Bracke likes The Transporter

[KenThompson]

Reviewed by Peter M. Bracke
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture


'The Transporter' hits Blu-ray with a very nice 2.35:1 widescreen 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer, culled from the same HD master used for the standard-def DVD release about four years ago. The quality has held up nicely, and I'd even say 'The Transporter' looks superior to more high-profile Fox Blu-ray launch titles such as 'X-Men: The Last Stand' and 'Fantastic Four.'

The film sports a very clean, slick look. Visual design highlights gloss and punchy colors, with lots of shiny surfaces and, during interior scenes, nicely stylized lighting. Blacks are excellent, and contrast is bold but not blown out in the high end. Shadow delineation is also strong. I wasn't as big of a fan of exterior scenes, however, many of which lacked the same sense of depth, appearing as if they'd been shot through a slightly hazy, orange filter. Contrast in those scenes is flattened, especially in the midrange, and slightly lessens color purity (whites become peach, greens a bit more brown, etc.). The transfer's sharpness is sterling throughout, however, and I didn't find grain or noise to be a problem. Without a doubt, 'The Transporter' on Blu-ray delivers an appreciable upgrade over the standard-def version.