... |
It probably won't be until the human race evolves
into asexual beings that we will we know what women really want. Do Women know what
they really want? I mean they always give the impression they're fine, nothing is
wrong, but then can completely turn around and say what they mean and feel. It's a
woman's perogative to change her mind afterall? right? oh boy! :)
When Nick (Mel Gibson), a sexist womanising advertising executive has a rather bizarre
accident while wearing a few "feminine" products he undergoes a life altering
experience that enables him to hear the inner thoughts of anyone or anything female.
His boss Dan (Alan Alda) just screwed him over for promotion by hiring hotshot ad exec
Darcy (Helen Hunt) and Nick decided to use his new-found power to its limit by listening
in on Darcy's thoughts and ideas and use them against her to bring her down!!
All goes well and Nick is on the up, while Darcy is on the down. Problem is Nick
gets to know the real Darcy and is pretty soon conflicted.
To make matters worse, poor 'ol womanising Nick discovers to his horror that all the women
who cross his path hate him, as so does his somewhat estranged teenage daughter Alex
(Ashley Johnson)
So how does this transfer hold up?
...  |
VIDEO
Well ya know, for such a new, and big budget movie I was expecting a first rate transfer.
This Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer is nice, but i've seen better.
Sharpness ranges from spot on to just a wee bit soft, and image depth is too flat
overall. The Level is black is also a bit low for the most part and you lose some
shadow detail most notibly in people's clothing (the blacks sink into each other and as a
result you miss out on that nice fine layering)
Colour saturation is also a little overdone, with fleshtones taking on a pinky/orange look
(i understand this transfer was sourced from an interpostive, which do tend to make things
a little pinker than normal, but that's the nature of the beast :).
This is still a very watchable DVD, but i was kinda
hoping for something better (and it does have it's shining moments).
Spread over 2 layers of an RSDL DVD, the layer change
occurs at the most unfortunate of spots from chapter 14 to 15, smack bang in the middle of
Frank singing...BLASPHEMY!!!!! :)!
It's also to do with the song juuuuust crossing over into the next scene, so from a Visual
POV, the layer change is very good, just not aurally :)
... |
AUDIO
The Audio certainly won't let you down. The default Dolby Digital 5.1 mix
is surprisingly active for what is at the end of the day another romantic comedy.
Dialogue is always intellegable, even if on occasions a little ADR sounding, but musically
it's very very much alive and for once an Alan Silvestri score which didn't sound like
another homage to Predator :)
The surrounds get a nice workout, both musically and sound FX wise. (love the thunder and
rain stop. on a trival note, was it me or did that clap of thunder during the movie
sound veeeery much like the thunder used over the Icon Pictures trailer ..hmmmmmm
Also included for your listening pleasure is a Dolby 2.0 mix. it's
good, but not as dynamic or as detailed as it's bigger and better 5.1 brother.
.. |
EXTRAS
A nice compliment indeed.
The animated menus are great, some snazzy little spinning icons can be found on the
Special Features menu and there is also sound bits from the movie (in Dolby 5.1, with
surrounds in mono)
- Audio Commentary - Director Nancy Meyer and Production Designer Jon
Hutman lend their voices. Nancy does 95% of the talking and while not a life
altering comm track was worth a listen to just to find out a few things about the usuage
of the "inner voices"
- A look Inside - 16 minute featurette which you DO NOT want to watch
before seeing the film for the first time as it's almost a step by step descripotion of
the film plot! 4x3 DD2.0
- The making of..... the usual fluff. 4x3 DD2.0
- Theatrical Trailers (2) Anamorphic Widescreen DD2.0
- Cast and Crew Bios
- Showtime Interview with Andrew Warne. a 5 minute look at with
interviews, etc. (a region 4 exclusive...nice) 4x3 DD2.0
- Dolby Rain Trailer
- English Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired
This film had box office smash hit written all over it well
before it's release, and i'm sure the DVD will be the same. It's a nice little
package overall.
| PICTURE
QUALITY |
8/10 lacking a bit on fine
detail |
SOUND
- Quality
- 5.1 WOW Factor |
9/10 clean and clear
7/10 better than expected
|
| EXTRAS |
7/10 a decent load of
goodies |
Review Equipment
TV: Pioneer SD-T50W1 (16:9 RPTV)
DVD: Pioneer DV717 (using RGB outputs)
Receiver : Denon AVC-A1SE THX Ultra (Dolby Surround EX, DTS-ES Discrete)
Speakers:-
Mains: Quadral Amun
Centre: B&W CDMC-SE
Surrounds Left/Right: B&W 602 (Direct
Radiating)
Surrounds Back : M&K SS500 (THX Diplole)
Subby: M&K V125
- Reviewed 13th June 2001
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