Image: This dual-layered Blu-ray looks absolutely fabulous. Part credit to the sumptuous visuals and also to the crisp 1080P - MPEG-4 transfer. It may very well be one of the best looking hi-def discs for a film of over 20 years. Colors are vibrant and lush without overpowering (skin-tones true) and detail shows some remarkably pristine moments - approaching the 3-dimensional quality we have come to expect from the best of Blu-ray visuals. Background noise dissolves to appear as grain. Contrast is exceptional defined within the workable parameters of the original film by exporting deep rich black levels. This towers over my old, already strong, SD edition (from 2001?) and I'm extremely pleased with this, David Lean's last film but first to Blu-ray. One word: 'Wow'!   

Audio & Music: We are given a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track (and similar French DUB) that although not extensively tested - does the job well with some scattered separation to the rears (as in crowd jeers, train whistles, the echo sequence etc.). It's, obviously, very clean and clear (no pops, gaps etc.) and supported by English, French or Spanish subtitles. 

Extras: Great job by Sony by including this new commentary by one of the producers; Richard Goodwin - who's most recent work would be as executive producer on Brad Pitt's Seven Years in Tibet (1997) and before Passage producing some Agatha Christie films; Evil Under the Sun (1982) and The Mirror Crack'd (1980). With over 30 years in the industry he knows his stuff and although I wouldn't begin to consider this an academic commentary, as one might find on a Criterion disc, he does his job adequately and I genuinely appreciated the effort discussing locales and sets, plus some minor controversies. There is an impractical feature - Beyond the Passage - Picture-in-Graphic Track (which one can view while the film runs - exclusive to the Blu-ray) and seven shortish featurettes (about 10 minutes each) with input from crew and cast - basically on the 'Making of...'. There is lots of justified glad-handing to Lean and some interesting nostalgic anecdotal information imparted. I especially enjoyed the Vision of India segment. There is enough to justify perusing them if not simply leisurely sitting through and soaking up the aura of the production. Aside from that - we have a promo on Blu-ray and another on 'The David Lean Collection' with hints at more of the master's work to surface in high-definition. 

Bottom line: Well folks, this is all very positive and you want some more good news? - it's less than $20 - making it an essential purchase in my mind. The film is a bona-fide classic infusing expressions of pride, prejudice, respect with a backdrop of cultural diversity... and this Blu-ray exports the image with grace and precision. It has our highest recommendation.