BLU-RAY REVIEW

Italian Job, The

Featured In Issue 112, September 2006

Picture4
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):
Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
070374
(MPAA Rating):
PG13
(Rating Reason):
For violence and some language.
(Retail Price):
$29.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (HD-30)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
110
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
1
(Theatrical Year):
2003
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
08/08/06
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
F. Gary Gray
(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 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):

Following a perfect crime in Venice planned by Charlie Croker (Wahlberg), a band of thieves celebrate a $35-million jackpot. When Steve (Norton) double crosses the entire group and murders John Bridger (Sutherland)—the master safecracker—Charlie plans vengeance and rallies all of his buddies who worked on The Italian Job for another big heist to take back the gold. But he employs the help of one mastermind who wasn't in Venice...Stella Bridger (Theron), John's daughter and safecracking prodigy. The thieves meet in Los Angeles, Mini Coopers and all, and plan vengeance against Steve. Based on the 1969 film written by Troy Kennedy Martin.



Special features include a six-minute behind-the-scenes look at The Italian Job driving school for the actors, a six-minute highlight on The Mighty Minis used in the movie, an eight-minute stunt featurette, 18 minutes behind the scenes, a six-minute highlight on Screenwriters Donna and Wayne Powers, six deleted scenes, the theatrical trailer, and previews.

The 2.35:1 VC-1-encoded HD DVD picture features well-rendered contrast and shadow delineation, creating an impressively three-dimensional image. Colors are well balanced, which, when combined with the impressive contrast, really make the image pop from the screen. Edge enhancement can become a distraction and details aren't incredible impressive, but this is a good picture. (Danny Richelieu)

With fantastic music and effects fidelity, the 5.1-channel soundtrack really shows off the capabilities of the Dolby® Digital Plus codec. A DTS® Digital Surround™ encoding is also included, although it does have a slight ringing over the dialogue that can become distracting. It is a shame dialogue was not recorded with the same care as music, as it sounds boxy and limited in the upper vocal range. The mix is not as impressive as it should be, heavily favoring the front three screen channels at times where the surrounds would really help the soundtrack. (Danny Rilchelieu)