Vanilla Sky Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Vanilla Sky Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has released Director Cameron Crowe's 2001 film 'Vanilla Sky,' starring Tom Cruise, to Blu-ray as part of the studio's prestigious 'Paramount Presents' line. The disc features a newly remastered 1080p transfer, supervised by Cameron Crowe. Also included is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless audio as well as a slew of legacy bonus features as well as a new retrospective. The film was previously released to Blu-ray in 2015 under the Warmer Brothers label.

Vanilla Sky Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The 2015 release received middling video reviews, and Paramount and Crowe have gone back to the drawing board to prepare this 1080p image which is "newly remastered from a new 4K film transfer." The picture is, in a word, elegant. This approaches the zenith for Blu-ray output for its supple film like appearance. Fine grain is ever present and beautifully complimentary. It is even in density and perfect in accentuating fine detail and presenting the film with a tactile and endlessly satisfying cinematic appeal. Details are beautifully rendered, whether complex skin elements or facial prosthetics. The city environments spring to life with exemplary complexity and clarity. Colors are beautifully pronounced, including some parade floats seen midway through the film. The palette is exquisite for depth and vividness without appearing overly saturated, too hot, cool, faded, or otherwise less than optimally delivered. Skin tones are superb, blacks are deep, whites are punchy, and there are no print or encode issues to note. It doesn't get any better than this.

Vanilla Sky Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This new "Paramount Presents" Blu-ray release of Vanilla Sky features what is presumably the same audio track from the 2015 Blu-ray, but because I did not review that release and do not have immediate access to a copy, find below a brief fresh review:

The audio track is well complimentary of the movie's sound structure, and as a Cameron Crowe film music and some unusual audio cues are to be expected. The track plays in excellent balance and command even when it's charged with waywardly placed, discrete, and otherwise nontraditional sound cues, which are not often prominent or even fully pronounced but still vital to a listen. The track has been carefully engineered and yields excellent clarity to essential and support components alike. Much of the track is not particularly challenging, with straightforward dialogue and music that is both clear and effortlessly positioned. A few harder-hitting effects offer ample stage fill and prominent, but never overbearing, low end extension. In short, audiences can expect a track that is carefully balanced in all facets of its existence, one that is a perfect compliment to Crowe's narrative structure and visual components alike.

Vanilla Sky Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Paramount brings Vanilla Sky to Blu-ray with a slew of legacy content and a lone new extra (reviewed below). See below for a full listing of included legacy content and please click here for full coverage. This release is the 27th in the "Paramount Presents" line and includes the slipcover with fold-open poster artwork. A digital copy code is included with purchase.

• NEW! Filmmaker Focus: Cameron Crowe on Vanilla Sky (1080p, 8:54): Crowe explores the film's project origins, the picture's aesthetics, casting and performances, making key scenes, making the Times Square sequence, the film's reception, and more.
• Alternate Ending (1080p, 29:45): With optional Crowe commentary.
• Prelude to a Dream (480i, 6:13).
• Hitting it Hard (480i, 10:04).
• An Interview with Paul McCartney (480i, 1:34).
• Gag Reel (480i, 5:27).
• Music Video "Afrika Shox" by Leftfield/Afrika Bambaataa (480i, 3:57).
• Photo Gallery with Audio Introduction by Photographer Neal Preston (1080p, 2:43 intro, 18:15 gallery).
• Mask Test (1080p, 3:23): With optional Crowe commentary.
• Kurt Russell Single Take (1080p, 6:08). With optional Crowe commentary.
• Trailers (480i): Included are Unreleased Teaser Trailer (1:41) and International Trailer (2:49).
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 34:16 total runtime): With optional Crowe commentary.
• Audio Commentary: Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson.

Vanilla Sky Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Vanilla Sky is a challenging film that demands repeat views and the audience's full attention to get under its skin, so to speak, and explore all it has to offer. And there is no better way than this Blu-ray, which offers perfect picture, excellent audio, and plenty of bonus content. Very highly recommended.