The Hurt Locker Blu-ray

The Hurt Locker

 (2008)

Action | Drama | War



Find a bomb, defuse it. Find a bomb, defuse it. The job is simple enough, but the room for error is zero. Fail to defuse it, and die. This is the daily work of the United States Army's Bravo Company. They patrol Baghdad during one of the Iraq war's most hellish times, trying each day not to get blown up. James (Jeremy Renner) joins a tightly knit bomb-disposal unit where Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) is already the intelligence expert. James, by contrast, is a real cowboy. Even in the hulking shell of his bomb suit, his swagger is obvious. He has successfully disabled 873 devices, approaching the job with the no-nonsense grit of a Bigelow hero—and the recklessness too. But as the unit faces tougher challenges with each new bomb, the men start to fight James's bullish methods. They have only thirty-eight days left in their rotation. They want to live to see day thirty-nine.

For more details about The Hurt Locker on Blu-ray, see The Hurt Locker Blu-ray Review

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes
Director: Kathryn Bigelow

The Hurt Locker Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


The Hurt Locker's 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer is gritty, messy, and exactly as intended. The harsh visual appearance is reflective of modern-day War pictures, and the abundance of heavy film grain is both natural and welcome considering its purpose in both establishing a tone and reinforcing the film's thematic elements. Earth tones dominate the image; sand, dirt, building façades, and camouflaged uniforms all feature a distinct lack of popping primary colors. Indeed, viewers will be hard-pressed to find more than a hint of bright colors throughout, and this 1080p transfer handles the picture's drab visual tone to perfection. Fine detail is exceptional even through the dense grain structure; low-to-the-ground shots reveal every nuanced spec of sand, dirt, rock, and other random debris that's resultant of a war-torn city. Additionally, intact walls reveal a rough, palpable texturing, and military uniforms and clothing showcase fine stitching in up-close shots. Flesh tones are consistently accurate, and blacks are deep and true. This is the kind of material that's tailor-made for Blu-ray. It's neither flashy nor pretty, but the format's ability to retain the filmmakers' intended visual style, particularly one this grainy and harsh, allows The Hurt Locker to stand as a reference-quality disc for this sort of film.

The Hurt Locker Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


The Hurt Locker features a dazzling reference-standard DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track's most pronounced effects, of course, stem from military equipment and action scenes, but there's also a solid but subtle atmosphere that penetrates quieter scenes that round out a hearty and engaging listen. Still, the action-oriented sound effects prove to be show-stoppers, high-end system-sellers, and limit-pushing sonic marvels that stand among Blu-ray's finest audio offerings. Helicopters aggressively but naturally buzz around the soundstage and whirl with ease from one side to the other; fighter jets, too, scream through the listening area with amazing precision and thunderous but altogether crisp and natural power, the sonic boom lingering wonderfully even after the jet is long since gone from the center of the action. Gunshots sparkle, too, and The Hurt Locker offers a wide variety to enjoy. Singular shots from a Beretta 92 (military designation M9) ring out with startling, room-filling, and precise accuracy. The thump of automatic weapons fire pounds out from every corner of the soundstage on several occasions, and the barrage effectively places the listener in the midst of the firefights that bring with them an edge of terrifying fear into the body and mind with every expended cartridge. Additionally, the rat-a-tat thumping of a vehicle-mounted .50 caliber heavy machine gun delivers an awe-inspiring and chest-rattling thud with every shot. Explosions, too, are accompanied by an impressive low-end impact that sends shockwaves through the listening area. The cacophony of wartime sound effects represent The Hurt Locker's defining sonic signature, and it's all reproduced marvelously on Blu-ray. Rounded out by accurate dialogue reproduction, they just don't come much better than this.

The Hurt Locker Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Blu-ray Sales, Jan. 11-17: Hurt Locker Explodes (Update) - January 21, 2010


• Today on Blu-ray - January 12th - January 12, 2010


• The Hurt Locker Blu-ray in January - November 1, 2009

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