Attack the Block (Blu-ray) (2011)

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General		Extras
Category	Sci-Fi Action	Featurette-Making Of-Behind the Block (58.53)
Rating
Year Of Production	2011
Running Time	87:44
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Joe Cornish
Studio Distributor	Icon Entertainment	Starring	John Boyega Jodie Whittaker Alex Esmail Franz Drameh Leeon Jones Simon Howard Luke Treadaway Jumayn Hunter Danielle Vitalis
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Steven Price

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.40:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	2.40:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English Descriptive Audio	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

Attack the Block from British director Joe Cornish has been promoted as "Shaun of the Dead with aliens". That is perhaps no surprise for the film features the production team behind that rom-zom-com cult hit including director Edgar Wright and has, in a supporting role, Shaun star Nick Frost. There are other connections too. The film shares an English setting with all that it entails and combines funny moments with gore.

However, whilst Shaun featured as its protagonist the very funny Simon Pegg. Attack the Block is altogether a more serious affair leaning heavily on the action and survival horror genres. That is no criticism. The film manages to pack a lot of excitement and thrills into its short running time.

Coming home to her Kennington block after a hard day's work nurse Sam (Venus star Jodie Whittaker) is mugged by a group of hoodies , a bunch of very young hoodlums, led by Moses (John Boyega). It is bonfire night and crazy kids are everywhere leading off firecrackers and creating mayhem. A falling object from the sky explodes a car interrupting the mugging. Peering into the wreckage Moses is attacked by a scary little creature.

Determining to "make it pay" Moses and again chase the little alien into a shed and proceed to kill it. When they get tired of displaying it to their friends the gang hit on an idea-maybe the creature is worth something? They take it to the local drug dealer (Nick Frost) and his college educated mate (Luke Treadaway)for advice. Sage like, he suggests that they store the creature in the "weed room" run by the block kingpin Hi-Hatz (Jumayn Hunter). He agrees to let the boys store the creature there and gives Moses and elevation to drug courier.

The boys are excited when they see more objects falling from the sky. This means more little aliens and perhaps more money! Unfortunately for them, the second wave of aliens are not so little. Giant, hulking bear like creatures with enormous fluorescent teeth, it is clear that these aliens won't go down without a fight. Suddenly the hunters become the hunted.

When the block is invaded it is the hoodies who are the last line of defence. Moses and his boys team up, reluctantly, with Sam the nurse to try to, firstly, survive and, secondly, work how to dispose of the nasties!

Attack the Block is short, occasionally funny and occasionally bloody. The boys speak in "block lingo" which will be familiar to anyone who has watched a few episodes of The Catherine Tate Show. The boys play their roles with irrepressible enthusiasm with the more experienced actors providing a stabilizing influence.It makes no pretension at high art but shows that Cornish can direct a feature film with style and aplomb.

Video

Attack the Block was filmed on super 35mm film and shown in the cinemas at a 2.40:1 aspect ratio.

That aspect ratio has been preserved for this Blu-ray release.

The film looks good throughout though it was shot on a very limited budget. Most of the film is at night but there are no problems maintaining the inky darkness. The shadows are deep.

The colours are strong and clear though most of the block is depressingly monotone. The blood looks red!

There are English desriptive subtitles on offer which give a good account of on-screen action.It is worth watching the film with these on at least once to pick up more of the humour.

Video Ratings Summary

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

Audio

Attack the Block features an English DTS Master Audio 5.1 track.

Dialogue is strong throughout however the boys all speak with North London accents and deciphering them can take a while. Aside from accents they have the strongest line in patois since The Harder They Come.I suspect that this may hinder the success of the film in the US.

The surrounds are used, horror movie style, to create tension and the occasional scare. The sub-woofer is used for some of the punchier effects and as bass support for the soundtrack.

Experienced music department man Steven Price wrote the score for the film combining homage material (spooky space sounds) with the modern block attitude. Chemical Brothers worked on the score for Hanna. Now fellow block rockers Basement Jaxx provide some pounding accompaniment for the mayhem. As well as the original music there are a number of "inna city" sounds from reggae to dancehall to hip hop.

There are no technical problems with the sound.

Audio Ratings Summary

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

Behind the Block

There is only one extra included however it is certainly worth a watch.

It is more of an on-set diary than a Making of. There are no formal EPK interviews as such. We go on to set and follow the production shooting schedule from beginning to end. There are plenty of opportunities to hear from the director on set, overjoyed when things go right and disheartened when setbacks hit the filming. There is also plenty of time to interact with the cast, particularly the young guys and girls. The kids explain the detailed audition process and generally chat about each other and the fun they have had making the movie.

    Some disappointment here. The Region A and Region B UK Blu-ray has added features including:

• Three Audio Commentariesaudio commentaries. Writer/Director Joe Cornish and Actors John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Simon Howard, and Leeon Jones; Writer/Director Joe Cornish and Actors Jodie Whittaker, Luke Treadaway, and Nick Frost; with Writer/Director Joe Cornish and Executive Producer Edgar Wright.
• Creature Feature (1080p, 20:09)
• Meet the Gang (1080p, 4:08)
• Unfilmed Action (1080p, 4:59)
• That's a Rap (1080p, 2:23)

The Region 1 also includes the Making of.

A pity.

Attack the Block is the perfect Friday night film with the right blend of thrills, scares and humour. It puts Joe Cornish up there as a genuine filmmaker and not an Edgar Wright wanna-be.

The film looks and sounds very good on Blu-ray and the lone extra is a great complement to the film. Pity the aliens ate the other extras on the journey to our Region.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall