Pink Panther, The

After France's soccer coach is murdered in front of a stadium full of fans and The Pink Panther diamond is stolen from his finger, the country is in a frenzy. But, have no fear, the bumbling and inept Inspector Clouseau (Martin) is on the case, and he intends to follow the clues that lead him to the killer...no matter what kind of method he has to use. Based on The Pink Panther films of Blake Edwards. (Tricia Spears)

Special features include a Code Pink: Animated Graphics-In-Picture track; audio commentary by Director Shawn Levy; 11 deleted scenes with optional commentary by Director Levy (SD 24:08); three featurettes: Cracking The Case (HD 22:05), Animated Trip (SD 08:52), and Deconstructing The Panther (SD 10:15); and three Sleuth-Cams featurettes: 'Killer' Press Conference (SD 05:02), Soccer Set-Up (SD 06:55), and Curtain Call (SD 06:47); Beyoncé's "Check On It" music video (SD 04:14); an extended Beyoncé performance of "A Woman Like Me" with optional commentary by Director Levy (SD 04:34); previews; and BD-Live.

The 1.85:1 1080p AVC picture quality, as with the previously reviewed anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD, looks pleasing overall, with a nicely balanced color palette that offers accurate fleshtones and deep blacks. Hues are better saturated than on the DVD. Images are generally sharp and detailed, although some scenes still appear a bit smeared or undefined. While this picture won't leave videophiles tickled pink, picture quality is generally satisfying. (Suzanne Hodges/Gary Reber)

The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely recorded with a richness and fidelity resolution that wasn't conveyed in the Dolby Digital version. The opening credit music sequence is wonderful, dynamic, wide, and deep. The soundtrack can be exciting at times with aggressive, directionalized surround envelopment. During many scenes, however, the surrounds are curiously uninvolved, creating a very one-dimensional monaural feel to the soundtrack. On occasion the surrounds can be fully engaging, but at much lower levels than the front channels, which limits their effectiveness. Dialogue, while conventionally and ADR produced, is intelligible. The LFE channel is incorporated well at times during action scenes, but it is otherwise not used. Some deep bass is also delivered through the front left and right channels when needed, but it is not at high-enough levels to be system threatening. The Pink Panther music is the highlight of the soundtrack and is extremely well recorded, and actually deserves its own special feature. In all, this soundtrack is good, but not great.(Danny Richelieu/Gary Reber)