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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    No Reservations

    Featured In Issue 130, April 2008

    Picture3
    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):
    Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number):
    10000125311
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG
    (Rating Reason):
    Some sensuality and language
    (Retail Price):
    $35.99
    (Disc Type):
    Dual Side/Dual Layer (HD DVD30/DVD9)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    104
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    2007
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    03/04/08
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Scott Hicks
    (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):

    As one of New York's most celebrated chefs, Kate (Zeta-Jones) is well suited to prepare the most delicious quail with truffle sauce anyone's ever tasted. But when she is asked to raise her recently orphaned niece Zoe (Breslin), she finds herself a completely clueless surrogate parent. With the help of a newly hired junior chef, Nick (Eckhart), Kate has No Reservations as she begins to navigate the unfamiliar and confusing world of fish sticks and school supplies. (Stacey Pendry)

    Special features include a 21-minute Unwrapped featurette and a 42-minute episode of Emeril Live, in which Aaron Eckhart and Abigail Breslin help the famous chef cook recipes from the film.

    The anamorphically enhanced 2.36:1 DVD is hampered by noticeable compression artifacts that can be a major distraction. Many scenes look very soft because of the high levels of compression, and "mosquito noise" is often a distraction. The image generally looks noisy. Black levels are fairly adequate, but shadow delineation is limited. White levels occasionally can bloom, but colors can be nicely balanced. Edge enhancement is noticeable over higher contrast transitions, but the high levels of compression generally make it a non-factor. The VC-1-encoded Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD don't show the same level of detail as the better high-definition releases can, looking relatively soft and smeared. Black levels are fairly deep and shadow delineation is decently rendered, but the image can look flat at times. Colors are vibrant and fleshtones look natural. (Danny Richelieu)

    The Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack favors the front three screen channels for the majority of the presentation, although the surround channels can be used to create a fairly believable soundstage at times. Dialogue fidelity can be good, but there are many times when it sounds edgy and distorted as well as forward sounding. Shuffling noise can be heard at times throughout, as can high-pitched ringing from time to time. The Blu-ray Disc's Dolby Digital and the HD DVD's Dolby Digital Plus encodings feature the same limitations as the DVD's, with a lack of articulation that can be delivered by the more advanced audio codecs. Dynamic range is also limited. (Danny Richelieu)

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