review: NATIONAL TREASURE (Blu-ray)

Walt Disney  //  Buy from Amazon.com From Producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, Pearl Harbor) and Director Jon Turteltaub (Phenomenon, Disney's The Kid), comesNATIONAL TREASURE: COLLECTOR'S EDITION, the hit action-adventure film, available for the first time on Blu-ray Hi-Def May 20, 2008. Starring Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage (Best Actor, Leaving Las Vegas 1995; Gone in 60 Seconds, The Rock) and an all-star cast, NATIONAL TREASURE: COLLECTOR'S EDITION takes audiences on a breathtaking fortune hunt from our nation's birthplace to the nation's capitol, in order to find the world's greatest treasure. I love me my conspiracies and I'm an even bigger fan (of late) of hidden histories... and "National Treasure" manages to combine both with a rollicking good ol' action flick. I admit that I liked this film a lot better when it first came out, as it was very fresh and original (albeit in a grand-standing, popcorn-worthy Jerry Bruckheimer kind of way)... since then, Nicolas Cage has gotten on my last nerve and I just can't stand to see him ham it up on the screen anymore. However, this film is not a one-trick pony, so it is possible to enjoy it (especially on this amazing Blu-ray release) and enjoy it for the action, the history, the strong supporting cast and the really well-crafted and very well-paced film that it is. Just don't take Nicolas Cage too seriously (as if you ever could.) Video As with any other Disney Blu-ray release, this one is absolutely stunning. High def AVC transfer, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, absolutely FLAWLESS transfer - so crisp it almost looks like a series of photographs instead of a film! Audio The included uncompressed PCM mix is first-rate as well, with some powerful, rumbling use of surrounds and excellent mixing in of the soundtrack with the dialogue and intense sound effects. Extras audio commentary w/ director & Justin Bartha "Mission History" documentary opening sequence animatic w/ intro & commentary deleted scenes alternate ending "Ciphers, Codes and Codebreakers" featurette "Exploding Charlotte" featurette "To Steal a National Treasure" featurette "On the Set of American History" featurette "National Treasure on Location" featurette "Treasure Hunters Revealed" featurette "the Templar Knights" featurette running trivia track previews Closing Thoughts Fun, action-packed popcorn movie + TONS of extras = truly excellent Blu-ray release