BLU-RAY REVIEW

Inception

Featured In Issue 153, January 2011

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score4.5
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):
3000031747
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Sequences of violence and action throughout
(Retail Price):
$35.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
148
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2010
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
12/07/10
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Christopher Nolan
(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):

Cobb (DiCaprio) is a skilled thief and coveted player when it comes to extracting: the stealing of valuable secrets from deep within the mind during a subject's dream state. His skill, though, has turned him into an international fugitive and he is now being offered a chance at redemption. One last job. One last job to give him his life back. But only if he can pull off the impossible—"Inception"—not stealing an idea but planting one. If Cobb and his team succeed, it will be the perfect crime. However, no amount of meticulous planning can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. (Gary Reber)

Blu-ray Disc One is the film, featuring an Extraction Mode, which allows one to infiltrate the dreamscape of "Inception" and learn how Writer/Director Christopher Nolan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the rest of the cast and crew designed and achieved the movie's signature moments, and BD-Live functionality. Disc Two contains the special features. Disc Three is the DVD version of the film and a digital copy of the film. Special features include the featurettes "Dreams: Cinema Of The Subconscious" (HD 44:29) and "Inception: The Cobol Job" full animation and motion comic prologue (HD 14:33); 5.1 Inception Soundtrack selections (38:58); a conceptual art gallery; a promotional art archive; trailers and TV spots; and BD-Live Dream-Share Classified files on the technology "Project Somnacin Confidential Files."

The 2.40:1 1080p VC-1 picture casts "weighted" dreamscape production design with warm and rich hues, and at times vivid colors. Fleshtones are perfectly hued and natural in appearance. Contrast is well balanced but leans toward the dark edges to heighten the suspense. Blacks are deep and solid and shadow delineation is excellent, with revealing depth. Resolution also is top notch, with imagery that is consistently sharp and defined, especially during close-ups of facial features, clothing, and object textures. The cinematography is wonderful, using lighting technique expertly. Dimensional depth enhances the sense of immersive engagement in the complex storytelling. This is a wonderful visual experience that is reference quality. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is extremely dynamic sounding, with at times, system-threatening deep bass delivered by all channels and especially in the sub-20 Hz range in the dedicated .1 LFE channel. Sound effects are quite active and directionalized throughout the soundfield with extensive application of pans and SPL bursts. Hans Zimmer's orchestral music score effectively contributes to the suspenseful sense of drama with stirring emotional impact. The sound effects, Foley, and music deliver a holosonic® envelopment. During dream action sequences, the SPL is full throttle and exciting, though, extremely demanding sonically. The dialogue is the one element that often disconnects with, at times, unconvincing spatial delineation and an unnatural forward presence. Nonetheless, this is a powerfully effective soundtrack that engages the emotional senses in sync with the deeper progression of the storytelling. (Gary Reber)