Inception HT Guys Blu Ray Disc Review
Inception HT Guys Review: Overall – 4.6 Stars (out of 5)
Synopsis:
Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in this sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the world of dreams. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the best there is at extraction: stealing valuable secrets inside the subconscious during the mind’s vulnerable dream state. His skill has made him a coveted player in industrial espionage but also has made him a fugitive and cost him dearly. Now he may get a second chance if he can do the impossible: inception, planting an idea rather than stealing one. If they succeed, Cobb and his team could pull off the perfect crime. But no planning or expertise can prepare them for a dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy only Cobb could have seen coming (Buy Now Two Disc Edition $13.99).
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Blu-Ray Release Date:
December 7, 2010
Subtitles:
English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Rating:
Overall rating weighted as follows:
Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt
Audio 4.75 Stars (out of 5):
Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison
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Subwoofer – 5.0 Stars
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Dialog – 4.5 Stars
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Surround Affects – 5.0 Stars
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Dynamic Range – 4.5 Stars
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Inception is not a movie you can watch while the kids are sleeping. They will awaken thinking trains are coming through the house, during a car chase, while guns are being fired. Yeah, this movie is that fun to listen to. I rewound it a few times just to hear the high pitched ring of a champagne glass break. The puppy became terrified when the sound of an avalanche made the house rattle like an earthquake. This movie left my speakers sweating after the workout it gave them.
Video 4.8 Stars (out of 5):
Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu Ray Edition used as basis for comparison
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Color Accuracy - 4.5 Stars
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Shadow detail – 4.5 Stars
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Clarity – 5.0 Stars
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Skin tones – 5.0 Stars
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Compression – 5.0 Stars
Video codec: VC-1, Video resolution: 1080p, Aspect ratio: 2.401, Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
After watching this movie, I realized how much I love smooth pinstripe suits … in crystal clear Blu-ray. Water falling in slow motion is spectacle to behold and skyscrapers crumbling on sandy beaches is visually massive. There were only a few scenes in the movie that seemed over exposed, but even in those scenes the dark colors did not show any blocks or jags.
Bonus Features 4.0 Stars (out of 5):
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Extraction Mode: Infiltrate the movie's imaginative landscape to learn how Christopher Nolan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the cast and crew designed and achieved the film's signature moments
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Dreams: Cinema of the Subconscious: Can the dream world be a fully functional parallel reality? Joseph Gordon-Levitt and leading scientists take you to the cutting edge of dream research
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Inception: The Cobol Job: Comic prologue in full animation and motion: see the events that led to the beginning of the movie
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5.1 soundtrack selections from Hans Zimmer's versatile score
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Conceptual art, promotional art, and trailer/TV spot galleries
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Via BD-Live: Project Somnacin--Confidential Files: Access highly secure files that reveal the inception of the dream-share technology.
Bonus Features available in Two-Disc Edition only.
Movie – 4.5 Stars (out of 5)
Review:
To say that Inception is an original movie is an understatement. Some may try to compare this movie to Dreamscape, but that’s like comparing a tricycle to a motorcycle. Inception is a very sophisticated film. This movie is very entertaining, however it is not a Michael Bay film, you can’t just unplug your brain and watch the pretty colors fly by. You must be mentally engaged, to keep track of time, to understand dream rules and why some of them must be broken.
This movie is very surprising. It’s not just an action film, it has a little bit of everything. There are moments of drama, insights of deep love, and analyzing of the subconscious. However, this movie doesn’t have a simply understood plot. It has been studied and debated several times by everyone I know. I’ve watched this movie about three times now, and I know I will watch it again. Not just to comprehend it better, but because it’s a great movie to experience on Blu-ray.
Reader Comments (2)
Thanks again for a focused review. Again, this is a great format and sized right for the HDTV Podcast audience. I don't have a Blu-Ray player yet, but I'm edging ever closer with what I consider high value disc sets like this.
One thing for those considering to note that may not be apparent from the HT Guys Store is that Amazon lets you view the movie as an Amazon VOD for up to 30 days after you buy the disc. So, if you really have a hankering to see the movie right away, purchase the disc and watch the movie this evening via Roku or your PC or Mac (or anything else that can play Amazon VOD). $14 really is a good deal if you like this movie (and I did, personally), considering the 2 discs and the Amazon VOD.
Thank you. I had intended to buy Inception as soon as it came out, but forgot that plan 'til now. The reason for the plan is that, when I did not promptly buy "Dark Knight", I learned that the digital copy (available with early purchases) was no longer available. From the HTguys store, it was not clear if the digital copy of Inception was still available; from Amazon's own site it appeared that it was
Now I know the digital copy is no longer available, so I don't feel pressure to buy it before the Academy Awards. If I'm lucky (ie if it wins Best Picture), perhaps it will come back to a really big screen