BLU-RAY REVIEW

Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic

Featured In Issue 147, March/April 2010

Picture5
SoundNR
WSR Score5
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):
Anchor Bay Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
N3173
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$34.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
88
(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):
02/02/10
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Mike Disa, Victor Cook, Shukou Murase, Nam Jong-Sik, Lee Seung-Gyu, Iim Sang-Jin & Yasoumi Umetsu
(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):

Film Roman and Electronic Arts transforms a classic work of Medieval literature into Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic. The story is of the amazing journey of warrior Dante Alighieri, and his spectral guide Vigil, into the legendary and frightening nine circles of Hell. Dante travels through Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery, all in search of his one true love, Beatrice. Story and characters are based on "Dante's Inferno," as created by Jonathan Knight and "The Divine Comedy," the epic 14th century poem by Alighieri that endures as one of the signature works in world literature. (Gary Reber)

Special features include Animatics: Beatrice Chase (HD 03:12), Charon (HD 02:17), Dante Stabs Farinata (HD 01:21), Francesco Fight (HD 92:51), and Lust Minions (HD 01:51), plus the Electronics Arts game trailer.

The 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture is dramatically presented with a color palette of prominent reds and blacks to depict hell. The renderings exhibit a unique artistic signature and amazing visuals. The picture is dark throughout and should be viewed in a darkened environment, preferably a black room, to optimize contrast and black levels. The animation itself appears wonderfully resolved, with sharp edges and clear visuals that reveal textures. Hues often appear as pastel tones punctuated with strong reds and blacks for dramatic effect. The imagery is pristine throughout. Overall, this is a drab picture with dark undertones, to portray a hellish realm. The picture is a work of animated art that is sure to engage you visually. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack has a forward narration and otherwise forward-sounding dialogue that, at times, is directionalized and reverberized. The sound exhibits a strong low-frequency emphasis, which enhances the hellish depiction of Dante's journey. At times the .1 LFE channel extends to below 25 Hz with authority, and throughout there is strong 40 Hz response in all channels. Sound effects are effectively integrated with the other sound elements. These effects are directionalized and enhance the sense of a holosonic® soundfield. The orchestral music score is dynamic and sweeping, with a wide and deep soundstage that permeates the surround channels. Surround envelopment is wonderful and defines a rich soundfield, to complement the engaging visuals. This is a terrific soundtrack that sounds dynamic and holosonic throughout. (Gary Reber)