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Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy (Three Movie Hi-Def Collection) [Blu-ray]
(Gore Verbinski, 2003, 2006, 2007)
Review by Leonard Norwitz
Studio: Theatrical: Walt Disney Pictures Blu-ray: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Disc: Region: A Runtime: 462 min Chapters: Size: 3 X 50 GB, 3 X 25 GB (6-discs total) Case: three 2-disc amaray cases with single slipcover Release date: September 16th, 2008
Video: Aspect ratio: 2.35.:1 Resolution: 1080p Video codec: AVC
Audio: English PCM 5.1 Surround (48kHz/24-Bit); English, French & Spanish DD 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, none
Extras: • (same as on previous editions, issued separately) SEE REVIEWS HERE:
Pirates of
the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
BR Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End BR
The Films: The first movie, Curse of the Black Pearl, beat the hell out of every expectation – and apparently, I was not alone in this. The sequel, Dead Man's Chest, could only be worse, I assured myself. It was, but not all that much, nor hardly to the point of distraction. In fact, my second viewing was much more satisfactory – at least I was prepared for some of the scenes I had thought went on too long. (Most critics felt that the second sequel, At World's End, went on even longer, so I was again prepared. Let's hear it for low expectations! While not nearly up the standards of the first movie, it was not a difficult experience, and quite possibly seeing on video will be even less so.) My main criticism of Dead Man’s Chest was not so much its length or the length of its action sequences, as it’s relative lack of anything that so grabbed my visual, dramatic and emotional attention as the walking dead in The Black Pearl, who would turn in and out of skeletons as they entered and left a beam of the full moon. Excerpt from the Lensview review located HERE
Even the most casual of outlines for the plot of At World's End, is mind-bogglingly complex – even more so than Dead Man's Chest. This is not altogether a bad thing as it requires for most of us repeated viewings to put it altogether and be properly swept along with its flow. Whether you would submit to a second helping of this final episode depends, I would think, on more subtle matters: like how you feel about the various characters. For my part, I was still able to remain connected to just about everyone except the villain, Lord Beckett. It wasn't so much his character, as the actor who portrayed him (Tom Hollander) that I found utterly without interest. Evidently the idea was for him to be cold-blooded (like John Malkovich in In the Line of Fire), but in doing so, Hollander's Beckett lost all sense of interest in his own adventure. Fortunately, Beckett is generally on screen for a relatively small part of the movie, but when he shares the frame with other more engaging characters, from Davy Jones to Elizabeth, to Captain Jack, all suffer from his presence. He seems, quite unintentionally, to drain the life from their efforts. Excerpt from the Lensview review located HERE Image:
For those who haven't picked up these movies on Blu-ray
as they came out over the past year or so, this new
packaging is just the ticket. The Trilogy is priced at
slightly more than two movies purchased separately. So
the remaining question is: Is this set in any way an
upgrade in terms of image, audio or extra features?
Original 'Curse of the Black Pearl' Blu-ray issue (with framing problem)
New 'Curse of the Black Pearl' Blu-ray transfer in the Trilogy
Cropped segment from the Original 'Curse of the Black Pearl' Blu-ray issue
New 'Curse of the Black Pearl' Blu-ray transfer in the Trilogy Boxset
More captures from 'Curse of the Black Pearl' Trilogy transfer
Audio & Music + Extras: • (same as on previous editions, issued separately) SEE REVIEWS HERE:
Pirates of
the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
BR Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End BR
Bottom line (editor): As Leonard stated 'For those who haven't picked up these movies on Blu-ray as they came out over the past year or so, this new packaging is just the ticket.' Being a procrastinator to viewing the series I, personally, will benefit from the cheaper price and receiving the 'frame corrected' Curse of the Black Pearl. I suspect even if you just have one Blu-ray of the series (no matter which one) the Trilogy seems like a decent deal. Nothing new is offered (aside from Leonard's observations about the Curse of the Black Pearl) but the price is right for the three films together in 1080P resolution.Leonard Norwitz
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