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Into the Blue Blu-ray Review |
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Into the Blue Blu-ray
Sony Pictures | 2005 | 110 mins | Rated PG-13 | Aug 15, 2006
Into the Blue Blu-ray ReviewAverage.Reviewed by Martin Liebman, December 27, 2009 We could spend the rest of our lives waiting for another opportunity like this. Into the Blue is proof-positive that it doesn't take regurgitated TV shows, decades-old comic book superheroes, seamless digital effects, wizards, dragons, or talking CGI animals to promote a movie. No, the old standby, the tried-and-true method of plopping a few 20-somethings with perfect bodies into swimsuits for the camera worked well enough for this 2005 Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious) and Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four) seaside Action/Adventure. Though not exactly a box office champion, Into the Blue nevertheless unburied a few coins and proved a worthwhile endeavor, even if the end product is terribly forgettable but not particularly deplorable and considering the movie is barely anything more than an attempt at updating The Deep for hipper 21st-century audiences.
Divers/lovers Jared (Walker) and Sam (Alba) are living the good life in a Caribbean paradise, holding down odd jobs to make ends meet and enjoying one another's company in Heaven on Earth. When Jared's New York City lawyer friend Bryce (Scott Caan) and his new girlfriend Amanda (Ashley Scott) show up for some R&R and the free usage of a luxury getaway house and boat, they head out into the water for some fun, sun, and amateur diving. On the expedition, Jared discovers both the tell-tale signs of a sunken pirate ship and a recently-downed cargo plane that's packed with cocaine. Though the discovery of the drugs puts a strain on the friends' relationship, Jared and Sam devise a plan to recover the pirate ship's sunken booty before reporting the location of the cocaine to authorities. Meanwhile, Amanda and Bryce concoct a scheme to retrieve some of the cocaine, but the plan sets in motion a series of events that threatens everyone's lives. Certainly comparable to The Deep but not necessarily a straight remake, Into the Blue gets away with a bevy of similarities because tropically-set, underwater-shot, drug-related pictures aren't exactly appearing each and every new release Friday at the local cinema, so for once a plot that's notably homogenous to an older, slightly better movie isn't a hindrance to the enjoyment of the film. Indeed, most viewers are bound to find something to like about Into the Blue, whether it be the scantily-clad characters, the action and danger elements that define the third act, or the stunning underwater photography. It's the latter that's the film's hallmark, and Director John Stockwell (Turistas) and Cinematographer Shane Hurlbut (Terminator Salvation) capture the beauty of the segments with a keen eye for keeping the wordless scenes alive and active; action, adventure, danger, or some combination of the three permeate every underwater expedition, and the photography never falters in capturing both the extensive natural beauty and various tensions of the dive with skilled ease. Decent sense of action/adventure and strong underwater photography aside, Into the Blue is nevertheless a rather mediocre motion picture in every other regard. The stunning photography, bathing-suit bodies, and underwater action often mask the film's otherwise standard and not particularly interesting plot, only the location breaking up the monotony of what would usually be a wholly forgettable 20-something romp into the more dangerous corners of the world. Into the Blue is fine but not exceptional, an average film that's in no way terrible but in no way particularly memorable, either, even considering the general lack of subaqueous films. Make no mistake, this is solid entertainment from top to bottom, a good effort that never embarrasses itself, but ultimately a film that's merely worth checking out but not treasuring. Still, the movie is all most viewers of reasonable expectations could hope for; it's hot and happening, the characters nicely developed, the dialogue witty and natural, the acting passable, and the story not too terribly far-fetched. Into the Blue is the very definition of escapist entertainment, and as generally mindless filmmaking goes, the movie can be labeled as a success. Video  Into the Blue dives into high definition with an all-around good 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The image appears consistently sharp and bright, both on the surface and in the depths of the water. Sun-drenched exteriors prove particularly pleasing to the eye, and the transfer consistently renders the finer details of every frame nicely. Fine