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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Island, The

    Featured In Issue 159, September 2011

    Picture4.5
    Sound5
    WSR Score3
    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):
    DreamWorks Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    08289
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Intense action sequences of violence and action, some sexuality, and language
    (Retail Price):
    $24.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    136
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    2005
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    06/21/11
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Michael Bay
    (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):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    In the far-off future of the year 2019 (yikes!!) the world seems to be filled with humans living a robotic life in a concrete existence. The only thing they have to look forward to is winning the lottery and going off to live an idyllic life on The Island. But Lincoln Six Echo (McGregor) begins to suspect that the island isn't all that it's cracked up to be and when his friend, Jordan Two Delta (Johansson), is chosen as the next lucky lottery winner, he convinces her that it's time they made their escape from the world in which they live. (Tricia Spears)

    Special features include commentary with Director Michael Bay, a making-of featurette (SD 13:02), and the featurettes The Future In Action (SD 15:42) and Pre-Visualization: Forward Thinking (SD 08:09).

    Reviewed in Issue 104 as an anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD, the extremely stylized picture exhibited an edgy quality that was complementary to the storytelling. The picture was often highly contrasted, with bright whites and deep blacks. Colors were vibrant and solid, often with limited gradients, for a "painted" appearance, like the holographic images that taunt the inhabitants of the laboratory. This new 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture really intensifies those picture qualities with enhanced resolution, exhibited in fine facial features, clothing, and object textures. Fleshtones are naturally toned throughout. Blacks are deep, with revealing shadow delineation. (Gary Reber/Suzanne Hodges)

    While the Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack of the previously reviewed DVD was powerful in its delivery, distinct imaging around the soundfield could be blurred by the all-out barrage of sound. The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack delivers a clearer, more precise soundfield presence. Deep, powerful bass is delivered through each full-range channel, with a solid use of the LFE channel for added punch. The more action-packed scenes can become intense, with aggressive soundfield envelopment. Imaging is more precise throughout the soundfield, with directionalized sonics, including center back imaging. The SPL energy is often intense, which complements the picture's edginess. This soundtrack is aggressively intense, with an extreme surround presence that elevates the sonics to the level of reference quality. (Gary Reber/Danny Richelieu)

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