Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Shutter Island (Blu-ray)

David Vaughn  |  Jun 10, 2010

When two U.S. marshals (Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) investigate a mysterious disappearance of an inmate from a hospital for the criminally insane, the pair uncover an intricate web of deception where nothing may be as it seems. As the mystery unravels, Teddy (DiCaprio) uncovers some shocking truths about the island that will change his life forever.

This is the best film I've seen in 2010 and DiCaprio delivers one of his finest performances. He seems to do his best work under Martin Scoresese and the Oscar-winning director weaves an intriguing and engaging tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Pay particular attention to every minor detail throughout the film and you'll be rewarded at the thrilling conclusion.

Video Highlights

  • AVC/1080p encodes on a BD-50 disc
  • Picture-perfect contrast
  • Amazing fine detail
  • Lifelike color
  • Solid black levels

Audio Highlights

  • DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
  • Phenomenal score from Robbie Robertson
  • Dialog intelligibility is suspect in a few scenes
  • Atmospheric effects encompass the room
  • First-rate frequency response

Other than an occasional scene or two, the video encode is fantastic with plenty of depth and detail. The audio track is more inconsistent than I would expect from a new release but there are moments where it will blow you away.

Bonus Materials

  • Behind the Shutters (HD)
  • Into the Lighthouse (HD)

Except for the senseless gore, I loved virtually every minute of this film. The intricate story begs for repeat viewings and the fabulous video encode will make a second trip well worth the time investment. Highly recommended.

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Release Date: June 8, 2010
Studio: Paramount

Movie: 9/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 8/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Panamax M5400PM power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics

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