Blu-ray Movie Reviews

A childhood illness gave George (Matt Damon) a unique ability to communicate with the deceased and the ability to lead a normal life vanished in the process. A French journalist Marie (Cecile de France) barely survives a horrific tsunami and for a brief moment enters the afterlife and begins to ask questions. Then there's young Marcus (Frankie and George McLaren), who loses his twin brother in an accident and he wonders where he's gone and if he can ever speak to him again. At some point, these three lives will intersect and set their lives on a better path.

Two time Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood has brought us some outstanding films but his last two, Invictus and now Hereafter, haven't measured up to his better projects. While I wouldn't say this is a bad film by any stretch, but it's pacing is too slow and runs about 20 minutes too long. Overall I thought the topic was interesting and I felt for each of the characters.

Video Highlights

• AVC/1080p encode on a BD-50 disc
• Outstanding CGI
• Deep blacks
• Muted color palette, especially in London scenes
• Accurate flesh tones

Audio Highlights

• DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
• Solid dynamics
• Intelligible dialog
• Front-loaded track

The AVC encode really shines here with excellent detail, deep blacks, and some outstanding CGI during the tsunami. The audio track is nothing special with only the occasional use of the surround speakers, but the dialog is always intelligible and I liked the simplistic score.

Bonus Materials

• Step into Hereafter interactive Bonus view
• Nine Focus Points
• The Eastwood Factor: Extended Version documentary
• DVD and Digital Copy

The film starts with the most realistic tsunami I've ever seen in the movies, which after the events in Japan left an unsettled feeling in my stomach. Overall, I liked the ending a lot and felt for each of the characters, but this isn't one of Eastwood's better pictures and is best suited for a rental.

Release Date: March 15, 2011
Studio: Warner

Movie: 6/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 8/10

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