Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

In a depressed, near future, Americans are entertained by a Running Man-styled game that pits prisoners against prisoners in a deadly car race. It's not part of this fall's Fox lineup; it's Death Race, a remake of Roger Corman's 1975 B-movie classic.

However, this remake manages to drag in a higher caliber of convict, played by The Transporter himself, Jason Statham. He's Jensen Ames, an ex-race car driver who gets framed for his own wife's murder so that he can take on the identity of Frankenstein, the game's most popular contestant.

Statham has basically become the king of this high-adrenaline ring, so it's no surprise that he's kicking ass without needing the names. However, adding Bourne regular Joan Allen as the warden baddie and Ian McShane (Deadwood) as the philosophical prison lifer makes this guilty pleasure seem a lot less guilty.



The Picture

As much as my brain doesn't want to admit it, this is the type of movie that makes Blu-ray so great. The film in general is a bit dark, but the 2.35:1 transfer makes the action pop -- just like a few of the heads on-screen. Of course, don't expect a lot of bright colors. After all, this is prison. It's gritty, it's gross, it's cold, and it looks awesome. Despite the less-than-stellar storyline, this is one you might want to keep on hand just to show off your system.

The Sound

Right out of the gate this 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix puts your sound system to the test, with bullets whizzing, cars crashing, and heads crunching. The film has a lot going on, and the sound barely gives you a minute to breathe. Expect a non-stop barrage of revving engines, napalm spraying and blood splattering. The track captures every juicy detail, down to the twinkling of bullet casings. It's also loud -- like a metal video without the Spandex and Flying V guitars.

The Extras

There's plenty to keep your adrenaline pumping once the race is over. Notable extras include a short that dissects the stunts, which is basically the entire movie. There's also plenty of opportunity to sound off about the film, via BD-Live. That includes a Movie Commentary feature, which lets you show off your sportscasting skills (or lack thereof) with connected friends. U Control also taps into picture-in-picture and tech specs on each character and their respective vehicles.

Final Thoughts

It's hard to say that Death Race is a good movie. It's more like a good videogame -- except we can't find the controller. Still, any fan of Paul W.S. Anderson should know what they are getting into. This is the same guy that tried to convince audiences that Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil deserved big-screen storylines. Just make sure to check your brain at the door, and enjoy the beauty that Blu-ray has to offer.

Where to Buy:

• Death Race on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, Natalie Martinez
• Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
• Audio/Languages: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish, French DTS 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 2
• Rating: R
• Studio: Universal
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: December 23, 2008
• Run Time: 105 minutes (rated), 11 minutes (unrated)
• List Price: $39.98
• Extras:
  • Unrated and Theatrical Versions
  • Digital Copy
  • Start Your Engines: The Making of Death Race
  • Behind the Wheel: Dissecting the Stunts
  • Commentary with Director Paul W.S. Anderson and Producer Jeremy Bolt
  • U Control: Picture in Picture
  • U Control: Tech Specs
  • Create Your Own Race
  • BD Live: My Movie Commentary
  • BD Live: My Chat
  • BD Live: My Scenes Sharing
  • BD Live: Exclusive Content