***SYNOPSIS***
It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act.
But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.
***VIDEO QUALITY***
Dark Knight Rises arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio
2.40:1 and 1.78:1 - The presentation switches between
IMAX scenes and the regular aspect ratio. IMAX scenes are in a word breathtaking and features a few jaw dropping moments. When it switches the transfer is still one of the best of the year. Detail is striking with textures, fabrics and close-ups especially during IMAX scenes. Colors are warm and inviting. Fleshtones appeared natural despite a few moments of orange hues that appear to be more result of a particular scenes lighting.
Black levels were deep and inky. Sometimes a little too deep to the point of crushing any shadow detail. Whites were crisp in the cold Gotham winter. There were no signs of noise, banding or compression artifacts. For anyone that had a problem with the HD presentation of
The Dark Knight you will be pleasantly surprised by the jump in quality
Rises brings. For everyone else this is quite simply one of the elite Blu-ray transfers to date with several reference scenes to demo.
9.5/10
***AUDIO QUALITY***
Audio is provided by a rafter rattling
DTS -HD Master Audio 5.1 track. - This is without a doubt going to be a go to disc to show off what a good system and subs can do. Almost the entire movie surrounds are engaged with superb detail and clarity. It is not often that I feel fully transported into the movie I'm reviewing and this was 164 minutes of aural bliss. Dialogue is crisp and clean, with Banes voice mixed higher than anything else when he speaks. His deep voice fills the listening space with authority and menace. It is complemented by the thrilling LFE of this release.
Bass was bone crunching and had me checking my shelves a couple times to make sure no collectible statues and busts were in danger of being shaken off the shelf. There is a moment when the "Bat" flying vehicle roars from what feels 3 city blocks away to the front of the soundstage and the bass made it feel like my floor was going to cave in and drop me to the basement. I know for a fact this will be a demo scene for years to come. The entire movies features what was some of the tightest and deepest bass ever exhibited in my listening room. Hans Zimmer and his masterful score are given top status in the mix and drives the action forward with power and quieter moments, grace. Best of the best!
10/10
***SPECIAL FEATURES***
“THE BATMOBILE” DOCUMENTARY: - (58min) - The best special feature on the disc is a treat for long time fans as this looks back to all incarnations of Batman and his favorite mode of transport. Don't want to spoil some of the cooler moments. A definite must watch.
ENDING THE KNIGHT:
PRODUCTION - (67min35sec)
* The Prologue: High-Altitude Hijacking
* Return to the Batcave
* Beneath Gotham
* The Bat
* Batman vs Bane
* Armory Accepted
* Gameday Destruction
* Demolishing a City Street
* The Pit
* The Chant
* The War on Wall Street
* Race to the Reactor
CHARACTERS - (27min52sec)
* The Journey of Bruce Wayne
* Gotham's Reckoning
* A Girls Gotta Eat
REFLECTIONS - (15min)
* Shadows & Light in Large Format
* The End of A Legend
TRAILERS
Art Galleries
UltraViolet Digital Copy
