BLU-RAY REVIEW

Green Zone

Featured In Issue 149, July/August/September 2010

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):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
61106212
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Violence and language
(Retail Price):
$39.98
(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):
2010
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
06/22/10
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Paul Greengrass
(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):
DTS HD Lossless 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):

In "Green Zone," a rogue U.S. Army officer (Damon) must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on Iraqi soil before war escalates in an unstable region. The film was inspired by the book "Imperial Life In The Emerald City" by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Paul Greengrass and Actor Matt Damon; two featurettes: "Matt Damon: Ready For Action" (HD 09:47) and "Inside The Green Zone" (HD 08:53); four deleted scenes with optional picture-in-picture video commentary by the director and Damon (HD 12:27); U-Control interactive features; BD-Live functionality; and a digital copy of the film; plus D-BOX Motion Code fuctionality.

The 1080p VC-1 picture exhibits a stark realism, with gritty imagery. The color palette is stylishly desaturated, with emphasis on desert browns and earthly tones. Contrast is, at times, pushed, which degrades shadow delineation and black levels. Resolution is detailed in close-ups of facial features and object textures, but generally the imagery appears a bit soft. The cinematography is in the documentary style, with lots of hand-held camera work, to convey a "you are there" gritty visual experience. This is a well-done production, which projects a gripping visual experience that will make you feel very uncomfortable. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is powerfully dynamic, with intense SPL segments and deep, powerful .1 LFE bass. Sound effects are impressively realistic as well as atmospheric backgrounds and Foley. SPL is often extreme with deep, powerful .1 LFE bass to below 25 Hz. Dialogue is mostly ADR and production sound but realistically integrated spatially, which is remarkable. The soundtrack presents a convincing and exciting holosonic® soundfield, with aggressive directionalized surround energy and bass below 50 Hz in the surround channels. Sound effects are panned and directionalized throughout the soundfield for an exciting visceral experience. This is especially the case with flyover helicopters in several scenes. The music score is dynamic and powerful, with a driving percussion foundation. The music is spread wide and deep across the soundstage and is aggressively present in the surround channels. The D-BOX Motion Code presents an exciting motion experience that enhances the action thrills. This is an excitingly chaotic soundtrack that delivers an impressive holosonic soundfield experience that creates a strong visceral impact. (Gary Reber)