Revolver (Blu-ray)

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Video:
Sony delivers "Revolver" in high-definition on a BD-50 (MPEG-2 video codec), presented in widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Sometimes the picture is sharply detailed with bold coloring, and when Avi is savoring the crisp new money you can now clearly see that he's holding a $12 bill--which is amusing. Other times, the image appears a bit soft and muted, and there are also a few scenes where the black levels are slightly faded. I didn't pick up on any noise, but I did catch the odd white speck from time to time, too. So in short, while I was thoroughly impressed with the picture quality of the DVD, the Blu-ray didn't really "wow" me like I thought it would.

Audio:
The audio on the other hand, is definitely a step up over the DVD version. The disc utilizes lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 tracks in English and French--delivering an impressive surround experience. The bells and whistles of slot machines, a hailstorm of bullets, and a roaring overhead train are just a handful of the sounds that fill the room creating a pleasing atmosphere. Also in my DVD review, I mentioned Statham's narration came off a hair muffled and difficult to understand at times, but here it was much clearer. I just wish the video had been a significant upgrade like the audio. Also available are optional subtitles in English, English SDH, and French.

Extras:
The Blu-ray version of "Revolver" includes most of the bonus features found on the DVD. I think the only thing missing here is the photo gallery--which wasn't all that interesting anyways.

First up is a feature-length "Commentary with Writer/Director Guy Ritchie and Editor James Herbert" that viewers can access at their leisure. It contains the usual production anecdotes, and I found it particularly interesting how they used actual historical masters' games during the chess scenes to validate Jake Green's skill. Ritchie also thoroughly dissects the concept of the film here, so for those who get completely lost by the story, the commentary really helps clear up loose ends.

There are seven Deleted and Extended Scenes: "Alternate Opening Sequence," "Extended Chess Game," "White Knickers," "Extended Rooftop Golf," "Alternate Lord John Assassination," "Extended Elevator," and "Alternate Ending." Most of them are unfinished with green screens still visible in the background, and they don't require much explanation since nearly all of them have an introduction by Guy Ritchie.

Next, there's a short reel of Outtakes that lasts approximately four minutes. It's mostly your typical goofs and blown lines, although the end was pretty hilarious seeing how Vincent Pastore and André Benjamin kept repeatedly fumbling in the golf scene and had to keep starting over.

"The Game: The Making of Revolver" is about twenty-five minutes long, a documentary covering the characters, the story, and other production details for the film.

"Revolver: Making the Music" is a short featurette explaining the score for the movie. It goes into great detail on why they went with the music they chose, how it was compiled for each scene, and such.

After that comes "The Concept: An Interview with Guy Ritchie and Editor James Herbert." Just like the commentary, this feature focuses heavily on the concept of the story, just a more straightforward and condensed version.

Finally, there are a few high-definition previews (and these trailers also autoplay on startup): "Blu-ray Disc is High Definition," "Hancock," "Casino Royale: Collector's Edition," and "21."

As with most Sony Blu-rays, this release is also BD-Live enabled, but I can't comment on this feature since my player is only profile 1.1 compliant.

The Final Cut:
"Revolver" had the potential to be a mind-blowing blockbuster of a movie sitting pretty for an Oscar or two. It boasts a solid cast, has visually stunning cinematography, and for the most part a solid story element. Where it failed was Ritchie's artistic vision suddenly veering off into all kinds of crazy tangents, and while the ending brought most of it together, a lot of viewers will still find themselves completely lost by the cryptic and confusing storyline.

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