Meet Joe Black (HD-DVD)
Studio: Universal
Release Date/Year:2007 (Film Year
1998)
Rated:PG-13
Film Length: 178 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 16X9 Enhanced Widescreen (1.85:1)
Video: 1080p/24
Audio: English - Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
Video Quality: 4.5
Audio Quality: 4 Overview and Film Information
Meet Joe Black is pretty easy to sum up. It is a truly amazing film from a wonderful director with some top notch acting and a amazing musical score. Directed by Martin Brest, Meet Joe Black is actually a remake of the 1934 film "Death Takes a Holiday" and tells the story of Joe Black/Death (Pitt), who fascinated with life, makes a deal with his next target, William Parrish (Hopkins) to delay his death for a tour of life, but in the process he falls in love with William's beautiful daughter (Forlani). Timing in a whopping 3 hours run time, Meet Joe Black never falls flat and is a fantastic piece of film making.
Video Quality ****.5 out of *****
The video quality of MJB is simply astounding and save for a few small issues I would have no hesitation giving it a reference 5 star mark. MJB is presented in it's original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and is encoded with VC1 at 1080p/24. This disc is a fabulous test for the HD-DVD format because of it's length and aspect ratio (2.35:1 films are easier to encode due to 25% less image than 1.85:1). MJB never shows one instance of compression problems coming from a lack of space, much the opposite in fact. Picture detail and film grain is 100% in tact, this is one uber sharp film with zero sings of any filtering or noise reduction attempts. Contrast ratio and blacks are also top notch, lending to a perfect film image that just pops out. The color palette of MJB is something else that will stand out to many, it is a feast for the eyes with nice solid neutral colors that are strong and vibrant all while being 100% natural. This is nearly a perfect reference transfer save for a small very minuscule amount of EE that is well under my level of offensiveness. A very solid 4.5 stars on video
Audio Quality **** out of *****
MJB features a Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 soundtrack and it gets things done rather nicely. I would have loved to have heard more use of the surrounds, but that is just nitpicking and is usual fare for a dialog drama driven movie. Dialog is perfect and never comes across as if straining or hard to hear. Newman's film score (one of my personal favorites) is heard wonderfully with this track. A nice 4 on audio.
Extra Features and Menus **.5 out of *****
Extra features include a making of documentary labeled under Universal's "Spotlight on Location" title, a simple photo montage and theatrical trailer. Menu's are Universal's new style (with opening flying HD-DVD logo) and are fabulous in every way, easy to navigate and well laid out, the scene selection menu is wonderful.
Overall **** out of *****
I am certain this remake has it's fans that are thrilled with this being released, I am one of them. In that case I recommend this release for pure audio and video enjoyment. I am not one for extras but in that regard this is lacking and can be expected for a 3 hour film. Those looking for MJB extras need to track down a SD-DVD copy of the Ultimate Edition release. Otherwise this is very welcomed to any film lovers collection in my opinion.
HD-DVD Collection
Why on earth do they continue to do that?!?
