The Video
"Wow" is all I can say. Presented in 1080p and framed at 2.35:1 this Mpeg-4 Blu-ray is truly a sight to see and is another reference title on Blu-ray for sheer visual splendor. From the first desert action sequence I knew this was going to be a great treat for my eyes; the transitions from light to dark were spot on, the details were crisp, and you couldn't ask for better color levels. What really impressed me was the fine level of detail on exhibit in this transfer. Drops of sweat roll into lines on people's faces, smears of dirt can be seen almost at the granular level, and reflective surfaces have so much detail you could watch the action on the mirrors.
The amazing quality is especially noticeable on the Transformers. These are robots that travel around as vehicles and they get dirty; when they transform there are scuffs, smears and dents that stand out and look absolutely amazing. Parts of the robots are reflective and amazing care was taken to show proper detail in the reflections. The attention to detail and amazing special effects further enhance the already amazing visual experience.
I know I am raving about the image quality, but with a quality player and display this movie looks absolutely astounding. Watching it again I am floored by the black levels, lighting effects and crystal clarity of detail. Despite the fact that this is a fun film to watch it is also a tour de force visually and is reason alone to buy the movie on Blu-ray.
The Audio
The marketable difference between the HD-DVD version and this one is definitely the fact that they were able to add a lossless audio Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. Of course the standard Dolby digital tracks are present, but why would you choose those options? I knew the audio was going to be impressive when the metallic zinging noises started cascading around me during the Paramount opening credit shot. Yes, there was stellar use of the surround speakers in a studio logo, for Pete's sake. I was not disappointed as the movie title and initial scenes played out, the whir of the engines, the perfect levels on the voice chatter, the deep thrumming booms as Blackout attacked. This was audio that was as impressive as the video and it was a treat to hear.
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