There are fiery oranges, yellows and reds that perfectly rendered, without a hint of chromatic distortion or bleeding. Blacks are flawless and velvety, plus the picture possesses striking depth and excellent shadow detail. The Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack has an atmospheric mix that works well within the framework of the material. The soundtrack has a very open and effortless quality that is enhanced by the clean channel separation present in the forward and rear soundstages. Sound effects are very subtle, seeming so natural that they can go unnoticed.
Dialogue is fully intelligible and the actor s voices resonate with a natural timbre.
Wojciech Kilar s haunting musical score may be the strongest element in the mix, other than the film s dialogue. The music is beautifully recorded and integrated into the mix, taking full advantage of the Dolby Digital encoding. There are few opportunities for the bass channel to stand out, however the lower frequencies are strong enough to give the track a solid foundation and enhance the film s music. Full motion video, animation and sound have been employed to enhance the DVD s interactive menus. Through the menus, one has access to the standard scene selection and set up features, plus a nice complement of supplements.