The Choice Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Choice," handled by Lionsgate Films, showcases an AVC encoded 1080p transfer with a 2.41:1 aspect ratio. The film takes viewers on a visually captivating tour of North Carolina's scenic landscapes, expertly captured by director Ross Katz and cinematographer Alar Kivilo. The location of Wilmington, known for its natural beauty, plays a significant role in the narrative, delivering breathtaking visuals of lush marshlands and waterways. The naturalistic palette, combined with excellent levels of detail, ensures that fine elements such as facial features, costumes, and production design are vividly portrayed. However, the bright, sun-dappled environment occasionally pushes highlights to the brink of blooming.

Throughout the majority of the film, black levels remain robust, contributing to an enhanced sense of image depth. Nevertheless, a few prolonged dark sequences, particularly around the 30-minute mark, exhibit lackluster shadow detail and separation. These scenes occasionally suffer from an almost greenscreen-like appearance due to inferior shadow depth, though they are relatively rare occurrences. Overall, this Blu-ray presentation offers a rich and detailed visual experience that aligns well with the typically picturesque aesthetic of Nicholas Sparks' adaptations.

"The Choice" offers a compelling auditory experience through its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The sound design springs dynamically to life, particularly highlighting the roots-y score and various source cues. Outdoor scenes are frequent and benefit from richly placed ambient environmental effects, efficiently utilizing the surround channels. However, the film predominantly features smaller scale dialogue scenes and occasional narration, resulting in a generally narrower soundstage. Fidelity is top-notch with no discernible issues, ensuring an uninterrupted listening experience.

The audio mix plays strategically to the strengths of this romantic drama, with dialogue projected clearly through the front and center channels. The rear and side channels subtly engage to deliver the evocative score by Marcelo Zarvos alongside select background atmospherics and sound effects. While this is not a film that dazzles with aggressive use of the sound field or complex channel movement, the mix effectively crafts a sense of space and presence that suits the narrative. Overall, it’s a balanced and well-executed mix that adeptly complements the film's style.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Choice" offer an in-depth look into the film's production and creative processes. The director's commentary with Ross Katz and actor Benjamin Walker, though not profoundly enlightening, provides enough behind-the-scenes insights to maintain interest. "Cinematic Choices: Making The Choice" is a standard EPK feature but offers a broad array of perspectives from the cast and crew. The short segment "Choosing Home: Nicholas Sparks and North Carolina" highlights the author's attachment to this particular location, given its recurrent presence in his works. "Nicholas Sparks With…" stands out due to the author's direct contribution as he interviews various cast and crew members. "Molly and Moby: Choice Dogs" provides an endearing profile of the canine characters, adding a unique touch. Finally, "Deleted Scenes" and the "Daylight Music Video" round out the offerings, providing additional entertainment value.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director Ross Katz and Actor Benjamin Walker: Behind-the-scenes insights.
• Cinematic Choices: Making The Choice: Production details from the cast and crew.
• Choosing Home: Nicholas Sparks and North Carolina: Exploration of location significance.
• Nicholas Sparks With...: Interviews with cast and crew by Nicholas Sparks.
• Molly and Moby: Choice Dogs: Profiles of the canine stars.
• Deleted Scenes: Short deleted scenes.
• Natalia Safran's Daylight Music Video: Official music video.

"The Choice," another adaptation from the prolific Nicholas Sparks, follows a similar formula as its predecessors, presenting a story rooted in predictability yet engaging for its target audience. The film chronicles the romance between Gabby Holland (Teresa Palmer), a dedicated medical student, and Travis Shaw (Benjamin Walker), an exuberant veterinarian. The initial tension, stemming from contrasting personalities and preceding romantic entanglements, smoothly transitions into a substantive relationship. Their inevitable bond is tested by external challenges that are staple ingredients in Sparks' narratives. While the film is replete with the characteristic moral dilemmas and melodrama, it tends to feel redundant and even borders on unintentional parody. Fans of Sparks will find familiar comfort in the repetitive structure, while others might view it as overwhelmingly predictable.

The development of Gabby and Travis's relationship lacks substantial narrative weight, with their connect-the-dots romance feeling cursory and largely devoid of genuine dramatic tension. The story arcs, including the aftermath of their moral decisions and eventual matrimonial bliss, are depicted with a sense of inevitability that strips away the potential for true emotional engagement. The dialogue and interactions often veer into the realm of the absurd, detracting from the film's intended sincerity. Despite this, the film's third act, marked by a deliberately manipulative twist, manages to draw out an undeniable emotional response, albeit through rather contrived means.

"The Choice" offers what might be considered classic Sparksian fare: aesthetic visuals of North Carolina settings, attractive leads, and a soundtrack bolstering its sentimental beats. Yet, it ventures no further than its well-trodden path, rendering it an exercise in comfortable banality rather than an innovative romantic drama. For non-fans, the relentless adherence to formula may come off as uninspiring. Nevertheless, for devoted Sparks aficionados, "The Choice" remains a reliable entry in the realm of cinematic escapism anchored in romantic ideals.

Lionsgate's Blu-ray release of "The Choice" delivers a technically proficient package that shines with its audiovisual quality, yet the content leaves much to be desired. Following the predictable Nicholas Sparks formula, the narrative is laden with familiar tropes and cliched romantic elements. Though the cast brings a sincere effort, even strong performances cannot rescue a storyline that feels recycled and lacking in originality. The picturesque settings and sweeping cinematography are a visual treat, but these merits overshadow the underwhelming script that relies too heavily on Sparks' established motifs.

The Blu-ray excels in its technical execution, with sharp visuals and a robust audio experience that enhances the scenic backdrops and emotive score. Fans of high-quality home media presentations will appreciate the attention to detail in both the picture and sound departments. Additionally, the disc includes a reasonable array of supplemental features that provide some insight into the filmmaking process and offer value to dedicated fans.

In conclusion, while "The Choice" adheres to the well-trodden path of other Nicholas Sparks adaptations, it falls short in offering anything novel to the formula. The audiovisual presentation is commendable, making it a worthwhile addition for those who prioritize technical excellence. However, unless you are already an aficionado of Sparks' romances, this film may not meet expectations. Ultimately, "The Choice" remains a classic example of a beautifully executed package constrained by uninspired storytelling.