Blu-ray Movie Reviews

When 14-year-old Susie Salmon was murdered, she left her unfinished life behind. But now from her place in a strange but beautiful in-between world, she must help her father catch her killer and protect her family before she can finally move on.

I haven’t read this book but I’ve heard it is far more disturbing than this film. Jackson returns to cinema after his exceptional Lord of the Rings trilogy with a more straight forward piece that reminded me a bit visually of What Dreams May Come. The film follows a family in mourning after the loss of their daughter and is shown from the eyes of their daughter as she looks on from the afterlife. While interesting visually, I thought the film was having a hard time finding its tone. I loved the performance by Tucci and the rich visuals, but the rest left me a bit wanting. Interesting, but not as impressive as Jackson’s other works.

The Blu-ray has a very interesting visual style. The image has a very film-like look with a nice grain structure and it isn’t quite as razor sharp as some other new releases. I loved the rich contrast and the afterlife sequences are quite rich in color and visual artistry. The soundtrack also impresses with plenty of dynamic range and a very involving score. The surround soundscape is quite involving and imaging is impressive throughout.

Extras are all included on the second disc and include an exhausting production diary that gives plenty of insight into the production.

While not quite the homerun I was hoping for as a follow up to one of the most successful franchises of all time, this one was still an interesting, yet disturbing look into the darker side of people. The Blu-ray delivers an exceptional presentation making this an easy recommendation for fans of the film and filmmaker.