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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Lockout (Blu-ray) (2012)

Lockout (Blu-ray) (2012)

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Released 4-Jan-2013

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Sci-Fi Action Main Menu Audio & Animation
Interviews-Cast & Crew
Featurette-Making Of
Featurette-Behind The Scenes
Deleted Scenes
Rating Rated MA
Year Of Production 2012
Running Time 94:59
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Ads Then Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By James Mather
Stephen St. Leger
Studio
Distributor
Europa Corp.
Roadshow Home Entertainment
Starring Guy Pearce
Maggie Grace
Vincent Regan
Joseph Gilgun
Lennie James
Peter Stormare
Case Standard Blu-ray
RPI ? Music Alexandre Azaria


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 1080p
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles English for the Hearing Impaired Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    This is a fun and exciting action film with an idea and first cut story by Luc Besson. We previously reviewed the DVD version here. I tend to agree with Ray's sentiments about this film, it is a lot of fun, quite exciting and an entertaining diversion without being a classic film. As he mentions it is quite derivative of other films including Die Hard and Escape from New York just set in space. I usually enjoy Luc Besson things as he combines a great sense of fun with action. Here he collaborated with Stephen St Leger & James Mather (Known as Saint & Mather) to round out the screenplay and then they took over helming the film. This is their first feature as co-directors after a short film and you can certainly see a future for them in the industry.

    Guy Pearce plays the wise-cracking and acerbic lead character Snow, an ex-CIA operative who is accused of conspiring against the US and killing a fellow agent. He is offered the opportunity to redeem himself by taking on a mission to rescue the president's daughter, Emilie Warnock (Maggie Grace) who is being held hostage on MS One, a prison in space for Earth's most dangerous criminals. During a humanitarian visit some of the prisoners escape their stasis and take over the prison, releasing all the other prisoners. They are led by Alex (Vincent Regan) and his younger, crazier brother Hydell (Joe Gilgun). This simple and quite reminiscent setup lays the foundation for one-liners and action aplenty as Snow takes on the prisoners, the president's daughter and the CIA.

    Pearce is fantastic and the rest of the cast do their jobs quite well. The action is well devised and exciting and the one-liners funny. Not a film to think about too much, just go with it and there is much fun to be had.

    Recommended.

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Transfer Quality

Video

    The video quality is very good without quite being the best of Blu-ray and a significant step-up from the DVD.

    The feature is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio.It is 1080p HD encoded using the AVC codec.

    The picture was very clear and sharp throughout. Shadow detail was very good throughout.

    The colour is excellent with no issues to report, although it is restricted by the grey/blue colour scheme and filter. Blacks are nice and deep.

    There are no obvious artefacts.

    There are subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired which were clear and easy to read.

    


Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio quality is excellent, providing a loud and exciting sound experience.

    This disc contains an English soundtrack in DTS HD-MA 5.1 plus an English Audio Descriptive Service track.

    Dialogue was clear and easy to understand throughout.

    The score by Alexandre Azaria does everything required for this style of film without being a complete stand out.

    The surround speakers provided lots of directional effects especially during the nearly constant action sequences plus provided a sound stage for the score.

    The subwoofer worked hard during the action sequences supporting explosions, gunfire and more, plus adding bass to the music.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

    A decent selection of extras are included. The video on all the extras includes significant motion blur despite being HD.

Menu

    The menu included music from the film and scenes.

Cast & Crew Interviews (31:05)

    The same cast & crew interviews included on the Blu-ray which includes Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Joe Gilgun & Stephen St Leger along with some interview outtakes from Joe Gilgun. Worth a look.

MS One Action (4:55)

    Featurette focused on the planning and execution of the action sequences including pre-vis and cast interviews. Pretty light.

MS One Construction (8:02)

     This is basically behind the scenes footage set to music rather than a featurette as such. Shows design and construction of the sets and props.

Deleted Scenes (2:39)

    A couple of short scenes from the conclusion of the film which are not essential but do include some good one-liners from Snow.

Digital Copy

    A separate disc includes a digital copy of the film.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    The extras are completely different on the Region A release but ours seem more comprehensive. There are two featurettes on the US version, one a making of and the other focused on production design. The UK Region B is the same as ours but adds one more featurette about a specific sequence which is in French and subtitled. A win to Region B UK but probably not an essential import.

Summary

    A fun and exciting action film set on a prison in space.

    The video quality is excellent.

    The audio quality is very good.

    The extras are decent.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Daniel Bruce (Do you need a bio break?)
Monday, January 28, 2013
Review Equipment
DVDSONY BDP-S760 Blu-ray, using HDMI output
DisplaySharp LC52LE820X Quattron 52" Full HD LED-LCD TV . Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p.
Audio DecoderBuilt into amplifier. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum.
AmplificationMarantz SR5005
SpeakersMonitor Audio Bronze 2 (Front), Bronze Centre & Bronze FX (Rears) + Sony SAW2500M Subwoofer

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