Rock of Ages Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Rock of Ages" showcases an excellent 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that vividly brings the late '80s back to life with a bold and brilliant color palette. Bojan Bazelli's cinematography, captured with ARRI 2.8K cameras, shines through with the reconstructed Sunset Strip offering an eye-popping visual experience. The colors are bright and well-saturated, complementing the strong contrast, while the deep black levels and remarkable shadow detail ensure that every scene is rendered with clarity. Although there are moments where colors may appear a bit oversaturated, particularly in the vibrant environment of the Bourbon Room, it adds to the authenticity and atmospheric immersion of the rock club scenes.

Detail is a standout feature of this transfer. Every element of the production design, from the intricate costumes representing a decade of hard rock and hair metal fashion to the textures and patterns captured within each frame, is showcased with impeccable clarity. Detailed visuals include the beads of sweat on Stacee's skin, the individual hairs in Dupree's beard, and the threads and sequins on Rita Ryack’s costumes. The level of refinement allows viewers to truly appreciate the meticulous attention to detail that went into creating this nostalgic world.

The technical quality of the transfer remains consistently high throughout. Edges are crisp and clean, devoid of significant ringing or compression artifacts, and there is no evidence of aliasing or unwieldy noise. This makes for an encode that is not only strong but ensures that 'Rock of Ages' looks as terrific as it sounds. The overall excellence of the video presentation on this Blu-ray edition does justice to the explosive visuals and offers an immersive viewing experience that fans of the era and new viewers alike will find rewarding.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track of "Rock of Ages" delivers an auditory experience that captures the essence of a live performance, primarily when the soundtrack takes center stage. The mix's strength lies in its vibrant representation of the film's iconic tracks, from the guttural guitars of "Wanted Dead or Alive" to the enthralling synth melodies of "I Want to Know What Love Is." Each song benefits from the Warner's lossless mix, ensuring every chord and chorus is rendered with clarity and depth. However, this zeal in musical presentation isn't uniformly applied across the board, leading to a somewhat unbalanced audio experience.

Dialogue, although clear, often finds itself overwhelmed by the music, making volume adjustment a frequent necessity for viewers. This inconsistency in prioritization between spoken words and sonorous tunes detracts from what could have been a consistently immersive experience. Furthermore, while the soundstage is expansive, offering a sense of being amidst a live crowd, the use of rear speakers and the LFE channel lacks the dynamic engagement expected from a film buoyed by its musical elements. Directionality and spatial utilization fall short of enhancing the overall soundscape to its fullest potential, with bass and drums receiving commendable but isolated support.

Despite these challenges, the soundtrack is devoid of distortion, and outside of bass handling, showcases an excellent dynamic range. Vocals and mid-tones shine particularly bright, thanks to a mix that captures the warmth and energy of live performances. When the music plays, "Rock of Ages" truly comes alive, albeit marred by balancing issues that hinder a fully cohesive and enveloping audio experience. Precision in mixing and more effective channel utilization could have propelled this soundtrack to match its on-screen vibrancy with an equally compelling auditory landscape.

The Blu-ray edition of "Rock of Ages" notably enhances the original film experience with a variety of special features aimed at both die-hard '80s rock fans and aficionados of the movie's production process. With both theatrical and extended cuts available, viewers can choose their preferred viewing experience, supplemented by an extensive array of extras. A standout is "Legends of the Sunset Strip," a deep dive into the '80s rock scene with insights from iconic musicians. Meanwhile, "Defining a Decade" clumsily attempts to detail the film's production aspects but offers minimal depth despite its promising premise. The inclusion of the "Any Way You Want It" music video adds a peculiar yet memorable touch, contrasting sharply with the incongruous "Visit Florida" promo. Despite some features feeling disjointed or superficial, the overall package presents an intriguing, albeit mixed, behind-the-scenes glimpse into both the era and the film's making.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical and Extended Cuts: Includes the original 123-minute theater version and a 136-minute extended version.
• Legends of the Sunset Strip: Features interviews with renowned '80s musicians discussing their era.
• Behind the Scenes: Defining a Decade: Hosted featurettes covering various production elements.
• The Stories We Sing: '80s rockers reflect on the movie's songs.
• Music Video: Features "Any Way You Want It" by Mary J. Blige, Constantine Maroulis, and Julianne Hough.
• Musical Numbers: Direct access to twenty musical scenes.
• Visit Florida: A brief tourism ad for Florida.

Rock of Ages," despite its ambitious attempt to capture the electrifying essence of the 1980s hair metal scene, ultimately delivers a mixed performance that feels more like a tribute act struggling to find its identity amidst a sea of greater legends. Set in the vibrant and chaotic world of 1987 West Hollywood, the story follows starry-eyed Sherrie Christian and aspiring rockstar Drew Boley as they navigate love, music, and dreams in the notorious Bourbon Room. Despite the sparkling promise of nostalgia and an ensemble cast boasting names like Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, the film stumbles over its own attempts to balance satire, romance, and musical extravaganza.

The inclusion of iconic '80s rock hits serves both as the movie's backbone and its Achilles' heel; while the soundtrack thrills with anthemic power, the narrative falters under the weight of squeezing these classics into a plot that struggles to match their energy. Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Stacee Jaxx shines as a beacon of commitment and charisma, capturing the essence of a rock god with a performance that almost single-handedly salvages the movie's credibility. On the other end of the spectrum, the central romance between Hough and Boneta feels underwhelming, overshadowed by a script that meanders and fails to ignite the same spark that these anthems once did.

Director Adam Shankman's vision for translating the stage musical to film evidently aimed high but fell short in execution, leaving audiences with a glossy yet superficial homage to a bygone era. The overly polished production fails to capture the raw energy and edge that defined hair metal, instead presenting a watered-down version that struggles to resonate. "Rock of Ages" offers moments of enjoyment and spectacle but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to truly rock and roll all night and party every day.

Rock of Ages" encapsulates a nostalgic dive into '80s rock culture with a stellar ensemble including Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. However, their commendable performances barely salvage the movie from its chaotic direction by Adam Shankman and a storyline that fails to harmonize the essence of the era it aims to celebrate. The Blu-ray presentation somewhat alleviates the film's shortcomings, offering a visually compelling experience. The video quality is notably superior, showcasing vibrant scenes that pop off the screen, but the audio mix receives mixed reviews. While the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track suffices, it exhibits inconsistencies, particularly a lackluster low end and fluctuating dialogue levels in contrast to the musical sequences.

In terms of supplemental content, the Blu-ray edition brings additional high-definition features not present on the DVD release. Some of these extras, intriguingly, provide more entertainment value than the film itself, accentuating the vibrancy and potential of what "Rock of Ages" could have been with tighter scriptwriting and direction. Nevertheless, the lack of deeper dive materials such as commentary tracks or a more informative production documentary leaves a void for fans and cinephiles craving to delve further into the making and concept behind this musical journey.

In conclusion, while "Rock of Ages" aspires to strike a chord with fans of musical cinema and '80s rock enthusiasts, it struggles to deliver a coherent and engaging narrative worthy of its iconic soundtrack and star-studded cast. The Blu-ray edition improves the visual and auditory experience but the film fundamentally falls short. For aficionados of rock or musicals seeking a deep dive into '80s nostalgia, viewing the film might warrant a chance solely for Cruise's performance and the supplemental high-definition features. However, investing in this Blu-ray as a cornerstone of one's collection is hard to justify based on the movie's overall execution and the Blu-ray's additional content offerings.