Point Break appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.40:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. Across the board, this was an accurate transfer.
Sharpness always looked strong. No signs of softness marred the presentation, as it gave us a tight, well-defined image. Jagged edges and moiré effects remained absent, while edge haloes also failed to appear. Print flaws stayed absent as well.
Like most modern films of this sort, Point Break went mainly with teal and orange – especially teal, as the image showed a heavy green-ish orientation. These tones seemed predictable, but they worked fine within the movie’s design parameters and showed good delineation. Blacks were dark and tight, while shadows usually showed nice clarity and smoothness; a few scenes were a bit dense, but those weren’t an issue. I felt this was a consistently strong image.
I also felt pleased with the film’s DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack. With a fair amount of action on display, the mix used the channels in an involving manner throughout the majority of the film. This meant stunts like surfing and motocross zoomed all around the room, and the elements connected in a concise, smooth manner. Add to that music as a bold partner and the soundscape turned into an aggressive experience.
Audio quality always satisfied. Music was dynamic and full, and effects followed suit; those components came across as accurate and well-developed. Speech seemed distinctive and crisp, without edginess or other issues. Everything impressed in this strong soundtrack.
This package includes both 2D and 3D versions of Point Break. The picture quality comments above address the 2D edition, but I also want to talk about the 3D image.
In terms of picture quality, the 3D Break held up well. Like most 3D Blu-rays, it occasionally seemed a tad softer than the 2D edition, and it could be darker. Those weren’t substantial concerns, though, so the movie usually produced very nice visuals.
As for the 3D imagery, it’s perfectly decent. On its own, the 3D presentation seems fine, but I don’t think it brings real pizzazz to the movie. It offers more depth, though this can take on something of a “Viewmaster” feel without the most natural impression. I don’t dislike the 3D version but feel the 2D edition offers the more enjoyable visual presentation; the 3D effects fail to contribute a lot to the movie.
Four brief featurettes appear. We get “Rock Climbing” (1:52), “Wingsuit Flying” (2:16), “Snowboarding” (1:58) and “Motocross” (1:55). Across these, we hear from director Ericson Core, free climbing technical advisor Chris Sharma, wingsuit camera flyer James Boole, wingsuit pilot Jon Devore, technical advisor Jeb Corliss, extreme snowboarders/stunt doubles Ralph Backstrom, Lucas DeBari, Mike Basich and Xavier de le Rule, 2nd unit director Rob Bruce, motocross rider Steve Haughelstine, and actors Edgar Ramirez, Matias Varela, and Luke Bracey. These tell us a little about the movie’s stunts, but they mostly act as bland promotional fare.
We also get four Deleted Scenes. With a total running time of eight minutes, 17 seconds, we see “Airport” (0:50), “Utah Skateboards” (2:20), “Utah and Pappas at the Train Station” (2:41) and “Moto X” (2:26). These add a little character material, especially for the underused Pappas role. We also get a little coda for Utah. None of these scenes seem memorable; even the expansion of Pappas fails to offer much substance.
The disc opens with an ad for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. We also locate two trailers for Point Break.
A third disc provides a DVD Copy of the film. It includes the deleted scenes but lacks the featurettes.
Stiff and lifeless, Point Break cares more about its cartoonish view of ecology than with cinematic entertainment. The film plods without any sense of drama or excitement on display. The Blu-ray boasts excellent picture and audio but it skimps on supplements. Stick with the 1991 Point Break, as the leaden remake flops.
To rate this film visit the 2D review of POINT BREAK