BLU-RAY
REVIEW: BATTLESHIP
8/26/12
OVERVIEW: An exhilarating campaign to save mankind unfolds on the high seas, in the skies and on land when Battleship – the entertaining, action-adventure made with unprecedented support of the US Navy – comes to Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand August 28th, 2012, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Also available through Digital Download. Against all odds, a daring young naval officer and his heroic crew launch an all-out military showdown against a superior alien force in this enthralling, thrill-ride that will have viewers holding their breath through the final gripping face-off. Blu-ray ’s high-definition picture and perfect hi-def 5.1 surround sound provide the ultimate showcase to experience the film’s awe-inspiring special effects, non-stop action and ingenious weaponry. Almost two hours of exclusive bonus features including all-new featurettes, behind-the-scenes footage, filmmaker commentary and an exciting pre-visualization of an alternate ending make this a must-own disc for every movie fan.
The Blu-rayTM Combo Pack contains a Digital Copy of the film, compatible with iPhone®, iTunes®, iPad®, iPod®, iPod® touch, Android™ and online retailer partners as well as UltraViolet™. UltraViolet™ is the revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows in the cloud to instantly stream and download to computers, tablets and smart-phones. Consumers can now truly enjoy their movies anytime, anywhere on the platform of their choice.
SYNOPSIS:
Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom, “Friday Night Lights”) directs and produces Battleship, the epic-scale action-adventure that James Rocchi, MSN Movies calls, “A big, bold blast! Packed with brains and heart, and explosively fun.” Taylor Kitsch plays Lieutenant Alex Hopper, a naval weapons officer assigned to destroyer USS John Paul, and humanity’s last hope in the face of a global alien invasion. Alexander Skarsgård (“True Blood,” Melancholia) is Hopper’s older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of USS Sampson; global music superstar Rihanna makes her motion-picture debut as Petty Officer Second Class Cora Raikes, Hopper’s crewmate and a weapons specialist on USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker (Just Go With It) is Sam Shane, Hopper’s fiancée and a physical therapist specializing in the rehabilitation of military combat veterans; Tadanobu Asano (Thor), is Captain Yugi Nagata, commanding officer of the Japanese destroyer Myoko and Hopper’s archrival; and Academy Award® nominee Liam Neeson (Battleship, Taken) plays Hopper and Stone’s superior (and Sam’s father), Admiral Shane, Commander of the Pacific Fleet.
FILM REVIEW:
Admiral Shane: Prepare to fire.
Crew member: Sir, which weapons?
Admiral Shane: All of them.
This movie fires all weapons and does not hold back. It is action packed, intense, and chock full of eye candy. This is the type of movie that is easy pickins for critics to devour. What they seemingly fail to realize is that a movie like this is exactly that; it is what it is, nothing more, nothing less. It is an action adventure with enough eye candy of all sorts to entertain and it does exactly that. Aren’t most summer action adventure mainstream blockbusters all about the action, adventure, special effects, and overall eye candy? What else would you expect from a movie based on a Hasbro game, with a mega budget, an attractive cast, a not-too-complicated but farfetched story, and all directed by a man that knows what he’s doing when it comes to action adventures? I would put Director Peter Berg in the same category as Michael Bay, for example. I for one am a fan of his work and this film is no different. He did not disappoint me at all. Actually for me, it was better than I expected. It was thrilling to see a mostly naval based adventure because it’s not that common (above the ocean surface that is). He pulled it off nicely. I mean, really, a movie based on the Battleship game has got to have been a tremendous challenge. Of course, the movie really stretches the premise of the game but hey, it was entertaining and it worked. The film is just cool, I’m sorry, and it’s sexy and fun too! For a sci-fi flick it is quite realistic. I thoroughly enjoyed the maritime warfare and overall combat action. The special effects were good and so was the cinematography. The destruction and devastation did not get to complete apocalyptic levels but what was shown was effective.
Among the unexpected characteristics of the movie was the decent amount of drama and some touching moments of inspiration and patriotism. I’m a sucker for all that so I enjoyed those features of the film as well. It was tastefully and appropriately used and not hard at all to incorporate. There is also some humor to give it levity. And then there’s the cast. Liam Neeson’s role is too small to make a strong impact to the film but, of course, he was excellent with it nonetheless. How about the eye candy for the guys, Rihanna and Brooklyn Decker? Well it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why they were cast in this film, but regardless they actually did okay. Hey, it could have been like Mariah Carey and Paris Hilton, so . . . Rihanna and Brooklyn are not so bad. But the movie is really all about Taylor Kitsch and he was sharp considering the context. He played his character well; from zero to hero. But actually, the real star of the show, or should I say stars, are the ships themselves, none larger than the Mighty Mo, the battleship
U.S.S. Missouri. If you decide to give this movie a chance and you enjoy summer blockbusters, you won’t be disappointed.
Review
By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
BLU-RAY:
The film is
presented in 1080P widescreen in a 2.40:1 aspect ration
preserving its theatrical format. The picture is just
flawless. Not only the picture looks great in
this release, also the sound it is good, a 5.1 DTS-HD Master
Audio (48kHz/24bit) in English that provides a
good complement to the picture. It also includes English,
French and Spanish subtitles.
VIDEO:
2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen 1080P
AUDIO:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS Dolby Digital
2.0, French DTS-HD Master
Audio 5.1 (Canadian) and Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles - English SDH, French, Spanish
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Alternate Ending Pre-visualization with commentary by Peter Berg
The Visual Effects of Battleship – From ground-breaking water-simulation programs to cutting-edge motion capture, see how the team at Industrial Light & Magic pushes the boundaries of visual effects to bring the aliens to life.
All Access with Director Peter Berg – Join director Peter Berg as he gives fans an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie.
USS Missouri VIP Tour – Come aboard the historic “Mighty Mo” for an exclusive tour with director Peter Berg and actual Navy veterans as they reveal some of the coolest facts and amazing action that has graced the decks of this legendary ship.
Commander Pete – Watch as director Peter Berg energizes the cast and crew with his endless enthusiasm and relentless good humor.
UNIVERSAL'S SECOND SCREEN, viewers canenjoy an innovative and interactive viewing experience, that allows them tocontrol, interact and explore Battleship with groundbreaking features right on a networked tablet or computer, in synchronization with the movie on the television screen! While the movie plays, experience features such as:
Alien Tech 3D Model Turntable
Explosions: During the movie, 3D models of the aliens and the shredder become available to the user to view at various angles. For instance, as the user turns the Regent Alien, the armor flies off in parts and then re-assembles. (Exclusive to Second Screen.)
All Access with Director Peter
Berg: Viewers get an all access look at the making of the film featuring interviews with cast and crew.
Flick View: Interact with the movie, move content from the Tablet to the TV screen, and compare storyboards, animatics, and other executing content by “Flicking” them from on their tablet to their TV screen, simply by gesturing their fingers upwards on their tablets.
Preparing for Battle – Hear how Hollywood teamed up with the US Navy to transform a beloved board game into a big-screen blockbuster.
All Hands on Deck: The Cast – Witness the actors getting into the military mindset and Navy veterans having their time in the spotlight in this salute to the people at the heart of the story.
Engage in Battle
Shooting at Sea – Experience thecrew taking on the daunting challenge of shooting on the open ocean on their “soundstage at sea.”
All Aboard the Fleet – Cast and crew members share their experiences shooting on the ships, particularly the historic USS Missouri.
Digital Copy: Viewers can redeem a digital version of the full-length movie from a choice of retail partners to watch on an array of electronic and portable devices.
UltraViolet™: Th
