Con Air
(Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C- Film: C-
No fan
are we of this silly actioner that only proved that Cage was on his way to
stardom no mater what he made and even when a film has not done commercially
well (The Wicker Man,) he returns
with surprise hits (Ghost Rider) and
expected hits (National Treasure 2)
and Simon West’s Con Air (1997) did
better at the box office than expected.
However,
the film was not that great to begin with, has not aged well and you can read
more about it from our previous DVD review:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3741/Con+Air+-+Unratred+Extended+Ed
This
Blu-ray only has the R-rated version, but this is one of many cases where both
cuts are equally inept and annoying.
Those who expected the uncut edition on Blu-ray will be disappointed,
but those of us who thought it was a mess could care less and you likely will
agree. So how does it play back?
The 1080p
2.35 X 1 image is an improvement from the newest DVD, as shot in real
anamorphic Panavision. However, some
shortcuts in visual effects make the film a bit dated and cuts into its picture
quality, but this is the best it has looked in 10 years because it is not shot
in lesser Super 35mm, more of it holds up than many will expect. The PCM 48/24 5.1 mix is also impressive, far
better than the Dolby Digital 5.1 versions here or on any previous DVD, being
an early sound demo for DTS on the old 12” LaserDisc format. In theaters, it was released in all three
digital formats, including SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound) 8-channel not long
after Disney became the last of the Dolby-exclusive theatrical hold-outs to do
all the digital formats. It was never a
perfect mix, but it is competent, even in a 5.1 folddown like this.
Extras
are few and include the trailer and two featurettes: A View From Above and The
Destruction of Las Vegas, both of which are as nominally interesting as the
film lasting about six minutes total.
For fans only, if that, but that is more than the uncut DVD so go
figure.
- Nicholas Sheffo
