Not Easily Broken Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Not Easily Broken" on Blu-ray offers an impressive visual experience that aligns well with contemporary high-definition releases. The opening flashback wedding sequence is a notable exception, characterized by exaggerated colors and applied filtering that render a softer, less delineated image. However, outside of this sequence, the film boasts cleanly rendered colors with bright, inviting primaries and vivid hues, pristine for Blu-ray standards. Fleshtones are slightly warm but maintain a natural appearance. Images throughout the film are razor sharp with exquisite detail, and excellent dimensionality is achieved. Black levels are velvety and dynamic, offering punchy contrast and fine detail in low-light conditions and shadows. A light sprinkling of grain provides a superb filmic texture in high definition.

Consistent with Sony's typical emphasis on yellows and blues, some scenes display further color stylization, contributing to the storyline's mood. For example, the one-on-one basketball game sequence exhibits heavy cyan weighting, suggestive of a duotone presentation. Despite these stylized segments, most of the movie reflects true color palettes with striking realism and fantastic detail. The wedding scene stands out with its almost glossy treatment of both distant shots and close-ups, transporting viewers into the ceremony. The impressive sharpness and resolution highlight lifelike definition, revealing fine details in skin and clothing textures. Fine grain visibility adds to the film-like texture, with the transfer being clear enough to spot minor inconsistencies between consecutive shots, which could be attributed to differences in shooting conditions. Nevertheless, these variations are well-managed through editing.

Overall, "Not Easily Broken" on Blu-ray presents an engaging visual journey that marries technical excellence with aesthetic nuance, ensuring a highly immersive viewing experience. The combination of sharp imagery, vibrant yet natural color schemes, and excellent black levels all contribute to an outstanding high-definition presentation.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Not Easily Broken" provides an immersive and nuanced listening experience characterized by the 24-bit, 48-kHz Dolby TrueHD track. Dialogue is impeccably clear, presented with precision through the center channel, ensuring every word from the performance is audible and intelligible. The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack excels in delivering a solid surround mix, highlighting subtle sonic details with impressive clarity and high fidelity that enhances the overall viewing experience. Dynamics are robust, with low-frequency effects lending palpable impact when required and adding a commendable solidity to the music. The surround use, while limited, is effectively employed during critical sequences like the swim meet in chapter 12, transforming the soundstage into a three-dimensional environment bustling with ambient noise, from cheering crowds to splashing water, driven by deep bass energy.

The soundtrack deserves special mention for its integration of several songs that maintain the thematic undercurrent of the narrative. Instrumentation and vocals are portrayed with a rich, detailed midrange and extended highs, bringing out the natural timbre of percussive elements and enhancing the musical landscape. Despite the track being central-heavy—typical for drama genres—the balance between dialog, musical elements, and ambient sounds is handled deftly, ensuring none overshadow the other. The list of songs featured includes performances by artists such as Jaheim, DMX, and Tamia, contributing to a diverse auditory palette. This careful balance and distribution result in an engagingly immersive audio experience that complements the visual storytelling effectively while preserving the film’s emotional weight.

The Blu-ray extra content for "Not Easily Broken" comprises high definition features that, while visually appealing, fall short in both quantity and quality. The 13-minute making-of documentary offers limited insights and technical details, especially on complex scenes like the car crash. The deleted scenes provide additional context but may be extraneous to most viewers. Previews of other films round out the package, which overall feels minimalistic and lacks a commentary track that could have enhanced the viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Not Easily Broken: A brief and somewhat underwhelming behind-the-scenes featurette.
• Five Deleted Scenes: Additional content that expands on specific parts of the film.
• Film Trailers: Previews for "Seven Pounds," "This Christmas," "Hancock," "Hitch," and "The Pursuit of Happyness."
• BD-Live Enabled: Offers potential accessing of online supplementary content.

"Not Easily Broken" begins with the premise that marriage is a religious bond, introduced through a memorable wedding sermon highlighting God as the third partner in matrimony. This bold opening stance quickly fades, however, and the film pivots towards secular themes like community support and anti-materialism. Despite its inspirational novel origins by T.D. Jakes, the movie ultimately succumbs to familiar tropes and clichés. Yet, these characters, portrayed by Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson, remain accessible and relatable largely due to the compelling performances that anchor the film's authenticity.

The marital strife between Dave Johnson, a contractor and altruistic community mentor, and Clarice Clark, a high-powered real estate agent, unfolds against a backdrop of mounting personal and financial pressures. Their relationship, already on shaky ground, is further strained following a serious car accident that sidelines Clarice. The film navigates through their emotional and practical struggles with varying degrees of success. While their arguments feel realistic, the narrative sometimes devolves into melodrama, especially with the contentious interference of Clarice’s mother, played by Jennifer Lewis. However, moments of genuine camaraderie between Dave and his friends, and even glimpses of warmth between Clarice and her friend Michelle, provide some relief from the tension.

Technically, Sony's Blu-ray presentation of "Not Easily Broken" features impressive picture and sound quality that enhances the viewing experience. Despite the script’s occasional descent into cliché and somewhat corny dialogue, the technical merits of the Blu-ray format deserve recognition. Overall, for those intrigued by relationship dramas with sporadic highlights of authenticity and depth, "Not Easily Broken" warrants at least a rental.

"Not Easily Broken" delivers a compelling narrative that dives deep into the intricate dynamics of marriage. Despite its commendable message and nuanced performances, the film often falls prey to clichés and predictable outcomes. Initially grounded on a strong spiritual foundation, supposedly reflective of the author's pastoral background, the movie disappointingly veers toward a secular approach. This decision robs the story of its potential originality and depth, making it yet another Hollywood portrayal of strained relationships, rather than a bold statement on divine intervention in marital strife.

However, from a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray transfer is exceptional. The picture quality is crisp and engaging, revealing remarkable attention to detail that enhances the viewing experience. The audio presentation is robust, offering clear dialogue and an immersive surround sound experience that truly brings the film to life. These aspects make the Blu-ray version particularly appealing for home theater enthusiasts who prioritize high-quality audiovisual content.

In conclusion, while "Not Easily Broken" may falter in its narrative ambition, the Blu-ray edition stands out with its top-tier technical execution. The solid transfer and audio quality make it a worthwhile addition for collectors and viewers who appreciate high-definition media. Despite its predictable storyline, the film's stellar presentation on Blu-ray ensures an aesthetically pleasing viewing experience.