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Reviews

Blu-ray Review: Magic Mike
Blu-ray HD Audio

Blu-ray Review: Magic Mike

Magic Mike arrives on Blu-ray with a Warner 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer shot on Red Epic cameras, faithfully reproducing Steven Soderbergh's deliberately skewed, near-monochromatic color palette with well-resolved textures and crisp edges. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is the disc's standout, delivering pulsing low-end, aggressive rear-channel support, and eerily realistic directionality during the club sequences. Viewers seeking a technically capable Blu-ray with strong audio performance will find this release rewarding, even if the intentionally muted video presentation limits outright demo-disc appeal.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: The Campaign
Blu-ray HD Audio

Blu-ray Review: The Campaign

The Campaign arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer delivering clean edge definition, deep black levels, and fine detail resolution down to individual facial textures. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track handles the front-heavy mix competently, with solid LFE output and clear dialogue, though immersive rear-channel activity is limited to crowd-heavy scenes. Buyers seeking a raucous R-rated comedy with reliable A/V performance will find this disc a worthwhile pickup, even if the film itself ranks as mid-tier in the genre.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: This is 40
Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: This is 40

Universal's Blu-ray release of 'This Is 40' delivers a strong 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer with warm colors, clean edge definition, and an intact grain structure free of serious artifacting or banding. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is front-heavy with restrained LFE output and limited rear-channel activity, though dialogue clarity and live-performance music reproduction are highlights. Viewers who appreciate Judd Apatow's comedic style will find the disc's technical presentation a worthy complement to the film's relatable domestic humor.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Wreck-It Ralph
Blu-ray Home Theater HD Audio

Blu-ray Review: Wreck-It Ralph

Wreck-It Ralph arrives on Blu-ray with a reference-quality 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer delivering eye-popping color accuracy, pristine edge detail free from ringing or aliasing, and zero macro-blocking or banding artifacts. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track matches that standard with aggressive rear-channel activity, deep LFE engagement during first-person shooter sequences, and precise cross-channel panning. Together, these technical strengths make this Disney animated release a strong candidate for a home theater showcase disc.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Perks of Being a Wallflower
Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1, but despite its Super 35 origins, the image skews surprisingly soft and murky with wildly inconsistent contrast that undermines detail in dimly lit scenes. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless track performs adequately, with discrete channelization shining in crowd sequences though the mix remains largely front-heavy throughout. Buyers should temper video expectations while the strong ensemble performances from Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, and Emma Watson make this a worthwhile addition to any collection.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
SmartStick Makes "Any" TV Smart
Streaming HD Smart TVs

SmartStick Makes "Any" TV Smart

The Favi Entertainment SmartStick is a $49.99 Android 4.0 HDMI dongle featuring an ARM Cortex-A9 at 1.0 GHz, 1GB DDR3 RAM, and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, designed to add Netflix, YouTube, browsing, and email to existing displays. Testing revealed persistent Wi-Fi instability even on a 100Mbps fiber connection clocking 57Mbps at the router, a non-functional remote, and output limited to 720p and 1080p, excluding the estimated 124 million US TVs lacking HDMI or requiring 480i/1080i signals. Buyers should verify HDMI and resolution compatibility with their specific TV before purchasing, and confirm a flexible return policy given the erratic real-world performance documented here.

Rodolfo La Maestra •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Death Race 3
Home Theater Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: Death Race 3

Death Race 3: Inferno arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that captures the hyper-glossed digital video aesthetic of the Kalahari Desert shoot, delivering crisp fine detail and clean edges despite sun-bleached colors and minor shimmering from stunt cameras. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track compensates with punchy LFE output, neck-snapping directional effects, and clear dialogue even amid dense action layers. The technical presentation outperforms the film itself, which reviewers found to be a poorly acted, low-budget direct-to-video release unworthy of its runtime.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Flight
Blu-ray Home Theater HD Audio

