Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Ray (Blu-ray)

David Vaughn  |  Feb 6, 2011

A remarkable story about one of America's great entertainers, Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx). From his humble beginnings in the South through his meteoric rise to the top of the American music charts, Charles overcame many obstacles to become a music icon.

I'd always had been a fan of Charles' music throughout the years, but it wasn't until I saw this biopic in 2004 that I realized how high a mountain he had climbed to become a success. He never wanted any special treatment because of his blindness, but his stubbornness led him to drug addiction like so many other entertainers.

Video Highlights

  • AVC/1080p encode on a BD-50 disc
  • Vivid primary colors
  • Excellent depth and detail
  • Inky blacks

Audio Highlights

  • DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
  • Superlative sound design
  • Hefty midrange
  • Solid dynamics
  • Engaging score

This is one of the last holdout HD DVD exclusive titles from Universal and the A/V quality was definitely worth the wait. The video encode is outstanding in virtually every way and the DTS-HD MA soundtrack is just as impressive.

Bonus Materials br>

  • Audio Commentary
  • PIP Scene Companion
  • Text-based U-Control featurette on "The Music of Ray"
  • Uncut Music Performances
  • Four behind-the-scenes featurettes
  • Deleted Scenes
  • BD-Live Enabled

There are some disturbing aspects of Charles' life that are portrayed in the movie, but it gives the audience a better understanding of the iconic entertainer. The A/V presentation is outstanding and is definitely worth an upgrade from the DVD. Recommended for fans.

Release Date: February 1, 2011
Studio: Universal

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

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS40 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Integra DTC-80.2 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Belkin PVA-PF60 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

X