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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Blackhat

    Featured In Issue 198, July/August 2015

    Picture4
    Sound4.5
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    61165894
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $$34.98
    (Disc Type):
    BD-50
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    134
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    (Theatrical Year):
    (Theatrical Release):
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    (Disc Release Date):
    5/12/2015
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    (Director):
    Michael Mann
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
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    Blackhat follows convict Nicholas Hathaway (Hemsworth). In a not uncommon move, Federal law enforcement recruits a former blackhat hacker, currently in federal prison, to aid a war they will launch against a cyber criminal network, operating worldwide from an unknown base somewhere in Asia. it will take them from Los Angeles and Hong Kong to Perak, Malaysia, and Jakarta. As Hathaway closes in, and as unanticipated consequences have mede it all personal, he discovers the cyber sabotage of a Chinese nuclear power plant was just the beginning. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include three featurettes: Creating Reality (HD 17:01), The Cyber Threat (HD 13:02), and On Location Around The World (HD 09:30); upfront previews; BD-Live functionality; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

    The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture was digitally photographed with the Alexa camera system. The image quality is a bit inconsistent, depending on lighting and setting, but overall is sharp and detailed. The color palette is saturated with rich hues exhibited in various settings. Fleshtones are generally natural in hue. Resolution is revealing of good detail, especially in close-ups, but the imagery can look digital. Overall, this is a serviceable picture that at times looks terrific. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack quite varied in atmospherics and sound effects used to enhance the various environments, with at times deep .1 LFE energy. But strangely, the overall sonics are frontal soundstage focused, and the music score also is mostly presented in stereo, with virtually no subtle surround envelopment, with some exceptions during the more intense action sequences in which there is strong drum energy. The other element that is poorly executed is the dialogue, which is closely miked and ADR-produced with poor spatial integration. Overall, the soundtrack works as the proceedings intensify. (Gary Reber)

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