BLU-RAY REVIEW

Deja Vu

Featured In Issue 121, June 2007

Picture4.5
SoundNR
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):
Touchstone Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
53982
(MPAA Rating):
PG13
(Rating Reason):
For intense sequences of violence and terror, disturbing images, and some sensuality
(Retail Price):
$34.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
126
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2006
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
04/24/07
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Tony Scott
(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
(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):

ATF agent Doug Carlin (Washington) is investigating a bombing on a New Orleans ferry, when he is approached by FBI agent Pryzwarra (Kilmer) about a top-secret program they have developed. With a little case of Deja Vu, they are able to look back in time by four-and-a-half days, convincing Carlin that Claire Kuchever (Patton), one of the victims, holds the key to the investigation. (Tricia Spears)

Special features are the same as on the DVD and include a 37-minute "Surveillance Window" featurette, where you are given the chance to go back in time with the filmmakers for on-set and behind-the-scens moments just before they happen in the film; five deleted scenes with optional commentary by Director Tony Scott; three extended scenes with optional commentary by Scott; a movie showcase; and up-front ads.

The anamorphically enhanced 2.38:1 DVD, with its warm, desaturated color scheme, matches the storytelling nicely. While the colors are not as vibrant as more realistic-looking presentations, fleshtones still look relatively neutral. Images are generally resolved well, although some pixel breakup and noticeable edge enhancement can make a mess of that, and there are times when the video bit rates can make the picture look soft. Still, this can be a very good picture. The VC-1-encoded Blu-ray Disc improves upon the detail and color depth, as should be expected, and pixel breakup and edge enhancement are not a problem with this release. Fleshtones can have a green appearance, which can be slightly distracting. (Danny Richelieu)

The Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack features good fidelity, but the mix leaves a lot to be desired. The front three screen channels do not create a very broad or deep field, and the surround channels can be underutilized. The LFE channel is incorporated nicely, with music especially, and deep bass is also delivered through the full-range front channels. There are too many times when the soundtrack can sound decidedly narrow and dimensionless. The Blu-ray Disc's uncompressed linear PCM encoding provides a substantial increase in overall fidelity and realism, but it can show off the shortfalls of the soundtrack—including deep bass that is more flabby than tight and defined. Dialogue sounds very natural in this version, which is a plus. (Danny Richelieu)