Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Black Hawk Down (Sony). Finally, it all comes together on one high-def disc: incredibly detailed 1080p images and stunningly clear, uncompressed PCM 5.1-channel surround sound. A sea of fine lines in Sam Shepard's face adds authenticity to his portrayal of the commander of the mission, and his skin tones look utterly natural. So does all of the blood, standing out starkly against the rest of the yellow/green-tinted elements of the picture. There's some amazingly striking cinematography in Ridley Scott's 2001 film - particularly during the initial raid by the helicopters - and it all looks exceedingly crisp.

The sound is busy and immersive. Loud African and American music engulfs you or bounces back and forth between channels. And there are lots of convincing Black Hawk fly-bys. Elsewhere, the floor shakes with all the heavy gunfire, and as bass bombards you from every side, it's one intense, almost frightening experience.

The superior extras on this 50-GB dual-layer disc appeared on the three-disc Deluxe Edition DVD. But now you have the option of watching the featurettes inserted automatically into the movie.

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