Ray (HD DVD)

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Comparing the film to its original "Limited Edition" release, the HD-DVD version is a quality upgrade. The level of detail is immediately noticeable and where the standard definition release exhibited a bit of edge enhancement, the HD-DVD showed none. Colors were brighter and more vivid in the HD-DVD release as well. Not every film I have viewed so far has been a big enough improvement to recommend the upgrade on image quality alone, but "Ray" is a good exception to that. The image quality really is good enough that if you loved the film, you should consider the newer release.

Sound:

The original standard definition release contained English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 multi-channel surround. The HD-DVD release gets an upgraded Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 mix that equals the picture quality in the level of improvement. A French 5.1 mix is still along for the ride, as well as a Dolby Digital 2.0 surround mix. The Dolby Digital Plus track sounds great. It would be a bit silly to release a film about a musical legend and not having it sound great and the already good DVD mix is improved upon with an excellent sounding Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 mix.

"Ray" is a fine soundtrack that brings to life the voice and instruments of Ray Charles´ music. Most of the film´s soundtrack only populates the front three channels, but the sound is very natural and very ´live´ sounding, as if the performers are playing directly in front of you. The quality of the mix is more akin to a good stereo SACD mix than a good multi-channel DVD-Audio release. Each instruments´ voice and presence can be felt on "Ray" and the sound does rival all but the best advanced resolution (SACD, DVD-Audio) releases in musical quality. When the film is not concentrating on the music of the man, it´s soundtrack is rooted in dialogue. "Ray" delivers nicely on dialogue and it is clean and clear. This is a great soundtrack that will not blow you away, but it delivers the music of Ray Charles in ways not previously heard. I can´t wait for HD-DVD music releases.

Extras:

Universal first did it with "Jarhead." They have done it again with "Ray." All of the supplements from the expensive limited edition release of the standard definition DVD have made their way over to the HD-DVD release. The limited edition DVD had a higher sticker price than the HD-DVD version, so you are truly getting a nice bargain. Aside from the longer cut of the film, about the only thing you do not get is the very handsome ´collectable packaging´ that the Limited Edition Gift Set arrived in. There is no 28-page Photo Journal, but everything is contained on a single side and not split over three sides like the 2-disc limited edition set was. It may not look as spiffy, but the new HD-DVD release is far more practical. Had the longer cut of the film which contained twenty five additional minutes been included, this set would be a perfect replacement for the limited edition release.

A full length Feature Commentary with Directory Taylor Hackford finds its way over to the HD-DVD release. The commentary track for this film is extremely good and a highly recommended listen. Hackford worked with Ray Charles for fifteen years to get this film produced. He spent a lot of time with the man and worked very hard on this film. Hackford points out a lot of historical facts and also notes the liberties he took with the story. You learn more about Ray Charles from listening to this commentary track than you do by watching the film. Along with the full length commentary is a DVS Descriptive Video Service narration track for the blind. This is a very nice addition and considering the film is about a blind artist, it is nice to see that concessions were made for the blind.

Over 27 minutes of deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Taylor Hackford are included. These are the scenes that were included in the longer cut of the film (and were also provided as supplements). Many of these scenes are very good and I enjoyed the longer cut of the film more than I did the theatrical version. These scenes added a great deal of information to the supporting cast and also on Ray´s music. Nine Extended Musical Scenes are presented, along with Jamie Foxx´s introduction to the scenes. These had previously been broken into two separate supplements, but are contained together here. This is all about Ray Charles´ music. These run for a full twenty five minutes. Seven of the nine tracks here were only available on the limited edition release. If you bought the HD-DVD, I seriously hope you watch these more than once. It´s all about the music.

A few nice featurettes are up next. Stepping into the Part features Ray Charles and Jamie Foxx working together as Ray tests Jamie´s musical abilities. This ten and a half minutes featurette is a great watch and provides background information from Taylor Hackford. Ray Remembered is a too short four minute look where friends of Ray Charles pay tribute to the great man. Again, this featurette was way too short. A Look Inside Ray is an incredibly fast three minute making of featurette. Talk about glossing over a lot of information. This was more like a commercial for the making of feature contained on the Limited Edition release. The Theatrical Trailer completes the supplements that were available on both previous DVD releases.

Three supplements that were only available on the Limited Edition complete the lengthy extras on the HD-DVD. The Filmmaker´s Journey takes ten minutes for Taylor Hackford to discuss his interest in bringing the story of Ray Charles to life and what it took over the course of fifteen years to finally get the story onto the big screen. The Women of Ray is another short ten minute featurette that looks at the actresses who portrayed the women of Ray Charles´ life and information on the women themselves. A lengthy and proper making of documentary can finally be found near the bottom of the menu with Ray: An American Story. This half hour story features the cast and crew as they discuss Ray Charles, the making of the film and those involved with the project. This was the selling point of the limited edition and it is nice to see that it is included here. This documentary includes a lot of great detail into the life of the man and the film that celebrates him. Between the film, the commentary track and this documentary, you get a very good look at the man whose first name is "Ray" and who overcame blindness to touch us all with his music.

Closing Thoughts:

Ray Charles was a man who lost his baby brother and his eyesight in close proximity to each other at an early age. He overcame the blindess to become one of the greatest musical influences and performers of all time. However, he found a greater handicap in the drugs and women associated with Rock and Roll. He fought these negative influences and continued to revolutionize popular music. Jamie Foxx becomes the legend with one of the best performances in the past decade. The film is flawed and places too much emphasis on drugs and women and not enough on the genius and music of Ray Charles. Still, Jamie Foxx lets his performance make this film a worthwhile investment of the audience´s time. The HD-DVD offers up improved sight and sound and all of the value added content of the Limited Edition release. However, the extended cut of the film is omitted and the longer scenes may only be seen as deleted scenes. The supplements are an education on the man that is not provided by the film. As an overall package, "Ray" on HD-DVD delivers, rising above the omission of the extended cut and flaws in the picture itself.

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