It looks and sounds fantastic in Blu-ray. But why is the rum always gone?
Now, that said, this title has prompted a number of complaints, though it's tough to say at this point whether it's a disc-specific or player-specific problem. I will say this: "At World's End" would load on my Samsung BD-P1200, but wouldn't play. Same with the bonus features. But I recently received a BD-P1400 to review, and it played fine, bonus features included--though several times I couldn't just toggle from feature to feature. I had to go back to a main menu and start all over, because it played a feature but then wouldn't let me access additional features from the bonus features menu. There are reports of this title not playing or malfunctioning in the PS3s, which is a pretty big concern. At this point, be warned that there are problems out there, and the disc may not play properly on your PS3 or stand-alone player. We'll post a news item if we hear anything from Disney or any of the hardware manufacturers.
Audio:
The English PCM 5.1 uncompressed audio is phenomenal. The clarity and precision of complex sounds that are mixed together-particularly the battle sequences-are amazing. You can pick out a certain sound and follow it. Small effects don't get lost in the shuffle, either. As with some of the best soundtracks, a robust bass fills the room and leaves you feeling stirred, not shaken. And the treble is nicely balanced against it, so that the sounds never seem to emanate from precise sources. Credit part of that to a nice wide spread across the front speakers and full use of the rear effects speakers. Additional options are English, French, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, with subtitles in English, English SDH, French, and Spanish.
Extras:
This two-disc set features all of the extras from the DVD. The first disc has no commentary, only a five-minute blooper reel. But the second 25-gig disc has a cargo-hold full of extras. I just wish they were arranged in an easier-to-read menu. The print was way too small for my eyes at a distance of 8-10 feet, and unattractively displayed. I frankly expected more, given the Jolly Roger menu-screen "guide."
Some of these bonus features I previewed on a special Disney site before I took part in a group interview with director Gore Verbinski, and it's worth noting that all the bonus features are in Hi-Def.
One of them, "Enter the Maelstrom," is a Blu-ray exclusive. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer hosts the BD-Java feature, which was developed and programmed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, the key technology provider for BD-Java. "Enter the Maelstrom" is a one-hour tour that allows you to select your own tour or follow the "highlights" with Bruckheimer offering optional commentary. I think "interactive" is used almost as recklessly as "inconceivable" was on "The Princess Bride," because we're really talking about choice more than a game or participatory reconstruction. As making-of features go, it's strength lies in the quality of images and the ways in which we see "old-fashioned" movie-making at work. Real actors swinging on real ropes across real ships, not just CGI-created battle scenes. It really makes you appreciate the achievement of all three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films all the more.
Disc two also features extras from the DVD: a short feature on "Keith and the Captain" which zooms in on Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards and Depp. "Tale of the Multiple Jacks" shows what it took (and it's not all CGI, folks) to produce multiple Jack Sparrows. "Inside the Brethren Court" explains the costume design and personalities of the nine legendary pirate captains, while "The Pirate Code Revealed" skims across the history of piracy and the "code." "The World of Chow Yun-Fat is also pretty superficial. Music lovers might appreciate "The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmker" and "Hoist the Colors," which zooms in on the compositions. But my favorite, apart from the well-done "Enter the Maelstrom" and multiple Jacks feature, was a five-part "Masters of Design" bonus feature that shows us how the designs of the map, Krusty pirates, Singapore set, Captain Teague costumes, and Pirate Code Book were conceived.
Bottom Line:
It all boils down to a matter of taste. For me, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is a rousing pirate film that's better than "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," though not as good as the original "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." I´d give it a 7.5, if we could assign half-numbers. If you could take out some of the "multiple Jack" nonsense, it´d be an 8 for me. The plot has a clear trajectory, the special effects are wonderful, and the characters are back with vengeance. Plus, it looks and sounds fantastic in Blu-ray. But why is the rum always gone?
Audio:
The English PCM 5.1 uncompressed audio is phenomenal. The clarity and precision of complex sounds that are mixed together-particularly the battle sequences-are amazing. You can pick out a certain sound and follow it. Small effects don't get lost in the shuffle, either. As with some of the best soundtracks, a robust bass fills the room and leaves you feeling stirred, not shaken. And the treble is nicely balanced against it, so that the sounds never seem to emanate from precise sources. Credit part of that to a nice wide spread across the front speakers and full use of the rear effects speakers. Additional options are English, French, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, with subtitles in English, English SDH, French, and Spanish.
Extras:
This two-disc set features all of the extras from the DVD. The first disc has no commentary, only a five-minute blooper reel. But the second 25-gig disc has a cargo-hold full of extras. I just wish they were arranged in an easier-to-read menu. The print was way too small for my eyes at a distance of 8-10 feet, and unattractively displayed. I frankly expected more, given the Jolly Roger menu-screen "guide."
Some of these bonus features I previewed on a special Disney site before I took part in a group interview with director Gore Verbinski, and it's worth noting that all the bonus features are in Hi-Def.
One of them, "Enter the Maelstrom," is a Blu-ray exclusive. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer hosts the BD-Java feature, which was developed and programmed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, the key technology provider for BD-Java. "Enter the Maelstrom" is a one-hour tour that allows you to select your own tour or follow the "highlights" with Bruckheimer offering optional commentary. I think "interactive" is used almost as recklessly as "inconceivable" was on "The Princess Bride," because we're really talking about choice more than a game or participatory reconstruction. As making-of features go, it's strength lies in the quality of images and the ways in which we see "old-fashioned" movie-making at work. Real actors swinging on real ropes across real ships, not just CGI-created battle scenes. It really makes you appreciate the achievement of all three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films all the more.
Disc two also features extras from the DVD: a short feature on "Keith and the Captain" which zooms in on Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards and Depp. "Tale of the Multiple Jacks" shows what it took (and it's not all CGI, folks) to produce multiple Jack Sparrows. "Inside the Brethren Court" explains the costume design and personalities of the nine legendary pirate captains, while "The Pirate Code Revealed" skims across the history of piracy and the "code." "The World of Chow Yun-Fat is also pretty superficial. Music lovers might appreciate "The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmker" and "Hoist the Colors," which zooms in on the compositions. But my favorite, apart from the well-done "Enter the Maelstrom" and multiple Jacks feature, was a five-part "Masters of Design" bonus feature that shows us how the designs of the map, Krusty pirates, Singapore set, Captain Teague costumes, and Pirate Code Book were conceived.
Bottom Line:
It all boils down to a matter of taste. For me, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is a rousing pirate film that's better than "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," though not as good as the original "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." I´d give it a 7.5, if we could assign half-numbers. If you could take out some of the "multiple Jack" nonsense, it´d be an 8 for me. The plot has a clear trajectory, the special effects are wonderful, and the characters are back with vengeance. Plus, it looks and sounds fantastic in Blu-ray. But why is the rum always gone?
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]21818[/release]