The Age of Adaline Blu-ray Review

The Age of Adaline, presented on Blu-ray by Lionsgate Films, delivers a visually enchanting experience via an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The film, predominantly shot digitally with the Red Epic, boasts a strikingly cinematic quality that enhances David Lanzenberg's exemplary cinematography. The color grading is subtle yet consistent, adhering to the buttery yellow and cool blue tones that are prevalent in contemporary film color theory. This stylistic choice does not detract from the image detail, ensuring a natural and pleasing palette throughout. However, the brief interstitial shot on 16mm using a hand-cranked camera introduces an interesting texture but may present a slight visual contrast compared to the digital footage.

The Blu-ray presentation showcases phenomenal clarity and sharpness, characteristic of Red shot features. Detailed close-ups reveal intricate textures such as facial hair, pores, and fabric with remarkable precision. Contrast is reliably consistent, producing deep and inky black levels that maintain shadow detail without obfuscation. While dark scenes remain clear and banding-free, occasional moments of murkiness in nighttime sequences are observed, but these do not detract significantly from the overall visual experience.

Despite being shot across various formats, with one scene captured on 16mm, The Age of Adaline presents a cohesive and pristine image devoid of noticeable noise or artifacts. The CGI elements, particularly a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction, may appear slightly soft or odd but are exceptions within an otherwise superior presentation. Color reproduction is vibrant and well-balanced, effectively supporting the film’s 80-year narrative span. Flesh tones appear flawless, particularly highlighting the immaculate representation of Adaline herself. Overall, this Blu-ray transfer is a visually stunning example that does justice to the film's rich cinematography and period detail.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray release of "The Age of Adaline" is distinguished by its Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core) track, offering a commendable audio experience despite the film's primarily dramatic nature. This mix excels in balancing the dialogue-centric elements with moments of immersive surround activity. Notably, scenes like the calamitous car accidents and cosmic events stand out, delivering impressive dynamics and LFE impact. Ambient environmental effects and the score are rendered with high fidelity across all frequency ranges, ensuring a rich auditory backdrop that enhances the film's atmosphere.

Furthermore, Lionsgate's audio mixing ensures that "The Age of Adaline" transcends typical expectations for a romantic drama by integrating engaging audio pyrotechnics. The subwoofer adeptly handles intense scenes such as the lightning strike and rainstorm, creating lifelike and enveloping soundscapes. The rainstorm scene, in particular, vividly fills each channel with realistic rain sounds, simulating an authentic downpour experience. Dialogue reproduction remains impeccable throughout, with whispers and spoken content crystal clear, contributing to an immersive and cohesive auditory experience.

The rear channels effectively manage ambient sounds and environmental glitz without issue, supporting a seamless and engaging narrative soundscape. The overall dynamic range is exceptionally well-executed, further bolstering the audio presentation's capacity to elevate critical "fantasy" scenes within the plot. This sophisticated sound design underscores the immersive quality of the mix, substantiating it as a remarkable achievement for a genre typically reserved for more subdued presentations.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "The Age of Adaline" offer an insightful and comprehensive look into the film's production. The audio commentary by Director Lee Toland Krieger stands out for its depth and engaging anecdotes, providing a rich tapestry of technical details and behind-the-scenes stories. "A Love Story for the Ages" and "Style Throughout the Ages" delve into the filmmaking process and production design, respectively, offering valuable context and visual treats. The featurette on Anthony Ingruber is a fascinating profile on the actor's journey from YouTube sensation to portraying a young Harrison Ford, showcasing his impressive mimicry of Ford’s mannerisms. Additionally, the deleted scenes add further layers to the film's storytelling.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director Lee Toland Krieger: Detailed insights into the film’s making.
• A Love Story for the Ages: Comprehensive behind-the-scenes look.
• Style Throughout the Ages: Focuses on production design through different eras.
• Discovering Young Harrison Ford: Anthony Ingruber: Profile on the actor’s journey.
• Deleted Scenes: Additional scenes with timecodes.

"The Age of Adaline," directed by Lee Toland Krieger, is a whimsically narrated and visually engaging film that traverses the complexities of eternal youth through the life of Adaline Bowman. Blake Lively stars as Adaline, who, after a bizarre and well-explained accident involving a car crash, freezing water, and a lightning bolt, finds herself unable to age from the year 1937 onwards. The movie employs an omniscient narrator to succinctly outline the science fiction elements and detail the extraordinary circumstances of Adaline's life. This device lends a sense of respectability to the story’s fantastical premise, mitigating potential criticisms of its inherent absurdity.

The narrative is structured fluidly, skipping between significant moments in Adaline's 106-year life while anchoring the main plot in contemporary San Francisco. Here, Adaline meets Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman), a charming entrepreneur whose persistence unveils complications when it's discovered his father, William (Harrison Ford), was a past lover of Adaline's. This revelation sets up an intricate love triangle, wherein Ford delivers one of his most captivating performances in recent years. Additional layers are added through flashbacks featuring Anthony Ingruber, who impressively portrays the young William.

The emotional weight of Adaline's perpetual youth is conveyed through poignant symbolism, such as her numerous photo albums documenting each King James spaniel she has lost over decades—a stark reminder of her continual grief. The insightful casting choice of Ellen Burstyn as Adaline's aged daughter highlights the film's thematic exploration of time’s relentless march. Blake Lively’s nuanced portrayal captures Adaline's melancholy and guarded demeanor, making her role profoundly resonant.

While certain plot contrivances stretch believability, and Ellis’s initially insistent behavior borders on discomforting, "The Age of Adaline" maintains an enchanting narrative that balances whimsy with a grounded examination of an ageless existence. The film's aesthetic beauty and thoughtful performances make this romantic drama compelling, even if it occasionally dips into melodrama.

"The Age of Adaline" presents an intriguing premise with its blend of romance and fantastical elements. The story centers around Adaline, a woman who ceases to age following a mysterious accident. While the narrative occasionally dips into the realm of highly improbable science, it is buoyed by heartfelt performances, particularly from Blake Lively, who exceeds expectations with a warm, nuanced portrayal of the titular character. The film's generational love drama adds layers of complexity, reminiscent of classic romances that explore emotional entanglements across different ages and times.

This Blu-ray release is a technical marvel, offering pristine video and audio quality that will undoubtedly serve as demo material for showcasing home theater systems. The high-definition presentation highlights the film’s beautiful cinematography, enhancing the immersive experience. Additionally, the extras included are well-executed and provide valuable insights into the director's vision and the production process. The commentary track is particularly noteworthy, demonstrating the director's extensive engagement with the project.

In conclusion, "The Age of Adaline" might have overreached with its cosmic ambitions, but it compensates through sustained emotional engagement and high-caliber technical merits. Despite its occasional narrative flaws, the film’s insightful performances and exceptional Blu-ray presentation make it a worthwhile addition to any collection. The Age of Adaline comes Recommended.