detail is more impressive in dry shots; whether wear-and-tear on boats or piers or facial hairs and pores in tight shots of the actors, Sony's Blu-ray transfer of Into the Blue manages to render most everything thrown its way sharply and consistently. There is some lingering softness here and there, but by and large the image retains a noticeable sharpness and without much of an artificial tinge; haloing is present but minimal in some scenes. Color reproduction is the transfer's strength; Into the Blue is host to a myriad of colors, with the bright beautiful ocean blue the main attraction. The sparkling array of colors lends a sense of realism and depth to the transfer that's rather impressive. Underwater shots are expectedly a bit less than exemplary across the entire visual spectrum, but whether the nicely-textured hull of the downed plane or the bright colors of the many fish that swim by in many frames, the underwater scenes deliver a highly impressive array of details and colors throughout. Black levels are never overtly problematic, and flesh tones vary from person to person but seem consistently natural. All told, Into the Blue's transfer is surprisingly solid given its status as one of the earliest Blu-ray releases. Audio Into the Blue offers a sparkling PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack that might not shine with the best of them, but it's nevertheless a treasure trove of sonic goodness. Everything about this track ranges from good to excellent -- panning, spatial effects, atmosphere, bass, and dialogue reproduction. The film's opening scene inside the belly of the soon-to-crash cargo plane engages the aural senses with the booming thunder outside and the rattling belly of the plane inside, the combination foreboding yet realistically pleasing, a strong opening that immerses the listener in the moment and sets a strong tone for the remainder of the picture. However, the underwater sequences seem somewhat less pronounced; while engaging and full, there's not that ultimate sense of submersion into the water. Sound effects and the general din of the water pressure seem reserved, but certainly not disappointing. The track uses the entire soundstage to fine effect in such scenes, but surface sound effects certainly prove more robust throughout. The back channels are utilized throughout, whether for slight ambience or full-on and highly charged sound effects. The track, then, delivers a strong sense of space and depth, opening the entire world for a mostly seamless listening experience. Musical accompaniments, too, are crisp and pleasant, and dialogue never poses any difficulties. Into the Blue's uncompressed soundtrack delivers in all areas. Supplements  Into the Blue surfaces onto Blu-ray with a few extras. First is a commentary track with Director John Stockwell who shares his thoughts on the scope of the production; the process of assembling particular shots, scenes, and sequences; shooting underwater; the work of the cast and Paul Walker's struggles with diving; the performance of the real sharks used in the film; and an additional array of film-related topics. Stockwell never really engages his listeners but he never flubs the track, either. It's a generalized track that, like the movie, is a take-it-or-leave-it offering. Diving Deeper 'Into the Blue' (480p, 20:34) offers a standard-in-construction but somewhat deeper and more enlightening than normal look at the film, with some of Director John Stockwell's comments proving more informative from a thematic perspective than much of what's found in the audio commentary. The piece also focuses heavily on the interesting world of underwater filmmaking in the second half. Also included are 10 deleted scenes (480p, 17:46) with optional director commentary and 1080p trailers for Hitch, Stealth, and xXx. Final words  Into the Blue proves that there's not much to lose by dropping a few Hollywood hotties into the middle of paradise for an underwater adventure where the stakes are high and the clothes are few. Indeed, the movie delivers as-promised, offering plenty of blue water and lots of skin, but not much more. Perhaps the very definition of "average," Into the Blue certainly isn't a classic or even memorable picture, but it's far from scraping even the surface of the vast ocean of cinematic bottom-feeders that offer no redeeming value. Into the Blue is competently made and sufficiently entertaining, but that's about it. A watch-it-and-forget-it sort, the movie just "is," living happily enough with the knowledge that there might be better, but that there's also plenty worse. Sony's Blu-ray release is rather impressive, offering an enjoyable picture and sound presentation that's backed up by a few extras. Worth a rental. 
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