Plot: What’s it about?
The concept of an “interactive movie” has been explored in many ways, but most turn out to be less than impressive. Some nice strides have been made of course, but for the most part, the realization hasn’t evolved all that much. But with the release of Tender Loving Care, it seemed like things were looking up and now, we’re taken to the next level with PoV, also known as Point of View. In this interactive experience, we follow the path of Jane (Stefanie von Pfetten), a beautiful young woman who works as an artist, but expresses herself little outside of that medium. She is a visionary young woman to be sure, but she has little human contact, choosing to limit herself to her artwork, which is kind of strange. But she begins to long for the human touch, when she starts to watch her neighbor Frank and of course, finds herself attracted to him. He is unaware of course, but she takes photographs of him and then uses them as templates, to create erotic artwork of the two of them. As the story then unfolds, we’re given the wheel and allowed to drive the picture, making choices that could change these lives forever…
I have to admit, I didn’t expect much from PoV and while I did like Tender Loving Care, I wasn’t sure how much of an improvement this would be. But I was surprised with how smoother and more immersive this release is, a true step above and beyond all other interactive films, to be sure. The acting still leaves a little to be desired at times, but Stefanie von Pfetten (Valentine, The Invitation) is likable and supplies supple eye candy, which is always welcome. I’d still like to see a more gifted ensemble tackle a project like this, but even so, the cast here is more than decent. I don’t think we’ll ever reach a seamless brand of interactive picture, but PoV plays like a high end video game drama, but much more immersive, I think. The choices are much more subtle in PoV, not the overly simple stuff we’ve seen before, which adds a lot to the experience also. The options here adapt to your reactions, which is like a new twist also, very cool indeed. I know these kind of releases have a special audience, but even those who’ve disliked prior interactive movies should give PoV a spin, as it is the finest example of the concept thus far, in my opinion.
Video: How does it look?
PoV is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The image here is clean and razor sharp, no real flaws to report in the least. I saw no errors with the source print at all, while the other elements seem in proper form also. I suppose a few instances of edge enhancement could be mentioned, but they’re not enough to lower the score much. The colors look bright and vivid, while flesh tones remain natural, very impressive indeed. No problems with contrast either, as black levels are rich and stark, while detail is strong and defined. All in all, a very solid and often excellent visual presentation, all movies should look good.
Audio: How does it sound?
This feature doesn’t have intense audio needs, but the included mix more than handles it all, to be sure. I found the sound effects to be well presented, while the musical soundtrack also comes through without much trouble. The dialogue is crisp and always easy to understand also, with no volume level problems to contend with. I don’t think you’ll use this audio track to demonstrate your home theater, but presents the elements in fine form, which is what counts.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some detailed notes on PoV, as well as a behind the scenes featurette and a trailer.
