• Login

    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Lakeview Terrace

    Featured In Issue 138, January/February 2009

    Picture4.5
    SoundNR
    WSR Score3
    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):
    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    25375
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language, and some drug references
    (Retail Price):
    $39.95
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    110
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A, B & C
    (Theatrical Year):
    2008
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    01/27/09
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Neil Labute
    (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 TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital 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):

    What could be safer than living next to a cop? A young couple (Wilson & Washington) find out when they move into their California dream home and become the target of their next-door neighbor, who disapproves of their interracial relationship. Their neighbor happens to be a a tightly wound LAPD officer (Jackson) who has appointed himself the watchdog of the neighborhood. His nightly foot patrols and overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some, but he becomes increasingly harassing to the newlyweds. These persistent intrusions into their lives cause the couple to fight back. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary with Director Neil Labute and Kerry Washington, eight deleted scenes with commentary by Director Labute (SD 13:49), three Welcome To Lakeview Terrace: Behind The Scenes featurettes (HD 19:31), seven previews, and BD-Live capability.

    The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture quality exhibits excellent contrast with natural-looking exterior scenes both in full daylight sun and at night. Color fidelity is superb, with accurate fleshtones and saturated hues throughout. Images are sharp and clear with excellent resolution and detail exhibited in facial expressions, clothes, and textures. Black levels appear natural, and details in shadows are clearly exhibited. This is a satisfying picture with a natural look that enhances the realism. (Gary Reber)

    The Dolby TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely presented with moments of intense surround envelopment. Conventionally produced center channel dialogue is forward sounding with poor spatial integration in the scenes. The ADR-produced dialogue always is intelligible. Subtle ambient sound effects provide effective enhancements, both in the front and surround channels. At times the surrounds are aggressively directionalized. The music score also contributes to the surround envelopment presence. Bass extension is, at times, deep and intense, extending to below 25 Hz. Overall, this is a well-produced soundtrack, though often with a far-forward dialogue presence. (Gary Reber)

    Reason #53 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    There was little in the way of reading material to bridge the gap between the broadcast-level technical and the common consumer. Most of the generic publications were too simplistic with not enough meat. As the DVDs’ popularity developed beyond everyone’s wildest dreams, it became painfully obvious that there was a serious lack of credible printed matter to support the medium. And with HDTV in the wings, even less to draw from. Or so I thought, until I came upon Widescreen Review at a newsstand while on one of those proverbial business trips. I couldn't believe my eyes! Here's the kind of magazine I was looking for. But then, thinking that this was just a one-off issue, which just happened to contain an abundance of knowledge in an occasional issue, I decided to temper my enthusiasm and become a newsstand reader to see if the articles and features held up consistently. Well, that was all many issues ago and I'm now a dyed-in-the-wool reader of Widescreen Review. To their credit, the magazine has and continues to improve upon their expertise in the field. It's truly a one-stop resource when it comes to the latest in the ever-evolving world of audio/video integration for the consumer. Pixel on!

    Wayne J Mastel
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
    Copyright © Information • All Rights Reserved • www.widescreenreview.com • Web Site Established In 1995 • Privacy Policy • Partners