BLU-RAY REVIEW

Italian Job, The

Featured In Issue 115, December 2006

Picture4
Sound3
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):
11831
(MPAA Rating):
PG13
(Rating Reason):
For violence and some language
(Retail Price):
$29.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
110
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2003
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
10/24/06
(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.



The special features are the same as on the HD DVD: 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. There are also up-front ads.

The 2.35:1 Blu-ray Disc picture does not look much different than the HD DVD, with impressive contrast and shadow delineation. Details are slightly less crisp in the Blu-ray Disc release, but how much of that is due to the Samsung BD-P1000 player is unknown. (Danny Richelieu)

The Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack included with this release sounds slightly more "digital" than the HD DVD's Dolby Digital Plus soundtrack, but it isn't a night-and-day difference between the two. (Danny Richelieu)