kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:51 pm Post subject: Titanic 3D [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
Titanic (Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / Digital Copy) (1997)
(Hover over link for price, click to purchase and support our forum at no extra cost to you)
| Quote: | One of the biggest box-office successes in movie history features a rather generic and formulaic plot about a pair of star-crossed lovers during the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. Nevertheless, the incredibly simple story is surprisingly the right approach for immersing audiences into the romance and glamor of the ship once called "The Last Word in Luxury" and its unfortunate plunge to the bottom of the Atlantic. This Blu-ray edition arrives with a spectacular 3D conversion that amazingly adds another immersive experience to the film and an interesting audio presentation that expands with the narrative. The package is also brimming with bonus features that will keep viewers occupied for hours, making this a must-own for devoted 3D fans.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
If I hadn't seen it for myself, I never would have believed it. 'Titanic – 3D' is definitely the best 3D conversion of a catalog title (or of any title, for that matter) we've seen released on the format. Comparatively, natively-shot features surely surpass this romantic favorite when it comes to video quality, yet on its own terms, the video is demo-worthy and spectacular. Considering Cameron is one of the leading pioneers of this latest filmmaking trend and this is also one of his biggest sellers, I'm not all that surprised he would place a personal investment and take enormously great care to ensure the best possible high-def transfer, presented in its open matte aspect ratio of 1.78:1for the first time on home video.
This presentation is not about gimmick effects or astounding audiences with cool camera tricks. It's about immersing viewers and pulling them further into the world of the "Ship of Dreams," creating a sense of almost being there. And on that front, the movie succeeds like a charm. From the moment it commences, we instantly notice the incredible amount of depth and feel as if characters on screen move within a genuine three-dimensional space. The background penetrates deep into the screen, making the hallways and promenade decks feel elongated and far beyond our distance. Whether watching Rose suffer another mindless sit-down chat with snobs or Jack sneaks about in the back, separation of the foreground is sharp and pristine, giving viewers a wonderful pop-up book effect on several occasions. The exterior of the ship and all the interior rooms appear immense and spacious as characters walk around independently of their surroundings.
Even with the darkened glasses, the high-def video is richly saturated with a wide range display of colors, from lush, vibrant primaries and warm, full-bodied secondary hues which bring Russell Carpenter's cinematography to life. Facial complexions appear natural with astounding lifelike textures. Contrast is pitch-perfect with crisp, brilliant whites that add for some highly impressive moments of clarity while black levels remain luxurious and sumptuous with deep penetrating shadows. Definition is razor-sharp and highly-detailed, allowing audiences to fully appreciate the tremendous amount of work and time that was put into the film's making. We can clearly make out the individual stitching and threading of the costumes, practically count each rivet holding the ship together, scrutinize the detailed, ornate woodwork of the grand staircase, and be amazed by the intricate details of the decorations on walls. I could go on and on, but simply put, this 3D presentation is endlessly adorned with so much for the eyes to take in and with the added dimensionality to boot, it's a spectacular show.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Like its name implies, 'Titanic' splashes onto Blu-ray with a colossal audio presentation that adds another immersive layer to the 3D presentation. The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack reveals the design to be a rather interesting one that starts off very subtle and understated, but it grows with the narrative into something quite spectacular and engaging. It's as if deliberately broken into two parts, much like the story itself, between a guided tour of the ship and its thrilling sinking.
For the first half, the movie is very front-heavy with only a few scattered pieces of atmospherics, nicely enhancing the soundfield at certain moments. Voices are detailed and precise in the center, and channel separation is well-balanced. With a clean, sharply-detailed mid-range, imaging feels wide and expansive, particularly during scenes on the promenade deck or while in the middle of large gatherings with plenty of convincing off-screen effects. James Horner's musical score spreads across the speakers with persuasive fidelity and acoustics while very lightly bleeding into the background.
It's not until the second half, when the entire sound system suddenly comes alive with thrills and excitement, beginning with some mild directionality soon after the ship crashes with the iceberg. As panic slowly ensues, passengers are heard running around, coupled with the noises of crew members readying for the inevitable. When the ship starts to take in lots of water, the rears display the loud cracks of wood and the bending of steel with enthralling discrete clarity. In the final moments, the screams of people, the splashing of water, and the death moans of the "Ship of Dreams" fills the entire room and envelopes the listening area. The subwoofer also takes a commanding presence with some deeply powerful ultra-low frequency effects which add to the drama and apprehension while the mid-bass provides an effectively impactful punch to other action sequences.
This first half of the film is an interestingly restrained design, but the second half offers an engrossing aural experience, making this a reference quality lossless mix. |
Kal
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