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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Tower Heist

    Featured In Issue 165, March 2012

    Picture5
    Sound4.5
    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):
    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    61121717
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Language and sexual content
    (Retail Price):
    $34.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    105
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    2011
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    02/21/12
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Brett Ratner
    (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):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1, DTS 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):

    In Tower Heist, the staff of New York City's most expensive and luxurious condominium discovers that the billionaire investment advisor living in the penthouse has plundered their retirement fund. As revenge, they take matters into their own hands. Convinced that light-fingered Wall Street Titan Arthur Shaw (Alda) has stashed his ill-gotten millions in his apartment, building manager Josh Kovacs (Stiller) rallies his troops and enlists the help of small-time thief Slide (Murphy) to make sure they get back what's rightfully theirs. These rookie thieves—including high-strung concierge Charlie (Affleck), broke ex-Wall Streeter Mr. Fitzhugh (Broderick), new bellhop Dev'Reaux (Pena) and feisty maid Odessa (Sidibe)—know the building better than anyone. It turns out they've been casing the place for years...they just didn't know it. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary with Director Brett Ratner, Editor Mark Helfrich, and Co-Writers Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson; an alternate ending: "15 Months Later" (HD 0:46); an alternate ending: "Lester's Bar" (HD 01:49); nine deleted and alternate scenes (HD 05:58); a gag reel (HD 04:18); Ratner's Video Diary (HD 22:42); the Plotting Tower Heist featurette (HD 44:42); up-front previews; U-Control; the pocket BLU App; My Scenes; D-BOX® Motion Code™; BD-Live functionality; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

    The 1080p AVC picture is terrific, with excellent contrast and a strong saturated color palette. Hues are rich and vivid, yet warmly rendered with strong primaries that pop. Blacks are deep and solid and nicely delineated, as is shadow depth. Fleshtones are accurately hued and natural in appearance. Resolution is revealing of fine detail throughout. Clarity is excellent. Nuanced detail in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture is impressive. Dimensionality is nicely delineated as well, with a good sense of depth. The city scenes, especially during Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, are spectacular. Overall, this is a wonderfully vivid and detailed picture with a vividly saturated color palette. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is distinguished by a well-recorded jazz score, with a wide and deep soundstage and enveloping surround presence. Instrumental timbre is nicely recorded. Dialogue sounds natural and generally spatially integrated. Atmospherics and special effects are supportive throughout with, at times, a deep bass presence enhanced by .1 LFE energy. The effects are generally focused at the frontal stage but occasionally extend to the surrounds. The D-BOX Motion Code action is generally reserved, except for the actual heist action, which is effective. This is a well-recorded soundtrack with at times a holosonic® presence that is a fun ride. (Gary Reber)

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