BLU-RAY REVIEW

Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance 3D

Featured In Issue 168, July/August 2012

3D Picture4.5
Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score3.5
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):
40025
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Intense sequences of action and violence, some disturbing images, and language
(Retail Price):
$45.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
95
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A & B
(Theatrical Year):
2012
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
06/12/12
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor
(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):

In Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance, Johnny Blaze (Cage), still struggling with his curse as the devil's bounty hunter, is hiding out in a remote part of Eastern Europe when he is recruited by a secret sect of the church to save a young boy from the devil. At first, Johnny is reluctant to embrace the power of the Ghost Rider, but it is the only way to protect the boy and possibly rid himself of the curse forever. (Gary Reber)

Special features include directors' expanded video commentary, six deleted scenes (HD 11:20), a six-part Path To Vengeance making-of documentary (HD 89:58), the featurette Riding Into Another Dimension 3D (HD 07:07), up-front previews, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 1080p MVC picture was shot in native 3D, as well as stereo converted by Gener8 and Legend 3D. As with the 2D version, the image looks wonderfully natural. The color palette is never exaggerated, though, at times is slightly dimmed, with fleshtones appearing particularly convincing. Resolution is excellent throughout, with fine detail revealed in both medium and close-up shots. Up-close textures are impressively resolved. Both depth and perspective convey a natural visual experience. Both positive parallax and the occasional out-of-screen negative parallax viewpoints provide a natural sense of depth. The imagery is absent crosstalk ghosting artifacts. Overall this is a basically flawless 3D conversion that enhances the sense of dimensional realism compared to the 2D version. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack sounds dynamic and dimensional, with a holosonic® enveloping characteristic. The music score is hauntingly immersive, with a wide and deep soundstage presence that extends to envelop the soundfield. Deep bass is extended throughout, especially with respect to sound effects, which at times pulsate at sub-25 Hz frequencies. Atmospherics are dimensional as well. Dialogue, while largely ADR, at times manages to convey a sense of spatial integration. This is a high-octane sonic experience that sounds excitingly dynamic, with an aggressive, directionalized soundfield presence throughout. (Gary Reber)