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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Monster

    Featured In Issue 272, March/April

    Picture3
    Sound3
    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):
    Well Go USA
    (Catalog Number):
    WGU03668B
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Thematic material and brief suggestive material
    (Retail Price):
    $29.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    126
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    4/9/2024
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    (Director):
    Kore-eda Hirokazu
    (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
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (Subtitles):

    In "Monster," after a mother (Ando Sakura) discovers that a teacher's bullying is behind her young son's sudden strange behavior, she storms into his school demanding an explanation. Continually left without satisfactory answers –– and with an increasingly distressed child –– she furiously escalates her concerns to the school board and the media. But as the story unfolds through the multilayered perspectives of mother, teacher, and child, the real truth gradually emerges –– and proves much more complex than anyone could have expected. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include the trailer and upfront previews.

    The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photograph digitally in anamorphic Master Scope using the DJI Ronin 4D and Sony CineAlta Venice camera systems and sourced from a 2K Digital Intermediate.The picture exhibits naturalness and realism throughout,The color palette appears slightly desaturated in some interior scenes and exhibits more robust colors during exterior segments. Flesh tones appear natural. Contrast could be wider with deeper black levels, more revealing shadows, and brighter white levels. Resolution is wanting in detail with an overall softness, This is a very subdued picture without vividness. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is dialogue focused in Japanese with English subtitles positioned within the picture frame at the bottom. Atmospherics sound realistic and nicely define scene environments. Atmospherics extend to the surrounds and project good separation qualities. There is hardly any music injected into the proceedings. Sound effects are realistic sounding, such as a rain storm with aggressive surround and deep bass. The music consists of piano instrumentation and very limited..Dialogue sounds quite forward and wanting in spatial integration. This is a generally mediocre soundtrack. (Gary Reber)

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