Captive State Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Captive State Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 12, 2019

Captive State offers a good, detailed look at its porcupine-like CGI aliens in the opening minutes, but the revelation ultimately means little to the movie. Director Rupert Wyatt's (The Escapist, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) picture is not concerned with the aliens' physical appearances or depicting them interacting with humanity, either positively or negatively. The film is instead built around the idea of a longstanding, shadowy resistance working against the aliens' brand of law-and-order, the seemingly benevolent but secretly heavy-handed authoritarian rule by which they now control mankind. The picture centers around human characters and plans in motion and ideas and the state of the world, not simpleminded man-versus alien action such as that depicted in District 9. Wyatt's picture is a thoughtful, but ultimately cluttered, examination of the human spirit under oppressive rule. Metaphorical allusions obviously abound, but the picture is not quite tight or engaging enough to make much of it matter.

Following a global invasion by superior alien forces, mankind has surrendered to avoid annihilation. The military has demobilized. The world is now under alien legislative control. The otherworldly overlords are known as "The Legislators;” they have become the first, and final, word on law and order in the world. Chicago, amongst other cities, has been walled off and residents have been relocated. The aliens live underground and mankind aids in their quest to absorb Earth’s natural resources. Poverty reigns while the wealthy few grow ever more rich. Digital communications have been cut off. The world is truly under the thumb of a tyrannical force, which is obvious to most despite attempts at a more benevolent façade.

Now, it has been nine years since aliens gained control of the world. A human resistance group known as “Phoenix,” operating out of Chicago, has been long thought subdued. Chicago Police Commander William Mulligan (John Goodman) believes otherwise and his assumption is ultimately proven correct. Leading the secretive organization is a man named Rafe Drummond (Jonathan Majors) who is planning an attack on a “Unity Rally” at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Rafe’s brother Gabriel (Ashton Sanders), who is not a revolutionary but rather an everyman hoping to survive in the new world, soon finds himself a central cog in the clash between Phoenix and the local, alien-controlled authorities.

The film is never quite so engaging as it should be. There's a feel for disconnect between the audience and the story. Wyatt can't quite find and build that bridge, can't quite do enough to fully draw the audience into the story and ask that it invest its heart and soul into the characters, their world, and their plight. The film struggles to move beyond painting in shades of black and white, and the gray that exists in between feels a little too foggy to better define the world. The story might have worked far better as a television miniseries in the tradition of V (the original from the 80s, not necessarily the linked remake which this reviewer has admittedly not seen) where a better opportunity for absorption into the world, more expansive character detail, more finely tuned narrative characteristics, better fleshed out plot lines might have improved on the material. Wyatt and his cast work well enough with the allotted runtime, but it never feels like enough to create the necessarily compelling world, relatable characters, and feel for the oppression necessary to compliment and elevate the story to its fullest potential.

Captive State Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The digitally photographed Captive State delivers a clean, detailed image. It's bright and vibrant in its early opening sequence, revealing colorful roadblocks and other elements with impressive pop and depth. The picture is fairly bleak beyond, favoring low light, grays, and somewhat muted colors, even orange hoodies. But the palette is reproduced with pleasing definition as-is underneath the movie's visual parameters. The picture also reveals well defined nighttime black levels en route to an attack in chapter 11, and blacks hold true for the duration. Skin tones occasionally veer towards a mildly pasty look but generally remain within the movie's tonal boundaries. Details are exacting, even in low light. The digitally sourced image showcases pores and and other details with ease, while various varieties of attire -- urban outfits, suits, lacy lingerie -- reveal fine fabric definition across the spectrum. Environments, both interior and exterior, in low light and well lit, additionally offer clear, robust textures front to back and side to side. Noise is admirably kept in check even in low light, and no other source or encode blemishes are readily apparent. This is a high quality Blu-ray presentation, even if the movie proper is not exactly teeming with eye candy delights.

Captive State Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Captive State features a DTS-HD master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Universal's presentation allows for a nice blend of subtle and quiet moments with bursts of energy, intensity, and stage saturation. The track offers some intense surround integration at several points, such as in chapter seven when creepy alien sounds spill from all channels in a chaotic release of various alien tentacle-type visual effects. Realistically muddy Metal music filters through the backs in chapter eight while pulsating techno bass beats power through in chapter 10. There are some nice background ambient effects at a train depot in chapter 14, too, serving more as environmental fill than major sonic component, but the track manages both back channel balance and booming bass as necessary. For the most part, though, the track is primarily concerned with the sounds necessary to convey plot details via less dynamic audio. Music is nicely detailed and engages the stage -- the front left and right channels heavily, the others complimentary -- with natural clarity and command. Dialogue delivery is clear and focused in the front-center area.

Captive State Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Captive State features an audio commentary track and two featurettes. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Audio Commentary: Director/Producer/Co-Writer Rupert Wyatt and Producer David Crockett offer a well spoken and regularly informative track that pulls back the veil on the story and the production. It's a quality listen and a nice compliment to the film.
• Igniting a War (1080p, 5:20): A discussion of influences and inspirations, Rupert Wyatt's direction and love of the genre, the film's structure, cast and characters, performances, and more.
• Building the World of Captive State (1080p, 5:10): A discussion of the world depicted in Captive State, the film's budget, the limited visual effects, alien design, and wardrobe.

Captive State Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Captive State is not a high concept picture, even if it obviously wants to be. It's unquestionably grounded in a solid, approachable, perhaps even compelling foundation, but there's just not enough time or balance to create a complete cinema experience. Audiences in search of the next Battle: Los Angeles will leave disappointed, and probably leave early. Audiences looking for the next District 9 or Alien Nation might find the film a bit more palatable, but understand the film is less about the aliens themselves and more about the spirit man has built under occupation. It's a quality film but also an imperfect film. Universal's Blu-ray, however, does offer high yield video and audio presentations. The disc includes a couple of featurettes and an audio commentary track. Worth a look.