BLU-RAY REVIEW

Max Payne

Featured In Issue 139, March/April 2009

Picture5+
Sound5
WSR Score5
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):
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
2255485
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13/Unrated
(Rating Reason):
Violence including intense shooting sequences, drug content, some sexuality and brief strong language
(Retail Price):
$39.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
100/103
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2008
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
01/20/09
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
John Moore
(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):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital+ 5.1, DTS HD Lossless 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):

A stylized adaptation of the popular fan-favorite video game Max Payne, Mark Wahlberg stars as the title character Max Payne, an obsessive DEA agent who descends into the gritty New York City crime world to avenge the gruesome murders of his family and partner. As the mystery begins to slowly unravel, Max is forced to battle enemies beyond the natural world and face the demons inside himself in order to ensure that justice is served. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the theatrical version (HD 100) and the unrated extended version (HD 103); audio commentary by Director John Moore, Production Designer Daniel Dorrance, and Visual Effects Supervisor Everett Burrell; three featurettes: Picture Part 1 (SD 29:01) and Part 2 (SD 29:39), and Michelle Payne (Graphic Novel) (SD 13:40); two trailers; and BonusVIEW™ Walkthroughs And Cheats Making Max Payne (PIP) available with the theatrical version only; and a digital copy of the film.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture quality is fabulous! Stylistic and pristine, with superb cinematography. Contrast is excellent with deep, solid blacks and shadow delineation that reveals deep into the depths of darkness. Fleshtones are rendered accurately, revealing subtle differences in complexions. Colors are vibrant and rich. Resolution reveals the finest of detail in facial expressions, clothes, and textures. Noise is virtually absent, for an extremely clear and three-dimensional picture. The visuals are absolutely stunning! This is the height of Blu-ray Disc™ picture quality and is sure to astound every viewer. This is exceptional home theatre demonstration material. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is exceptionally holosonic® in surround envelopment and dynamic character. While dialogue is conventionally produced and often ADR-generated, there is always support in the stereo and surround channels to impart more realism in the scenes. The phenomenal music score is well recorded and virtually floats in a huge holosonic soundfield. Dynamics are excellent, with deep, solid bass extension to below 25 Hz and plenty of foundational support from the LFE .1 channel. Surround envelopment is often aggressively directionalized, with powerful effects igniting in all directions at full SPL levels. This is an exceptional reference soundtrack that is extremely well produced and at times will push your adrenaline levels to intense levels. (Gary Reber)