BLU-RAY REVIEW

Battleship

Featured In Issue 170, October 2012

Picture5
Sound5
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):
61120748
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Intense sequences of violence, action and destruction and for language
(Retail Price):
$34.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
132
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2012
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
08/28/12
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Peter Berg
(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 5.0, DTS HD Lossless 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 Battleship, Lieutenant Alex Hopper (Kitsch) is a naval weapons officer assigned to destroyer USS John Paul, and humanity's last hope in the face of a global alien invasion. Hopper's older brother, Stone (Skarsgard), is Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson. Petty Officer Second class Cora Raikes (Rihanna) is Hopper's crew mate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones, and Sam Shane (Decker) is Hooper's financée and a physical therapist specializing in the rehabilitation of military combat veterans. Captain Yugi Nagata (Asano) is the commanding officer of the Japanese destroyer Myoko and Hooper's archrival. Admiral Shane (Neeson), Commander of the Pacific Fleet, is Hopper and Stone's superior (and Sam's father). Against all odds, these naval officers and their heroic crews launch an all-out military showdown against a superior alien force. Inspired by Hasbro's popular naval combat game. (Gary Reber)

Special features include an alternate ending previsualization (HD 07:33); Bonus View with Director Peter Berg; the USS Missouri VIP Tour (HD 20:10); six featurettes: Preparing For Battle (HD 11:09), All Hands On Deck: The Cast (HD 11:40), Shooting At Sea (HD 03:10), All Aboard The Fleet (HD 03:47), Commander Pete (HD 05:46), and The Visual Effects (HD 11:30); upfront previews; D-BOX® Motion Code™; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture is stylized with a slightly blown-out contrast level and fleshtones that are warmly pushed. The color palette is fully saturated with rich and deep primaries. Sea waters are deep blue, ships are battle gray, and uniforms are bright white and dark blue. Due to the blown-out contrast, fleshtones often appear unnaturally exaggerated. The amazing element is the resolution, which is stellar throughout. Especially during close-ups of facial features, hair, clothing, and objects, detail is texturally refined. The detail extends to the CGI effects as well. Black levels are deep and shadow delineation is revealing. While resolution is effectively engaging, the imagery exhibits a raw quality that heightens the cinematic visual quality. The end result is a picture with an engaging mesmerizing visual presentation that is exciting and eye-popping throughout. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is explosive and immersive...and LOUD! This is a shock and the sound design is bolstered with directionalized atmospherics, sound effects, and deep, powerful .1 LFE energy intensifying the explosion, ground eruptions, and other disruptions. Dynamics are impressive, with huge sonic contrasts. The rumbling and shattering effects are enveloping and energized during the invasion and battle scenes. The sonics are spread throughout the soundfield with precise localization cues. The music score is dynamic as well and sweeping in its spatial dimension with a wide and deep soundstage and immersively aggressive surround presence. Dialogue manages to stay intelligible, though, ADR is not always well integrated spatially. The overall impact of the soundscape is furious and invigorating. This is a really exciting soundtrack, with a super holosonic® spatially directionalized intensity that is absolutely engaging. It is guaranteed to push adrenaline levels. (Gary Reber)