Blu-ray Review: Flight

Paramount's Blu-ray release of Robert Zemeckis' Flight delivers a reference-quality 1080p transfer with consistently sharp detail across facial textures, fine surface scuffs, and liquor bottle labels, paired with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that renders the crash sequence with powerful, controlled bass and convincing cabin atmospherics. Dialogue remains clean and centered while music floats naturally across the stage without artificial low-end padding. Viewers seeking a technically impressive disc alongside Denzel Washington's career-best portrayal of an alcoholic pilot will find this release rewarding on both fronts.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Guns, Girls and Gambling
Blu-ray HD Audio

Blu-ray Review: Guns, Girls and Gambling

Universal's Blu-ray release of Guns Girls and Gambling delivers a 1080p/VC-1 video transfer with vivid colors, deep blacks, and crisp detail that stands as the disc's strongest asset. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track handles dialogue and gunfire competently but suffers from flat sound design, underutilized directionality, and LFE that lacks finesse. Viewers seeking a technically polished disc will find adequate but unremarkable A/V performance wrapped around a formulaic action-comedy that offers little beyond its cast.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: The Awakening
Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: The Awakening

The Awakening arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer shot on 35mm that suffers from erratic noise, though contrast, black levels, and edge definition remain solid throughout. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is a standout, delivering precise LFE impact, atmospheric rear-channel activity, and consistently intelligible dialogue from whisper to scream. Viewers who prioritize audio immersion and story-driven period mystery over conventional horror scares will find this 1921-set psychological thriller a rewarding watch.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Hotel Transylvania
Home Theater Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: Hotel Transylvania

Hotel Transylvania arrives on Blu-ray with a reference-quality 1080p/1.85:1 transfer that renders the film's digital animation with striking detail, from Murray the Mummy's worn bandages to subtle castle textures. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers constant surround envelopment, tight low-end support, and exceptional clarity during the film's rock-and-pop musical numbers in chapters seven and twelve. Families looking for a reliable home theater showcase disc will find both the video and audio presentations consistently impressive across the film's runtime.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Looper
Blu-ray Home Theater HD Audio

Blu-ray Review: Looper

Sony's Blu-ray release of Looper delivers a reference-quality 1080p transfer with consistent film-like grain, accurate color reproduction across the full spectrum, and no perceptible banding or edge enhancement artifacts. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack stands out for its aggressive dynamic range, precise surround placement, and strikingly realistic gunfire reproduction. Viewers seeking a technically accomplished Blu-ray with strong A/V performance alongside a well-crafted sci-fi thriller will find this release a compelling addition to any collection.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: The Bourne Legacy
Home Theater Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: The Bourne Legacy

The Bourne Legacy arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that delivers crisp detail, clean edges, and intact grain, though black levels occasionally appear muted due to the source photography. The standout technical achievement is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, which delivers weighty LFE output and a fully active sound field across all channels. Fans of the franchise will find the audio presentation alone justifies the upgrade, even if the film itself falls short of the original trilogy.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Frankenweenie
Home Theater Blu-ray HD Audio

Blu-ray Review: Frankenweenie

Tim Burton's stop-motion animated Frankenweenie arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that delivers flawless detail, vibrant contrast, and rich blacks well-suited to its black-and-white photography. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track complements the visuals with robust rear-channel activity, smooth cross-channel pans, and consistently clear dialogue. The technical presentation is reference-quality, though the film itself is slow-paced for much of its runtime, making this a stronger showcase disc than a compelling movie-night recommendation.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews
Blu-ray Review: For a Good Time, Call...
Blu-ray HD Audio

Blu-ray Review: For a Good Time, Call...

The Blu-ray release of 'For a Good Time, Call...' arrives with a clean 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer delivering well-saturated skintones, deep blacks, and near-perfect edge definition, though the presentation reflects the film's modest cinematography rather than pushing technical boundaries. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track keeps dialogue clearly prioritized in a front-heavy mix while rear channels handle ambient city sounds and apartment bleed-through with convincing spatial depth. Viewers comfortable with adult-themed comedy will find this a surprisingly entertaining and technically competent disc worth adding to their collection.

Ryan Gibbs •
Reviews