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 Jan 09, 2013 10:23 pm Post subject: Dredd 3D (Blu-ray) |
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Another reference disc!
Dredd [3D Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet] (2012)
(Hover over link for price, click to purchase and support our forum at no extra cost to you)
| Quote: | 'Dredd' is the best action film of 2012, as well as one of the most faithful comic book adaptations of all time. Karl Urban becomes Dredd, and Lena Headey is downright despicable as the notorious Ma-Ma. The movie is relentless and driving, nothing but pure action from start to finish. The 3D transfer on this Blu-ray disc is absolutely stunning, with incredible clarity and immense depth with almost no ghosting. The 2D transfer isn't quite as immaculate, with unfortunate digital noise in many of the darker shots. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix is bold and aggressive, one of the best I've heard all year, and Neo:X compatible if your receiver can handle it. Sadly, the extras here are meager.
If you didn't see this movie, and judging by worldwide box office receipts most people didn't, please heed all the good reviews and buy this Blu-ray. There are literally hundreds of stories that can be culled from the 'Judge Dredd' universe, and according to writer/producer Alex Garland, he had some big plans for future installments. If enough people buy this Blu-ray and show the studio that there's an audience for more 'Dredd' material, that might be enough to get someone to green light a sequel.
As a comic book fan, and an action movie fan, I urge every one of you who reads this to go out and buy a copy. If you don't comply...you will be judged.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'Dredd' arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC/MVC 1080p encode at its original aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Filmed with three different digital cameras, the Red One MX, the Phantom Flex, and Silicon Imaging SI-2K, 'Dredd' was shot natively in 3D, and it shows. Additionally, the Phantom Flex was run at 3,000 frames per second to achieve the Slo-Mo shots that are such a standout feature of the film.
In 3D, 'Dredd' looks absolutely stunning. The sense of depth is apparent from the very first frames, as we see Mega-City One in the distance, with the Cursed Earth in the foreground. You really get a sense of space and distance, and director Pete Travis skillfully retains this sense throughout the film. Once we get into Peach Trees, the framing frequently makes use of the confined areas, showing us the characters through grates or fences, barred windows and other perspectives that not only enhance the 3D, but also makes us feel as if the building itself were spying on Dredd and Anderson. Clarity is also astonishing. The close-up shots of the techie's electronically enhanced eyes are some of the most striking shots I've ever seen on a Blu-ray disc. Small details like the stains on Ma-Ma's teeth, the pits of her scars, or the graffiti scrawled on walls are all easy to spot and isolate.
The layers of the 3D environment are all immaculately rendered, without making any individual element feel like a cardboard cutout. Again, the framing is clearly meant for 3D, placing characters against backdrops so they stand out. Foreground and background separation is wide, and the picture often feels like you're looking into a real 3D space. Shots bearing down on characters from above highlight their isolation within the frame, which the 3D heightens. So many of the shots are designed to take advantage of 3D. Take a look at the moment where Dredd, having just shot out the tires on a van, steps off his motorcycle. His boot dominates the frame, the kickstand off to the side, and deep in the background sits the overturned vehicle. It's not a flashy 3D shot, but it makes great use of the format. Even the way Dredd holds his gun was framed with 3D in mind. Brightness has been compensated for, as the unfiltered 3D image is noticeably brighter than the 2D image. There's no issue with detail getting lost in shadow.
In both the 3D and 2D transfers, colors look very good. 'Dredd' uses a drab color scheme, creating a world that looks like it's falling apart at the seams. Sickly greens, browns, and oranges dominate. Red is ruddy, so when the blood starts flying, it's not a bright crimson but more of a darker hue. Fleshtones are accurate. Contrast looks pushed, but this was intentional on the part of the filmmakers. This affects whites the most, as they sometimes veer very close to blooming. Blacks are more solid.
All of these aesthetics come together in the Slo-Mo sequences. The slow motion footage is breathtaking, and in 3D every part of the image is crystal clear and feel excitingly alive. A rainbow halo edges around objects, filling the frame with colors. Brightness gets cranked, and color saturation goes into overdrive. These sequences are truly breathtaking and the transfer ably reproduces them. There's very little ghosting in the picture, and when it does show up it's both minor and brief. If you're not looking for ghosting you might not even see it rear its ugly head. There is some slight posterization in a few shots, but these are very hard to spot in 3D. 'Dredd' was the reason I upgraded my TV to a 3D television, and I'm very happy to say that it does not disappoint.
The 2D transfer, which is one of the eyes of the 3D transfer, is not quite as stellar. In most of the important respects, it's just fine. Colors, detail, and contrast all appear the same as the 3D. The biggest issue is digital noise. Many of the darker scenes in the 2D image are littered with noise to the point of distraction. This isn't an issue in 3D. Foreground objects sometimes appear a bit fuzzy in comparison to the 3D as well. The other major issue is that it's quite clear that the film was designed to be seen stereoscopically, and watching it in 2D actually makes it look more artificial. This isn't the case of objects coming out at the audience that look silly in 2D. It's clear from watching the movie both ways that the framing and mise-en-scene is intended to be seen in three dimensions. Ironically, while no one looks like a cardboard cutout in 3D, they feel like them in 2D. Also, those scant shots which have posterization are more noticeable in 2D.
The 3D transfer of 'Dredd' is among the best available in the format. If only the 2D were just as strong.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Lionsgate splurges on 'Dredd', giving us a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix with DTS Neo:X compatibility. As you can read from an info graphic on the disc, Neo:X is a protocol that allows for a fuller sound mix for up to 11 channels of sound. My receiver, while strong, is not high-end enough to support Neo:X, but I don't mind because the lossless 7.1 mix I can hear is absolutely exceptional.
This mix is incredibly aggressive. The movie may be low budget, but the sound is big enough for a movie with a three hundred million dollar bankroll. Directionality is spectacular, with bullets bouncing from left to right and front to back. The imaging is seamless and very organic. The sound field is almost always active with sonic detail. A great example is again when Dredd steps off his bike after flipping the van full of perps. His foot lands with an immense thump thanks to the thunderous LFE. As he approaches the van, you hear the crinkle of his leather armor, the tinkling of broken glass falling from the van, and his hand tightening on the grip of his Lawmaker. Even the quiet moments are alive with vividly realized sound.
The coldly electronic score, vaguely reminiscent of another great urban sci-fi actioner, 'Escape From New York', keeps up through most of the film, yet never overtakes the dialogue or the effects. Balancing in general isn't a problem. You can hear Urban's satisfying growl, Ma-Ma's lazy drawl, and Anderson's small worried voice without any problems. And again, when you get into the Slo-Mo sequences, even the sound changes, becoming airy and ethereal, keeping with the theme of time slowing down.
I watched 'Dredd' three times for this review and saw it in the theaters, and found new surprises in the sound mix with each viewing. I can't imagine how it could be better with Neo:X, but if someone does hear that encode, please let me know what you think. As it is, the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix is one of the best I've heard all year. |
Kal
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