Entourage Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Entourage" is exemplary, delivering a high definition 1080p/AVC-encoded visual experience that captures the vibrant essence of Los Angeles. The image quality is marked by superb clarity and detail, making close-up shots particularly compelling with discernible textures. The exterior shots of the Los Angeles landscapes are immaculately rendered, providing lucid long-range visual acuity that brings the city's buildings and streets into crisp focus. The rich, warm colors are paired with strong primaries and carefully balanced saturation, presenting a striking and naturalistic visual appeal. Skin tones appear lifelike, leaning slightly warm, while white and black levels are appropriately balanced, enhancing the overall visual depth and stability.

The encoding is impeccable, with no macroblocking, banding, or errant noise detected, ensuring a pristine viewing experience. The film's vibrant chromatic palette and high-contrast visuals contribute to a vivid, if slightly gaudy, cinematic atmosphere that perfectly suits the subject matter. Colors occasionally border on artificial brightness, and skin tones can skew slightly orange, but these aspects remain true to the film’s energetic aesthetic. Contrast is robust, though it can be a bit exaggerated under the bright Californian sun. However, edges are crisp with no ringing or aliasing, and the fine textures in both close-up and mid- to long-range shots are highly refined.

Aspect ratio is maintained at 2.40:1, and the depth provided by this presentation allows all background characters and even Los Angeles' iconic smog to be clearly visible. Black levels are stable and do not suffer from over-darkening or lightness. Overall purity extends across all forms with the MPEG-4 AVC resolution maintaining a clean output. The filmic quality is maintained without noise or artifacts, resulting in an excellent Blu-ray presentation that exceeds expectations compared to the original show's visuals.

The Audio presentation of the "Entourage" Blu-ray leverages a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround format, delivering an immersive and dynamic sonic experience. The soundscape benefits from crisp clarity and punchy dynamics, especially in the dialogue and front channel audio. Dialogue is exceptionally well-prioritized, clear, and natural, allowing the fast-paced, character-driven exchanges to shine. This clarity is maintained even in scenes featuring crowded or chaotic environments such as parties or bustling movie lots. Surrounds are not perpetually active but robustly support the front-oriented presentation and add desirable extension to the film’s music and atmosphere, creating a well-rounded audio experience.

Particularly noteworthy are the bass-heavy sequences, such as club and party scenes. Here, the low-end output is strong and palpable, offering robust bass response that introduces thumping techno rhythms and deep LFE (Low-Frequency Effects) capable of rumbling subwoofers. Dynamics are expertly rendered without exception, adding a layer of depth to the viewing experience. Rear speaker activity achieves accurate directional effects and maintains an enveloping soundfield, anchoring the viewer within Hollywood’s lively backdrop. Furthermore, the ambient noises of Los Angeles, from commotion on the streets to the cacophony of large gatherings, are proficiently captured, adding to the authenticity.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, while not exceptionally groundbreaking, excels in its ability to create an immersive audio environment that complements the film's narrative structure. Whether it's Ari's piercing outbursts or environmental sound cues like doors slamming and objects breaking, every auditory detail is meticulously reproduced. This meticulous attention extends to various language options available in Dolby Digital 5.1 (French, Spanish, Portuguese) and subtitles (English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese), providing a comprehensive and inclusive listening experience for a wide audience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Entourage" deliver a well-rounded, insightful, and often humorous deep dive into the beloved HBO series' transition to the big screen. Creator Doug Ellin and stars such as Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, and Jeremy Piven explore various aspects of the show's making with thoughtful commentary and engaging narratives. From understanding the genesis and success of "Entourage" to uncovering the nuances of the fictional movie "Hyde," the extras offer valuable context and behind-the-scenes glimpses. The deleted scenes provide additional content, while the gag reel adds a touch of levity. These extras are technically well-executed with all featurettes presented in HD, enhancing the comprehensive fan experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Gang: Still Rockin' It: Discussion on the genesis and success of "Entourage."
• Hollywood, Baby!: Focuses on the transition from show to movie.
• The Making of Hyde: In-character look at shooting the movie's opening scene.
• Deleted Scenes: A compilation of deleted, extended, and alternate scenes.
• Gag Reel: Humorous bloopers with cast and crew.
• Meet the Newest Member of Entourage: Introduction to Lucas Ellin.
• Lucas Ellin is Jonah Gold: Featurette on Lucas Ellin's role.
• Digital HD Copy

"Entourage: The Movie" serves as a big-screen continuation of the beloved HBO TV series, maintaining its signature blend of humor and Hollywood excess. Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his entourage – Eric (Kevin Connolly), Turtle (Jerry Ferrara), and Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon) – are back, navigating the capricious world of showbiz under the aegis of Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven), now a studio head. The film amplifies the series' extravagant lifestyle with pricier boats, grander mansions, and more real-world A-list cameos. However, this increased budget cannot mask its reliance on thin subplots and familiar television tropes, making the movie feel like an extended series episode rather than a standalone film.

Much like the series, Jeremy Piven’s portrayal of Ari Gold remains the highlight, his profane and passionate rants providing much-needed comedic relief and energy. Piven’s dynamic performance as a frustrated studio head offers some of the movie's most engaging moments, contrasting sharply with the otherwise flat character arcs. While the main cast attempts to navigate well-trodden storylines, guest appearances from Billy Bob Thornton, Haley Joel Osment, and Ronda Rousey deliver sporadic bursts of freshness. Nonetheless, convoluted plot devices and spoon-fed expositions like a ten-minute Piers Morgan segment detract from the overall narrative flow.

While the movie indulges in its trademark lavishness and superficiality, it ultimately lacks depth and originality. The film's central project, "Hyde,"—a dreadful retelling of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"—is emblematic of its misguided ambition. Despite occasional moments that recapture the series' charm, "Entourage: The Movie" feels like a nostalgic reunion rather than a meaningful progression. The film caters to die-hard fans who crave more escapades with Vince and the gang, yet its inability to evolve leaves it mired in past glories, offering little beyond a temporary escape into Hollywood’s neon-lit playground.

The Blu-ray release of "Entourage: The Movie" delivers a mixed bag, much like the show did in its later seasons. The film doesn't add any new depth or originality, building instead on a line-up of series references that only die-hard fans might appreciate. Compared to the series, the movie lacks fresh ideas and feels more like an overstretched episode rather than a feature film. While the storyline may not captivate, the AV presentation is unquestionably top-notch. The crisp video quality and exceptional audio make for an impressive home theater experience, even if the disc falls short on additional features, with notable absences such as commentary tracks.

For fans of "Entourage," this release will satisfy the nostalgia for Vinnie Chase and his entourage. The familiar antics, wrapped in high-quality production, provide a decent reunion. However, those uninvested in the series might find the film's humor and drama tired and redundant, failing to generate the same excitement it once did. The movie's plot doesn't deviate much from where the series left off, leaving most characters in scenarios similar to their season eight conclusions.

In conclusion, "Entourage: The Movie" on Blu-ray is highly recommended for devoted fans of the series who seek a superior audio-visual experience at home. For casual viewers or those expecting substantial progression from where the series ended, renting may be a preferable option. Regardless of plot shortcomings, the technical excellence of Warner's Blu-ray release ensures that, if watched, it will be seen and heard at its best.