7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
In Britain 1966 recently expelled student, Carl has been sent by his mother to find some direction in life by visiting his godfather, Quentin. However, Quentin is the boss of Radio Rock, a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea, populated by an eclectic crew of rock-and-roll deejays. Life on the North Sea is eventful. Carl discovers the opposite sex and who his real father is. Meanwhile, pirate stations have come to the attention of government minister Dormand, who is out for the blood of these lawbreakers. In an era when the stuffy corridors of power stifle anything approaching youthful exuberance, Dormand seizes the chance to score a political goal, and The Marine Broadcasting Offences Act is passed in an effort to outlaw the pirates and to remove their ghastly influence from the land once and for all. What results is a literal storm on the high seas. With Radio Rock in peril, its devoted fans rally together and stage an epic Dunkirk-style hundred-boat rescue to save their deejay heroes. Some things may come to an end, but rock and roll never dies.
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth BranaghComedy | 100% |
Romance | 73% |
Music | 69% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.36:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
"It was loud. It was rebellious. And in 1966 the British government banned Rock 'n Roll on the radio. Until one American DJ and a band of renegades launched a radio station on the high seas and raided the airwaves. They had millions of fans, a boat full of treasure, and the full attention of the authorities." Or so says Pirate Radio's theatrical trailer. While it eventually slaps the words "Inspired by a True Story" on the screen, writer/director Richard Curtis' coming-of-age ensemble comedy is only loosely based on historical fact. By the critically hailed filmmaker's own repeated admissions, it's actually a fictitious tale that merely takes a few liberal cues from several state-run snafus in the '60s and a number of off-shore broadcasters who skirted the laws of the land. Will that prevent anyone from enjoying Pirate Radio? It shouldn't. With a perfectly cast crew of witty misfits, talented comedians, and memorable actor's actors, there's a lot to love on board the rusty Radio Rock. What will prevent filmfans from enjoying Curtis' most recent effort is its watery screenplay, wandering subplots, and slippery narrative, all of which nearly sink his troubled ship.
Pirates assemble!
Pirate Radio arrives in style with a colorful, entirely capable 1080p/VC-1 transfer; one that faithfully embraces every frame of Curtis' high seas culture clash. As readily as cinematographer Danny Cohen's palette complements the savory pulse of '60s rock, so too does Universal's presentation. Skintones are lovely and lifelike, British Invasion reds and blues pop, black levels are rich and well-resolved, and contrast, though a tad overbearing at times, remains strong throughout. Detail is impressive as well. Sure, softness comes to bear on a number of scenes, but it's never without cinematic merit. Fine textures are fit and filmic, edge definition is quite satisfying, and delineation is natural and revealing. Note the tattered edges of record sleeves and the flaking paint on the hull; the stubborn stubble climbing Philip Seymour Hoffman's cheeks and the rust snaking its way across the ceiling. Better still, pay attention to the technical proficiency of the transfer. Artifacting, aliasing, and source noise aren't at play, and ringing and banding only make a few negligible appearances. All things considered, Pirate Radio's transfer looks great and should easily please anyone who sinks into Curtis' story.
With the Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, the Troggs, Procol Harum, the Turtles, Cream, and the Who on board, is it any wonder that Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track rocks? Sublime guitar riffs, raw vocals, and weighty bass beats keep Richard Curtis' sound design afloat, even though many a scene features little more than well-prioritized conversations and convincing seascape ambience. The relative quiet before each storm remains true to the director's intentions, mind you, but the melodies of the Beach Boys have never been more welcome than when they break through the silence that occasionally descends on Quentin's rebel ship. Through it all, LFE output is intense and impassioned, rear speaker activity is diligent and effective, and the resulting soundfield is quite immersive. Listen to the distant waves mingle with the clamor of the crew; as the Radio Rock floods with the sounds of its illegal sonic wares; as the Count barks into the salt-stained hollows of his microphone; as the hull of the ship and its creaking interiors gripe and groan. Dialogue is clear and clean as well, and lines are rarely lost at sea. Moreover, crisp sound effects and classic rock songs surge and relent without fail, lending the whole of the experience a truly enjoyable tone and tenor. Universal is one of the most consistent studios when it comes to lossless audio quality, and Pirate Radio doesn't disappoint.
The Blu-ray edition of Pirate Radio washes up on shore with a solid selection of special features. There aren't many surprises to be had -- sadly, there isn't a Picture-in-Picture track or a more extensive glimpse behind the scenes -- but the disc's infectious commentary, featurettes, and deleted scenes add welcome value to the release. It helps that each one is presented in high definition, offers plenty of humor and charm, and showcases the cast and crew's breezy chemistry.
The US cut of Pirate Radio has its share of problems, but then so does director Richard Curtis' original British cut, The Boat That Rocked. Both are bloated, both lack narrative focus, and both tend to drift off course. Still, the film is worth renting on a rainy day, if for no other reason than to enjoy everything the majority of Curtis' cast brings to the table. Thankfully, Universal's Blu-ray release is more reliable. With a strong video transfer, a fantastic DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a decent selection of supplements (including a fast and funny group commentary), fans shouldn't hesitate to add this one to their shopping carts. It isn't the definitive edition some were hoping for -- it would have been nice to have both cuts of the film -- but it does emerge as yet another solid Blu-ray release from Universal.
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