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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Marley & Me

    Featured In Issue 140, May/June 2009

    Picture3.5
    Sound3.5
    WSR Score4
    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):
    2257494
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG
    (Rating Reason):
    Thematic material, some suggestive content and language
    (Retail Price):
    $39.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    115
    (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):
    03/31/09
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    David Frankel
    (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):

    Based on the book by John Grogan, Marley & Me is a tale about a family who learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog. John and Jenny Groan (Wilson & Aniston) are a young couple contemplating the decision to have a baby. Then came Marley, an adorable Labrador pup who flunks obedience school and quickly turn his new home into a disaster area. Marley sees the Grogans through the ups and downs of life and the countless challenges that come with it. During their time with Marley, the Grogans come to realize that "the world's worst dog" truly brings out the best in them. (Gary Reber)

    Special features on the Blu-ray Disc™ include 19 deleted scenes with optional audio commentary with the director (HD 25:58); five featurettes: Finding Marley (HD 07:48), Breaking The Golden Rule (HD 08:02), On The Set With Marley: Dog Of All Trades (HD 02:36), Animal Adoption (HD 05:09), and When Not To Pee (HD 02:17); a gag reel (HD 05:40); a dog-training trivia Bonus View picture-in-picture track; plus up-front previews. Disc Two contains the DVD edition of the film, and Disc Three contains a digital copy of the film.

    The 2.35:1 1080p AVC picture quality is very natural in appearance, with no really outstanding or striking imagery. Fleshtones are perfectly natural throughout. Contrast is well balanced. Colors are nicely saturated, with pleasant hues. Overall, this is a pleasant picture that nicely supports the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is conventionally produced, relying heavily on production sound and ADR. Dialogue is wanting in spatial integration and is generally disconnected with the scenes. The soundfield is frontal oriented, with atmospheric sound effects mainly limited to the front channels, with occasional surround envelopment. The music score is nicely recorded, with a wide soundstage that spreads to provide surround envelopment. But there is no soundfield consistency, with the sound primarily focused in the front channels. This is basically a mediocre soundtrack experience but serviceable for the story. (Gary Reber)

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    Mark A. Okrzesik
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
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