- Joined
- May 9, 2002
- Messages
- 13,058
- Real Name
- Cameron Yee
Martial arts superstar Jet Li takes on a purely dramatic role as a single father, recently diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, trying to find long term care options for his 21-year old son with autism. Though the story reads like the latest Lifetime movie, writer-director Xiaolu Xue applies an even hand and produces a genuinely touching film. The Blu-ray release, unfortunately, is problematic - from its presentation to its set of extras - though the film itself makes the release worth at least a rental.
Ocean Heaven
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Studio: Well Go USA Entertainment
Packaging/Materials: Two-disc Blu-ray case
Year: 2010
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1:37:07
MSRP: $29.98
THE FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURES
Video
AVC: 1080p high definition 1.85:1
Standard and high definition
Audio
DTS-HD Master Audio: Mandarin 5.1 / Dolby Digital: Mandarin 2.0
Stereo
Subtitles
English
English
The Feature: 4/5
Those averse to melodrama in the tradition of Lifetime Channel movies will undoubtedly get that sinking feeling about the Chinese film "Ocean Heaven," Jet Li's foray into a purely dramatic (i.e. non-martial arts) role. Li plays Wang Xingchang, a single father looking after his 21-year old son Dafu (played Wen Zhang), who has autism. Diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, Wang goes in search of long term care facilities for his son, but finds resources and options limited, if not unacceptable. When an opportunity finally presents itself, facilitated by one of Dafu's former teachers, there's the other matter of how Dafu will acclimate to the new environment, much less his father's absence. It's a scenario ripe for emotional manipulation, but director-writer Xiaolu Xue keeps things remarkably restrained, allowing character moments between father and son to unfold organically, even silently. Scenes between Wang and his supportive neighbor Chai (played by Zhu Yuanyuan) also have a rare stillness, depicting the unspoken words and understanding that exist in moments between good friends. This measured approach also allows Li and Zhang to really shine in their performances, as they capture the day-to-day challenges that many families face when caring for someone with special needs, but also the love that serves as a powerful motivator. Though undeniably sentimental in nature, "Ocean Heaven" earns the emotional beats in its contrived scenario, its even handed approach sparing it from becoming another maudlin weepie.
Video Quality: 3/5
The film's available light cinematography gives the film a naturalistic, almost documentary feel, but the obvious digital processing in the transfer undermines some of that aesthetic. Namely, detail tends to be hazy, particularly in the wide shots, and there's mild to moderate haloing along high contrast edges. Black levels and contrast are also hit and miss, though not surprising given available light in many interior scenes comes from room lamps and overhead fixtures. Exposure levels appear to be boosted in these instances, giving the image a flat, washed out appearance. However, the transfer seems to leave those scenes, and the film's predominantly cool blue color palette, as is — not always aesthetically appealing, but true to how the film originally appeared.
Audio Quality: 3.5/5
Dialogue in the Mandarin language 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is consistently crisp and clear. Surround activity consists primarily of support for the score, though there are some nicely balanced environmental effects lending atmosphere to some of the institutional and urban environments. LFE is non-existent in the dialogue-driven film, though the track exhibits satisfying depth and dynamic range throughout.
Special Features: 1/5
Making Of (11:07, HD): Consisting mostly of talking-head interviews with the cast, complimenting each other on their work, the featurette contains very little in the way of behind-the-scenes or "making of" material. The interviews appear to be conducted as part of a standard press junket, so there's nothing especially insightful about what's shared, though it's clear everyone involved in the film was committed to its largely untold story.
Original Teaser (:38, SD)
Theatrical Trailer (2:01, HD)
Previews: Precede the main menu loading and include "1911" (:55, HD), "The Stool Pigeon" (1:47, HD), and "The Man from Nowhere" (1:44, HD).
DVD: The disc includes the main feature presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic video and Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1 audio at 448 kbps. Special features mirror those on the Blu-ray disc.
