The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button [Blu-ray]

"I was born under unusual circumstances." And so begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans, from the end of World War I in 1918 into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man's life can be. Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Julia Ormond, "Benjamin Button," is a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.

I have to say that I wasn't really interested in seeing this movie when it came out on Christmas. I guess it had to do with the premise that Benjamin Button is born old physically and as he gets older his body gets younger. I was pleasantly surprised after seeing this Blu-ray DVD. It really is a touching story told through Benjamin's diary read by Daisy's daughter Caroline while she is dying in a hospital in New Orleans as hurricane Katrina is about to hit land. When Benjamin is born his mother dies from child birth and after seeing his birth defect, his father can't handle it and leaves him on the steps of a nursing home where a black woman named Queenie takes him in and raises him as her own son. As he begins to grow up he meets a young girl named Daisy who comes to visit her grandmother at the home. They wind up having a life long relationship and that is the crux of the story.

There are similarities to Forrest Gump like when Benjamin meets Captain Mike on his tugboat The Chelsea. Captain Mike takes Benjamin under his wing and teaches him about the world and the things that happen in it. While they are away at sea he makes friends with the other workmen and visits various locations throughout the world and has many experiences including his first love affair. As time passes, Benjamin and Daisy stay in touch through letters and meetings. While Daisy grows "older" and Benjamin gets "younger" they meet somewhere in the middle and spend their time together. There are problems that arise, as you can imagine, and some of these moments really can affect you personally.

This Blu-ray Criterion edition DVD has an excellent reference quality picture. The use of colors throughout the time period really sets the mood. There is a scene where the look has a very sepia brownish tone and a bright yellow cab pulls up and Daisy gets out setting the mood for a happier time and this is done throughout the movie quite nicely. The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack has a perfect mix as well. The center channel has the dialogue coming through at perfect levels and the subwoofer doesn't lie dormant either. Some of the scenes on the tugboat and the thunder during Katrina brings the sound to a very bombastic roar. The use of the surround speakers will have you completely immersed in the film. Between the picture quality and the audio definition, this Blu-ray really captivates the senses and makes you feel like you are involved during the experience.

Bonus Features:

Disc 1:

• Audio commentary with Director David Fincher

Disc 2:

• The curious birth of Benjamin Button - presented in three segments:
• (HD) First trimester:
  1. Preface
  2. Development and pre-production
  3. Tech scouts
  4. Storyboard gallery
  5. Art direction gallery
• (HD) Second trimester:
  1. Production - part 1
  2. Production - part 2
  3. Costume design
  4. Costume gallery
• (HD) Third trimester
• Visual effects - performance capture:
  1. Benjamin
  2. Youthenization
  3. The Chelsea
  4. The simulated world
• Sound design
• Desplat's instrumentarium
• (HD) Birth:
  1. Premiere
  2. Production stills
• (HD) Theatrical trailers - 1 and 2

I can't recommend this movie enough. The scenery is beautiful. The CGI is something to see. The detail is unmatched. And the story line will be tugging on your emotions. If you are a film buff, this is a must own film.