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A.I. Artificial Intelligence [Blu-ray]
(Steven Spielberg, 2001)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Warner / Stanley Kubrick Productions Video: Warner Home Video
Disc: Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player) Runtime: 2:25:50.700 Disc Size: 39,882,401,350 bytes Feature Size: 34,600,525,824 bytes Video Bitrate: 22.12 Mbps Chapters: 32 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: December 22nd, 2010
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: VC-1 Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 3917 kbps 5.1-ES / 48 kHz / 3917 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1-ES / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital EX Audio French 640 kbps 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital EX Audio German 640 kbps 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital EX Audio Italian 640 kbps 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB * Dolby Digital EX Audio Japanese 640 kbps 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital EX Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB / Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English (SDH), Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, none
Extras: Behind the Story • Creating A. I. (12:05) • Acting A. I. (A Portrait of David - 9:06, A Portrait of Gigolo Joe - 5:59)• Designing A. I. (5 parts - Drawing to Sets, Dressing, Lighting, Special Effects, The Robots of A. I.) • Special Visual Effects and Animation: ILM (5 segments) • The Sound and Music of A. I. (Sound Design - 6:45, The Music - 5:49) • Closing: Steven Spielberg: Our Responsibility to A. I. (2:26) A. I. Archives • 2 Trailers • 3 Storyboards • Chris Baker's Portfolio (7 segments) • Production design Portfolio (9 segments) • ILM Portfolio (6 segments) • Portrait Gallery of Photographs by David James • Steven Spielberg Behind-the-Scenes Photographs by David James
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Description: A.I. Artificial Intelligence, also known
as A.I., is a 2001 science fiction film directed,
produced and co-written by Steven Spielberg. Based on Brian
Aldiss' short story "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long",
the film stars Haley Joel Osment, Frances O'Connor, Jude
Law, Sam Robards, Jake Thomas and William Hurt. Set sometime
in the future, A.I. tells the story of David, a child-like
android uniquely programmed with the ability to love. Excerpt from Wikipedia located HERE
The Film: I'm not the only one to consider "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" a very great and deeply misunderstood film; others as disparate as Andrew Sarris and the late Stan Brakhage have more or less agreed with me, as well as my friend and favorite academic critic, James Naremore. (Click the link above to read my full review.) But it's also clear to me that any ordinary auteurist way of processing cinema can't begin to handle this masterwork adequately: Reading it simply as a Spielberg film, as most detractors do, or even trying to read it simply as a Kubrick film, is a pretty futile exercise with limited rewards, even though the fingerprints of both directors are all over it. Seeing it as a perpetually unresolved dialectic between Kubrick and Spielberg starts to yield a complicated kind of sense -- an ambiguity where the bleakest pessimism and the most ecstatic kind of feel-good enchantment swiftly alternate and even occasionally blend, not to mention a far more enriching experience, however troubling and unresolved. As a profound meditation on the difference between what's human and what isn't, it also constitutes one of the best allegories about cinema that I know. Excerpt from Jonathan Rosenbaum at Film Salon located HEREImage : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. Firstly, this is the Japanese Warner disc, but aside form packaging it should be the exact same contents (transfer, extras) as sold throughout the world. The menus are in English but there are multiple foreign language subtitle and DUB options.
This is a good transfer on Blu-ray from Warner. It is dual-layered, 1080P with a decent bitrate. The manner it was shot the film was never meant to look pristine and glossy. There is some texture and film-like heaviness to the canvass - that is very consistent and pleasing. The visually impressive effect sequences look quite excellent in high-def. Much more immersive than on DVD. Colors are brighter and truer than SD could relate and contrast exhibits healthy black levels. Most of the film is intentionally dark and sterile with frequent flaring bright lights and saturations that the new format handles capably. This Blu-ray exports the films effects quite seamlessly. It produced a solid presentation for me - I don't know that it could look much better. While the entire film might not be considered demo material for your home theater - there are sequences that remain quite entrancing and dream-like.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :There are plenty of foreign language DUBs but only the original English is in lossless with a strong DTS-HD Master 5.1 ES at 3917 kbps. This is where the film can really be impacting despite not being aggressive. John William's score is clean and uplifting with a nice crispness that wasn't present in the DVD version. The soundstage is adeptly replicated and without any notable flaws. It really does sound good. There are optional subtitles and m y Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.
Extras : The supplements appear to duplicate the 2002 2-disc DVD set with expanded categories of 'Behind the Story' and 'A. I. Archives' with the former focusing on many production attributes with sub-divided featurettes on many categories eventually concluding with a closing statement by Steven Spielberg on 'Our Responsibility to A. I.' Under the 'Archives' we get trailers, storyboards, photographs, galleries etc. All in all, aside from an absent commentary, this is totally stacked with information about the film and it is well worth indulging in. Those keen to investigate should be very satisfied with the content selection.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze December 27th, 2010
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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.
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