Now, the Blu-ray picture is as solid as the film, with two blow-you-away sound options.
Video:
For the previously released Ultimate (2-disc) Edition in SD-DVD, Sony remastered the print in High Definition. That means the difference between the Ultimate and Blu-ray release won't be as easy for the average human eye to see unless you do a side-by-side comparison. The SD-DVD version has a yellowish cast to it that you didn't even notice when that was your only viewing option.
The first Blu-ray release didn't help matters much. It was a "soft" transfer that fans complained about, and to Sony's credit they responded. This version is more in line with what Blu-ray fans are used to getting. The black levels are stronger, imperfections have been cleaned up, and there's more detail throughout.
There are two ways to tell if you're getting the new version instead of one of the old discontinued Blu-rays that's been sitting on the shelves. The "experience high definition" band of silver on the bottom is now glossy metallic, whereas it was a flat silver on the first Blu-ray. And Sony gave this release a new UPC number: 043396215207.
The 1080p picture is presented in 2.40:1 aspect ratio, and I tell you, the scenes involving that alien-looking opera singer look especially good, with strong black levels and great color saturation.
If you already have the first Blu-ray and missed the announcement to replace your disc, you might still have luck if you contact Sony's customer service people: 1-800-860-2878, consumer@sphecustomersupport.sony.com. I can't guarantee anything, but it's worth a shot.
Audio:
The picture is better, but the audio is REALLY improved. Fans now have two solid choices: English PCM 5.1 uncompressed sound, or English Dolbyi TrueHD 5.1. Both deliver a gear-grinding surreality across the speakers that really helps sell this futuristic world. There's plenty of pop and pizzazz in the new soundtracks, with an additional option in French Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are in English, English SDH, French, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai.
Extras:
Here's the puzzler. If Blu-ray discs are capable of storing 5-10 times the information of SD-DVDs, why aren't we getting extras, even on a second go-round? Is it because of contracts? In these early days of Blu-ray production, are the discs costing significantly more to produce so that there's no money left to buy the rights for added bonus features and still keep the product affordable? Or (and this is the cynic in me talking) are studios going to be playing the same game they did with the SDs and release a film two or three times, each time with more bonus features so they can milk the market for all its worth? I hope the latter isn't the case, because frankly I'm going to refuse to play that game a second time around with another format. They got me once, and that's enough for me.
The Ultimate 2-disc Edition had a pop-up trivia track and 120 minutes of bonus features on The Alien Element, The Digital Element, The Visual Element, The Star Element, The Fashion Element, or "The Diva Element." The Blu-ray edition has only the pop-up trivia track option to play with the film, and as trivia tracks go it really isn't all that fun. So true collectors are really forced to keep both versions.
Bottom Line:
Some of the acting is as befits a genre film, and there are those muddy moments where you're not quite sure exactly what's going on. But Besson pulls everything together in order to produce an ultimately satisfying film. Maybe he should direct a screwball comedy next, because Besson skillfully juggles simultaneous plot threads and characters, cutting from Korben and Leeloo's antics to the Mangalores, to Zorg, to Ruby Rhod, to the president and his aides, and to the priest (Ian Holm) and his new assistant. With this film, he certainly proves that he's got a good sense of comedy, managing to combine laughs with action and drama so that it all somehow works together. "The Fifth Element" is missing a few things that would make it a great film, but as it is it's a very good one. And now, the Blu-ray picture is as solid as the film, with two blow-you-away sound options.
For the previously released Ultimate (2-disc) Edition in SD-DVD, Sony remastered the print in High Definition. That means the difference between the Ultimate and Blu-ray release won't be as easy for the average human eye to see unless you do a side-by-side comparison. The SD-DVD version has a yellowish cast to it that you didn't even notice when that was your only viewing option.
The first Blu-ray release didn't help matters much. It was a "soft" transfer that fans complained about, and to Sony's credit they responded. This version is more in line with what Blu-ray fans are used to getting. The black levels are stronger, imperfections have been cleaned up, and there's more detail throughout.
There are two ways to tell if you're getting the new version instead of one of the old discontinued Blu-rays that's been sitting on the shelves. The "experience high definition" band of silver on the bottom is now glossy metallic, whereas it was a flat silver on the first Blu-ray. And Sony gave this release a new UPC number: 043396215207.
The 1080p picture is presented in 2.40:1 aspect ratio, and I tell you, the scenes involving that alien-looking opera singer look especially good, with strong black levels and great color saturation.
If you already have the first Blu-ray and missed the announcement to replace your disc, you might still have luck if you contact Sony's customer service people: 1-800-860-2878, consumer@sphecustomersupport.sony.com. I can't guarantee anything, but it's worth a shot.
Audio:
The picture is better, but the audio is REALLY improved. Fans now have two solid choices: English PCM 5.1 uncompressed sound, or English Dolbyi TrueHD 5.1. Both deliver a gear-grinding surreality across the speakers that really helps sell this futuristic world. There's plenty of pop and pizzazz in the new soundtracks, with an additional option in French Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are in English, English SDH, French, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai.
Extras:
Here's the puzzler. If Blu-ray discs are capable of storing 5-10 times the information of SD-DVDs, why aren't we getting extras, even on a second go-round? Is it because of contracts? In these early days of Blu-ray production, are the discs costing significantly more to produce so that there's no money left to buy the rights for added bonus features and still keep the product affordable? Or (and this is the cynic in me talking) are studios going to be playing the same game they did with the SDs and release a film two or three times, each time with more bonus features so they can milk the market for all its worth? I hope the latter isn't the case, because frankly I'm going to refuse to play that game a second time around with another format. They got me once, and that's enough for me.
The Ultimate 2-disc Edition had a pop-up trivia track and 120 minutes of bonus features on The Alien Element, The Digital Element, The Visual Element, The Star Element, The Fashion Element, or "The Diva Element." The Blu-ray edition has only the pop-up trivia track option to play with the film, and as trivia tracks go it really isn't all that fun. So true collectors are really forced to keep both versions.
Bottom Line:
Some of the acting is as befits a genre film, and there are those muddy moments where you're not quite sure exactly what's going on. But Besson pulls everything together in order to produce an ultimately satisfying film. Maybe he should direct a screwball comedy next, because Besson skillfully juggles simultaneous plot threads and characters, cutting from Korben and Leeloo's antics to the Mangalores, to Zorg, to Ruby Rhod, to the president and his aides, and to the priest (Ian Holm) and his new assistant. With this film, he certainly proves that he's got a good sense of comedy, managing to combine laughs with action and drama so that it all somehow works together. "The Fifth Element" is missing a few things that would make it a great film, but as it is it's a very good one. And now, the Blu-ray picture is as solid as the film, with two blow-you-away sound options.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]21509[/release]