'Transporter 2' -- High-Def Digest review

[PeterB]

Checked out the sequel, due out next week:

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/transporter2.html

Great looking and sounding disc. Devoid of extras, though, which makes the $39.95 list price especially steep. But the movie is a lot of fun. Still, probably a rental for most?

[MovieMinded]

When will Fox learn that $40 is too steep for a release with no features? As a retailer these Fox titles are just sitting our selves with a price of $27.99, so whose paying the full $40 price at Best Buy and other stores? The only title that sells from Fox is X3, which is one of their only titles that sports some extras. Is this a coinsidence?

Fox either has to start stepping up their game and compare their features to that of Warner & Paramount or lower their price. Maybe if Fox supported VC1 they could put some features on their discs other than BD50 releases.

[Tejstar]

The price does seem quite steep, seems like at least a rental though as the mindless action seems right up my street! Good to see that a DTS-HD soundtrack is included too!

[mrfluffrick]

Just one point about an otherwise great review - the memorable villainess in this film is Kate Nauta - Amber Valletta's the somewhat drippy wife married to Matthew Modine.

I held off buying this on SD DVD knowing that an HD format would be round the corner, but I'm not sure that this Blu-Ray release now justifies the wait...

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by mrfluffrick

I held off buying this on SD DVD knowing that an HD format would be round the corner, but I'm not sure that this Blu-Ray release now justifies the wait...

But judging by Peter's review it got nearly top marks for pq and aq! Or are you saying that due to the lack of extras?

[mrfluffrick]

Yes, that is pretty much the case.

It does seem somewhat bizarre that one of the reasons I really embraced the format of DVD - the opportunity to get more of a glimpse into the production of a film, to get more out of a film - seems to have been sidelined by the first generation of HD movie formats.

I don't know if this is down to market research telling studios that consumers are not bothered about having director commentaries, behind the scenes material and so on, or just down to the time crunch resulting from getting the discs to market and the fighting of the HD format war, but I've yet to see anything on Blu-Ray or HD-DVD which tells me that I've got to get one of these players.

There's been nothing yet like the initial release of "The Matrix", or the tin-case "Terminator 2" - discs which added to your understanding and enjoyment of a film.

Not that I would expect that much from "The Transporter 2", but some glimmer of interest would be nice for an undecided consumer....

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by mrfluffrick

It does seem somewhat bizarre that one of the reasons I really embraced the format of DVD - the opportunity to get more of a glimpse into the production of a film, to get more out of a film - seems to have been sidelined by the first generation of HD movie formats.

It does that special features for a lot of the early HD discs seem to be quite sparse. I imagine they are testing the water with the formats and probably plan to release super-duper versions at some point later down the road, hoping that the stupid public will fall for these double-dipping tricks again!

I, however, will not though.

[SilentNight]

I know I'm bumping this back up to the top but I was wondering, I noticed in the review the rating was R. This is a PG-13 movie that was cut. Any idea if this Blu-Ray is the actual French uncut release? I know they actually touched up some of the effects as well. That would be cool

[Sky_Captain]

The U.S. release is cut. The French and Japanese release of both Transporter movies, are fully uncut.

[Nightfury82]

Didn't know that. Could we see uncut versions of both films in the future?

[Sky_Captain]

Up to Fox really, isn't it? Along with an uncut Die Hard 4 and Mr. & Mrs. Smith Dir's Cut.

[Windows V]

Sorry to bump an old thread but I had a question. Normally I don't care about uncut versions, all it is is more swearing, blood, nudity, but I read somewhere that Transporter 2 uncut improves on some of the CGI work.

Now I thought this movie was pretty cool but some of the special effects were extremely terrible, and if it's true that the uncut version fixes some of this then I totally want it. The French one is uncut? Is it also region free? If so I'll be picking this one up from Amazon France. (It'd also have the English track, right?)

[Menaceuk]

Has even less features than transporter 1

Atleast the first had a commentary with the director and statham

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by Windows V

Sorry to bump an old thread but I had a question. Normally I don't care about uncut versions, all it is is more swearing, blood, nudity, but I read somewhere that Transporter 2 uncut improves on some of the CGI work.

Now I thought this movie was pretty cool but some of the special effects were extremely terrible, and if it's true that the uncut version fixes some of this then I totally want it. The French one is uncut? Is it also region free? If so I'll be picking this one up from Amazon France. (It'd also have the English track, right?)

You are 100% correct. The French disc is not only uncut, but contains improved CGI in certain scenes. Now don't expect Hollywood standard CG, but it does improve the offending scenes. I was mortified by the spinning plane in the US cut, but it's far better now. The disc is also region free, English soundtrack selectable,(with removable subs), and looks gorgeous to boot. BUY IT!!

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

You are 100% correct. The French disc is not only uncut, but contains improved CGI in certain scenes. Now don't expect Hollywood standard CG, but it does improve the offending scenes. I was mortified by the spinning plane in the US cut, but it's far better now. The disc is also region free, English soundtrack selectable,(with removable subs), and looks gorgeous to boot. BUY IT!!

is the U.K. disc uncut too??