5.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In this film, we see the world through the eyes of main character Justice, a young African-American poet. A mail carrier invites a few friends along for a long overnight delivery run.
Starring: Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Regina King, Joe Torry, Roger Guenveur SmithDrama | 100% |
Romance | 97% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
German: Dolby Digital 2.0
Portuguese: Dolby Digital Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, English SDH, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Turkish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Writer/Director John Singleton's debut feature Boyz n the Hood will probably always be remembered as the high point of his career. Singleton's seminal work came right off the bat but he followed that classic with several very good films, including his sophomore effort, 1993's Poetic Justice, a tonally different film that did not take a snapshot look at the realities and perils of urban life in the early 1990s but rather focused on a more tender and more gentle love story set around the same time. With Poetic Justice, Singleton focuses on how the urban experience has shaped several individuals who are sharing a ride in a mail truck en route to Oakland, California via South Central L.A. The film does not shy away from the rough-edged realities that have molded them into who they are, but Singleton also carefully constructs an underlying tenderness, particularly for his two main characters, one of whom is a poet and the other of whom is a budding musical talent whose love and concern for his daughter's well-being runs deep.
Poetic Justice makes its highly anticipated Blu-ray debut with an impressively organic 1080p transfer. Singleton's film translates nicely to the format, and aside from some minimal and minimally distracting speckles and pops and minor signs of print wear is in very good condition. The image is texturally firm, with a light and complimentary grain field at work for it, presenting the picture with an agreeable film-like quality. Detailing is a strong point, whether the complexity of Justice's braids, the fine stitch and material details on Lucky's White Sox ball cap, and of course intimate skin textures seen not only in close-up but obvious in medium-distance shots as well. Environments are sharp, whether densely packed urban areas, a spiraling outdoor family reunion, or the inside of a mail truck. Colors enjoy fruitful pop and saturation, with good, even density and vitality across the colorful period clothes, the red and blue stripes on Lucky's mail truck, natural greens, or a myriad of colors at a carnival seen in chapter 11. Black levels are a strength, particularly nighttime exteriors. Skin tones appear full and natural. No significant encode artifacts are obvious. This is a healthy, filmic, and highly enjoyable Blu-ray release from Sony.
Poetic Justice features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is fluid across the front, with dialogue seamlessly imaging to the center. The spoken word additionally plays with excellent clarity, presence, and prioritization. Score enjoys prominent front-end width and impressive fidelity. Atmospheric effects around various locations, whether in more densely populated sound areas like a crowded family reunion and a carnival or more serene environments such as a beach all yield impressive spacial awareness and location clarity. The track is fairly straightforward and Sony's presentation handles core components with effective ease.
Poetic Justice contains a commentary, a retrospective, a screen test, deleted scenes, and a trailer. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is
included with purchase. This release does not appear to ship with a slipcover.
Poetic Justice will not be remembered as John Singleton's best film, but it may be his most honest and heartfelt. The film juxtaposes hard external realities and inner tenderness as two seemingly disparate souls come together on the road. The film is beautifully acted and well written. Sony's Blu-ray is likewise of a high quality, featuring strong video and audio presentations as well as a handful of enjoyable extras. Highly recommended.
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Director's Cut
1995
30th Anniversary Edition
1989