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Love Actually: 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review

By Rachel Cericola

The Film

It's the 10th anniversary for Richard Curtis' romantic comedy, Love Actually. Between that and Christmas coming up, it would seem like perfect timing for a brand new Blu-ray. Despite the last release being only four years old, The Love Actually: 10th Anniversary Edition is ready to be injected into your regular holiday rotation.

Love Actually is a romantic comedy, but it's also considered to be a Christmas movie -- a good one. The great thing about it is that even if you don't like certain characters in the movie, there are like 50 others. In fact, it would take forever to dissect all of the characters and their respective situations. And franky, I just can't do it as well as Curtis does. He actually makes this all-star extravaganza work. After all, he does have Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney and countless others doing the work for him.

Sure, it's got love, marriage, a Christmas backdrop and even a bit of comedy (thanks, Bill Nighy!). What more do you need, ya Grinch? Just know that this isn't your typical all-star crapfest. Even if you aren't a rom-com fan, most likely, you're a fan of someone in this film. However you get hooked, get ready to be smitten. Love Actually is a really entertaining film.

Want to feel even more love? Check out Rachel Cericola's 2009 Blu-ray review of Love Actually.

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Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon are part of a huge cast in Richard Curtis' "Love Actually." Photo: © 2003 Universal Pictures.

The Picture

Without a doubt, the Love Actually: 10th Anniversary Edition looks splendid. Universal says that it has an all-new digital restoration, but you'd probably need an eagle eye to notice it. Colors are a bit brighter and the details are a little sharper -- enough for me to bump the image's score up a half of a point, anyway. It has a lot of actors and scenery sprinkled throughout and all of those varying skintones and backdrops look really nice in this 2.35:1 transfer. This is probably the best that you'll ever see Love Actually. That said, unless you're a super-fan, an AV perfectionist or both, this new version probably isn't worth an upgrade over the 2009 Blu-ray.

The Sound

The image received a little bump, but Universal has opted to give this 10th anniversary edition the exact same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix -- and that's just fine. It's not exactly the type of movie that would benefit from any type of upgrade, since it's really all about the dialogue and the pop-filled soundtrack.

The Extras

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If you loved all of the extras included with the last Blu-ray (I did), you're going to love these -- and be sort of pissed at the same time. Despite this being a "10th Anniversary Edition," Universal is not including anything new here. Instead, they've put the Blu-ray inside a giftable box with a chinzy Christmas ornament with the movie's logo.

Final Thoughts

Love Actually is a really good rom-com that's worthy of repeat viewing. Writer/director Richard Curtis manages to do something that all-star films like Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve just couldn't do. He actually put that extra-large talent pool to good use instead of using it to crap up the movie. That said, while it's certainly a Christmas favorite, the Love Actually: 10th Anniversay Edition isn't going to put you in a very giving mood -- at least not enough to give over another $20 for this upgrade. The bump in AV is barely noticeable and the lack of new extras will certainly bring out the Scrooge in most fans.

Product Details

  • Actors: Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Martine McCutcheon, Rowan Atkinson
  • Director: Richard Curtis
  • Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), DTS 5.1 (French, Spanish)
  • Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Rating: R
  • Studio: Universal
  • Blu-ray Disc Release Date: October 15, 2013
  • Run Time: 135 minutes
  • List Price: $19.98
  • Extras:
    • Feature Commentary with Director Richard Curtis and Actors Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy and Thomas Sangster
    • Deleted Scenes with Introductions by Richard Curtis
    • The Music of Love Actually with Introductions by Richard Curtis
    • The Storytellers
    • Kelly Clarkson "The Trouble with Love Is" Music Video
    • Billy Mack "Christmas is All Around" Music Video
    • Standard-Def DVD
    • Digital Copy
    • UltraViolet Digital Copy
    • Love Actually Christmas Ornament

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View all articles by Rachel Cericola
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