New Year's Eve Blu-ray Review

The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer of "New Year's Eve" on Blu-ray offers a commendable high-definition presentation that, while not groundbreaking, is solid and effective for the film's content. The video quality showcases vividly translated colors with a good mix of secondary hues that are vibrant and pleasing to the eye. Skin tones are realistically depicted with rosy complexions, and the high-definition resolution ensures clear images with varying degrees of fine rendering. The bright commercialized lights of Times Square absolutely sparkle, enhancing the visual experience. Some shots do exhibit slight softness or a faint hint of smearing, but these moments are infrequent and not distracting.

Charles Minsky’s cinematography leans towards warmer colors and deep black levels, which deliver a visually inviting wintry palette of New York in late December. Contrast remains generally strong, though it falters slightly when the bright lights of Times Square aren't present. The transfer shows strong detail with well-defined textures, clean edges, crisp closeups, and satisfying shadow delineation. A pleasant grain veneer adds cinematic texture without introducing artifacting, banding, aliasing, or other anomalies.

Overall, the video presentation is clean and pristine, with only minor hints of noise and no major artifacts. The visual style remains crisp, bright, and cheery, aligning well with the film's overall tone. The slightly oversaturated palette might be overwhelming for some but is generally handled well. The black levels are inky and contrast is high, maintaining depth in darker scenes. While not extraordinary, the video quality dutifully suits the film's broad, festive style, ensuring a visually enjoyable experience that complements its content effectively.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "New Year's Eve" features an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track along with optional English SDH, French, Spanish, and Portuguese subtitles. Additionally, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks are available. The overall performance of the lossless audio soundtrack delivers clear and crisp dialogue that maintains a strong presence within the front soundstage. Though the film does not necessitate an extensive use of surround sound, occasional atmospheric effects and environmental cues from the rear channels help to augment the viewing experience. The directionality and balance across the front speakers are commendable, ensuring no prioritized issues or drowned-out dialogue.

Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is solid yet unremarkable, supporting the film’s pop music soundtrack with satisfactory stereo separation and filling the soundfield effectively during musical performances. Songs by Bon Jovi and Lea Michelle particularly stand out, utilizing the LFE channel well and providing moments of strong fidelity and decent low-frequency activity. However, the surround sound components come off as somewhat sporadic and detached, especially in scenes depicting crowded environments like Times Square. The crowds remain at a perceptible distance rather than immersing the listener, which could disappoint those expecting a more dynamic and engulfing experience.

The mix proves serviceable but lacks memorability, with good dynamic range and no noticeable distortion. While the audio elements exhibit decent rendering and convey subtleties of the film's soundscape adequately, the track does not immerse the audience fully into the bustling New Year's Eve atmosphere. Overall, the audio quality meets expectations for a film of this nature but fails to deliver a standout auditory experience.

Warner Bros. delivers a range of extras for the Blu Ray release of "New Year's Eve" that primarily cater to avid fans of the film. Although the supplemental materials are presented in 1080p with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio, their overall content is notably lightweight and promotional in nature. The audio commentary by Garry Marshall, while charming due to his affable personality, predominantly consists of repetitive anecdotal observations rather than profound insights. The deleted scenes, accompanied by Marshall's whimsical introductions, offer glimpses of cut content, albeit with little lasting impact. Short featurettes on the essence of Times Square, behind-the-scenes musical performances by Jon Bon Jovi and Lea Michele, and cast interviews provide minimal depth. However, the gag reel stands out for its amusing compilation of bloopers.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Garry Marshall: Anecdotal commentary focusing on the ensemble cast and production.
• The Magic of Times Square: A featurette discussing the tradition of New Year's Eve in Times Square.
• New Year's Eve Secrets of the Stars: Cast interviews revealing New Year's Eve memories and resolutions.
• Jon Bon Jovi and Lea Michele Rock New Year's Eve: Behind-the-scenes look at a musical performance.
• Deleted Scenes with Director's Introduction: A collection of excised material introduced by Garry Marshall.
• Gag Reel: Overproduced blooper compilation.

"New Year's Eve," directed by Garry Marshall, explores converging stories set in the bustling heart of New York City on December 31st. With an ensemble cast featuring names like Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert De Niro, and Zac Efron, the film attempts to weave narratives of love, hope, and new beginnings. From a mother struggling to juggle responsibilities while her teenage daughter chases her crush in Times Square, to a dying man’s final wish to witness the ball drop one last time, the movie indulges in a variety of emotionally charged yet often superficial subplots. While the premise promises complexity, the narratives often feel overcrowded and rushed.

The extensive star roster including Hilary Swank, Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jon Bon Jovi is dazzling but problematic. The script suffers from a lack of focus, failing to develop each storyline adequately. Character connections appear disjointed and contrived, diminishing the potential for genuine emotional impact. Attempts at comedy fall flat, while dramatic moments are overburdened with clichés and predictability. Moreover, Marshall's directorial approach seems out of sync with contemporary tastes, resulting in an effort that feels both dated and overly sentimental.

The film's pacing is erratic, making it challenging to invest in any single plot thread. While the cast delivers competent performances given the material, the script’s superficiality hampers their efforts. Ultimately, "New Year's Eve" mirrors its predecessor "Valentine's Day" in being an overstuffed and underwhelming ensemble piece. Despite its star power and heartfelt intentions, it struggles to leave a lasting impression or provide substantial entertainment value.

The Blu-Ray release of "New Year's Eve" presents a mixed bag. If you were a fan of Garry Marshall's previous film "Valentine’s Day," you might find this star-studded romantic comedy enjoyable. However, if you're not a connoisseur of every romantic comedy, it's probably best to look elsewhere for your entertainment. The video transfer is strong, delivering bright and colorful visuals that enhance the viewing experience. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track offers decent audio quality, although it lacks depth in certain scenes, balancing well with a robust musical performance.

Despite its technical strengths, "New Year's Eve" falls short on the storytelling front. The characters appear paper-thin, and the narrative unfolds like a disjointed sitcom highlight reel, failing to evoke genuine emotions. Supplemental materials included are mostly superficial and do little to add value. Some efforts are made to inject life into the film, but the overall atmosphere feels hollow and artificial.

In conclusion, while the Blu-Ray release of "New Year's Eve" is commendable for its visual and audio quality, the film itself might not appeal to everyone. It is a superficial addition to the romantic comedy genre, lacking in substantial character development and meaningful plot. If you're a sucker for star-studded ensembles and glossy rom-coms, this might be worth a try. Otherwise, consider exploring other options within the genre for a more fulfilling movie night experience.