NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Fox - Region 'A' Blu-ray - June 10': Fox have used the exact same transfer (and lone bilingual menu) as on the Canadian Alliance disc. Exact same audio and no extras. The slight difference in the file size may be the Fox logo as opposed to the Alliance one. Fox have included the DVD in their package but it's almost double the price of the Alliance Blu-ray - not even considering the exchange rate. If you want this Blu-ray just buy the Canadian - they deliver to the US.

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ADDITION: Alliance - Region 'A' Blu-ray - May 09': Alliance haven't done their usual screw-up with this hi-def transfer. It is both progressive and in the correct aspect ratio (or near enough at 1.78). Unfortunately the film's use of a pronounced style - the sepia and softer lens are trying to give the impression of the 'turn-of-the-century' era - doesn't make the high-definition look as definitively stronger as in other comparisons. In short - detail is marginally improved, colors in skin tones are notable as warmer and less orange, black levels are a bit richer, and the film shows the grittiness texture of the grain, and the artifacts that still exist are lesser in intensity. I think you'd have to have a fairly discerning eye to make note of them in the static captures below - but I can assure you the superiority exists.

Audio is another case though and the DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3698 kbps makes full use of the sparse segments where it is most utilized. It sounded quite buoyant at those times and, for those keen, the audio is a definite jump ahead.      

This is a typical Alliance Blu-ray release - no extras, no subtitles - not even menus. It can be a positive thing though not to have to laboriously advance through unnecessary trailers and adverts. You stick the disc in and the film starts.

The bonus is the price - at the writing of this review $17.95 CAD = $15.34 USD and, if you enjoyed the film, the double-dipping may be worthwhile. For those that haven't watched The Illusionist - this Blu-ray is the definitive digital presentation at the present time. 

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ON THE DVD (written in 2007): The image is a good one - as one might expect from a digitally transferred Fox film released in 2006. The CGI and lighting 'tricks' aren't overly obvious on the DVD image. Blacks are deep and detail is strong. It is both anamorphic and progressive with decent optional subtitles in either English or Spanish. The largely untested 5.1 track is solid.

There is a commentary by director Burger included and it is good and worth listening to, if not intensely riveting. He relates a lot of the pre-production details of the story and working with the three leads - all positive stuff with some good background on the illusions themselves. He shows that he was keenly aware of many extraneous details of the project. There are two featurettes - a Making of - only 4 minutes long and another with Jessica Biel giving a few lines about her role (only 2 minutes). There is also a theatrical trailer - plus ones for 3 other films. Highly recommended - Fox's reasonable price gives this very good value and an enjoyable evening for the family. 

Gary W. Tooze