Into the Blue Blu-ray delivers great video and audio in this fan-pleasing Blu-ray release
When two sexy young
divers who dream of finding hidden treasure take some friends on an extreme sport adventure, the last thing they expect to see below the
shark-infested waters is a legendary pirate ship rumored to contain millions of dollars in gold.
But their incredible good fortune is short-lived, as a ruthless gang of deadly criminals gets word
of what they have uncovered. The discovery of a lifetime could just cost the treasure hunters
their lives, in the exciting new thriller from the director of Blue Crush.
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.
Underwater breath holding, world record-setter.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
