BLU-RAY REVIEW

Wicker Man, The

Featured In Issue 119, April 2007

Picture	3.5
Sound	NR
WSR Score	4

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):

Warner Home Video

(Catalog Number):

111702

(MPAA Rating):

Unrated

(Rating Reason):

(Retail Price):

$28.99

(Disc Type):

Single Side, Dual Layer (HD-30)

(Widescreen Edition):

Yes

(Full Screen Edition):

No

(Running Time In Minutes):

102

(Color Type):

Color

(Chaptered/Scene Access):

Yes

(Closed Captioned):

Yes

(Regional Coding):

Not Indicated

(Theatrical Year):

2006

(Theatrical Release):

Yes

(Direct-To-Video Release):

No

(Disc Release Date):

01/30/07

(THX® Digitally Mastered):

No

(Director):

Neil LaBute

(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):

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(Principal Photography):

(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):

(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):

(Disc Soundtrack):

Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital+ 5.1

(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 this 2006 remake, Officer Malus' (Cage) mandated (and medicated) post-accident time off is interrupted by a letter from his runaway ex-bride, Willow (Beahan). Her daughter has gone missing, so, against better judgment, he makes his way to the private and secretive island of Summersisle. Once there, he finds the residents, including Willow, less than willing to assist him in his investigation. The Wicker Man is based on Anthony Shaffer's 1793 screenplay and the novel by David Pinner. (Jack Kelley)

Special features are the same as those found on the DVD (Issue 117) and include commentary with Director Neil LaBute, Actors Leelee Sobieski and Kate Beahan, Editor Joe Plotch, and Costume Designer Lynette Meyers; and the theatrical trailer.

While details are generally well defined in the VC-1-encoded 2.35:1 HD DVD, they can be inconsistently soft at times as well. Colors are generally muted for a high-definition release, but contrast is well rendered. Black levels are slightly milky, and shadow delineation isn't completely up to par. (Danny Richelieu)

The Dolby� Digital Plus 5.1-channel encoding is basic, with little surround envelopment and a timid front stage. Fidelity is generally good, but dialogue can sound boxy. The Dolby TrueHD encoding improves fidelity, with a more robust, fluid sound, especially with dialogue. (Danny Richelieu)

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