Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Fleeing from a pack of bullies, Bastion (Barret Oliver) finds himself in a used bookstore where he becomes enthralled with a mysterious book, He ends up stealing it the unsuspecting clerk and takes refuge in his school attic. Drawn into a timeless and wondrous world of fantastic beings he discovers his imagination and belief can save it from destruction.

Co-writer/director Wolfgang Peterson adapts the book by Michael Ende with middling results. My biggest issue is the inconsistent tone which vacillates between children's fantasy and violence not fit for young children. Furthermore, the conclusion is unsatisfying and a lazy.

Video Highlights

• VC-1/1080p encode on a BD-25 disc
• Excellent color saturation
• Adequate black level
• Filtered cinematography with a lot of hazy edges
• Occasional print damage

Audio Highlights

• DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
• Front-heavy track
• Surround speakers occasionally come to life, but are mostly relegated to ambient noise
• Score shows impressive dynamic range considering its age

Bonus Materials

• None

This film has a cult-like following, so if you're one of those who love it, you'll be please with the presentation. The lack of any supplements is puzzling though. Recommended for fans.

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Release Date: March 2, 2010
Studio: Warner

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

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Panamax M5400PM 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