King Kong
(2005/Universal Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C Film: B
Universal
used Peter Jackson’s King Kong as
one of the premiere titles to support the now-defunct HD-DVD format and it has
been one of the most awaited Blu-ray reissues around. Now that it has arrived, turns out to be a
slightly upgraded version of that old release and the film itself holds up
satisfyingly well after a while, especially in a world of commercial filmmaking
where digital effects get dated quickly.
For all
you need to know about the film and the previous best editions of it, go to
this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4629/King+Kong+(2005)+HD-DVD
The 1080p
2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is the exact same HD master that was on
the previous editions and holds up nicely as noted. So that leaves the upgrade of the sound from
Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 (we never rated that format so high in the history of
this site and now, it is for all practical purposes, dead) to DTS HD Master
Audio (MA) lossless 5.1 which is better than the DD+ (as it is also known), but
what is holding it back from a totally higher grade is a few moments of sound
coming from a distance (old machine guns on the jungle, Kong punching a bus)
that do not deliver as 100% full in impact and fidelity as they should. Why, who knows, but it is a problem worth
noting. However, everything else is
warmer, cleaner, fuller and the great sound design is otherwise in full swing.
The only
extras (unlike that loaded DVD set) are the same interactive U-Control of the
dead HD-DVD and the extended version of the film, but the picture-in-picture
and art galleries are exclusive to the extended version that was not even
available on HD-DVD. You also get BD
Live functions never before available and this dual layered Blu-ray (known as a
BD-50) also includes a really good audio commentary track on the extended
version only by Jackson and Co-Writer/Co-Producer Philippa Boyens. Guess it will take a more expensive set to
add all the other extras, but this is now the definitive Kong and for playback of the film, leaves all other versions
behind.
- Nicholas Sheffo
