5.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
Travis and Gabby first meet as neighbors in a small coastal town and wind up in a relationship that is tested by life's most defining events.
Starring: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Maggie Grace, Alexandra Daddario, Tom WilkinsonRomance | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.41:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
Did you or your kids ever play Mad Libs, those silly stories with “fill in the blanks” where you can make things ridiculously silly? The thing about Mad Libs is that there’s obviously a basic template, and that the blanks simply suffice to add a bit of variety to what is otherwise a straight and narrow path. I couldn’t help but think of the phenomenon of Mad Libs as I watched The Choice, since it, like virtually every other Nicholas Sparks based film I’ve previously watched and/or reviewed, sticks resolutely to predetermined plot points while injecting what amount to “fill in the blank” differences in order to supposedly differentiate this entry from its siblings. It’s a losing proposition, as Sparks has obviously found the formula which works, and works repeatedly, for him, and is just as obviously loathe to vary from it much if at all. Therefore, The Choice will no doubt appeal to Sparks lovers who have gobbled up the previous films based on his works (Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John, The Last Song, The Lucky One, Safe Haven, The Best of Me , The Longest Ride). (Simply compare the covers of the foregoing films which have had a Blu-ray release to see the similarity with which these outings are marketed.) Those not already in the Sparks camp will probably just as certainly be left pretty cold by a typical Sparksian tale of young love thrown asunder by the vagaries of fate.
The Choice is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.41:1. This is another incredibly scenic tour through some evocative North Carolina locations, and director Ross Katz and cinematographer Alar Kivilo make the most of gorgeous scenes of beautiful waterways and tall marshy grasslands waving hypnotically in the breeze. The sun dappled ambience of much of the film supports a naturalistic looking palette and some excellent levels of detail, though that same bright, sunny environment tends to push highlights right to the edge of blooming at times. There are a couple of long dark sequences, including one starting at around the 30 minute mark, that suffer from lackluster shadow detail, but otherwise this is a typically "pretty" Sparks related film.
The Choice features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that springs nicely to life when the roots-y score or source cues come into play, or when outdoor scenes (which are numerous) provide the opportunity for abundant and nicely placed ambient environmental effects. The film tends to play out in a generally narrower soundfield, though, due to its reliance on smaller scale dialogue scenes and even occasional narration. Fidelity is fine and there are no problems of any kind to warrant concern.
The cast is relatively game, but the story here is simply so hackneyed that it can't ultimately be overcome even by Master Class level thespians. This is another scenic Sparks romance, but it's virtually interchangeable with all the other scenic Sparks romances. Technical merits are strong for those considering a purchase.
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