P2 HD DVD Review...

[jspartan]

I know this should go in the reviews section but considering the significance of this title, I thought everyone should have a chance to discuss this.

P2 was the last film to have an official US HD DVD pressed. Summit Entertainment did plan to support HD DVD and [i]P2/I] was to be their first title. Sadly, with Toshiba's announcement in February, those plans changed.

It did not mean that no copies were ever made, just simply shelved. This is similar to how Paramount shelved Face/Off. Blades of Glory, and Next on Blu-ray Discs. The discs were done but never shipped to retailers. Summit Entertainment was able to prese about 4200 copies of P2 on HD DVD. Like the Parm BDs a year ago, not a single copy shipped until last month. DV&A specializes in liquidations for DVDs, CDs, and television promotional materials (hats, caribiner clips, mugs, etc.). They were able to negotatiate a deal to purchase the entire lot of copies from Summit Entertainment.

I was purchased a copy and have finally viewed it after having sitting for two weeks on my shelf. I wish Summit would get better script screeners as this is the second Summit film I do not like.

First off, the artwork is a mash-up of Universal's silver swoosh front design and Warner's technical specifications back design box. Its not bad looking but makes the title look like an Asian bootleg. The fact that the cover wrap is smaller than the case does not help either. Also, oddly they have to list anamorphic widescreen twice on the back.

I just could not watch the film all the way through. Its horrible and not horrible in a "Roger Corman" or "Malcolm D. Lee" way. I got so sick of the cat & mouse game that went nowhere for 40 minutes! I just chapter skipped to the end which gives away a major plot hole.

Angela is an executive who is working late one Christmas Eve night and proceeds to head to her car. The office security guard locks the elevators from entering the lobby and floors above the parking garage. She finds that her car will not start and the door to the elevators are locked. Angela then asks the secruity guard on duty to let her inot the elevators. The guard invites her to Christmas dinner at the booth. She laughs it off but finds she can not leave the building and the office guard is nowhere to be found. When she goes downstairs to find the other guard, she is kidnapped and wakes up in the booth chained to the chair. After some unpleasantness from the guard, Thomas, she escapes and runs throughout the garage trying to hid from him.

Summit must greenlight every movie that makes it through their doors because this is a just a badly written story with plot holes a plenty. We are never shown an proof that Angela is workaholic like the film mentions many times. Second, most family members would worry if a person says they will be there by a certain time but then calls out of the blue to say they are sick. Third, the cat & mouse game is frustratingly boring just like Phonebooth's. There is no reason for the character to continue to be chased nor is there any specific reason for the character to be chased. Either I missed the reason or the screenwriters just forgot to include it.

As for the HD DVD quality...not bad but not worthy of being reference.

The video is quite good with a few details that shouldn't be seen, like Rachel Nicols freckles on her face in tight closeup. The footage of the security monitors is nicely accurate with proper grain. For the most part, fleshtones and colors are pretty good.

Soundwise, the Dolby Digital Plus track is agressive. Surrounds are used quite well to create a realistic soundstage and directional effects placed effectively. Dialogue is clear without being overshadowed by the music or ambient effects.

As far as bonus features, same as the DVD. I just can not watch this again so I skpped the commentary for now. In fact, the only extras I did check out was the skimpy trailer section. You get the original theatrical trailer in HD at 1.85 proper and you also get Never Back Down which looks bad. It is in HD but 2.35 streched! Huh? Well, they took the letterbox 2.35 trailer from the DVD and instead of remastering it in 16x9 for HD displays, simply streched the 4x3 video to fit 16x9. You get a thin frame with incorrect proportions. Uggh. I have not checked out the other features but I doubt I'll watch this again anytime soon.

So was it worth the money? Yes and no.

Its a great collector's item for movie memorabillia fans (like 16x9 enhanced Laserdiscs and the final VHS screener tapes).

But if you are looking for a good Halloween film for your HD DVD player, pick up Pan's Labyrinth, The Frighteners, or even Pulse.

[Bron]

Just got mine in the mail today and only ordered it on Thursday.