Recap
The Feature: 4/5
Video Quality: 3/5
Audio Quality: 3.5/5
Special Features: 1/5
Overall Score (not an average): 3.5/5
Well Go USA delivers a somewhat problematic presentation for a touching Chinese family drama about a father's undying devotion to his son with autism. The special features are meager (and the supposed "making of" particularly disappointing), though the strength of the feature makes the release worthy of at least a rental.
Ocean Heaven
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Studio: Well Go USA Entertainment
Packaging/Materials: Two-disc Blu-ray case
Year: 2010
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1:37:07
MSRP: $29.98
THE FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURES
Video
AVC: 1080p high definition 1.85:1
Standard and high definition
Audio
DTS-HD Master Audio: Mandarin 5.1 / Dolby Digital: Mandarin 2.0
Stereo
Subtitles
English
English
The Feature: 4/5
Those averse to melodrama in the tradition of Lifetime Channel movies will undoubtedly get that sinking feeling about the Chinese film "Ocean Heaven," Jet Li's foray into a purely dramatic (i.e. non-martial arts) role. Li plays Wang Xingchang, a single father looking after his 21-year old son Dafu (played Wen Zhang), who has autism. Diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, Wang goes in search of long term care facilities for his son, but finds resources and options limited, if not unacceptable. When an opportunity finally presents itself, facilitated by one of Dafu's former teachers, there's the other matter of how Dafu will acclimate to the new environment, much less his father's absence. It's a scenario ripe for emotional manipulation, but director-writer Xiaolu Xue keeps things remarkably restrained, allowing character moments between father and son to unfold organically, even silently. Scenes between Wang and his supportive neighbor Chai (played by Zhu Yuanyuan) also have a rare stillness, depicting the unspoken words and understanding that exist in moments between good friends. This measured approach also allows Li and Zhang to really shine in their performances, as they capture the day-to-day challenges that many families face when caring for someone with special needs, but also the love that serves as a powerful motivator. Though undeniably sentimental in nature, "Ocean Heaven" earns the emotional beats in its contrived scenario, its even handed approach sparing it from becoming another maudlin weepie.
Video Quality: 3/5
The film's available light cinematography gives the film a naturalistic, almost documentary feel, but the obvious digital processing in the transfer undermines some of that aesthetic. Namely, detail tends to be hazy, particularly in the wide shots, and there's mild to moderate haloing along high contrast edges. Black levels and contrast are also hit and miss, though not surprising given available light in many interior scenes comes from room lamps and overhead fixtures. Exposure levels appear to be boosted in these instances, giving the image a flat, washed out appearance. However, the transfer seems to leave those scenes, and the film's predominantly cool blue color palette, as is — not always aesthetically appealing, but true to how the film originally appeared.
Audio Quality: 3.5/5
Dialogue in the Mandarin language 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is consistently crisp and clear. Surround activity consists primarily of support for the score, though there are some nicely balanced environmental effects lending atmosphere to some of the institutional and urban environments. LFE is non-existent in the dialogue-driven film, though the track exhibits satisfying depth and dynamic range throughout.
Special Features: 1/5
Making Of (11:07, HD): Consisting mostly of talking-head interviews with the cast, complimenting each other on their work, the featurette contains very little in the way of behind-the-scenes or "making of" material. The interviews appear to be conducted as part of a standard press junket, so there's nothing especially insightful about what's shared, though it's clear everyone involved in the film was committed to its largely untold story.
Original Teaser (:38, SD)
Theatrical Trailer (2:01, HD)
Previews: Precede the main menu loading and include "1911" (:55, HD), "The Stool Pigeon" (1:47, HD), and "The Man from Nowhere" (1:44, HD).
DVD: The disc includes the main feature presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic video and Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1 audio at 448 kbps. Special features mirror those on the Blu-ray disc.
Recap
The Feature: 4/5
Video Quality: 3/5
Audio Quality: 3.5/5
Special Features: 1/5
Overall Score (not an average): 3.5/5
Well Go USA delivers a somewhat problematic presentation for a touching Chinese family drama about a father's undying devotion to his son with autism. The special features are meager (and the supposed "making of" particularly disappointing), though the strength of the feature makes the release worthy of at least a rental.
