kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:56 pm Post subject: Men in Black 3 - 3D [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
Men in Black 3 (Three Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)
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| Quote: | Completely disregarding the existence of the forgettable first sequel, 'MIB3' comes out of nowhere and really ups the ante, giving it a coherent and complex story, lovable original characters, a great big heart, and a whole lot of fun. 'Men in Black 3' is the franchise's best. Only making it better is this near-perfect Blu-ray set. While the 3D video quality is absolutely flawless, it's the barely-lacking audio that knocks it out of "perfect" status in my book. The quality and type of special features match that of the previous two Blu-rays, giving the franchise release consistency (aside from the fact that 'MIB3' is the only one available in 3D). If I didn't already own it, the 3D Blu-ray release of 'Men in Black 3' would definitely be on my Christmas wish-list. Highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
When I first screened 'MIB3' theatrically, it was shown on a Dolby 3D screen. The 3D presentation wasn't the best, but it wasn't awful either. However, I have to speak differently about the 3D Blu-ray presentation because it is sharp, bright, colorful and deep. I don't ever recall be impressed by the theatrical 3D, but it's the opposite with the Blu-ray.
My biggest beef with the theatrical 3D was that some shots – not many, but some – carried the look of a pop-up book: flat images layered one on top of the other. I never once had that impression with the Blu-ray. Believe me – I was looking for it. The third dimensional elements transition smoothly into the distance. For example, one shot on the sandy beaches of Cape Canaveral show the surface of the ocean disappear far off into the horizon. Each footprint leading up to the gentle ocean waves appears to slowly get farther and farther into the background. When K pushes a secret button and his living opens up to reveal a hidden arsenal, the room protrudes deeper into the usual 3D background. The 3D element also plays with images in the foreground. During one shot in the intro, as a character peers through a small barred visor into a prison cell, we get his point-of-view shot with the highly blurred bars so close in the foreground that you wouldn't be able to focus on them even if they weren't already blurred. These effects are constantly good, enhancing the moments that could really benefit from them – like the time "jump."
I seem to recall the theatrical experience appearing a tad too dark. The daytime shots appeared like the lazy filtered ones that some directors try to pass off as nighttime shots. This problem is non-existent with the 3D Blu-ray. Again, knowing that it was a problem before, I was looking for it on this go-around. Having watched both the 2D and 3D Blu-rays, I can say that the 3D presentation is slightly darker than that of the 2D – but the difference is minimal. Along these same lines, the bright hippie colors are able to remain explosive and vibrant through the darkened 3D lenses.
Through it all, fine details remain clearly visible. From the pores on actors' faces (which, unfortunately, show Tommy Lee Jones' age) to each individual strand of Emma Thompson's crazy hairdo, it's all visible. This heightened amount of detail does great justice for the knock-out visual effects. None of this would be commendable were it not for the immaculate clarity of this transfer and the complete absence of compression errors.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
While I was initially disappointed that 'MIB3' did not get a 7.1 audio mix, I'm almost completely satisfied with the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix presented here. From the opening credits sequence on, it's apparent that we're getting something great.
The film kicks off with a modernized version of the classic Danny Elfman theme. All sounds just fine until the heavy electric guitar kicks in, at which point it begins to sound spectacular. Music is dynamically mixed throughout the entire picture. Combine that with the great amount of strong effects and you've really got something great. When we first see them, it's fun to hear sounds of the technologically advance and upgraded weapons. There's a new futuristic ring to them that sounds great. When J goes back to 1969, the retro MIB weapons carry a completely different sound, one of humming and vibrating moving parts. The same goes for vehicles.
I'm no car expert. The closest I come to a being a car guy is watching 'Top Gear' on BBC America. I couldn't tell you what model car K and J drive in 2012, but the hyperdrive engine that it carries emits an awesome LFE-laden effect when it is fired up. Oddly enough, the Ford Galaxy they drive in 1969 (I only know the model because it was stated in a special feature) carries an even deeper sound with a much more rumbly LFE than the 2012 version. My only guess is that the 2012 version was a hybrid.
The vocal aspect of the mix is also outstanding. The majority of the vocal mix is great and average – that is, with the exception of Boris. Jemaine Clement's voice is so deep and rich that it almost sounds like two or three voices stacked one on the other. The bass that he exudes is so deep that I can only assume that it is the result of post-production. Either way, it sounds phenomenal.
My only complaint with this audio mix is that on several occasions there seems to be a lull in the all around sound. This isn't due to a flaw, but it's simply a lacking quality in the audio that is normally present. There's almost always something to hear in the audio, but a few scenes (one in specific being the jet pack introduction in MIB headquarters) seem too quiet. |
Kal
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