5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.4 |
A former thief frantically searches for his missing daughter, who has been kidnapped and locked in the trunk of a taxi.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Malin Akerman, Josh Lucas, Sami Gayle, Danny HustonAction | 100% |
Thriller | 99% |
Crime | 64% |
Heist | 20% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
No one sets out to be a criminal.
It's not that Stolen is a textbook bad movie (seen any flicks from The Asylum lately?), it's that the film is almost absurdly unoriginal. Here's a
movie in which Nicolas Cage runs around New Orleans looking for his daughter who has been kidnapped by an old friend out for revenge and a cut of
a large sum of money that no longer exists. Cue various chase scenes, numerous shots of Cage running and yelling around busy city streets, a bland
car chase, flailing fisticuffs,
and voilà, behold the epitome of the inconsequential, no-thought Action flick. Stolen begs, borrows, and yes, steals from
countless other films that have done pretty much this very thing, some better than Stolen, some worse, and most drowning in a sea of
mindless
cinema conformity to safe, crowd-pleasing action and story angles, right down to the last "ah ha!" final "gotcha" shot meant to leave viewers walking
away with a chuckle but here more than likely a groan at the picture's failure to conjure up even one single new idea for a very tired genre.
Nicolas Cage surrenders to mediocre movies.
Stolen's high definition Blu-ray presentation satisfies in all areas. Millennium Entertainment's transfer offers rich colors and solid details from start to finish. The source material offers a rather smooth, inorganic appearance, a bit sterile but certainly not lacking in crisp textures and solid clarity. Indeed, facial and clothing details are top-notch, and the complex urban landscape around New Orleans -- including cars and structures -- appears perfectly defined even in longer distance and overhead shots. The color palette is very strong, perhaps a hair washed out but offering a brilliant array of flavorful hues, from vibrant yellow and blue cabs to more mundane earthen and urban grays around the city. Black levels are very good, like the colors a hair washed out but mostly steady and pleasing in nighttime scenes and shadowy corners alike. Flesh tones present no immediate problems. The image shows only trace amounts of banding and no other severe ailments of note. In summation, a very good presentation from Millennium.
Stolen features a high quality Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Certainly, it's not so good as to stand out from the pack, but it does everything well, presents all elements in good working order, and satisfies in every scene. There's a good general presence to music; there's noticeable heft to the notes accompanying the opening titles, yielding very natural front-side spacing and clarity. The basic refrain that plays through much of the movie that takes on a fairly light and playful throwback caper style sound also plays smoothly and accurately around the stage. There are some good choice directional effects during action scenes and a few enjoyable specific elements, like a chunk of a heavy vault that zips from front to back and lands with a thud behind the listening area in one scene from the movie's opening minutes. The Mardi Gras festivities bring a nice, steady stream of mood-critical ambiance to various scenes; listeners will never feel absolutely immersed in the moment, but the general din proves suitably effective. Dialogue is even and clear, playing naturally and steadily through the center speaker. This is a good example of a well-rounded Blu-ray track that doesn't stand apart from the crowd but that does stand tall and deliver all that's asked of it with ease.
Stolen contains a couple of short supplements and a lengthy multi-participant interview piece.
Stolen may be the ultimate "tweener" movie. It's no even remotely good but neither is it in any way, shape, or form bad. What it is a completely derivative and unoriginal picture, but one that does serve the purpose of casual entertainment. Audiences going in and expecting a slick production with no ambition beyond general entertainment will be satisfied; those looking for the next great movie may as well not even bother. It's technically sound and not at all offensive; just be ready to be dazzled by the sheer level of unoriginality on display. Millennium Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Stolen features upper-end video and audio. A few extras are included. Give it a rent or consider a purchase when the disc makes its way to the bargain bin.
Extreme Cut
2009
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2010
Extended Edition
2011
Extended Cut
2013
2015
2010
2015
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2016
Unrated
2015
Tokarev
2014
Bastille Day
2016
2013
1998
1995
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Collector's Edition
1986
Collector's Edition
2022