellent outdoor atmospherics that enter the stage with a natural, even posture, never overwhelming and certainly not playing too unevenly or shallowly. Heavier effects are also nicely presented, whether gunfire or the rumble of a beater pickup truck engine. Bass rises in prominence at one point midway through the film with a balance and power that never wears out its welcome. The film builds to an explosion of powerful energy and immersion at the end. Dialogue is consistently clear and even throughout. This is a top-flight soundtrack from Anchor Bay.
Pawn Shop Chronicles contains only an audio commentary track with Executive Producer/Director Wayne Kramer and Writer/Actor Adam Minarovich.
Pawn Shop Chronicles doesn't really gel the way Pulp Fiction does. Nevertheless, it tells three rather interesting tales that range from the repulsive and repugnant to the truly bizarre. It's best enjoyed as a trio of short films rather than a single entity that ties back together over itself. The cast is fantastic and features a wide range of recognizable faces. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Pawn Shop Chronicles features high quality video and audio. Supplements are limited to a commentary. Definitely worth a rental and probably a purchase at a heavily discounted price.
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