1408 [Blu-ray]
by Mikael Hfstrm
![1408 [Blu-ray]](/images/1408-Blu-ray-B001AR0D4K-L.jpg)
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Blu-ray details
Actor: Jasmine Jessica Anthony, John Cusack, Mary McCormack, Samuel L. Jackson, Tony ShalhoubDirector: Mikael Hfstrm
Brand: Genius
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2008-09-16
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Model: 81524
Studio: Weinstein Company
Product features:
- Based on a story by Stephen King, the Dolphin Hotel hides a deadly secret a long-closed room so evil, no guest has ever survived an hour within its walls. But when a skeptical writer defies the grave warnings of the Dolphin s manager and insists on spending the night, 1408 reopens for business. Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR Age: 796019815246 UPC:
Blu-ray Reviews of 1408 [Blu-ray]
Blu-ray Review: 1408 ( Blu-ray review ) Mid-level Stephen King adaptation comes home with three endings
Summary: 3 Stars
Hey there, Blu-ray fans! Ok, the Blu-ray of 1408 doesn't have many reviews so I'll come on and inform you of the product as I have this baby in my collection.
First off... the controversy. This disc has the director's cut ending as part of the film and no you can't change it to the theatrical cut. The theatrical ending is included as an additional scene but you can't incorporate it into the movie itself. There is also a third ending that you can view as an additional scene too.
So to make it absolutely clear, if you are buying this Blu-ray you are buying the director's cut of the film, which equates to just a little extension of a couple of scenes, nothing major there but the big qualm is the director's cut ending which is completely different from what you watched in the movie theater, ( if you indeed saw it in the theater that is ).
I did see the film in the theater and I will describe the different endings in detail so turn away if you haven't seen the film and jump forward a few paragraphs to where I have written "end of spoilers".
SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS!
The original theatrical ending had John Cusack's character surviving the hotel fire and reuniting with his wife. He still can't comprehend his experience but he is moving on. One day while looking through his old possessions he finds his tape recorder that he had with him in the hotel room, listens to it and hears the voice of the spirit of his dead daughter. This confirms that there is more beyond death and this supposedly gives the Cusack character some piece of mind.
This ending is restrained, not a typical happy ending, even though the main character lives. I enjoyed it very much as I saw it in the movie theater and was shocked to discover when I rented the original DVD, that the director's cut contained a totally new ending. And here is that ending...
Cusack dies in the hotel fire, there is a funeral, his wife, now a widow is there, so is his editor played by Tony Shalhoub. Sam Jackson stops by to deliver some of Cusack's belongings to the widow. She does not want them so Jackson goes to his car, plays the burned tape recorder and hears the ghostly voice of Cusack's daughter. Alarmed by this, Jackson gets the scare of his life as he sees the burnt up zombie corpse of Cusack in the rear-view mirror staring at him! A cheap and ridiculous scare typical of horror flicks! Then Jackson turns around to find no one there. The locale changes and we are back to the burnt down, closed hotel where Cusack died. We see his ghost near the window looking out, he hears the call of his dead daughter's voice and goes out of our view. Ostensibly he is now a ghost forever trapped with his daughter's ghost or a representation of it in the burnt down hotel. Whatever.
This ending was cheap and lame but the director probably thought killing the main character would be more edgy! Nonsense. The theatrical cut was just fine, far more refined and subtle.
The third ending involves the editor played by Tony Shalhoub. His role in the film was a glorified cameo so this extra scene is ok to watch once. He receives the new manuscript from the dead Cusack character. Reading it he is freaked out by how bizarre it is. End of film.
END OF SPOILERS
Clearly the original theatrical conclusion is the best of the three possibilities but the director or the studio or both have arrogantly conspired to shove this down people's throats or perhaps use it as an excuse to double dip this Blu-ray in the future. This is still a highly watchable, entertaining film and this blemish doesn't spoil what is actually one of the best Stephen King adaptations in many years. The first two-thirds of the film are especially riveting, the build-up to entering the hotel room, the long narrative arc of staying in this hellish environment... Cusack is terrific here, playing for almost an hour practically by himself. Outstanding build up of tension. The film loses momentum and goes off the rails in the last third and then we get this annoying director's cut ending. The point of the whole film is that this angry, lonely man just wants a tiny confirmation of the supernatural so that he can have piece of mind over his daughter's death. If he can find evidence of a supernatural realm, there may indeed be a God and a point and purpose to life after all and that his daughter's death was not in vain. Of course he gets more than he bargained for! The original theatrical ending really worked in the context of the themes I have summarized. The director's cut version is more nihilistic and ridiculous. Overall still worth it if you're not attached to the theatrical ending and since I bought this Blu-ray I guess I'm not.
The picture quality is mostly very good with high contrast in the daylight scenes which look appropriately gorgeous here on Blu-ray. The more dimly lit interiors are also a joy to behold and the great cinematography gives this Blu-ray a lot to work with. A famous Blu-ray reviewing website reported that this transfer has pumped, oversaturated colors. I only found that in a few instances with some of the textures having a plasticky appearance but overall I had no major disappointments with this transfer.
The audio has a True HD 5.1 track which is great as well a standard 5.1 Dolby track that is also very fine.
The extras contain a very informative audio commentary by the director and the co-screenwriters. Then there are the typical featurettes, some promotional fluff, deleted scenes and the aforementioned alternate endings. All in all, this Blu-ray is a solid purchase if you are not too attached to the theatrical ending. And if you've never seen this film, then you may not care at all and enjoy the director's preferred conclusion! So then, that's it. Adios for now, Blu-ray aficionados!
Description of 1408 [Blu-ray]
Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 09/16/2008 Run time: 126 minutes Rating: RBestsellers in DVD
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