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Wolf [Blu-ray]
(Mike Nichols, 1994)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Columbia Tri-Star Video: Sony Pictures
Disc: Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player) Runtime: 2:05:20.513 Disc Size: 38,880,217,082 bytes Feature Size: 36,812,040,192 bytes Video Bitrate: 27.74 Mbps Chapters: 16 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: October 6th, 2009
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 2939 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2939 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DUBs: DTS-HD Master Audio French 3227 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3227 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Portuguese 2740 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2740 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles: English (SDH), English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, none
Extras: • Trailers
Bitrate:
Description: When a mild-mannered, middle-aged book editor (Jack Nicholson) gets bitten by a wolf, it gives him a shot of confidence over younger colleagues, highly tuned senses and a few new lycanthropic appetites. Like a clever New Yorker cartoon, this urbane horror film satirizes middle age in New York's cutthroat social and business worlds.
The Film: "Wolf" stars Jack Nicholson as a top editor for a New York publishing house, who is bitten by a wolf and begins to turn into a werewolf, just as a billionaire tycoon buys the company and replaces Nicholson with a back-stabbing yuppie. Nicholson, snarling with rage, bites the yuppie, who also begins to grow hair and fangs. The result is a canny portrait of the emotional climate in the New York publishing industry.
The movie contains most of the materials of traditional werewolf movies.
Much significance is attached to the full moon, and horses shy away when
Nicholson comes near, and his sense of smell develops to the point where
he can tell that a man had tequila for his breakfast. There is of course
the obligatory eccentric old scientist with the foreign accent, who
explains werewolves to Nicholson. And beautiful women to be his lovers
and/or victims.
Some films don't always transfer well to digital - and I believe Wolf is one of them. With the dual-layering and adequate HD bitrate I'd like to think what I see is heavy grain - but it honestly looks more like clunky noise in the background. The image is thick and detail is rarely impressive. I have no doubt that the Blu-ray surpasses the last DVD edition is visual quality but fans expecting a pristine and glossy sharpness will be left wanting. Colors seem realistic, for the most part, but as the film is so dark when they are exposed - they can seem less-naturally brilliant. It doesn't appear as though any excessive digital tinkering has taken place - which would have given it a more modern-pleasing appearance to those with expectations of such. Wolf probably looks this way - excessively grainy to a fault - in hopes of homage to the older werewolf flicks it harkens to. From that standpoint the 1080P Blu-ray transfer from Sony is probably quite authentic.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :It's a reasonably competent DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 2939 kbps although the film doesn't rely on the effects to an excessive degree. There isn't memorable depth or range but there are some deep bass'ed earthy growls that can transport a shiver or two. There are some optional foreign language DUBs and subtitle options in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish and m y Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.
Extras :No supplements save some trailer Blu-ray adverts.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze September 29th, 2009
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 3500 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. So be
it, but film will always be my first love and I list my
favorites on the old YMdb site now accessible
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