7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
Told from the perspective of the victims, recounts the Montreal Massacre of December 6, 1989 when Marc Lepine entered engineering school Ecole Polytechnique, and targeting feminists, shot 28 people, killing 14 of them.
Starring: Karine Vanasse, Evelyne Brochu, Maxim Gaudette, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, Natalie Hamel-RoyDrama | 100% |
Foreign | 83% |
History | 8% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, French SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Bonus View (PiP)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Named Best Canadian Film by the Toronto Film Critics Association, Denis Villeneuve's "Polytechnique" (2009) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Canadian distributors Alliance. The supplemental features on the disc include a TV program hosted by Alain Gravel; an extract from a TV program discussing the film and the tragic events it depicts; and trailers. In French and English, with optional French SDH and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
A cold day in Montreal
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Denis Villeneuve's Polytechnique arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Canadian distributors Alliance.
This is a very strong high-definition transfer. Fine object detail is excellent, clarity superb and contrast levels consistent throughout the entire film. The color-scheme is immaculate - the blacks are rich and well saturated while the variety of grays and whites gentle and delicate. Edge-enhancement is not a serious issues of concern; neither is macroblocking. I also did not detect any traces of heavy noise reduction. There are no serious stability issues to report either. Additionally, when blown through a digital projector the transfer conveys tremendous depth and pleasing tightness. Finally, I did not see any large scratches, stains, marks, or debris to report in this review. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content. Also, the disc's main menu could be set in French or English).
There are four audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English Dolby Digital 5.1. For the record, Alliance have provided optional English SDH and French SDH subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
First of all, Polytechnique was filmed in French and English - meaning that there are two versions of the film on this Blu-ray disc. Considering that most of the actors in Polytechnique are French speakers, I opted for the French version.
The French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is excellent. It will not test the muscles of your audio system, but Benoit Charest's ambient score sounds fantastic, and you are certainly going to appreciate the terrific mixing. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable and very easy to follow. Additionally, there are no disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings to report in this review.
I tested only a couple of scenes with the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, and as far as I am concerned, its dynamic amplitude appears identical to that of the French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.
Ici comme ailleurs - a clip from the TV program "Lettre de Pierre Bourgault sur montage photo" broadcast on December 8, 1989. In French, not subtitled in English. (6 min, 480/60i).
Enjeux - "Tuerie a l'ecole Polytechque - 10 ans apres", a TV program hosted by Alain Gravel broadcast on November 30, 1999. In French, not subtitled in English. (47 min, 480/60i).
Trailers - trailers for other Alliance releases.
Denis Villeneuve's Polytechnique is a powerful, disturbing, incredibly beautiful film. I am unsure if it is appropriate to say that I liked it, so I will just say that I won't forget it. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of Canadian distributors Alliance, looks and sounds terrific. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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