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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Pompeii 3D

    Featured In Issue 190, October 2014

    3D Picture4.5
    Picture4.5
    Sound4.5
    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):
    43631
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Intense battle sequences, diaster related action and brief sexual content
    (Retail Price):
    $45.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    105
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2014
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    05/20/14
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Paul W.S. Anderson
    (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):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Set in 79 A.D., "Pompeii" tells the epic story of Milo (Harington), a slave turned invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia (Browning), the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator (Sutherland). As Italy's Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once-magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include filmmakers commentary; The Assembly (cast and characters) (HD 07:14); five featurettes: "The Volcanic Eruption (Special Effects)" (HD 07:06), "The Gladiators (Stunts)" (HD 06:23), "The Journey (Production Design)" (HD 07:42), "The Costume Shop (Costume Design)" (HD 06:52), and "Pompeii: Buried In Time" (HD 24:06); 20 deleted and alternate scenes (HD 23:32); urfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

    The 1080p MVC native 3D picture is nicely executed with detailed facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture, as well as terrain. Such detail really is evident during well-lit daylight scenes, but also decent during the darker segments, including the dreary prison cells in which the gladiators are held. The color palette is rich and vibrant with strong primaries exhibiting vivid reds, purples, and golds. Contrast is decent, with generally good blacks and shadow delineation. Fleshtones are generally naturally hued. The 3D presentation exhibits excellent depth and perspective that heightens the sense of dimensionality. The volcano scenes are nicely scaled in dimension. Volcanic ash floats around the frame within and out of screen, along with smoke, fireballs, and debris. As such, the 3D effectively pulls one into the mayhem, for an engaging visual experience. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamically exciting with powerful SPL energy and deep, sub-25 Hz .1 LFE bass. The sound is enveloping and aggressively directional. As the volcano erupts, the accompanying sonic mayhem heightens the experience, throwing one into the chaos. The music score is dynamic and expansive, with a rich bottom end. Atmospherics and sound effects effectively define the soundscapes and the cheering crowds during the gladiator combat and the fall of Pompeii itself. Dialogue is intelligible and decently integrated. This is a dynamic holosonic® presentation that is immersive and engaging throughout. (Gary Reber)

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