Eye Of The Beholder
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Cast: Ashley Judd, Ewan McGregor, Patrick Bergin
Extras: Commentary Track, Talent Files, Theatrical Trailer
Rating:
Eye is a secret agent who’s job it is to shadow Joanna Eris, a woman who is suspected of blackmailing. During his surveillance Eye finds out that Joanna is much more than a simple blackmailer however and becomes fascinated with the dangerous beauty. Eventually, his own life is in danger.
Columbia TriStar Home Video is presenting ’Eye Of The Beholder’ in a 16×9 enhanced widescreen presentation in the movie’s theatrical 2.35:1 aspect ratio, as well as an open matte full frame transfer that adds information at the top and bottom of the screen. The transfer is beautifully clean without distracting defects in the print and without notable noise or grain. The edges are well-defined and without edge-enhancement that would give them an unnatural sharpness. Colors are finely delineated with subtle hues and faithful tinges, rendering skin tones very naturally. The compression is flawless without the slightest signs of pixelation or other compression artifacts.
The disc features a very impressive 5.1 Dolby Digital surround mix that is very dynamic and aggressive. With a good frequency response the track has a good bass extension and crystal clear high ends. The music score is mixed making full use of the discrete surround channels to create a score that fully envelops the viewer/listener. While the dialogue is well produced, its integration is sometimes too low, drowning it out by the sound effects and music at times. Given the aggressiveness and effectiveness of the 5.1 mix, the Dolby Surround track that is also part the release sounds very lifeless by comparison.
’Eye Of The Beholder’ also features a commentary track by writer and director Stephan Elliot. The track is a little slow and dry, making it hard to follow the director’s comment throughout the film. However, it features some interesting tidbits that fans of the film may find interesting. A trailer and Talent Files round off this release from Columbia TriStar Home Video.
’Eye Of The Beholder’ is a mixed bag. While certain elements of the film work quite well, others are flawed and clichéd. While I found the film entertaining, it was not nearly as thrilling as I had hoped it would be. Nonetheless, for fans of the genre, the film offers a lot of interesting visuals, and some nice twists.
