The
Wave (2015/Magnolia Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C+ Film: B
Directed
by Roar Uthaug, The Wave (2015) is a Norwegian disaster film
that takes its time establishing its characters and location well
before opening up and parting the waves, which makes it more dramatic
and endearing. Smarter and more believable than a Roland Emmerich
disaster film and with stunning digital effects that totally sell on
screen, this white-knuckle action flick will have you on the edge of
your seat and keep you guessing till the end.
The
film stars the fantastic international actors Kristoffer Joner, Ane
Dahl Torp, and Jonas Oftebro to name a few and in many ways, reminds
me of the 2014 American-made Godzilla film, only instead of a
giant monster, we have a giant tidal wave. Both films center around
a family that gets pulled apart in the wake of disaster and
ultimately learn something about themselves in the midst of the
terror and both films have a similar ending (which I won't spoil).
Geologist
Kristian Eikfjord (Joner) is moving out of Norway's Sunnmore region
for a job offering with his loving wife and two kids, when he and his
colleagues measure small geological changes in the underground of a
huge mountain that oversees the town. Though he has one foot out the
door, Kristian's suspicions become a reality as a huge tsunami
inevitably reigns down upon the population but doesn't stop him from
trying to save his family. Working against impossible odds, The
Wave shows us how the human condition is pushed to the limits in
the wake of an unstoppable disaster.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1 and
a Norwegian Dolby Atmos 11.1 track that makes you feel the impact of
the great storm at home, this disc looks and sounds fantastic. Also
on the disc are core Norwegian Dolby TrueHD 7.1 with English 5.1
(48kHz, 24-bit) tracks that also sound crystal clear and are
effective, but get weaker as you switch down in the order listed.
English subtitles are also obviously on the disc. The transfer looks
fantastic, especially in early scenes that show the geography and
mountains where the film is set. No digital copy with this release,
sadly.
Special
Features include:
Behind
the Scenes of The Wave
The
Wave Visual Effects Featurettes
Interview
with Director Roar Uthaug
Theatrical
Trailer
If
you like films like The Impossible, realistic high budget disaster
films, then you will want to check this one out for sure. It's not
as cheesy as films like Dante's Peak, Volcano, or The
Day After Tomorrow, and really has a lot of heart to back up its
true narrative.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
