6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.
Starring: Christina Hendricks, Elle Fanning, Keanu Reeves, Jena Malone, Desmond HarringtonHorror | 100% |
Drama | 80% |
Mystery | 45% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
feat. commentary with Nicolas Winding Refn and Elle Fanning [DD 2.0 / English, not subtitled]
German
Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (1 BD, 2 DVDs, 1 CD)
DVD copy
Region B (C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Nicolas Winding Refn's "The Neon Demon" (2016) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of German label Koch Films GmbH. This four-disc limited edition MediaBook contains a BD-50 with the main feature and extras, a Bonus DVD with additional features, the movie soundtrack CD, and a DVD with the film and same bonus materials as the Blu-ray. In English, with optional German subtitles for the main feature. Region "B" locked.
The Neon Demon appears in its original theatrical aspect ratio of approximately 2.39:1 on this BD-50. The DC print appears to be the same one that Broad Green used on its release. One aspect that impressed me again is the level of detail shown during the L.A. cityscape and skyline shots. Each edition sports average video bitrates of 29.9 Mbps; B.G.P. nudges slightly ahead of Koch with a total bitrate of 36.15 Mbps. If I had to choose one transfer over the other, I would lean towards the U.S. but most viewers will not notice substantial differences.
Koch has provided two audio tracks for the main feature: an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and a German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 dub. Because Koch felt obligated to include a dub for the German/Austrian market, it sacrifices bitrate quantity (but not necessarily quality) on the English-speaking track. The original sound track on this disc contains a bit depth of 16 and a bitrate of 1769 kbps. By contrast, the bitrate on Broad Green's main track is nearly doubled. If the Broad Green audio mix has a flaw, though, it is that music is not especially well dispersed across the fronts, particularly the center channel. For too often, I had to reach for my remote and increase the volume to really hear Cliff Martinez's score. On Koch's disc, however, music is better amplified across all front channels. Further, in the scene where Ruby escorts Jesse to a local nightclub to meet Gigi and Sarah, my floor shook as a diegetic rendition of Sweet Tempest's "Mine" played. Dialogue is consistently clear. Koch has supplied optional German subtitles but no English subs.
Note: In advance of its various releases of The Neon Demon, Koch announced on its website that it would be including an exclusive audio
commentary with Refn and editor Matthew Newman. Unfortunately, that track was cancelled for reasons unknown.
Blu-ray
Even if you own Broad Green Pictures or Icon Home Entertainment's releases of The Neon Demon, this deluxe four-disc set issued by Koch Media represents the most complete package of the movie worldwide. It loses B.G.P.'s two brief featurettes but adds nearly 150 minutes of new English-friendly supplements. While Koch's lossless audio does not have as dynamic a mix for sound effects and general ambiance as B.G.P., its spatial reproduction of the musical cues is arguably superior. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and get it while supplies last.
2016
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