7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
FBI agent Johnny Utah goes undercover to infiltrate a cadre of Southern California surfers suspected of robbing banks.
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinleyThriller | 100% |
Crime | 93% |
Action | 46% |
Heist | 35% |
Sport | 29% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English: Dolby Digital 4.0 (Original)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
French Dolby Surround 2.0 (224 kbps)
English, English SDH, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified)
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
You are now in the bank robbery capital of the world.
Point Break proved to be one of the more pleasant surprises of my Blu-ray reviewing career.
This
is a film I've seen once or twice before, ages ago, and I don't remember ever seeing it quite like I did
today. For the most part, my memory of the film, prior to today's screening, recalled the film's basic
plot
outline but failed to recall the nitty gritty details that make Point Break a superb action
flick. I
don't ask much more of my action movies other than they be thrilling, engaging, and entertaining,
and Point Break offers all three of these attributes in heavy doses. Upon first glance and on
the surface, this is a conventional action movie that manages to raise itself above the norm thanks
to fantastic direction from Kathryn Bigelow (Blue Steel), incredible stunts, solid
performances from a set of A-list actors (both then and now), and several plot twists, all of which
add up to make Point Break one of the better action movies of the 1990s.
And you thought 'Point Break' was just about surfing.
20th Century Fox presents Point Break on Blu-ray in a 2.35:1 framed, 1080p high
definition transfer. Point Break is a fairly dull-in-appearance movie. The film was
released in 1991, and this image appears to be fairly accurate to the slightly dimmer, duller,
grittier look and feel of many action movies of that time period. The image often appears hazy
and lacks fine detail. Film grain is rather heavy in many scenes; in fact, I would label the grain
field on this disc as one of the heaviest I've seen on Blu-ray in several scenes, which adds a
gritty, scary, realistic feel to the movie, particularly in the bank robberies and assorted action
scenes, and it is nice to see it intact and preserved on this release. Many of the early segments
of the film, including the first bank robbery and the subsequent police investigation therein,
appear gray, washed out, and lifeless. Black levels, too, are a bit too gray in places, but are
generally solid, as noted during the football-on-the-beach scene in chapter eight. The film's
bright, exterior daylight scenes easily fare the best. Detail is relatively high, considering the
rather bleak, undefined look of the movie. Flesh tones appear accurate.
Just because this one isn't as flashy and refined as something like I, Robot doesn't
mean that it isn't good. The elements seen here appear natural to the source and the style of
shooting chosen by director Kathryn Bigelow. I was pleased with this transfer because it isn't
afraid to be what it is under the harsh scrutiny of Blu-ray: a gritty, sometimes unattractive, but
definitely true-to-the source transfer that retains the original charm of the picture. Fans hoping
that this movie is magically going to look like The Chronicles of Narnia: The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or Saawariya will be
disappointed, but for purists looking to see this film exactly as it was intended to be seen, look no
further, because this Blu-ray disc is the best presentation of Point Break you're ever
likely to see.
Point Break splashes onto Blu-ray with a decidedly 1990s-in-feel soundtrack. Presented in Fox's usual choice of DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless surround sound, Point Break's soundtrack shows its age but sounds about as good as it can on Blu-ray. There is a hint of mushiness and lack of fine clarity to this sound mix (it is perhaps best described as having a harsh edge to it), but it does manage to be an all-encompassing, highly engrossing mix that takes full advantage of both lossless sound as well as every speaker in the home theater. Dialogue is probably the best aspect of this disc. It's clean and precise, and every pitch of all the unique voices heard throughout the movie is reproduced in our homes to perfection. Gary Busey's scruffy voice in particular stands out as both unique and well-presented on this soundtrack. Various surfing and underwater scenes fare well, but I was not completely impressed with the sonic presentation. With every underwater scene, there is a palpable sense that the track is trying really hard to be the best underwater moment you've heard on Blu-ray, but I never had the feeling of total submersion from a sonic perspective. On the other hand, there is fine directionality and imaging. Waves flow from one side of the listening room to the other, with both grace and power. Many are accompanied by deep, impressive lows that shake and rattle your subwoofer. Point Break also features an entertaining and well-staged shootout in chapter 13 that is one of the better moments on the soundtrack. The shots have that cranked up 1980s, early 1990s overbearing power and oomph to them, and directionality and placement is excellent throughout the entire scene. Point Break, a product of early 1990s action movie sound design isn't as precise as more recent vintage action pictures, but it's a fun listen that hearkens back to different era of sound.
Point Break rides onto Blu-ray with a fairly standard supplemental package. Four featurettes are the highlight of the bunch. It's Make or Break (480p, 23:03) is a better-than-average piece that begins with the cast and crew discussing their thoughts on the film, its origins, and even the various studios and stars the script floated to before settling onto Fox and Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, and the rest of the cast. From there, it becomes more standard-fare examination of the film and its various cast and crew members. Ride the Wave (480p, 6:08) showcases the cast and crew discussing their thoughts behind one of the film's characters, the waves of the ocean. Adrenaline Junkies (480p, 6:02) examines the film's numerous action sequences. On Location: Malibu (480p, 8:32) features two of the film's lesser characters taking us around various filming locations in Malibu. The disc also offers a photo gallery, eight deleted scenes (480p, 4:34), and three trailers for the film (480p, 4:15).
Point Break is as entertaining as it is exhilarating. With fine performances from the leads, fantastic visuals, first-rate action, and top-notch direction, the movie's reputation as an adrenaline-packed action extravaganza is well deserved. Fox has brought this fine action movie to Blu-ray in a package that is true to the source. The video quality is not clean, bright, and pristine, but is rather edgy and gritty, just as it should be. The same can be said for the audio. Unfortunately, the supplements are rather light, and the glaring omission is a commentary track from director Kathryn Bigelow. Fans should be pleased with this edition, and those action fans new to the movie will probably enjoy it as well. Recommended.
1991
1991
Collector's Edition
1991
Collector's Edition | Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook
1991
Limited Edition
1991
Director's Definitive Edition | Ultimate Collector's Edition
1995
2010
2001
Special Edition
2008
The Dirty Harry Collection
1976
2010
2011
2012
1998
2016
The Dirty Harry Collection
1973
1997
2009
1971
Director's Cut
1996
2005
2009
2008
2001
The Director's Cut
2000