HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: FLIGHTPLAN

Ben_Williams · 01-09-2007, 03:12 PM

Flightplan (Blu-Ray)

Studio: Disney
Year: 2005
Rated: PG-13
Film Length: 90 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 High Definition 1080p
Disc Type: BD-50 Dual Layer
Codec: VC-1
Audio: Uncompressed 5.1 PCM (48kHz, 24-Bit), English & French 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

Release Date: December 19, 2006

The Movie:
(***/*****) 3/5

Dear Flightplan,

What happened? You were almost such a great movie! You have an excellent cast and a great premise. I guess you must have just gotten trapped within your own plot, because your payoff was so obvious! Not that everything was a total waste. Your first 45 minutes were very suspenseful and you really made me question whether Jodi Foster was truly just a crazy person. But then you turned into a Die Hard movie! Not that there’s anything wrong with a Die Hard movie, but you could have been so much better than that! I guess if you ever have a sequel, you can figure out something better to do with Sean Bean.

The Video:
(*****/*****) 5/5

Now Flightplan, I do want to congratulate you on your excellent video quality. I really liked how you had excellent black levels and shadow detail. Although you aren’t a particularly colorful movie, you did come off as very slick and the few colors that you do demonstrate really pop. Your attention to detail should also be commended. In all honesty, Flightplan, your video transfer is flawless and I consider it to be reference material. You should be very proud.

The Audio:
(*****/*****) 5/5

Now, Flightplan, don’t go and get a big head or anything, but your audio is amazing as well. Your PCM soundtrack is one of the best I’ve ever heard and it’s clear that you were fawned over in the post production process. I really like how subtle your audio track is. Your surround use is mostly atmospheric, but when you need a big loud explosion or sound effect, you are more than up to the challenge. Your dialogue is also very clearly presented without the slightest hint of distortion. All in all, Flightplan, your audio is really hot.

The Supplements:
(**/*****) 2/5

Is this the best you can do, Flightplan? A director’s commentary and two lousy featurettes? You are a BD50 and have plenty of room for such things! At least you have a Blu-Scape short film which is fairly interesting. I think you could have done better, though.

The Final Analysis:
(*****/*****) 5/5

Well, Flightplan, in closing, you are a nice Blu-Ray disc with a fairly compelling story and some truly outstanding audio and video quality on tap. I wish you challenged me a little more with your story and I wish you had a little more to offer as far as extras are concerned. But as it stands, Flightplan, you are very, very pretty to look at and that’s all that matters to some people!

Sincerely,

Ben Williams

Equipment used for this review:
Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-Ray Player
Panasonic PT-AX100U Front Projector
Carada 93” diagonal 16x9 Criterion Series/Brilliant White Screen – www.carada.com
Rotel RSX-1056 Surround Receiver
Rotel RB-1080 Amplifier
B&W Speakers
M&K MX-125 Subwoofer
Interconnects: www.catcables.com

ppltd · 01-09-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Williams

[The Video:
(*****/*****) 5/5

Now Flightplan, I do want to congratulate you on your excellent video quality. I really liked how you had excellent black levels and shadow detail. Although you aren’t a particularly colorful movie, you did come off as very slick and the few colors that you do demonstrate really pop. Your attention to detail should also be commended. In all honesty, Flightplan, your video transfer is flawless and I consider it to be reference material. You should be very proud.

The Audio:
(*****/*****) 5/5

Now, Flightplan, don’t go and get a big head or anything, but your audio is amazing as well. Your PCM soundtrack is one of the best I’ve ever heard and it’s clear that you were fawned over in the post production process. I really like how subtle your audio track is. Your surround use is mostly atmospheric, but when you need a big loud explosion or sound effect, you are more than up to the challenge. Your dialogue is also very clearly presented without the slightest hint of distortion. All in all, Flightplan, your audio is really hot.

Ben,

It looks like of all of the BD exclusive supporting studios, Disney has got it right. This is evident when even their minor releases, such as Flight Plan, have the quality they have. I am looking forward to see what Disney will do when they finally get around to releasing their classic animated films.



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