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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Vantage Point

    Featured In Issue 134, September 2008

    Picture4
    SoundNR
    WSR Score3
    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):
    21619
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Sequences of intense violence and action, some disturbing images and brief strong language
    (Retail Price):
    $38.96
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    90
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A, B & C
    (Theatrical Year):
    2008
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    07/01/08
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Pete Travis
    (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 TrueHD 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):

    Thomas Barnes (Quaid) and his partner Kent Taylor (Fox) are Secret Service Agents in charge of protecting President Ashton (Hurt) while he attends a global summit on terrorism in Salamanca, Spain. Soon after the President takes the stage, he is hit twice by an unknown assassin's bullet. It is with the help of a videotape of the event that an American tourist named Howard Lewis (Whitaker) has taken that Agent Barnes is given a clue as to who the shooter may be. With several people having witnessed the event, each with a different Vantage Point, the Secret Service are hot on the heels of the would-be assassin. (Stacey Pendry)

    Special features include a commentary track by Director Pete Travis; the following featurettes: An Inside Perspective (27 minutes), Plotting An Assassination (16 minutes), Surveillance Tapes (one minute), and Coordinating Chaos (eight minutes); and previews. In addition, the Blu-ray™ includes an additional one-minute featurette Surveillance Tapes and a picture-in-picture option to view alternate vantage points in Vantage Viewer: GPS Tracker.

    The anamorphically enhanced 2.40:1 DVD shows inconsistent resolution, occasionally looking sharp and detailed, while often looking soft. Similarly, black levels are often deep, but are noticeably elevated at times. Colors are subtly desaturated. Fleshtones have a pinkish hue, but look fairly natural. Contrast is balanced well, and subtle changes in even the darkest shadows are rendered nicely. Edge enhancement is noticeable throughout, though, and compression artifacts can be recognized frequently. The H.264 AVC-encoded Blu-ray Disc shows a slightly soft picture as well, and black levels are still inconsistent. (Danny Richelieu)

    The DVD's Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack features an engaging mix, with the surround channels used effectively to convey a sense of dimension and liveliness. The LFE channel is also incorporated well, with deep, hard-hitting bass that is quick and tight. Phantom imaging is impressive, with solid pans around the room. There are even occasions where sidewall imaging can be recognized. The front stage provides a good sense of depth, and dialogue meshes with the audio well. Dynamic range does sound somewhat constrained though. The Blu-ray Disc's lossless Dolby TrueHD encoding provides a noticeable improvement in fidelity, with tighter bass and much improved dynamic range. The Blu-ray Disc is definitely a better option than the DVD. (Danny Richelieu)

    Reason #123 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    I read WSR for the articles—honest. Terry Paullin's industry insight is refreshing and lively. The lack of comparisons of which home theatre-in-a-box is best or which sub $200 DVD player is best leaves more room for in-depth product and movie reviews. Most importantly, though, I read WSR for the caricature of Gary Reber morphed on to the movie featured on the cover in the Editor's Couch page. Pierce Brosnan had better watch out!

    Brian Schrumpf
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