The Wave Blu-ray Review

"The Wave," shot by Norwegian cinematographer John Christian Rosenlund using Red digital cameras, achieves an impressive visual presentation on Blu-ray. The film's documentary-style approach emphasizes realism, which is effectively conveyed through the everyday palette and minimalistic production design. Outdoor scenes, particularly those showcasing Norway's stunning fjords and mountain vistas, are captured in vivid detail, with lush greens and deep blues displaying a high level of clarity. Magnolia's mastering at an average bitrate of 31.01 Mbps contributes to the overall sharpness, though deliberate use of smoke, haze, and shadow post-disaster introduces a calculated softness.

Despite its potentially smaller budget, "The Wave" does not fall short in terms of special effects or high-definition presentation. The 1080p transfer ensures that even with archival tsunami footage of lesser quality, the film holds up well visually. Night scenes do present a slight murkiness, yet the clarity remains commendable, with carefully managed shadows and solid black levels maintaining visual integrity. Although some occasional black crushing occurs, it minimally impacts the overall image quality. Special effects are seamlessly integrated, appearing neither subpar nor artificially enhanced by the nighttime setting. Overall, the Blu-ray release of "The Wave" combines stunning natural landscapes with proficient CGI, epitomizing a high-quality viewing experience.

Magnolia's Blu-ray release of "The Wave" features an impressive Dolby Atmos track, which originally captivated audiences in theaters and delivers a similarly enveloping experience in the home environment. The auditory centerpiece of the film, water, is notably well-rendered with Atmos processing. The thunderous soundscape during the tsunami scenes is both visceral and unnerving, effectively capturing the catastrophic impact and providing an immersive experience. Highlight effects like the cascading and dripping water in post-disaster scenes are distributed all around and overhead, enhancing the tension as survivors navigate flooded areas. Additionally, the initial rockslide and the descending scenes involving geologists benefit from precise sound positioning, where crumbling earth and falling debris are effortlessly channeled through the height speakers, offering an authentic auditory backdrop.

A standout aspect of this audio mix is its meticulous attention to detail, extending beyond major catastrophes. Magnus Beite’s tense and dynamic score is given space to breathe in the midst of calamity. The pronounced placement of even subtle elements, such as a helicopter’s whirring blades, offers an immersive realism, positioning sounds above the viewer according to the camera’s perspective. Dialogue clarity remains intact amidst the chaos, maintaining natural and well-prioritized vocal tracks. For English-speaking audiences preferring dubbing, the disc includes an English TrueHD 5.1 track, though it sacrifices the multidimensional benefits provided by Atmos.

The Atmos track also excels in utilizing height channels effectively. Scenes featuring noisy birds flying overhead or distant squaking bird calls transport listeners to the heart of the action. Rear channels contribute to a dynamic environment filled with directional-specific sounds, such as car horns, distant explosions, and crashing windows. These elements coalesce into a smoothly executed audio panorama with well-constructed panning effects and cleanly presented dialogue. As a whole, "The Wave" on Blu-ray provides a surprisingly demo-worthy audio experience that exceeds expectations for this category.

The extras on the Blu-ray release of "The Wave" offer an insightful and thorough look into the film's production and technical achievements. The supplementary content excels in detailing both the practical effects and CGI implementations, further enhanced by engaging interviews with key personnel. Fans will appreciate the behind-the-scenes footage that traverses from soundstages in Bucharest to picturesque Norwegian locations, providing a richer understanding of the film's visual and narrative elements. The Visual Effects Breakdown is particularly notable, with VFX Supervisor Lars Erik Hansen eloquently dissecting the creation of pivotal scenes such as the rockslide and the disastrous wave. An interview with Director Roar Uthuag adds valuable context to the film's conception and development challenges.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Scenes of 'The Wave': Footage from location shooting and sets in Bucharest.
• The Wave Visual Effects Breakdown Part 1: Creating the initial rockslide.
• The Wave Visual Effects Breakdown Part 2: CGI creation of the wave and related scenes.
• The Wave Visual Effects Breakdown Part 3: Depiction of the wave hitting Geiranger.
• Interview with Director Roar Uthuag: Insights into the film’s inspiration and production challenges.
• Trailer: Efficient and effective.
• Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment: Additional trailers for other films and promotional content.
• BD-Live: Currently inactive, check back for updates.

"The Wave" (Bølgen) is a compelling addition to the disaster film genre, deftly bringing a Hollywood style of storytelling to the scenic landscapes of Norway. Directed by Roar Uthaug, this film stands out due to its credible depiction of natural calamities, focusing on the imminent threat posed by the unstable mountain Åkerneset overlooking the Geiranger Fjord. This geographical setup, exquisitely filmed, sets the stage for a high-stakes tale where geologist Kristian Eikjord (Kristoffer Joner) fights against time and skeptical authorities to save his family and the town's inhabitants from a devastating tsunami. The film's script efficiently plots the narrative within realistic boundaries, avoiding the excessive catastrophes typical of many modern disaster movies.

What sets "The Wave" apart is its high-quality special effects, impressive considering its modest budget and origins. The climactic sequence where a 260-foot wall of water crashes down on the picturesque town of Geiranger is particularly noteworthy. Rather than appearing gimmicky, the tidal wave sequence captures a visceral impact that rivals higher-budget films like "The Impossible." This harrowing scene encapsulates the film's overall intensity, maintaining a tight grip on the viewer's attention without deviation. The tension remains palpable throughout, as characters are separated and face various perilous situations, such as Idun (Ane Dahl Torp) and their son being trapped in a flood-engulfed bomb shelter.

Despite its adherence to genre tropes, "The Wave" distinguishes itself by focusing on the human element amidst disaster. It infuses each catastrophe with genuine stakes and emotional weight, leveraging its localized setting for an unexpectedly resonant impact. This approach results in an admirably efficient and satisfying disaster film experience, arguably outshining more bombastic counterparts like "San Andreas." The Blu-ray release further enhances this with a robust Dolby Atmos soundtrack that immerses viewers in the film's audio landscape, adding depth to an already intense cinematic journey.

The Wave'' is a compelling disaster film from Norway, directed by Roar Uthaug, and has earned praise for its visual and audio presentation on Blu-Ray. The film’s premise, inspired by real-life events, revolves around a geologist's efforts to save his family from a catastrophic tsunami. The production values are particularly impressive, capturing the grandeur and terror of natural disasters with remarkable authenticity. The visual fidelity is stunning, with crisp and clear imagery that brings the scenic Norwegian fjords and the ensuing chaos to life. The added benefit of a demo-worthy Dolby Atmos track enriches the viewing experience with immersive soundscapes that enhance the tension and intensity of the harrowing events depicted.

While the technical execution is top-notch, the narrative itself may not break new ground for seasoned disaster film aficionados. Nevertheless, it manages to reinvent familiar genre tropes with a fresh environment and engaging character dynamics. What elevates 'The Wave' is its ability to combine high-stakes action sequences with genuine emotional weight, making viewers not only care about the characters' fates but also appreciate the film’s thematic undercurrents about human resilience and nature’s unpredictability.

In conclusion, "The Wave" was Norway's official submission to the 2016 Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, but it failed to make the final cut, and it's not hard to see why, given the Academy's well-known preference for high-toned drama. Uthaug's film is classic popcorn fare, and it has no other aspiration than to entertain, which it does well, reinventing and invigorating familiar elements for a new environment. Highly recommended.