6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
On improvising a burglary at a shady tycoon's home, Fred takes refuge in the hip and surreal universe of the Paris Metro and encounters its assorted denizens, the tycoon's henchmen and his disenchanted young wife.
Starring: Isabelle Adjani, Christopher Lambert, Richard Bohringer, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean RenoForeign | 100% |
Drama | 76% |
Crime | 21% |
Romance | 14% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
French: LPCM 2.0
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Luc Besson's "Subway" (1985) is released on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom by local distributors Optimum Home Entertainment. The only extra feature on this disc is the film's original theatrical trailer. With optional English subtitles. Region-B "locked".
Bored or in love?
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Luc Besson's Subway arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment.
I would like to say this upfront - the transfer for Subway has a fair share of problems, but I'd much rather have older catalog titles (that are unlikely to get proper restorations from the studios) look like it -- raw and unfiltered -- than have a technician DNR-ing them to death to give them a new, "sharper" and less "grainy", look. So, Optimum Home Entertainment, if you cannot afford to invest into fresh new transfers for some of these older foreign films, release them on Blu-ray without trying to degrain them.
It is very easy to tell that the Blu-ray transfer for Subway was struck from a dated master. Contrast ranges from good to very good to, occasionally, average. Clarity and detail could be very impressive at times (see the opening 15-20 minutes) and then be somewhat disappointing (see the first band rehearsal). The good news, however, is that the film grain is mostly kept intact. Noise is occasionally mixed with it, but I still quite like the raw look of this transfer. Generally speaking, the color scheme is pleasing -- reds, blues, greens, blacks and whites look fresh. There are a few unfortunate color pulsations that I noticed, however, which I believe have been inherited from the dated master. Finally, there are a few tiny flecks that I noticed popping up here and there, but big debris, dirt, or scratches are nowhere to be seen. To sum it all up, this is an acceptable Blu-ray release of a favorite film of mine, which, at the moment, I do not have a problem recommending to you. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" disc. Therefore, unless you have a native Region-B or Region-Free player, you won't be able to access is content).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: French LPCM 2.0. For the record, Optimum Home Entertainment have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.
There are no serious issues to report with the French LPCM 2.0 track. The dialog is crisp and very easy to follow while Eric Serra's music score sounds surprisingly fresh. Furthermore, there are absolutely no pops, cracks, or hiss. To sum it all up, the LPCM 2.0 track offers substantially more depth and color than the French Dolby Digital 2.0 track found on the R1 DVD release does. This is a real upgrade!
Most unfortunately, the only supplemental feature on this Blu-ray disc is the original theatrical trailer for the film (in PAL, and therefore not playable on most North American TV sets).
Despite the minor flaws the transfer for Subway reveals, I believe that many of you will find it very easy to tolerate. I know I do -- the R1 DVD release of this film is absolutely horrendous. Furthermore, I do not expect to see Subway released on Blu-ray in North America any time soon, hence the reason why I feel very comfortable recommending this disc to you. RECOMMENDED.
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